when I was young I was 7 years old I wanted to be a truck driver because it
wanted to be a truck driver because it
wanted to be a truck driver because it was the only job I knew you could get
was the only job I knew you could get
was the only job I knew you could get paid to travel and see the country and
paid to travel and see the country and
paid to travel and see the country and so I made my dad stop at truck stops to
so I made my dad stop at truck stops to
so I made my dad stop at truck stops to get gas when we went on vacation and I
get gas when we went on vacation and I
get gas when we went on vacation and I started shooting pictures of trucks when
started shooting pictures of trucks when
started shooting pictures of trucks when I was 7 so maybe maybe there was
I was 7 so maybe maybe there was
I was 7 so maybe maybe there was interesting I’m not sure when I was 19
interesting I’m not sure when I was 19
interesting I’m not sure when I was 19 years old I bought my first ten type at
years old I bought my first ten type at
years old I bought my first ten type at a flea market and I’d never seen a ten
a flea market and I’d never seen a ten
a flea market and I’d never seen a ten type before and it was just a beautiful
type before and it was just a beautiful
type before and it was just a beautiful object with a photograph on it metal
object with a photograph on it metal
object with a photograph on it metal plate and so I’ve collected ten types
plate and so I’ve collected ten types
plate and so I’ve collected ten types since I was 19 I’ve got about 5000 in my
since I was 19 I’ve got about 5000 in my
since I was 19 I’ve got about 5000 in my collection now and I guess about eight
collection now and I guess about eight
collection now and I guess about eight years ago with digital photography
years ago with digital photography
years ago with digital photography becoming an important part of what we do
becoming an important part of what we do
becoming an important part of what we do professionally I was getting depressed
professionally I was getting depressed
professionally I was getting depressed about photography because I really
about photography because I really
about photography because I really wasn’t interested in spending time on a
wasn’t interested in spending time on a
wasn’t interested in spending time on a computer so I found a person that knew
computer so I found a person that knew
computer so I found a person that knew how to do the tintype process and I went
how to do the tintype process and I went
how to do the tintype process and I went and took a tutorial in about three hours
and took a tutorial in about three hours
and took a tutorial in about three hours into a three day tutorial I was hooked I
into a three day tutorial I was hooked I
into a three day tutorial I was hooked I mean it was an experience that was very
mean it was an experience that was very
mean it was an experience that was very tactile it smelled like photography you
tactile it smelled like photography you
tactile it smelled like photography you your fingers got wet they got dirty and
your fingers got wet they got dirty and
your fingers got wet they got dirty and you know the attractive thing was each
you know the attractive thing was each
you know the attractive thing was each one was a one-of-a-kind image and so you
one was a one-of-a-kind image and so you
one was a one-of-a-kind image and so you know that really kind of took it 180
know that really kind of took it 180
know that really kind of took it 180 degrees away from digital photography
degrees away from digital photography
degrees away from digital photography and so ever since then I’ve been pretty
and so ever since then I’ve been pretty
and so ever since then I’ve been pretty hooked on it plus I think the the the
hooked on it plus I think the the the
hooked on it plus I think the the the relationship you develop when you
relationship you develop when you
relationship you develop when you photograph somebody on the tintype
photograph somebody on the tintype
photograph somebody on the tintype process is totally unique because you
process is totally unique because you
process is totally unique because you have you know it takes an hour sometimes
have you know it takes an hour sometimes
have you know it takes an hour sometimes two hours to to make the final images
two hours to to make the final images
two hours to to make the final images and so you’re spending a lot of time
and so you’re spending a lot of time
and so you’re spending a lot of time with the subjects and when you’re
with the subjects and when you’re
with the subjects and when you’re shooting digital 35 you’re more
shooting digital 35 you’re more
shooting digital 35 you’re more gathering lots of material coming back
gathering lots of material coming back
gathering lots of material coming back and trying to find the frame that works
and trying to find the frame that works
and trying to find the frame that works whereas you know the intimate
whereas you know the intimate
whereas you know the intimate relationship you get with a tintype is
relationship you get with a tintype is
relationship you get with a tintype is you know the the discussions you have
you know the the discussions you have
you know the the discussions you have about friends family and everything that
about friends family and everything that
about friends family and everything that you know you just get a different
you know you just get a different
you know you just get a different connect
connect
connect those two people which is nice the the
those two people which is nice the the
those two people which is nice the the reason I mean I try to focus on projects
reason I mean I try to focus on projects
reason I mean I try to focus on projects I care about with the tintype I mean I
I care about with the tintype I mean I
I care about with the tintype I mean I don’t do assignments with it that I
don’t do assignments with it that I
don’t do assignments with it that I don’t have interest in because it’s too
don’t have interest in because it’s too
