Three stories

A Book (about powwow)

The Story of the book Powwow: A Celebration through Song and Dance (Karen Pheasant-Neganigwane)

In 2019, I received a surprising email saying that this author's publisher would like to purchase the rights for a collection of my photos for inclusion in this upcoming book. One of those is the bottom right of the cover. I was delighted -- my 18-year-old photographer self's dream was coming true.

The book was published in 2020 and I was invited to accompany the author on a promotional tour. Then Covid happened and one powwow and speaking engagement after another was cancelled. However, the book was still promoted and in 2021, it was the top children's book in Canada. The book won numerous awards for the author -- well deserved.

As for me, it gave me credibility as a powwow photographer but there were also rumours that I was earning ongoing royalty income from it. I wasn't. I did receive a nominal payment per images but my contract with the publisher ended there. It was fun, however, to walk into a bookstore, see it on display, and tell staff that I took that photo.

A Tribute (to Ian Tyson)

In the early 80s, I had a gig writing reviews and taking black and white photos of the performances sponsored by the Vauxhall Performing Arts Society, in Vauxhall, Alberta.

I'd attend the concert or play (for free!), write a short review, and shoot a roll of black and white film. I'd turn that in to the editor and wait to see what made the paper. Usually I didn't see any of my photos outside of what was published.

After this concert, however, the editor gave me a "waxed half-tone" of this image saying, "you may want this some day." Ian's career took off and the image languished in my memorabilia trunk until I managed to score tickets to his 80th birthday concert. I then scanned it, printed it, and took it with me in hope of getting an autograph. I didn't.

Fast forward to December 29, 2022 when Ian died at the age of 89. Seeing a post on Twitter from Jeremy Klazus saying that he had been Ian's ghost writer, I replied with "I've take two good photos of Ian in my life. They're on my Instagram." And he replied almost immediately saying that he'd buy the old one from me for his tribute article.

Sometime later I was contacted by the web designer for his tribute website, on behalf of his family, asking for permission to use this image which they'd seen in Jeremy's article in The Sprawl.

And so now, find it at www.iantyson.com

A Podcast (a conversation)

interviewed by FRAMES, September 30, 2026

On September 30, having agreed that a friend could share my website with Thomaz Trzebiatowski, editor-in-chief of FRAMES magazine, I was interviewed by podcast host W. Scott Olsen.

During the audio only interview, he had this website open on his monitor as well as my photography Facebook page and Instagram. We talked about how I had determined my focus and what were the delights and challenges in the photography I do. This podcast will be available in late October or early November 2026.

https://readframes.com/category/frames-podcast/