As the American Southwest endures the worst drought in 1,200 years, A Question of Balance shares a story of a water supply divided along racial lines. Water is not taken for granted in the Navajo Nation—the largest Native reservation in the United States. More than one in three Diné (Navajo) must haul water to their rural homes. The Diné, who are 67 times more likely to lack running water than the average American, use the least amount of water per person in the nation yet effectively pay the most. Eighty miles away, in Utah’s Washington County, the opposite is true in the predominantly affluent Mormon communities centered around St. George. Despite relying on the same water supply, residents pay some of the lowest water rates in the country and consume the most per person.
This project is close to home. Living between the two communities, I too rely on the same Colorado River Basin water that I enjoy safely, cheaply, and reliably. Over four years, I built meaningful relationships and studied the underlying forces that have wrought this inequity. Using a medium format analog camera, this work illustrates how water fundamentally shapes lives, landscapes, and possibilities through the contrast these two neighbors present.
As regions around the world experience dramatic changes to their climate, the question is not only how water will be managed, but for whom. Without deliberate action, those who have long been disenfranchised will bear the greatest consequences, further widening existing inequities. To be clear, Washington County isn’t the cause of the Navajo Nation’s thirst. The water gap is an enduring legacy of Manifest Destiny, and the infrastructure and legislation it produced still largely define how water is used in the American West. Leaning against his wooden corral and framed by the iconic pinnacles of Monument Valley, rancher Billie Charlie put it succinctly: “We must prioritize humans, not corporations. Prioritize balance.”
Artist Bios
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Elliot Ross
Elliot Ross (b. 1990, Taipei, Taiwan) is a Taiwanese American photographer whose practice is deeply connected to the American West—a region that serves as a text to explore how landscapes, both natural and constructed, shape communities and cultures. His ongoing work examines the impact of settler colonialism, the urban-rural disconnect, and Indigenous self-determination. Ross is a National Geographic Explorer, a Magnum Foundation grantee, and a fellow at The Center for Contemporary Documentation. He has published several books including American Backyard and has produced cover stories for National Geographic and TIME. His work regularly appears in The Atlantic, The New Yorker and The New York Times. In the summer of 2026, A Question of Balance will be published as a monograph by KGP Monolith.
Organizations
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Photoville
Founded in 2011 in Brooklyn, NY, Photoville was built on the principles of addressing cultural equity and inclusion, which we are always striving for, by ensuring that the artists we exhibit are diverse in gender, class, and race.
In pursuit of its mission, Photoville produces an annual, city-wide open air photography festival in New York City, a wide range of free educational community initiatives, and a nationwide program of public art exhibitions.
By activating public spaces, amplifying visual storytellers, and creating unique and highly innovative exhibition and programming environments, we join the cause of nurturing a new lens of representation.
Through creative partnerships with festivals, city agencies, and other nonprofit organizations, Photoville offers visual storytellers, educators, and students financial support, mentorship, and promotional & production resources, on a range of exhibition opportunities.
For more information about Photoville visit, www.photoville.com
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Magnum Foundation
Magnum Foundation expands creativity and diversity in visual storytelling, activating new audiences and ideas through the innovative use of images. Through grants, mentorship, and creative collaborations, we partner with socially engaged imagemakers exploring new models for storytelling. Since our founding in 2007 by members of the Magnum Photos cooperative, we have made more than 600 direct grants to visual storytellers from over 80 countries. To find out about upcoming exhibitions and events, learn about grant opportunities, or join our community of support, please visit magnumfoundation.org
A Question of Balance
Featuring: Elliot Ross
Locations
ON VIEW AT: #36
View Location Details Download a detailed map of this location Brooklyn Bridge Park – Emily Warren Roebling Plaza1 Water St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
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The views and opinions expressed in this exhibit are those of the exhibition artists and partners and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Photoville or any other participants and partners of the Photoville Festival.
A Question of Balance was made possible by funding from the Center for Contemporary Documentation and the Magnum Foundation, with academic support from the Ted Scripps Fellowship and the University of Colorado.
Thank you to the institutions that shared knowledge and networks, including: Dig Deep, Glen Canyon Institute, KGP+, Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, Navajo Nation Department of Water Resources, Returning Rapids Project, The Small Darkroom, TIME Magazine, and the Washington County Water Conservancy District.
This work is dedicated to those who opened their doors, hearts, and knowledge to me: Avery MacLear, Billie Charlie, Chip Thomas, Chyenne Klemme, Coral and Justin Fife, Crystal Tulley-Cordova, Dan and Rose Williams, Donovan Smallcanyon, Effie Yazzie, Eli Neztsosie, Elvina Holiday, Florence Neztsosie, Floyd and May Stevens, Genevieve Ross, Heather Tanana, Jimmie and Rosie Black, Karl Vick, Karry Rathje, Katherine Pomerantz, Kaya Berne, Kris Graves, Linda Jackson, Luke Runyon, Mae Franklin, Martin Hoerling, Nolan, Maya, and Luna Stevens, Patrick Manning, Paul Sutter, Randall Holt and family, Raquel Thomas, Shanna Yazzie, Tim Holiday, Todd Smith, Tom Holiday, Tommy Rock, West and Kami Taylor, and Zach Renstrom. Thank you to Zack Sam for planting the seed that grew into this odyssey, and to my guiding lights Genevieve Ross and Alice Gabriner.
