THE PITCH

Extraction of natural resources has been a large part of the economies of Western States for the entirety of their existence. Gold in California, silver in Nevada, as well as the lumber, pelt, and ore industries of the Northern Rockies. Butte, a large city just ninety miles West of where I live, is home to the largest EPA superfund site in the United States. The Berkeley Pit sits square in the middle of town, like a chunk of it was dug out with an ice cream scoop. It was an open pit copper mine, since filled with thousands of gallons of water filled with toxins leeched from the ore. Ghosts in the Ore Country will examine the effects of extraction economy on the people and landscapes of the Mountain West. Please see the images above for examples of my previous work!

THE IMPACT

This project will be the capstone of my education, a culmination of everything I have learned during my time as a student. As such, I would love to make the best art I possibly can. As an artist, getting across the threshold from student to professional is extremely difficult, but having a great portfolio helps tremendously. By supporting this project, you are directly helping my career.

MEET THE PHOTOGRAPHER!

Hi! I'm Jon, a photographer and documentarian based in Bozeman, MT. I grew up in the Mojave Desert, the land of cowboys and silver miners. I stopped tolerating the heat, moved to Montana and am now currently completing my BFA in Integrated Lens-Based Media at Montana State University, Bozeman. I focus on the decaying structures of ghost towns strewn about the Rocky Mountains and Desert Southwest, and the stories those places can tell. My work has been displayed in juried group exhibitions at Montana State University and in the Helen E. Copeland Gallery in Bozeman, Montana (2025), as well as in Analog Forever Magazine (2025) and Alternative Photography (2025).

WHAT ARE THE DONATIONS USED FOR?

This is an ambitious project that will require me to travel all across Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho. Donations will be used for expendables, such as inkjet paper, matte boards, and data storage; travel expenses, like lodging, food, and gas; as well as for equipment and gallery submission fees. Any amount helps make this dream a reality, thank you so much for the support!

WHAT IF I CAN'T DONATE?

You can still make a difference:

By sharing this campaign with others.

By following the journey online!

Instagram: @jony__tan

My Website