Where I live, snowfall is a rare phenomenon. I’m sure Zed, a sorrel gelding my family kept for a few months at our place near Weatherford, Texas, had never seen snow before. At that point, he may not have even experienced being in the cross-hairs of an 80—200mm lens. But when it snows in Texas, … Read more
Cowboys and horses trotting in at daylight has got to be one of the most thrilling scenes for a Western photographer to capture. Here, Jeffery Alvarado jingles in the remuda on the Kokernot o6 Ranch near Fort Davis, Texas. It’s always a captivating moment for me, watching dozens of fresh horses swish their tails, toss … Read more
The winter months can be tough for a photographer, with cold, wet conditions, fuzzy haircoats on horses, gray colors and leafless trees. But there are also scenes that develop that you wouldn’t be able to capture in the summer. One of those is brilliant colors in the sky at dusk. I was photographing Mesa Pate … Read more
Okay, I know that photos of sunrises and sunsets have become a dime a dozen. I’ve shot tons of them. Once you figure out how to get your camera settings right, getting a silhouette with a brilliant orange and red sky isn’t difficult for any photographer. So I don’t post this image, which I just … Read more
Tripp Townsend opens a gate at his feedlot near Earth, Texas. I’ve had the chance to visit Tripp’s yearling cattle operation several times, and it seems like good photos always present themselves. The early morning starts, flat West Texas landscape and handy horses have combined to create several nice sunrise photos. And another beauty of … Read more
John Bergin chases down a sick calf on the Hitch Ranch near Guymon, Oklahoma. Yearling calves that are feeling under the weather must be roped and doctored, but that task isn’t always easy. They rarely run in a straight line, and the ground can be slick and uneven. Still, the Hitch Ranch cares for thousands … Read more
Eddie Thompson sorts cows and calves on the Beggs Ranch near Fort Worth, Texas. His gray gelding showed quick moves and cow sense while letting calves run through the gate but holding cows from passing.
Matt Koch circles a cow in an open pasture. The cow horse trainer likes to ride his horses outside the arena at times, and that includes working on reined cow horse maneuvers. “They have to learn to find their feet,” he says. “You may be chasing a cow across a small hill, and the horse … Read more
Honestly, photographing cowboys trailing cows can be extremely boring. There isn’t a lot of fast-moving action and the scenery is often unremarkable. If you position yourself in front of the action, you mess up the drive. If you set up to the side, it’s tough to get the herd and cowboys in your frame without … Read more