I was recently at an event outside of San Diego called Vaquero Day and happened to see this youngster taking a rest and could not resist taking a photo.  Cowboy.jpg

After 1840 with the fur trade on the decline, Mountain Men needed to find other means to support their lives in the wilderness. Acting as guides for emigrants or the military served this purpose.

This is quite a bit different from what I normally post. It is a possible cover for a San Diego Magazine with the theme of "Giving Back."  The photo represents to me a passing of the baton from a Grandfather to a Grandson and along with it a legacy of his hopes and dreams of a better world to live in.  HandtoHand

Being a Cowboy was probably a lonely and hard life at times. Everything was against the Cowboy, the elements, wild animals and some folks out to do you harm. I am sure many a Cowboy spent time to thank their Maker  HearMyPrayerO_Lord for making it safely through another day.

Living in San Diego County we have a lot of Spanish style arcitecture.  SpanishVillaSunrise2 I just happen to be in this spot for a different photo shoot this morning when I turned around and saw part of the tower sticking out from among the trees. I took one quick photo which you are looking at and then resumed by photoshoot. All in all, I like this shot more than any other I took this morning. Its a bit different that what I normally share, but I like it.

Another one from my "Back Country Series" that I have applied a slight sepia tone and black and white. Thanks for looking. LETS_RIDE

The Mountain Men era covered a period from 1810 to 1860. During that time they were the original pathfinders to the west. They were explorers, guides, fur traders and map makers.  MOUNTAIN_MAN

Something a little different from my usual posts, but not too much :)  This will be a part of a series I title "Tools of a Cowboy." I will be posting more in this series as I take them over the next few weeks. Thanks for looking. BOOTS   SPURS   BOOTS_AND_SPURS  

Another post from my "Back Country Series" of photos with the painted effect. I have titled it "Alone" as that the look on the Cowboys face to me. I imagine at times it was a very lonely job being a Cowboy and you might go days if not weeks without seeing another person. Alone

A few photos from my shoot with Stan Kruml last Saturday morning. We started shooting just as soon as we had enough light to walk. After the main photo shoot was finished, I thought it might be nice to get a few silhouettes since the sun was just coming up and had burned off most of the fog. I know that I have been posting a lot of Cowboy themed photos the past few weeks and I hope that you do not mind. At the moment, it is what interests me most and I love to share them with you, my photography friends.   Silhouette   Silhouette_2  Silhouette_3  Silhouette_4

A couple of photos from Saturday morning. I have converted them to a slight painted look. It was another foggy morning, but I like the effect the fog gives.    Easy_Does_It  Easy_Does_It_2

The American Cowboy way of life dies a little each year. It is a major part of the history and forklore that built this country. I feel blessed to be around these special men, to photography them and capture a piece of Americana that is losing ground as technology replaces this way of life.   Old_Corrals  Reflection  The_Cowboy_Hat   Stan_Kruml 

 Spooked Another photo that I converted to a painted look. Not quite sure what did it, might have been a snake, but the horse did not like where Stan was taking it. I have titled the photo "Spooked" as that is the look in the horses eye. I can tell you that when the horse swung around and headed my way, you should have seen the look in my eye. Stan got ahold it it within a few seconds, but it seemed much longer at the time.

I am trying my hand at converting photos to give them a painted look. I have attached the original and the converted photo for you to view. Does it work for you or should I leave well enough alone? I need some outside input and value your opinions.  Early Morning Ride 2  Early Morning Ride

Continuation of the "Foggy Morning Ride" series of photos of my friend Stan Kruml. Eventually we will set these to Stan's Cowboy Poetry and will be a part of a Western Cowboy Poetry Book we are producing. Foggy Morning Ride  Foggy Morning Ride 2