The Spanish Ranch - Nevada

Rob Hammer June 25, 2025

Historic Cowboy Photography at the Spanish Ranch in Nevada

Documenting a Legendary Nevada Cattle Operation

Northern Nevada is home to some of the most historic cattle ranches in the country. North of I-80, the landscape becomes a patchwork of sagebrush and working land, a region shaped by generations of ranchers. I recently had the chance to photograph life on the Spanish Ranch in Tuscarora, Nevada, part of the legendary Ellison Ranching Company, which has been operating there since 1910. But the history of this land goes back even further. Buckaroos were running cattle here long before the Ellisons arrived, and luckily, many of the old traditions are still alive there today. You see it in the way the cowboys move through their day, in the gear on their horses, and in the quiet pride they carry.

Why Nevada’s Buckaroo Country Feels Different

Every ranch has something unique, but I’ll admit I’m especially drawn to those in Nevada. The Sagebrush Sea has its own kind of pull; wide open, endless, and meditative. The buckaroo style itself, the horsemanship, the gear, the rhythm of the work all feels timeless and intentional. Even just driving onto the ranch, you know you’re entering a special place.

When I visited, it was branding season, and the cowboys were camped in teepees out in the desert, hours from the nearest town. Each night, I’d fall asleep staring out at the fading light on the horizon, just the wind, the birds, and the slow color shift of the sagebrush. No noise. No phones. No traffic. It’s the kind of peace you can’t buy or download.

Mornings started early with breakfast at 4:30 a.m., and then the day unfolds just the same way it has for ages, horseback across giant swaths of pristine country. Watching these cowboys work in such a remote, beautiful place is something I’ll never take for granted.

Photographing the Spirit of the American West

Photographing working cowboys on historic ranches like the Spanish Ranch isn’t just about documenting a job, it’s about capturing a way of life that’s still deeply rooted in purpose, patience, and hard work. Every trip out to a ranch like this reminds me why I do what I do. It’s always hard to leave after spending time with great people that deserve so much respect, knowing the road home means traffic, screens, and emails stacked up like fence posts. But I carry the stillness of these places with me and I try to pass that along through the photographs.

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Black and white photograph of horses kicking up dust — Horses kicking up dust in a corral at The Spanish Ranch in Nevada

Photograph of a cowboy riding through open range in the American West — Riding through open range

Photograph with motion blur of cowboys dragging calves on a ranch in Nevada — Buckaroos dragging calves to the branding fire

Photograph of the desert landscape on the Spanish Ranch at sunset in Nevada — Sunset on the Spanish Ranch

Black and white photograph of a cow boss catching horses lined up on a rope in a cloud of dust — Pack of horses in a cloud of dust

Photograph with motion blur of a cowboys boot in a stirrup while riding his horse — Motion blur cowboy photograph

Close-up photograph of two calves being roped at the same time on a cattle ranch in the American West — Roping calves on a working cattle ranch in the American West

Black and white portrait of a Nevada buckaroo — Nick Donker

Black and white photograph of The Spanish Ranch in Tuscarora, Nevada — The Spanish Ranch - Tuscarora, NV

Photograph of a cowboy getting into his canvas teepee — Buckaroo getting into his teepee

Black and white photograph of buckaroos gathering cattle in open country on a ranch in Nevada

Leather fringe sways on a cowboys chaps as he brands a cow — Leather fringe on a pair of cowboy chaps

Black and white photograph of teepees set up at cow camp on a historic cattle ranch in Nevada — Cow Camp at The Spanish Ranch in Nevada

Photograph of buckaroos branding cattle in northern Nevada

Classic portrait of a cowgirl — Makayla Fulfer - Cowgirl

Group photo of cowboys on their horses in front of a beautiful cloudy sky in the American West — Group photo of cowboys on the Spanish Ranch

Black and white photograph of a horses running through dust

Photograph of a cowboy riding a bucking horse in early morning light on a cattle ranch — Early morning bronc ride

Photograph of a traditional buckaroo and his horse on a cattle ranch in Nevada — Cody Braucher - Cow Boss - Spanish Ranch

