ENTRY DESCRIPTION
These photographs were taken in conjunction with stories produced by Searchlight New Mexico, a non-partisan, nonprofit news organization dedicated to investigative and public service journalism in the interest of the people of New Mexico. Usner brought to these stories his perspective as a longtime documentary photographer and writer with deep roots in New Mexico and long experience gathering stories and images there. The editorial content of the photos reflects Usner's dedication to taking deep dives into issues of historical moment, exploring places and people through the lens of long-form storytelling. As such, the photographs represent a great diversity of cultural groups and landscapes. Usner has for most of his career focused on black-and-white imagery, rendered with rich blacks and strong contrast, as a means to evoke character, place and emotion. In the tradition of documentary photographers since the inception of photography, Usner seeks not only to inform, but to inspire thought and reflection—and emotion—on issues that may not always be comfortable to confront but nevertheless should be confronted. Through the medium of carefully controlled aesthetic dynamics, Usner's photographs seek to prompt the viewer to bear witness in the spirit of photographers such as Sebastião Salgado or Dorothy Lange. Usner’s work hews to the notion that it is the black-and-white aesthetic in his photographs that gives them the power to move people and inspire them to look deeply.

AUTHOR
Born in 1957 in New Mexico, Don earned a B.A. in Biology and Environmental Studies soon after co-authored and provided photographs for The Natural History of Big Sur (UC Press 1996). Don returned to New Mexico in 1988 to complete an M.A. in Geography at the University of New Mexico, then wrote and made photos for Sabino’s Map: Life in Chimayó’s Old Plaza (Museum of New Mexico Press). He has since written and provided photographs for several more books, including ¡Órale! Lowrider: Custom Made in New Mexico (Museum of New Mexico Press, 2016); Chasing Dichos through Chimayó (Museum of New Mexico Press, 2014); and, with William deBuys, Valles Caldera: A Vision for New Mexico’s National Preserve (2006, Museum of New Mexico Press; winner of a Southwest Book Award in 1996, new edition in press for 2021). Don also contributed a chapter and photographs to The Plazas of New Mexico, Trinity Press, 2011; (winner of Southwest Book Award).

Don also has published his writing and photography in magazines and other serial publications, including El Palacio, New Mexico Magazine, the New York Times, The New Yorker, and Bienvenidos. Presently working as a photojournalist for Searchlight New Mexico, his work has been published in Rolling Stone, the Guardian and numerous other magazines and newspapers.

Don has taught photography at the college and high school level as he continues to cultivate his lifelong interest in cultural and natural history and work as a writer and photographer in Santa Fe. He was named a New Mexico Luminaria by the New Mexico Community Foundation in 2013, an award given to New Mexicans who “motivate, inspire and support the dreams of others, promote diversity and equity, and build community strength through their leadership and vision.”

back to gallery