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Photographing Montana 1894-1928: The Life and Work of Evelyn Cameron
Photographing Montana showcases more than 150 photographs of Evelyn Cameron's work, including vast landscapes, range horses, cattle roundups, farmers' fields, and the wildlife of the high plains. Her vivid images convey the lonely strength of pioneers and the slow growth of Terry, Montana.
250 pages, Hardcover
First published November 12, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 29, 2019
Bio of one of the hardest-working women in Montana mostly covering the time from the 1890s-1910s. Lots of insight on Badland ranching ways, lots of matter-of-fact diary excerpts giving you a real glimpse into the day to day work. Many photos taken by the woman of the bio, as she used photography to supplement their meager income, so not only portraits of contemporary ranchers, but photos of her life.
January 19, 2021
Donna Lucey stumbled across a treasure trove of photographs, diaries, and letters by Evelyn Cameron, and we are all the better for it. Lucey skillfully weaves together the voluminous material to tell Cameron’s story. Evelyn and her husband Ewan Cameron left comfort in England in the late 1800s to settle in the wilds of eastern Montana, where they scratched out a living as horse ranchers. To supplement their income, and for her own enjoyment, Cameron took up photography, lugging the heavy equipment up rock faces to photograph birds or traveling miles on horseback to take portraits of her fellow settlers. The book is not just a biography of Evelyn Cameron’s life as an indefatigable rancher and skilled photographer, though. It also tells the story of many of the British and other expats who flocked to Montana in the 19th and 20th centuries, sold on the promise of prosperity and ignorant of the severe challenges of farming and ranching in the inhospitable environment. The reader will learn a great deal about everyday life on the ranches and farms of the area around Terry, Fallon, and Miles City. The book is lavishly illustrated with a selection of Cameron’s photographs.
June 30, 2021
One of the best photography books I have read. The story of Evelyn Cameron and her life in Montana from 1894 to 1928 is an awesome look at her life, work and struggles to survive and also thrive in her photography. Her images are a key part of seeing how life was on the open plains during this time in our history.
April 26, 2012
The main feature of this book is its 150 photographs taken by photographer Evelyn Cameron in eastern Montana during the years of its earliest settlement, first by ranchers in the late 19th century and then by streams of homesteaders in the early decades of the 20th century. In the latter regard, it is an excellent companion to Jonathan Raban's "Bad Land." Most amazing is the vast range of photographs, including family portraits, group shots of cowboys, threshers, and sheep shearers, ranch buildings, open prairie, wild life, store fronts, wild horses, herds of sheep and cattle, badlands, social gatherings, and farm equipment.
We get glimpses into the lives of the wealthy and the dirt poor. None of the photographs were shot in a studio, and taken together they represent a broad sweep of frontier life across a handful of decades. The text provides a detailed life of the photographer herself, a remarkably spirited and self-sufficient English woman who has left us this marvelous and revealing record of a time long passed.
We get glimpses into the lives of the wealthy and the dirt poor. None of the photographs were shot in a studio, and taken together they represent a broad sweep of frontier life across a handful of decades. The text provides a detailed life of the photographer herself, a remarkably spirited and self-sufficient English woman who has left us this marvelous and revealing record of a time long passed.
June 10, 2013
This is an awesome book by Donna Lucey about an amazing female photographer in easter Montana. The book utilized the photos of Evelyn Cameron as well as her daily journals. She was an amazing photographer who documented the life and times of eastern Montana in the early 1900's. An excellent book about an incredible story. Ms. Cameron died in the mid 1920's. But, most of her work was unknown until Donna Lucey was doing some research in the 1990's. Check out the Montana Historical Society to see more of Evelyn Cameron's photos. There is also a museum in Terry, MT to showcase her work.
October 19, 2015
My family emigrated to Montana around this time. There are no photos of them as far as I know and no diaries. I love this book not only because Evelyn Cameron and her husband Ewan seem like the most amazing couple but because it gives me a glimpse of life in rural Montana In the early 1900's. We always think of pioneer settler stories as being very grim but you can see the life and humor of the locals in her photos. This is one of my favorite books of all time.
April 18, 2009
There are 170 photographs created by Evelyn Cameron shown in the book as well as the author's compilation from journals of Evelyn Cameron. Enlightened me about eastern Montana life during that time period and the positive attitudes and knowledge of one British woman who chose to live in Montana with her husband. Wonderful read!
June 22, 2017
A fascinating and moving book of photographs by Evelyn Cameron. The accompanying text does a good job of using her diaries, correspondence, and other papers to describe her life in England and Montana.
August 11, 2012
Evelyn Cameron was an amazing woman. I don't know what surprises me more - that so many people are unfamiliar with her work or that she managed to do so many amazing things. Thank goodness her work - both photographs and journals - was saved, rediscovered and made public.
July 1, 2009
love, love, love to look through this book.
July 14, 2011
This is a story of one very hard working, ambitious woman. It also includes her diary entries. I just couldn't put it down.
January 2, 2013
The details of this book are incredible. I felt like I was there. Having great photographs has that effect, but the narrative was fascinating. Enjoyed very much.
November 29, 2013
This is a great book about Montana history and an interesting woman. It is much more than a coffee table book.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews