Cheif Bubblegum, Navajo Indian, Shiprock, New Mexico
Chief Bubblegum, USA 1996
One of my Dutch travel agents asked me, if I would like to travel across America to take photos for their brochures. Some of the places I went to: New York, Chicago, New Orleans and San Francisco. While traveling from Colorado to the Grand Canyon, I met a lady in her seventies and we got chatting. She advised to wait going to Las Vegas and go to the Native American POW-WOW in Shiprock, New Mexico near the four corners (the junction of the states Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico). I asked her what a POW-WOW was and she told me it was a gathering of native American Indians. It sounded fascinating and there was something about the way she spoke. My instinct said: ‘go for it. I changed my plans on the spot and went to the POW-WOW. One thing I have found, as a portrait-photographer, you need to be a good communicator. When I met this Navajo Indian (native American) at the POW-WOW sitting in the back of his open pick up truck I noticed he was blowing pink bubblegum. I approached him and asked whether I could take a picture of him. The second frame I asked, would you please blow the bubblegum? As in my mind, while taking it, you had two great American icons. One being the native American and the other being bubblegum. He was a little shy at first, but after a little persuasion he agreed.
I duly named him Chief Bubblegum.
One of my Dutch travel agents asked me, if I would like to travel across America to take photos for their brochures. Some of the places I went to: New York, Chicago, New Orleans and San Francisco. While traveling from Colorado to the Grand Canyon, I met a lady in her seventies and we got chatting. She advised to wait going to Las Vegas and go to the Native American POW-WOW in Shiprock, New Mexico near the four corners (the junction of the states Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico). I asked her what a POW-WOW was and she told me it was a gathering of native American Indians. It sounded fascinating and there was something about the way she spoke. My instinct said: ‘go for it. I changed my plans on the spot and went to the POW-WOW. One thing I have found, as a portrait-photographer, you need to be a good communicator. When I met this Navajo Indian (native American) at the POW-WOW sitting in the back of his open pick up truck I noticed he was blowing pink bubblegum. I approached him and asked whether I could take a picture of him. The second frame I asked, would you please blow the bubblegum? As in my mind, while taking it, you had two great American icons. One being the native American and the other being bubblegum. He was a little shy at first, but after a little persuasion he agreed.
I duly named him Chief Bubblegum.
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Also in: The Story behind the Photograph
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