"Death by Oil" with Darren Thompson, dedicated to the Dakota 38 and to my Native American friends who are trying to push back the Dakota Access Pipeline. I recently became aware of the historical fact that President Abraham Lincoln gave the order to execute 38 Native Americans a day after Christmas on December 26th, 1862 in Mankato Minnesota. To date, this is the largest mass execution ever performed in our nation's history.
It is important for us to know about the past so that we do not make the same mistakes or atrocities in the future.
I want to personally thank my new friend Darren for trusting my camera and lens with his likeness. It was by far the most emotional wet plate I have ever had the honor of making. Margaret Landin was also instrumental in helping behind the scenes making sure the Native American components were correct.
8x10" black glass ambrotype in the historic wet plate collodion process, Carl Zeiss Tessar 300mm lens, f4.5, 10 seconds of exposure.
"Empowerment Through Unity", United Tribes Technical College Pow Wow 2016. The entire crowd raised their right hand in support of all Native Americans everywhere.
8x10" black glass ambrotype in the historic wet plate collodion process. This plate will be archived by the Historical Society of North Dakota for all time.
"Love Water, Not Oil" with Dale Benjamin American Horse Jr., 8x10" black glass ambrotype in the wet plate collodion process.
The Standing Rock Sioux nation along with the support of many other tribes is attempting to push back the Dakota Access Pipeline here in North Dakota. Dale has been in the forefront of the resistance and made national news last week for his efforts.
Dale explained to me that "Mni Wiconi" means "Water is Life" and those words ring so true.
"You Cannot Drink Oil", a chant that I heard many times while visiting my friends at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. I took on the role of biased photojournalist in an effort to show support for this cause. Their cause is just and these are not protestors but protectors, please give them your support.
http://www.cshagen.com/water-and-oil-do-not-mix/
August 9th, 2016
RE: Orlando Scott Goff, “North Dakota History: Journal of the Northern Plains”, Summer 2016
Dear Friends,
I am very excited to finally be able to share this copy of the journal with the world. Two years ago I started on the dream of bringing to light the almost forgotten wet plate artist Orlando Scott Goff. You see Orlando practiced wet plating in the Dakota’s before me and I am honored not only to bring attention to his work but also to follow in his footsteps. The moment that I saw his plates at Fort Abraham Lincoln and put my eyes upon his portrait of Sitting Bull, I knew I wanted to do something special in his memory.
I have to thank my good friend Lou Hafermehl the local historian for believing in this project. If it was not for his research and eloquent words, this would not have been possible. I also want to thank Pam Berreth Smokey the Editor for believing our document on Goff was significant enough to dedicate the entire journal to our vision.
I have always felt that history is very important. Without knowing where we have been, how do we gauge where we are going?
I hope you enjoy this fabulous and historic document about a man that came many decades before my time. I can only hope that someday someone would do the same for my wet plate name, work and legacy.