don’t have interest in because it’s too labor-intensive and and it’s not for me
labor-intensive and and it’s not for me
labor-intensive and and it’s not for me it’s not a trick in my bag you know it’s
it’s not a trick in my bag you know it’s
it’s not a trick in my bag you know it’s it’s something that I care about and
it’s something that I care about and
it’s something that I care about and I’ve just decided that you know the
I’ve just decided that you know the
I’ve just decided that you know the digital photography is a great tool and
digital photography is a great tool and
digital photography is a great tool and it’s a tool that I’ll use for you know
it’s a tool that I’ll use for you know
it’s a tool that I’ll use for you know certain kinds of clients and certain
certain kinds of clients and certain
certain kinds of clients and certain projects and I don’t mind because I’ve
projects and I don’t mind because I’ve
projects and I don’t mind because I’ve separated it out and so for me the ten
separated it out and so for me the ten
separated it out and so for me the ten type is just something that’s strictly
type is just something that’s strictly
type is just something that’s strictly passion driven and if I can make money
passion driven and if I can make money
passion driven and if I can make money off of it that’s fine but as long as I
off of it that’s fine but as long as I
off of it that’s fine but as long as I can get a project that I care about out
can get a project that I care about out
can get a project that I care about out of it I mean like this project for
of it I mean like this project for
of it I mean like this project for National Geographic I took all the money
National Geographic I took all the money
National Geographic I took all the money that I made in my photo fees and stayed
that I made in my photo fees and stayed
that I made in my photo fees and stayed out for another seven weeks to shoot
out for another seven weeks to shoot
out for another seven weeks to shoot pictures on my own
pictures on my own
pictures on my own because I wanted to build a body of work
because I wanted to build a body of work
because I wanted to build a body of work I’ve shot Cowboys for 25 years so in the
I’ve shot Cowboys for 25 years so in the
I’ve shot Cowboys for 25 years so in the end I didn’t make one penny off of doing
end I didn’t make one penny off of doing
end I didn’t make one penny off of doing the story for the magazine I just dumped
the story for the magazine I just dumped
the story for the magazine I just dumped it back into spending more time in the
it back into spending more time in the
it back into spending more time in the field doing audio and I also shot 28
field doing audio and I also shot 28
field doing audio and I also shot 28 hours of video and I’d never done video
hours of video and I’d never done video
hours of video and I’d never done video before so I just dove in and put the
before so I just dove in and put the
before so I just dove in and put the money back into the project because I
money back into the project because I
money back into the project because I care about the project
I think the reason that Cowboys love
I think the reason that Cowboys love what they do is just the idea that
what they do is just the idea that
what they do is just the idea that they’re doing what they want to do I
they’re doing what they want to do I
they’re doing what they want to do I mean really I mean these people every
mean really I mean these people every
mean really I mean these people every day the next day is something they look
day the next day is something they look
day the next day is something they look forward to it’s not like they regret
forward to it’s not like they regret
forward to it’s not like they regret getting up and going to work they enjoy
getting up and going to work they enjoy
getting up and going to work they enjoy the next day even if it’s going to be I
the next day even if it’s going to be I
the next day even if it’s going to be I mean some guys work in 50 below weather
mean some guys work in 50 below weather
mean some guys work in 50 below weather and you know in their 1012 hours on a
and you know in their 1012 hours on a
and you know in their 1012 hours on a horse blowing snow and it’s just the
horse blowing snow and it’s just the
horse blowing snow and it’s just the challenge the the of being out and in
challenge the the of being out and in
challenge the the of being out and in the conditions and being tested and
the conditions and being tested and
the conditions and being tested and testing themselves and I think also you
testing themselves and I think also you
testing themselves and I think also you know for them they define happiness by
know for them they define happiness by
know for them they define happiness by what they do every day and so there’s
what they do every day and so there’s
what they do every day and so there’s not a lot of people I think in in the
not a lot of people I think in in the
not a lot of people I think in in the u.s. that define their happiness by what
u.s. that define their happiness by what
u.s. that define their happiness by what they do every day for a living and I
they do every day for a living and I
they do every day for a living and I think that’s you know I know guys that
think that’s you know I know guys that
think that’s you know I know guys that have worked three months in a gold mine
have worked three months in a gold mine
have worked three months in a gold mine driving a big truck in Nevada and a gold
driving a big truck in Nevada and a gold
driving a big truck in Nevada and a gold mine they were Cowboys for eighteen
mine they were Cowboys for eighteen
mine they were Cowboys for eighteen years they went to work because they can
years they went to work because they can
years they went to work because they can make you know eight eight times the
make you know eight eight times the
make you know eight eight times the money driving a truck in a gold mine and
money driving a truck in a gold mine and
money driving a truck in a gold mine and they quit and they go back to making
