Wise County, Texas.  Home to several world famous Cowboys, such as Roping Legends Trevor Brazile, Roy Cooper and sons.

Got the chance to go out and shoot Roy again for a feature as he was being inducted to yet another Cowboy hall of fame. Really had a cool vision of what I wanted from the time I heard about the feature.  The problem was that for the scheduled time the reporter and I met with him the sun was straight up.  Not being far from home I talked Roy into letting me come back the next evening as the sun was setting. This guy runs at light speed and time is very limited with him, so getting a second set would be a treat.  I was instructed by him to call when I was coming.  I called at 6 p.m. and he said “come on” in that old get it done cowboy voice. Told him I would set up at front gate for a seven p.m. shoot.  Started setting up my lights on arrival, problem; The suns still to high and Roy is coming down the driveway on his little golf cart, just as I’m thinking of amping up my lights about three stops and going with it, I get a bonus.  He asked if I was ready, told him I could use another thirty minutes, To my amazement he said no problem I will be back. I knew once I started I would have about ten minutes, so I checked and rechecked to make sure all three strobes were firing.

So after about thirty he came back, only now he had a helper, a handful of a grandson called Triston. Now when this guy started the shoot no direction needed, he flowed through poses as he has done for years.  I knew he had done this a lot, all I had to worry about was recycle time on the strobes, and trying to keep Roy’s mind off being somewhere else till I got the look I was wanting.

 Top shot came at the end of the series as kind of a reflective moment of the years, which is exactly what I was waiting on. All three strobes where set to camera right, two thru a 42 inch lastolight, one thru a 8×8 small softbox.

D3s, 24-70,f11@100, ISO 400

For the same feature I got another treat. It came in the form of R.H. Moss, long time roper, 82 years of age that still ropes everyday.

Just talking to this guy inspired me to no end, and such a great contrast to the first part of the story. The reporter and I met Mr. Ross in the morning about ten. As I walked in, I saw a pair of spurs on this old guy. I thought “I’m Gonna see a drugstore Cowboy or the real deal,” as it comes out, it was definitely the real deal. After a two hour interview I had my plan. I didn’t even bother to shoot a picture then because as it turns out this guy still ropes everyday  with his son and grandson despite his age. He says, “We’ll be roping today at four or so.” My shot was mentally created, even more so when his son told me he got to the barn by riding a lawnmower. Although he can’t walk too good he can damn sure still ride.

Got there at four p.m., nothing fancy just available light. That’s all I needed because of this giant pecan tree in the middle of the arena.

This old guy was a hoot. He could tell me every detail of the first time he roped, down to the temperature  and which way the wind was blowing, but said most of the time he couldn’t remember what he had for breakfast.

So I finish up and we’re standing there talking ,watching his son and grandson rope, he leans over and says ” you just come out here to see me fall off a horse didn’t you son?” This was like a trip down memory lane for me, as I grew up on a farm and my dad was very much of a horseman.

I enjoy shooting Cowboy stories; I think because I understand these guys. It’s kinda the Cowboy way and if they tell you something that’s the way it is. There’s no gray area; it’s either black or white, yes or no. It is refreshing in days of uncertanty.