Pictures of the Past

I prefer Neidich's photographs to those of Curtis. Curtis took the pictures portraying Native Americans in an unrealistic way. All the pictures enforce the stereotypes of Indians at the time. This is probably because of the sponsorship behind his photos. JP Morgan payed for his expedition and most likely expected a certain return on his investment. The fact that all his photos were posed and he dressed the characters makes them unreliable. All his photos show the Indians as warriors and dressed very traditionally (at least what we thought was traditional). Neidich had the purpose of wanting to show what we know to be true of the Indian lifestyle, purposefully contradicting Curtis' work. His work towards an honest representation makes his work appeal more to me. I know their is no attempt to alter the past and I can make observations about what has happened to the Indians from his photos with more security. He shows the Native Americans in more settings, not only as warriors but with family and in village life. Neidich wanted to make a wider social impact. He didn't take his photos for investors, but to portray the real way of life to all people. Without the financial tie, his photos are free of any obligation to show support any old views of Native Americans.