The View From the Skyline: More Cowboys

Kevin guides the remuda

I do seem to be fascinated with iconic western scenes: Cowboys, horses, and the land and culture of ranch life.

I’ve just finished my third ranch-based workshop, similar to the first. Both were with Scott Baxter, who does brilliant work, specializes in ranch life, and sets up an opportunity for us to get to know the hands and what they do. The second, called “The Magic of Cowboys” and presented by Lisa Langell, had a different flavor but was no less an opportunity to learn and stretch boundaries.

Scott was insistent that we consider authenticity, never asking one of the cowboy models to, for example, hold his rope in an unnatural way or pose with a bit of straw in his mouth. Several of us laughed when we saw Brandon, one of our ranch hand models, chewing on a bit of straw. I’m still not sure whether he overheard the original conversation, and no, I didn’t get the shot.

J Brad and Dunny at work

At one point, waiting for the weather to come around, some of my colleagues were talking about the cost of a good telephoto wildlife lens, which can be over $10,000. Another of our cowboy-models, J Brad, took a moment to compose himself and said, “If I pay that kind of money for something, I need to be able to ride it.”

J Brad and Dunny in the hailstorm

We had the blessing and the curse of unsettled weather with snow and hail on Saturday. The driving hail in particular was very photogenic, but I can’t say it was pleasant for the photographers, J Brad, or his horse, Dunny. Our models were great sports. As we trudged back to our vehicles, J Brad leaned over and asked whether I thought the weather was going to get bad. More cowboy humor.

Cowboy models Brandon, J Brad, Kevin, and Everett

There were also lots of self-deprecating remarks about the risk of breaking our lenses photographing their faces. In fact, as you can see, this was a good-looking bunch.

Nutty Duke

We had a chance to meet several of Brandon’s dogs. I suppose this was a photographic tangent, but I got interested in shooting them. I can’t resist a dog. This is Duke, whose portrait fits well into my cowboy humor theme. He was a clown, and also apparently an accomplished tracker.

Brandon with Zoe

We all fell in love with Zoe, who seems to be a Corgi-Jack Russell mix. She does some ranch work, as much as her short legs allow.

Everett in a candid

Our youngest model was 17-year-old Everett, participating along with his dad, Kevin. Kevin mentioned that Everett hated having his picture taken, but after several thousand shots with the six of us, he seemed remarkably comfortable and was doing a really great job.

Kevin behind the door screen of an abandoned cabin

Kevin was a terrific model as well. He might have thought I was joking when I said his beard was photogenic. I wasn’t.

Panning shot of the remuda

I also enjoyed the chance to capture action. The technique I used here is called panning and involves photographing a moving subject at a relatively slow shutter speed while tracking it. It gives the feel of motion and a nice softness to the background.

Convergence of Seasons, Apache National Forest

So much photographing people, though a great learning opportunity, is tiring for this introvert. There were some landscapes for a change of pace, like aspen leaves and snow.