graytrekker
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For the benefit of those who may not know that much about Montana (thinking overseas members, maybe), Montana is not all mountains and rivers. It also has a substantial, vibrant Native American population still. There are 7 reservations within the state.
I live on the Flathead Reservation, home of the Salish, Kootenai and Pend d'Orielle people. The Salish are a rather unique tribe in that they invited the Jesuit missionaries to come in the 1840s to an area south of Missoula. It's too long of a story to write here. After the treaty that set up the reservation (1855), the Tribe and mission were moved to where the town of St. Ignatius now stands. In the 1860s they built quite a complex there - church, school, nunnery, etc. Being built of wood, it has all burned down over the years, except for one small log structure.
In its stead, a brick church was built in 1891, and is on the National Historic Registry. There are two things about this church of note. 1) inside, there are 58 panels painted by a man who was the cook at the time. They are of the typical catholic fare - white, aryan guys with beards and robes flying through clouds, etc., portraits of Mary - not quite the Sistene Chapel, but you get the idea. and 2)There are two panels that are quite unique - one of Mary and baby Jesus a an Indian woman and child, and one of Jesus as an Indian Chief. These were added later.
These hang in dark areas at the back of the church, but were easily captured cleanly with my Df, 50 mm f2 non-AI lens, f5.6, 1/25s and ISO 1600 and 3200, respectively, with very minimal PP. The outside shot was with the 35mm f2 AIS, ISO 100 f5.6, 1/640s. The paintings are quite glossy and the church is lit with low hanging fluorescent chandeliers, so I couldn't get all the shine off. [a bit of a nightmare to photograph].
Thanks for your patience in reading (maybe I need to go work for the Montana Tourist Board!) - Doug
 Indian Mary 3MB by Doug Stevens, on Flickr
 Indian Jesus crop 3MB by Doug Stevens, on Flickr
 mission 3MB by Doug Stevens, on Flickr
On this last one, I think I need Jay's fancy PC-E lens to straighten things out!!
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