Jay Photography

I made it home last night from spending an incredible week up in East Glacier Montana on the Blackfeet reservation shooting . Echoing the voices of many that attended this unique festival, words really can’t describe the power it held and the spark it ignited.

I’m still sleep deprived so attempting to describe the last week of rugged beauty, powerful and emotive music and cultural enlightenment and connection isn’t coming easily and I know the experience is still all sinking in. However, I feel honored to have had the opportunity to capture a glimpse of it all, but I even more honored to have been welcomed with such open hearts by the Blackfeet community. Your stories, your hugs, your gifts, your trust and belief in this crazy idea and group of strangers is humbling and inspiring. The evolution of working with local high school students through the internship program brought tears to my eyes watching some of the shy kids I worked with day one, get on stage with their heros to drum and head bang by the end of the festival, or stand beside me in the photo pit taking their own pictures of bands they never imaged meeting. You taught us to confront darkness and not hide from it, and that music can be a cathartic release.

I also couldn’t be prouder of my husband for following his passion to bring this to fruition, and so grateful to the best group of friends new and old who worked so hard to pull this festival off.

Now to start sorting through the over 10,000 photos I took this weekend and to catch up on sleep!!