The Standing Rock Portraits

Over 100 years ago Frank Bennett Fiske (1883-1952) photographed members of the Standing Rock Native American community at Fort Yates, North Dakota, where he was born. The men and women he portrayed were his friends and neighbours who were living on the reservation. These images, created with a large studio camera on glass negatives, are notable for their depth and clarity. The negatives were recently rediscovered, and have rarely been displayed. Photographer and graphic designer Murray Lemley, also from North Dakota, curated this selection of images to introduce Fiske’s work to the wider public. They are published here in an attractively-priced gift edition. “These pictures show a historical and artistic vision of proud people in a difficult transitional period. The glass negatives of Frank Fiske are a sumptuous source of information and understanding.” – Rod Slemmons, American photography expert.