Cowboys working cattle on a ranch in Nevada

Capture the Spirit of the American West with Fine Art Prints of Old Corrals on Historic Cattle Ranches

Rob Hammer December 7, 2024

Timeless Beauty of Old Corrals: Fine Art Photography Prints

Ian Tyson said best with the now famous line “I like old corrals and sagebrush…”

The American West is a land rich with tradition, rugged landscapes, and stories that span generations. Among the most iconic and enduring symbols of this heritage are the old corrals on cattle ranches that have been used for decades, if not centuries, to round up and care for livestock. These weathered, rustic structures hold a deep connection to the West’s cowboy culture and the hardworking men and women who maintain the traditions of the land.

As a Western photographer, I have had the privilege of capturing the beauty and authenticity of these historic corrals, immortalizing them in fine art photography prints. The texture of aged wood, the worn fences, and the fading paint tell a story of hard work, resilience, and a lifestyle that is slowly fading from the modern landscape. Each photograph brings to life the essence of ranching life in the American West—gritty, timeless, and beautifully raw.

These color and black-and-white prints evoke the nostalgia of a past era, where the sight of a well-worn corral set against sweeping landscapes was part of daily life. Whether you are drawn to the rugged beauty of these structures or simply appreciate the rawness of Western landscapes, these prints make a stunning addition to any collection. They are more than just photographs—they are windows into the heart of the American West, preserving a piece of history for future generations.

Perfect for those who appreciate Western art, rustic decor, or historical photography, these fine art prints of old corrals will transport you to the heart of the American West. They invite the viewer to pause and reflect on the enduring legacy of ranching, while adding an element of rustic elegance to any space.

Contact me directly if you’d like a western photography print of these old corrals for your home, office, or commercial space - rob@robhammerphotography.com

Photograph of an old wood corral in front of an iconic Western backdrop at sunset in Utah — Old wood cattle corrals in the American West

Black and white photograph of wood cattle corrals

Morning sun shines on the Sierra Nevada mountains and a cattle ranch outside Bridgeport, CA

Photograph of the cattle pens on the C-Punch Ranch near Lovelock, Nevada

Black and white photograph of wood cattle corrals in front of an iconic Western backdrop

Photograph of wood fence posts reflected in water at sunset on the Diamond A Ranch in Arizona

Wood corrals on a cattle ranch in Colorado

Authentic Cowboy Photography: Preserving the Spirit of the American West

Rob Hammer October 31, 2024

Timeless Images of Cowboys: Fine Art Photography Prints for Western Enthusiasts

Bring the unique charm of the American West into your home with our collection of authentic limited edition cowboy photography prints. Each image captures the spirit of the frontier, showcasing iconic scenes of cowboys in action—wrangling cattle, riding horses across vast open plains, and building bonds in the branding pen.

These hand signed prints highlight the raw beauty of the Western landscape, from sweeping vistas of golden prairies to dramatic mountain backdrops. With a focus on authenticity, each photograph reflects the grit and grace of cowboy life, celebrating the tradition and heritage of this enduring culture.

Perfect for home décor or as a unique gift for lovers of Western history, our prints come in various sizes and formats, allowing you to find the perfect piece to complement your space. Bring the essence of the Wild West into your home with our stunning cowboy photography—where every print tells a story of adventure, resilience, and the timeless allure of the open range.

Click here to shop cowboy photography prints

Authentic western cowboy photography prints

Black and white framed cowboy photography prints

Western Photography Gallery

Rob Hammer August 5, 2024

Cowboy Prints - Fine Art

Photographing American cowboys is a great honor. I also see it as a necessity, to document and celebrate a culture that takes so much pride in their thankless job. Their way of life has gone greatly unchanged for the past 100 years, but it seems like that may not be true for the hundred years ahead. So I’m proud to share this western gallery of photographs of people that value authenticity in the same way that I do. These are more than photographs—they’re windows into a world that is misunderstood.

