Volume 3 of photographs by Shane Balkowitsch is available to preorder

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - For nearly 10 years, Shane Balkowitsch has been on a journey to photograph 1,000 Native Americans in his studio using wet plate photography, a technique that is over 100 years old. He has published two volumes of his work and will soon be releasing his third.

At the Nostalgic Wet Plate Studio, Balkowitsch has taken over 700 photographs of Native Americans.

Some of his work contains well-known people, such as Native American U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, but most of his images cover ordinary individuals.

“I’ve had Native Americans come as far as Florida to have their portraits taken,” said Balkowitsch.

He began his journey after photographing Ernie LePoint, the great-grandson of Sitting Bull. The rest is history. His art subjects are typically photographed in traditional Native American regalia, representative of their culture.

“What’s really important is that we keep the integrity of the series, so they need to bring whatever regalia they want to wear, I don’t provide anything for anyone, whatever’s worn for the series, they have to bring it in, and then we just create together,” said Balkowitsch.

The funds gained from the sales of his published works are donated to the American Indian College Fund, which provides scholarships and assistance to Native American students.

“I have Native Americans come in all the time that were actually benefactors of the money from the American Indian College Fund, so it’s this fabulous way of kind of giving back,” said Balkowitsch.

Balkowitsch’s project has taught him a lot about Native American culture and given him a personal connection. Six years ago, he was adopted into the Hidatsa tribe and given the name Shadowcatcher.

“Ever since I was adopted into the Hidatsa tribe, these people are not strangers that come in, they’re my brothers and sisters,” said Balkowitsch.

Now retired, Balkowitsch will put his time into finishing the series. However, this is not the end.

“One of the biggest questions I get now that I’m getting close to the end is, will I stop taking photographs of Native Americans, and the answer is absolutely not,” said Balkowitsch.

Balkowitsch will be working on Volume 4 for an estimated time of three years. That said, Volume 3 of his series is available to pre-order now on the Nostalgic Wet Plate Studio website and will be fully available in July.

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