“My photography is rooted in a curiosity and reverence for the human experience. I’ve always been fascinated by people. ”
~ Ron Cooper
I’d like to take a moment to congratulate Ron Cooper on his winning submission to The Photo Review, which will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026.
One look at this photograph and I was completely still. It’s the kind of photograph that doesn’t just ask for your attention—it quietly and powerfully demands it. The face, painted in bold white, eyes closed as if mid-prayer or mid-dream, holds a weight that speaks across generations. There’s a sacredness here.
This portrait is part of Ron's body of work: Keepers of Tradition, which "documents through portraiture Native American ceremonial dancers from many of the pueblos of northern New Mexico.
When I first met and photographed Lauren, he was a seventeen year-old student at the Santa Fe Indian School who had been dancing since middle school. He is a member of the Ohkay Owingeh pueblo, one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in North America. Lauren is recognized for his performance of the Comanche Dance, a ceremonial expression that commemorates the historical alliance and assistance extended by the Comanche people to the Ohkay Owingeh during times of hardship. It is culturally and historically significant in several ways including as a testament to intertribal solidarity.
Lauren’s dress and make-up are essential elements of his performance. His make-up is applied by his father and his dress and regalia incorporate traditional materials, symbols and patterns specific to Ohkay Owingeh identity. Each element of his appearance — feathers, beadwork, colors, textiles - carries meaning tied to the cosmology, values and heritage of his people. My Keepers of Tradition project is a tribute to those who sustain and share their heritage through dance, language, craftsmanship and presence. It is my hope that my portraits invite viewers to look more deeply, not just at what is worn, but at who is seen. The images were created with the intention to document, honor and celebrate Native American culture through the individuals I’ve had the privilege to meet and photograph."