Fort Griffin Photography

Project Details

Each year, Fort Griffin State Historic Site hosts Living History Days, bringing together historians, volunteers, and reenactors dedicated to preserving one of the most compelling chapters of Texas history. The event recreates life on the frontier through military demonstrations, historical interpretation, and authentic portrayals that allow visitors to experience the people and cultures that shaped nineteenth-century Texas.

My objective was to create portraits that felt authentic rather than theatrical. Working with natural light and the historic landscape of Fort Griffin, I photographed the individuals whose knowledge and commitment transform history from something read in books into something visitors can experience firsthand. Every portrait was composed to emphasize character, authenticity, and a connection to the landscape where these stories unfolded.

Among the featured portraits are William Reese, portraying a Buffalo Soldier of the 10th U.S. Cavalry, and Ray Hernandez, portraying Chief Broken Eagle of the Tonkawa Nation. Together, their portrayals represent two essential perspectives of the Texas frontier while honoring the dedication of the volunteers who preserve this history for future generations.

The portraits became central visual elements of Frontier Texas' Guardians of the Frontier exhibition and the museum's 2025 Annual Report, helping illustrate the stories of soldiers, Native peoples, settlers, and the evolving American frontier. The photography received national and regional recognition, earning three Gold Awards from the Society of Publication Designers in New York, including honors for Cover Design and Photography. The project also received three Gold ADDY Awards and the Judge's Choice Award from the American Advertising Federation – Dallas, two Silver ADDY Awards from AAF District 10, and two Bronze Bulb Awards from the Dallas Society of Visual Communication.