they quit and they go back to making
they quit and they go back to making sixteen hundred dollars a month as
sixteen hundred dollars a month as
sixteen hundred dollars a month as opposed to ten thousand dollars a month
opposed to ten thousand dollars a month
opposed to ten thousand dollars a month driving a truck because they’re happy
driving a truck because they’re happy
driving a truck because they’re happy doing that and they’re willing to
doing that and they’re willing to
doing that and they’re willing to sacrifice material things for their
sacrifice material things for their
sacrifice material things for their happiness and I think you know that’s
happiness and I think you know that’s
happiness and I think you know that’s there’s plenty of cultures that have
there’s plenty of cultures that have
there’s plenty of cultures that have been destroyed in less than a generation
been destroyed in less than a generation
been destroyed in less than a generation because they want to acquire a material
because they want to acquire a material
because they want to acquire a material wealth that the West has or the West
wealth that the West has or the West
wealth that the West has or the West says is important I mean I think Cowboys
says is important I mean I think Cowboys
says is important I mean I think Cowboys are interesting because they’re one of
are interesting because they’re one of
are interesting because they’re one of the few groups anywhere in the world
the few groups anywhere in the world
the few groups anywhere in the world that have not succumbed to advertisers
that have not succumbed to advertisers
that have not succumbed to advertisers convincing them that more stuff is going
convincing them that more stuff is going
convincing them that more stuff is going to make them happy for them they’re what
to make them happy for them they’re what
to make them happy for them they’re what they do eight ten twelve hours a day is
they do eight ten twelve hours a day is
they do eight ten twelve hours a day is the happiness that fulfills them and so
the happiness that fulfills them and so
the happiness that fulfills them and so they’ve you know some of them have tried
they’ve you know some of them have tried
they’ve you know some of them have tried the better paying jobs and they come
the better paying jobs and they come
the better paying jobs and they come back because you know life’s too short
back because you know life’s too short
back because you know life’s too short to to worry about just acquisition of
to to worry about just acquisition of
to to worry about just acquisition of material things
well I think the clothes that these
well I think the clothes that these people wear all have a function I mean
people wear all have a function I mean
people wear all have a function I mean if it doesn’t have a function they don’t
if it doesn’t have a function they don’t
if it doesn’t have a function they don’t they don’t wear it now well let’s let’s
they don’t wear it now well let’s let’s
they don’t wear it now well let’s let’s just say that style is important you
just say that style is important you
just say that style is important you know if you’re going to buy a pair of
know if you’re going to buy a pair of
know if you’re going to buy a pair of boots you know and they’ve got to serve
boots you know and they’ve got to serve
boots you know and they’ve got to serve the function of protecting your feet
the function of protecting your feet
the function of protecting your feet you’re gonna pick something that fits
you’re gonna pick something that fits
you’re gonna pick something that fits you as a person you know your your
you as a person you know your your
you as a person you know your your personal style so there is some style
personal style so there is some style
personal style so there is some style but every piece of gear that they’re
but every piece of gear that they’re
but every piece of gear that they’re wearing has a function the shafts the
wearing has a function the shafts the
wearing has a function the shafts the hat the Necker chips that they call wild
hat the Necker chips that they call wild
hat the Necker chips that they call wild rags all have a significant part of what
rags all have a significant part of what
rags all have a significant part of what they’re getting the job done and staying
they’re getting the job done and staying
they’re getting the job done and staying warm and keeping keeping from being cut
warm and keeping keeping from being cut
warm and keeping keeping from being cut so so everything you see that they’re
so so everything you see that they’re
so so everything you see that they’re wearing has a function and as you see
wearing has a function and as you see
wearing has a function and as you see them as how I found them so I never I
them as how I found them so I never I
them as how I found them so I never I didn’t have a stylist with me I didn’t
didn’t have a stylist with me I didn’t
didn’t have a stylist with me I didn’t ask them to tie a record chef a certain
ask them to tie a record chef a certain
ask them to tie a record chef a certain way or tilt a hat or anything it’s just
way or tilt a hat or anything it’s just
way or tilt a hat or anything it’s just as they were and you know that’s
as they were and you know that’s
as they were and you know that’s basically what they wear every day and
basically what they wear every day and
basically what they wear every day and if you get to the buckaroo region which
if you get to the buckaroo region which
if you get to the buckaroo region which is again Oregon Idaho Nevada and British
is again Oregon Idaho Nevada and British
is again Oregon Idaho Nevada and British Columbia those people represent the true
Columbia those people represent the true
Columbia those people represent the true Vaccaro roots which is more ornate like
Vaccaro roots which is more ornate like
Vaccaro roots which is more ornate like a lot of silver for bridles and flour
a lot of silver for bridles and flour
