dustontoddblog

to order prints from this event please visit here.

after sitting with the same pricing and wedding coverage plans for way too long, we have decided to make some long overdue adjustments. as of July 1st, 2010 we will be launching new coverage options, products, and pricing.
as it has always been our goal – i’m going to continue shooting the same delicious photographs…and with these new simplified adjustments we can give you more of what you want!

“all human inventions progress from the complex to the simple and the perfection is always simplicity.” – alexander dumas, the count of monte cristo

if you’re a bride who is planning a wedding and has yet to book…i’d suggest to contact us now to take advantage of our current options.

to receive a brochure of our current coverage plans and options, please email me:
duston@dustontodd.com
801.635.6071

thank you!
- duston

elly and jake

shae and darrel

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i am sixteen and i felt death.
walking into the hospital room, engulfed by confusion, fear, and loss. i see my grandmother standing by my mother’s bedside. i find a comfortable spot with my back against the wall opposite of the bed. i am numb. my grandmother is talking of nothing, words are spilling out and sinking into the floor, never reaching my ears. and yet my eyes remained fixed on my grandmother’s hand – holding my mother’s as she continues to caress and stroke my mother’s forearm in search of her own comfort.
it is in this observation that an impression comes upon me that perhaps i should also touch my mother. that i, being her only child, should also show my affection and peel myself away from the cold wall. i approach my mother’s bedside, reach forth my hand and try to mimic my grandmother’s loving touch. my hand meets my mother’s upper arm and it’s jolted by a cold shock. i retract my hand.
my mother is gone.
a cold lifeless body and shell is all that remains.
i have witnessed the harsh reality of the absence of her spirit.
death is now very much in the room. death is everywhere.
and i felt it, physically felt it.
and how could my grandmother continue to hold her hand and caress her arm?
does she not feel what i felt?
and i slowly back away to find my place of comfort against the wall opposite the bed of my mother. and words continue to fall and sink into the linoleum, running about my feet and teasing me. perhaps all this is a joke.
and i am her only child.
and this is how i show my affection?
and i stay against the wall.
cold.
motionless.
confused.
numb.
i am sixteen and i felt death.

by no means did i intend to revisit this poignant memory in my life.
“death portraits” began as nothing more than a question which grew into a study. an observation of the relationship of the body and soul and what is communicated in a portrait. little did i know that this question was scratching the surface of something all too familiar. something buried deep within. as i started to unwrap the layers of this personal fabric, more and more of my vulnerable self was exposed. I knew no matter how dark and personal, this journey i needed to travel. to revisit my sixteen year old self as an adult and let my story take flight through my art.

my goal in this project was to photograph a soulless portrait. to take the living and remove that vital element we call life – the element that gives shape, voice, and wings to an individual. to study the hollow eyes and see what is communicated. to allow gravity to have utmost control of the human body, the face, the limbs, the breath, and see what it molds and creates. perhaps these portraits are unflattering, but there is truth. a different window to the soul is examined, through gesture and humility, as the masks have been removed. call it morbid, call it art, call it what you will, but in any case i have become the biggest benefactor to the project and i owe my subjects and assistants a great deal of my gratitude for the journey they have provided of self discovery and healing.

i tribute this project to my mother. there are exactly fifteen portraits to represent the fifteen years since she has passed away.
i live and breathe because of her. i have a voice because of her. i have a family i dearly love because of her…i am…because of her. i thank her for her sacrifices and eternal love that she has blessed and continues to bless me and my family with each day. may godspeed and until we meet again.
with all that i am, your son, duston.

thank you to all my models that participated in this project: josh, justin, john, scott, thomas, matt, kip, turtle, toby, joel, jonas, spencer, jay, randy, and jesse.
and my assistants: karlie, michelle, tiffany, sam, and whit.
without your help none of this would have been possible.
and lastly, again i want to thank all those that came to the show, as well as the many that weren’t able to come but would have. your support and company is very much appreciated.
a very sincere heartfelt thank you to you all…

if you want an idea of what the exhibit looked like, my friend and fellow photog rob d shot some great photos of my studio which offer some great insight to how the prints were displayed.
visit his blog here.

video of the event to come.

this is my attempt to photograph the soulless portrait.
to take the living and remove that vital element called life, the element that gives shape, voice, and wings to an individual.
what is the result? what is communicated?
what connection, relationship, and role do we as the viewers have with the portrait?

this project has deeply affected me and has become one of the most personal things i have ever experienced through my own art. if you haven’t had a chance, and would like to gain more insight to the story behind the project….then read this article (written by the incredibly talented Melissa Niu):
click here to read article

this exhibit is going to be quite unique. gone is the traditional method of framed pictures displayed on walls…

and lastly, the small parking lot just east of the studio will have free parking during the time of the exhibit!!! space is limited. many thanks to internet properties for your courtesy!

looking forward to seeing you there!
thanks,
- duston

click here for a map and parking directions to the studio.

order prints from the event here

susan and jesse’s vintage themed wedding on snippet and ink

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apparently people are wanting to hear what i have to say. so here goes:
i have a brain.
i have a mouth.
i have fingers and toes.
don’t you nose?

okay, maybe thats not what they are wanting from me. maybe skip the milk and head straight to the meat. to hear/read from me, something like my life story, my profession, why i shoot film, what inspires me, where i’ve been, where i am at, and where i am going…if this is your cup of soup then i ask to lend an ear or an eye (one interview is audio and one is written).

my interview (audio) with Scott Sheppard* for inside analog photo radio:
listen to the interview
we talk for about a half hour on all the goods. where i’ve been, where i am at, where i am going, film film film, and lots of meaty stuff. give it a spin and enjoy.
* Scott Sheppard has done an INCREDIBLE job in talking with dozens upon dozens of photographers from all over who are shooting film. There are many a name dropper here. If you are considering shooting film, or are just curious and want to perhaps become inspired – i HIGHLY recommend you give your time to many of the talents.
Scott Sheppard
(or search inside analog photo radio on your podcast via itunes)

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and my interview (written) with fellow photog and a new found friend, Melissa Niu:
read the interview
Melissa nailed it. deep in my heart. i know the above text in this post has been light-hearted and fun, but this interview is anything but that. it opened a very poignant memory in my life and i am very thankful to her for sharing her talent and gift with words.
(the interview gives much more insight of my experience in my recent project “death portraits“.)
what brought this interview about? Melissa is currently working on her own project all about u in the which she describes her motivation as “my selfish need to be selfless”. have a story? she wants to hear it. how cool is that!!

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