For those who feel the pull of the open ranges of the American West and the stories it holds, I invite you to explore this collection. To keep their culture alive, but also to keep photography alive in the printed form. So each exhibition and fine art print that you display on your wall means a hell of a lot. Not only to promote the Western culture and the people that dedicate their lives to it, but to remind viewers of the power of a printed photograph.

Click here to shop my fine art cowboy photography prints

Gallery of western cowboy photography prints — Western cowboy photography prints

Black and white photography print of a cowboy on the 6666 Ranch in Texas — Cowboy Photography Gallery

Authentic black and white cowboy photography print — Black and white cowboy print

Black and white photograph of cowboys trailing cattle on a ranch in Montana — Photograph of a Montana cattle drive

Authentic photography prints of American Cowboys — Western Photography Gallery

Western Horseman Magazine

Rob Hammer June 11, 2024

Cowboy Photographer

It’s been 3.5+ years since I started photographing working cowboys all across the American West and I remain humbled by every opportunity that’s come along. This is by far my favorite project to date and one that I don’t plan on stopping. So it’s an honor being included in Western Horseman Magazine’s list of best photographers for 2024! If you could please take a minute to vote for me it would be greatly appreciated. You can do so once a day until July 1st at this link:

https://westernhorseman.com/best-of-western-horseman/people/#photographers

Thank you so much!

Eugene, Oregon Photo Gallery

Rob Hammer April 26, 2024

Photography at Oregon

Maude Kerns Art Center

Honored to share that 12 of my black and white cowboy photography prints are part of an invitational group show at the Maude Kerns Art Center with Photography at Oregon. Along with my prints will be others by Barbara Bakalarova, Tracy Barbutes, Sarah Grew, Eric Kunsman, Willie Osterman, Osceola Refetoff, and Nolan Streitberger. If you’re in Eugene, Oregon area please stop in to check out the work from May 10-June 7. They will be having an opening reception on May 10th and an artist talk on June 1st. I’m not able to attend either day, but I still encourage you to check out the show.

Click here to shop my fine art cowboy photography prints

Photography exhibition at Maude Kerns Art Center - Eugene, Oregon

Montana Cowboys: A Life Lived Close to the Land

Rob Hammer March 4, 2024

Through the Lens: Capturing the Grit and Grace of Montana’s Cowboys

The Montana cowboy doesn’t need an audience. His life, tied as it is to the rhythm of the land, unfolds whether or not anyone is watching. But for those who do, there’s something magnetic about it—a life that feels both hard-earned and untouched by time.

When I step onto a ranch with my camera, I’m not just looking for a photograph; I’m trying to catch a moment that’s as honest as the dirt under a cowboy’s boots. Montana is a land of big skies and even bigger silences, and its cowboys carry that same quiet strength. They work with a kind of grace that comes from repetition—reining in a horse, throwing a rope, or sitting a saddle of leather that’s seen more miles than most of us ever will.

Out here, you don’t ask for a pose. You wait. You watch. The best photographs are the ones that seem to catch the air mid-breath: a cowboy leaning against a fence at dawn, the light spilling across his hat brim; a horse kicking up dust in a corral, the sun caught in every grain; a rider silhouetted against a sky so wide it seems to hold all of Montana in its grasp.

The work isn’t glamorous, and it isn’t meant to be. These are men and women who live close to the land, who measure time not by the ticking of a clock but by the turn of the seasons. They brand cattle in the spring, cut hay in the summer, and brace against blizzards in the winter. And yet, for all the grit and sweat, there’s a poetry to their lives—a rhythm that speaks to something old and enduring.

I’ve always believed the Montana cowboy is more than an icon; he’s a testament to the hard work, independence, and quiet pride that built the West. My photographs aim to honor that legacy, capturing the way the dust hangs in the air after a herd moves through or how the golden hour stretches long and slow over a ranch at the edge of nowhere.

Montana has a way of making everything feel bigger—the mountains, the skies, even the silences. And its cowboys are no exception. They move through the land like they belong to it, not the other way around. For me, every photograph is an opportunity to show that connection, to capture a way of life that feels as timeless as the wind through the grass.