a lot of silver for bridles and flour stamp saddles and big cap add arrows and
stamp saddles and big cap add arrows and
stamp saddles and big cap add arrows and and things like this that we’re all
and things like this that we’re all
and things like this that we’re all about you know they they are showy
about you know they they are showy
about you know they they are showy but the region they work in isn’t as
but the region they work in isn’t as
but the region they work in isn’t as thorny and as brushy as say guys down in
thorny and as brushy as say guys down in
thorny and as brushy as say guys down in Texas and Arizona so if you are going to
Texas and Arizona so if you are going to
Texas and Arizona so if you are going to spend $800 on a certain item or you can
spend $800 on a certain item or you can
spend $800 on a certain item or you can spend $1,600 on it to get something a
spend $1,600 on it to get something a
spend $1,600 on it to get something a little more flower you let’s say if
little more flower you let’s say if
little more flower you let’s say if you’re down in Texas you’d never spend
you’re down in Texas you’d never spend
you’re down in Texas you’d never spend that extra money to do that because it’s
that extra money to do that because it’s
that extra money to do that because it’s going to get torn up so you go for more
going to get torn up so you go for more
going to get torn up so you go for more function and the guys that the stuff
function and the guys that the stuff
function and the guys that the stuff will last a lot longer will invest in
will last a lot longer will invest in
will last a lot longer will invest in stuff that’s a little more decorative
stuff that’s a little more decorative
stuff that’s a little more decorative because that’s the history of the region
because that’s the history of the region
because that’s the history of the region but also it still functions just fine
but also it still functions just fine
but also it still functions just fine and it lasts a lot longer so you know
and it lasts a lot longer so you know
and it lasts a lot longer so you know it’s not a problem
with the tintype the lot of the Cowboys
with the tintype the lot of the Cowboys saw how difficult it was to make the
saw how difficult it was to make the
saw how difficult it was to make the images and in many ways that kind of I
images and in many ways that kind of I
images and in many ways that kind of I guess I got a little bit of added
guess I got a little bit of added
guess I got a little bit of added respect from them because I just wasn’t
respect from them because I just wasn’t
respect from them because I just wasn’t flying in there with a couple cameras on
flying in there with a couple cameras on
flying in there with a couple cameras on my shoulder shooting pictures and
my shoulder shooting pictures and
my shoulder shooting pictures and leaving you know it was like a big
leaving you know it was like a big
leaving you know it was like a big investment of time and and handmade and
investment of time and and handmade and
investment of time and and handmade and so it really is more reminiscent of what
so it really is more reminiscent of what
so it really is more reminiscent of what they do
they do
they do you know kind of a very tactile
you know kind of a very tactile
you know kind of a very tactile experience as opposed to something
experience as opposed to something
experience as opposed to something that’s not so I think you know they saw
that’s not so I think you know they saw
that’s not so I think you know they saw the the sweat and everything that I was
the the sweat and everything that I was
the the sweat and everything that I was going through just to make pictures and
going through just to make pictures and
going through just to make pictures and I think they kind of liked that I was
I think they kind of liked that I was
I think they kind of liked that I was having to work pretty hard
well I think I mean my family were
well I think I mean my family were farmers not ranchers I mean some work on
farmers not ranchers I mean some work on
farmers not ranchers I mean some work on ranches and the area I grew up is has
ranches and the area I grew up is has
ranches and the area I grew up is has some of the big historic ranches in
some of the big historic ranches in
some of the big historic ranches in Texas but I’ve always been attracted to
Texas but I’ve always been attracted to
Texas but I’ve always been attracted to the cowboy lifestyle just because it’s
the cowboy lifestyle just because it’s
the cowboy lifestyle just because it’s you know we live in a very modern
you know we live in a very modern
you know we live in a very modern high-tech rich country and these people
high-tech rich country and these people
high-tech rich country and these people have opportunities to do other things
have opportunities to do other things
have opportunities to do other things that they could make a lot more money
that they could make a lot more money
that they could make a lot more money driving a truck for UPS than being a
driving a truck for UPS than being a
driving a truck for UPS than being a cowboy but they’re driven by their
cowboy but they’re driven by their
cowboy but they’re driven by their passion to do with what’s important to
passion to do with what’s important to
passion to do with what’s important to do to them and to live the life that
do to them and to live the life that
do to them and to live the life that they want and and probably more
they want and and probably more
they want and and probably more importantly to raise their families and
importantly to raise their families and
importantly to raise their families and environments that that they’re they feel
environments that that they’re they feel
environments that that they’re they feel is important and so I just always been
is important and so I just always been
is important and so I just always been attracted to these people because of the
attracted to these people because of the
attracted to these people because of the passion
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