“I have a fairly good 35MM camera, (4.5 lens with speeds up to 150th of a second) and I plan to take as many pictures as possible of the natives, their surroundings, etc.”
— Conrad Bud Johnson to Hugo Rodeck, University of Colorado Museum of Natural History Director (1949)
Conrad 'Bud' Johnson was an avid photographer during his time in the Southwest Pacific. His photos straddle the line between science and art, between a soldier collecting data and man connecting with people. These photos are windows into the past, glimpses into the landscapes and people during Bud's time on the island. The land and sea are presented as lush and vast, pockmarked with the skeletons of machines from the World Wars. The photos of people are scientific and artistic. There was a goal to capture the people and their homes in a static representation. But, there are also photos of people that are at moments personal, portraits that go beyond the surface and become human.
"Teop native and his bicycle. He can ride it too. Where did he get it? I don't know. Teop Village, Bougainville
— Conrad 'Bud' Johnson (CUMNH CBJ001_02_007)
“Sunset in Kopikiri Village, Bougainville. Man in picture was a member of our party that went into the interior. The view is that of looking due SW in the Village.”
— Conrad 'Bud' Johnson (cbj001_06_004)
"Conrad J. Johnson sitting in the doorway of the House Kiap at Kumpani Village. The object in his left hand is a woodcarving given to him by Pukta, who is the chief of Kumpani Village.”
— Conrad 'Bud' Johnson (cbj001_07_006)
"Natives from Pukuito Village. Man on extreme right is a Sironga native teacher at Pukuito Village, and man on the extreme left in the back row is the Chief of Pukuito Village, Bougainville."
— Conrad 'Bud' Johnson (CUMNH CBJ001_05_002)
"Conrad Johnson and family at Pidia Village, Bougainville."
— Conrad 'Bud' Johnson (CUMNH CBJ001_04_0001)
"Two natives and turtle shell at Teop Village, Bougainville"
— Conrad 'Bud' Johnson (CUMNH CBJ001_02_0005)
"Chief of Kopikiri Village, Bougainville holding a native KAKU which is used for smashing taro or bananas in."
— Conrad 'Bud' Johnson (CUMNH CBJ001_05_005)
"Chief's house at Kumpani Village, Bougainville. The large man extending his hand to the dog in the picture is Pukta the chief."
— Conrad 'Bud' Johnson (CUMNH CBJ001_06_002)
"Two House Kiaps and the village cook-house located about two hundred yards from the Village of Kopikiri and down a hill from it. The hut on the left is the house Kiap for the Anglo visitors (tax collectors and Missionaries) and the one in the middle of the picture is for native visitors from other villages. The hut second from the right in the picture serves no special purpose other than storage, and the house on the extreme right behind the palm is the community cook-house where the women do their cooking and then bring it back to their huts to be consumed.”
— Conrad 'Bud' Johnson (DMNS IV.2015.12-12.N)
"Johnson and T.M. Walitofi who is from Salian, Langa Langa Lagoon, Malaita. Kukom dock Guadalcanal. The watch Wali is wearing was borrowed from one of the G.I.s."
— Conrad 'Bud' Johnson (CUMNH CBJ_001_04_010)
The Crown Prince Range, Bougainville
(DMNS IV.2015.12-2.N)
"Three Guadalcanal natives at Kukom beach Guadalcanal."
— Conrad 'Bud' Johnson (CUMNH CBJ_001_04_009)
"Reji, a native from Vella La Bella in the New Georgia group at Kukom dock, Guadalcanal"
— Conrad 'Bud' Johnson (CUMNH CBJ_001_04_004)
"Simeon, a native from the island of New Georgia at Kukom dock Guadalcanal."
— Conrad 'Bud' Johnson (CUMNH CBJ_001_04_007)