If you’re drawn to the rugged beauty and authenticity of the American West, my collection of Montana cowboy photography offers a glimpse into a life lived with purpose, grit, and heart. These fine art prints aren’t just images—they’re windows into a world that reminds us what it means to live simply and honestly, bound to the land and its stories.

Click here to see more of my Western Photography

Click here to shop Cowboy Wall Art for your home, office, or commercial space

Magazine article about cowboys — Montana cowboy wall art prints

Big Sky Journal cowboys article — Wyoming cowboy photography prints

Cowboy Culture Photography

Rob Hammer November 27, 2023

American West - Wall Art - Cowboy Culture

What a humbling gift it is being able to spend time on working cattle ranches. This photography series documenting cowboys in the American West has been going on for well over two years now, and I hope it never ends. There is no amount of gratitude I could express to the cowboys and cowgirls for allowing me to be along for the ride. Most of them would never call it work, but still, what they do isn’t just a vital key to supplying the country with beef, it’s an undeniably important piece of American culture. One that most people will never understand because they aren’t able to see it with their own eyes.

This set of images is from the Diamond A Ranch outside of Seligman, Arizona. At 750,000 acres, it’s the largest in the southwest. A piece of property that will make you feel small in a hurry. The images you see here are from my second visit to the ranch, and I’m proud to call a few of the people in them my friends. Stay tuned for more from this shoot. Some of the images should be published in a magazine soon.

Reach out directly if you’d like prints of anything from this cowboy photography series for your home, office, or commercial space.

Photograph print of two cowboys riding their horses along the rim of the Grand Canyon at sunrise in Arizona — Photograph of two cowboys riding horses at sunrise with a beautiful western scene behind them

Photograph of two cowboys roping a wild steer into a trailer on a cattle ranch in Arizona — Black and white photograph of two cowboys roping a wild steer

Authentic photograph of cowboys eating dinner in a bunkhouse on a cattle ranch in the American West — Photograph of cowboys eating dinner in a bunkhouse

Photograph of a cowboy saddling a horse early in the morning when the moon is still up — Photograph of a cowboy saddling his horse early in the morning on an Arizona cattle ranch

Photograph of two cowboys riding horses through steep rocky country on a cattle ranch in Arizona — Photograph of two cowboy riding their horses through tough terrain in Arizona

Authentic photography print of two cowboys in a bunkhouse — Black and White photograph of two cowboys in a bunkhouse

Photograph of the sign for Rose Well on a gate at the Diamond A Ranch in Seligman, Arizona — Sign for the Rose Well camp on the Diamond A Ranch - Center of the Universe

Arizona Cattle Ranch

Rob Hammer November 6, 2023

K4 Ranch - Prescott, Arizona

Western photography when it comes to cowboys and cattle ranching has been around a long time. You might argue as long as the profession itself, since the legendary L.A. Huffman did it back in the 1800’s. Art collectors like to hang fine art photographs of the action - cattle branding, bucking broncs, stampedes, etc. And all of that is damn sure fun to photograph, but what about the quiet moments? Before and after the action when a cattle ranch is at rest. Those are just as fun to photograph, and important to show as a piece of the story telling puzzle. Last week I was fortunate to visit the historic K4 Ranch outside of Prescott, Arizona. It’s got a rich history in the cattle world as well as for it’s horses with notable bloodlines coming from the famous Driftwood Ike, among many others. Being there for the action is always prefered, but I find myself being very grateful for the off times that make way for images you would never otherwise have time to see or make.

Click here to see more of my photos series on Cowboys in the American West.

Contact me directly for prints of my cowboy photography. All images are available in different sizes for your home, office, or commercial space.

Photograph of a revolver gun in the console of a cowboy's pickup truck — A cowboy’s revolver

Black and white photograph of husband and wife cowboys — Brady and Marianne Clark - Cowboys

Horse corrals on the K4 Ranch in Prescott Arizona

Black and white photograph of a cowboy on an Arizona cattle ranch — Brady Clark - Cowboy

Photograph of a bucket of horseshoes on a cattle ranch in Arizona — Photograph of used horseshoes sitting in a bucket on a cattle ranch in Arizona

Photograph of a cowboy riding through thick brush on an Arizona cattle ranch — Cowboy riding through thick brush

Ropes from King’s Saddlery hang on a cow skull on the K4 Ranch in Prescott, Arizona

Photograph of Marianne Clark - Cowgirl — Marianne Clark - Cowgirl

Photograph of a cowboys roping dummy — Photograph of a roping dummy on a cattle ranch in the American West

Photographs of a cowboys horse shoeing station on a Arizona cattle ranch — A cowboy’s shoeing station for his horse on a cattle ranch in Arizona

Black and white photograph of male and female cowboys mounting horses in Arizona — Arizona cowboys

Black and white photograph of a cowgirl feeding horses on a beautiful cattle ranch — Cowgirl feeding horses

A cowboy riding his horse an an Arizona cattle ranch — Horses running free on an Arizona cattle ranch

A cowgirl puts her world champion saddle back in the saddle house on a cattle ranch — World Champion Cowgirl

Photograph of a cowboy saddling his horse on the K4 Ranch in Prescott, Arizona — Saddling a horse on the K4 Ranch in Prescott, AZ

Photograph of an Arizona cowgirl riding her horse through dense forest — Arizona cowgirl

Photograph of a three legged cattle dog — 3 legged cattle dog

Boots O'Neal

Rob Hammer September 6, 2023

Boots O’Neal - Cowboy - 6666 Ranch - Texas

Being a photographer has been a great pleasure and an even greater adventure. It’s taken me to some outstanding parts of the earth and allowed me to photograph some of the most famous athletes on it. “Who is your favorite?”, has always been a common question. Until recently, that was an impossible question to answer, now the final is Boots. Boots O’Neal is a 90 year old cowboy on the 6666 Ranch in Texas. A more inspiring human you will not meet. To learn more about him continue reading this piece I wrote that was originally published with Wrangler.

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Photograph of legendary Texas cowboy Boots O'Neal on the 6666 Ranch — Boots O’Neal on his horse working cattle in the corrals at the 6666 Ranch

Imagine for a moment, waking up in the hospital with 12 broken ribs, a punctured lung, broken vertebrae, and a bleeding brain. Now imagine that pain at 82 years of age. Cal Ripken Jr. was Major League Baseball's “Ironman”. Earning the nickname after playing 2,632 consecutive games. Put those end to end and you’ve got over 7 years of straight baseball. An astonishing stat and impressive feat only possible for a human made from the toughest stock. No offense to Mr. Ripken, but that doesn’t hold a candle to the Texas legend - Boots O’Neal, who's been horseback for the better part of the last 75 years. Despite the aforementioned injuries, piled on a lifetime of other broken body parts, the now 90 year old cowboy shows no desire whatsoever to retire. You’d think someone that’s lived in such a way would have a face much resembling their saddle that’s endured as many miles. Instead, O’Neal’s is endearing, and fixed with a perpetual smile that causes you to do the same. The kind of guy that inadvertently makes you a better person just by being in his presence.

While we’re on the stat train, let’s dole out a few more just to drive the point home, what an outlier he truly is. The average retirement age in America is 62. The average age of death is 78. And a cowboy will normally take home about $31,466 a year. At a time in life when most folks are either dead or in a nursing home, Boots wakes up every morning with excitement to saddle a horse and work cattle alongside fellow cowpunchers that could be his grandkids. People just aren’t built like him anymore. Not a partier, but it would be safe to put O’Neal in the Keith Richards class. Immortal freaks, in the most beautiful way possible.

Portrait of Boots O'Neal - Cowboy on the 6666 Ranch in Texas — Portrait of Boots O’Neal

Cowboys in general are a strand of human unlike the rest of us. Born not made. And from birth, it was obvious O’Neal created a category all his own. Growing up in the 30’s he was one of 8 children living in a home without running water. The bathroom was an outhouse, and the bath, a tub filled with water and placed next to the kitchen oven, door open for heat. After 3 or 4 of the kids took their turn, that water was tossed outside to calm down the dust. He was never much for school. The only thing he excelled at was boxing, but usually just looked forward to running off the bus and into the barn to saddle a horse, only coming in when his mother hung a white sheet on the clothesline - their version of a dinner bell. 9th grade was as far as he cared to go, leaving home in August of 49’ at sixteen to cowboy for the JA ($90/week). That job found him on the wagon, sleeping in only a bedroll 6-7 months at a time. A lifestyle that fit him just fine.

Before we go any further, it would be appropriate to define what makes a real cowboy. The loud mouth sporting a big black hat getting in drunken bar fights makes for good movies, but that’s about it. According to the man himself, a real cowboy is polite. Smooth. Talks gentlemanly to ladies and is good under fire. Dusty Burson (32) - foreman on the Four Sixes and close friend to Mr. O’Neal said it best - “What’s a cowboy? Well, they’re good people. Honest. They do what they say they’re gonna do. If they tell you they’ll be there to help, they’ll be there, and they’ll stay to the end.” If that statement made its way into Websters, the following words should read “also see Boots O’Neal”.

Photograph of Boots O'Neal branding calves on the 6666 Ranch in Texas — Boots O’Neal branding calves in the early morning on the 6666 Ranch in Texas

Photograph of a famous Texas cowboy — Boots O’Neal’s custom spurs

After the JA, he continued punching cows in different places including a quarter century stay at the Waggoner Ranch. All the while racking up a collection of buckles and saddles from bronc riding in rodeos all over the country. Word is he’s still pretty sticky. A wife (Nelda) also came into the mix as did a daughter (Laurie). Despite being opposites, Boots and Nelda remained in love for 44 years until her passing. She was a proper lady that enjoyed being in town but fully supported his innate need for open country. As their relationship grew, his career did along with it. The 50’s’ found him in Korea with the Army, where he stared out at vast foreign valleys, daydreaming about them filled with 1000 steer, and wondering why in the world they didn’t have any. After two years he was back on a ranch working hard to become a Peace Office and Brand Inspector at a time when cattle were still shipped by railroad. Along with the coveted title came a doubled salary, new clothes, fancy truck, and expense account. A novelty quickly erased by jealousy every time business on a ranch forced him to watch cowboys ride away on horses while he sat in a truck headed back to the office. “I just wanted to punch cows” he said. So he gave back a job that most in the industry would kill for and reclaimed his true love, working cattle from the back of a horse.

Love is what it takes because the life of a cowboy asks a lot of a person, physically and emotionally. “ Even when I know tomorrow is gonna be a bad deal, and they’re predicting snow, and the wind coming out of the north blowing, and we’re gonna ride straight into it in the morning, I just look forward to getting out there and freezing my tail off” says O’Neal. How many 90 year olds have you ever heard say something like that? Burson again offers some insight - “he wakes up thinking I’m going to be happy today. He doesn’t let circumstances dictate happiness.” Dusty was the one who found the 82 year old O’Neal alone in a pasture, after the horse wreck that would have ended any mortal man. Even if it didn’t put him in the ground, the pain alone would cause a rational person to take a brush with death as a sign and say, ok, it’s been a good run. Burson visited him in the hospital shortly after and recalled the nurse asking why he kept lifting his left leg up in the air. Obviously, it was to keep the mobility of toeing a stirrup. “That’s how bad he wants to be a cowboy when he grows up” says Burson. 6 weeks later, he was back on that same horse and continues riding him today.

Black and white photograph Boots O'Neal and Charlie Ferguson talking in the chuck wagon tent on the 6666 Ranch in Texas — Boots O’Neal talks with chuck wagon cook Charlie Ferguson on the 6666 Ranch in Texas

Seems like it came naturally for Boots, but don’t get it twisted, any good cowboy is a student of the trade. Always figuring out a way to get it done better without asking for recognition. All of the best cowboys Boots ever knew and patterned himself after, accomplished unthinkable feats even Taylor Shariden couldn’t script, in the middle of nowhere with only a few people to witness. Another friend and Texas icon Tom Moorehouse (72) is quick to point out “I’ve known Boots almost all my life, and anything I’ve got to say about him is good”. From the outside you might think that cowboying is a physical game. Only for the young. Not so. Sure, you need the gumption to handle extreme physical abuse and relentless weather that doesn’t end after an eight hour shift. But Moorehouse says the thing that separates Boots from the rest is that he’s a “keen observer”. He continues “my dad used to say a real cowboy is somebody that pays attention. Now that doesn’t sound like a good story, but that’s the truth.” There is so much that can go wrong when you’re working with 2,000+lb animals and navigating remote unforgiving terrain. One mistake could mean the end.

We’ve already established that Boots is an enigma, but for arguments sake, let’s say he got lucky? Somehow the body that’s been broken more times than anyone can count, managed to miss the big one. Even with luck, longevity like his doesn’t just happen. And living on a wagon, eating ranch food, wouldn’t make any blueprint for “healthy living”. Cowboys require hearty meals to get them through their overly demanding lives. So It should be no surprise that beef has made its way to Boots’ plate just about every day for the past 90 years. Along with the beef came biscuits, gravy, and potatoes. Breakfast was peanut butter and syrup sandwiches. All of which goes against everything you’ll read from the so-called nutrition experts. Although pinto beans, prunes, and raisins are foods he now tries to consume regularly along with said beef. The fresh fruit and vegetables he also concentrates on just wasn’t a thing back then.”It wasn’t until I got up in years that I ever worried about putting something bad in my body.” A chuckle was the only answer given when asked about exercise, but “I’ve never been short on sleep” says O’Neal. Which he believes has been the holy grail to his success. For as long as he can remember, even as a young buck, he’d turn in early, ensuring 8-9 hours of shuteye every night. These days he says “it takes me longer to rest than it does to get tired”, but it becomes obvious shortly after meeting him, that modesty is one of his many virtues. He’ll try and claim that he can’t do this, that, or the other. Then he slips into the saddle and the truth is revealed. “It takes a whole crew to keep me going”, he says. Again, modesty perfected. Perhaps his days aren’t spent aboard wild broncs, but he always gets the job done with grace, and his expertise couldn’t be matched anywhere in the world. Ironic for a guy who’s never considered himself very smart. What Boots has can’t be taught. He’s got a PHD in punching cows. Anybody will tell you he’s on the Mount Rushmore of the cowboy universe, but who the hell else could be up there with him? Is there another human that’s punched cows for almost 8 decades? “It’s amazing what all he’s got stored up inside him that someone oughta have recorded” Dusty says. A lot of people with such knowledge and history can become high and mighty. Not Boots. He’ll let you mess up, then suggest, in a non degrading way, how to do it better. He knows we’re all in this thing together.

Photograph of Boots O'Neal dragging a calf to the fire for branding on the 6666 Ranch in Texas — Boots O’Neal roping calves on the 6666 Ranch in Texas

If you think about the human condition and what we’re all after, one of the key ingredients is professional happiness. Everyone wants to spend their waking hours doing something they love. Why is that goal so elusive, so rare? A million dollar question. Even harder than finding that happiness, is keeping it. Somehow Boots O’Neal has managed to do it at one of the most physically demanding jobs on the planet and continues today at a very high level. Maybe the how doesn’t really matter. Maybe we should just use Boots as inspiration to be better humans. The iconic Four Sixes has been his home for the past 26 years. Panhandle, Texas is the closest town to their northern division where we met. The town sign fittingly reads “People of Pride and Purpose”. Just like the dictionary, there might as well be a picture of Boots next to that slogan. He figured IT out and still can’t get enough. He doesn’t need to work in a monetary sense. He wants to work, although it’d be a stretch to hear him use a four letter word like that. Even on a rare day off, he doesn’t look forward to a hobby or a vacation. Instead he’ll watch a rodeo on television or sit in a chair outside his bunkhouse apartment to watch the remuda come in. A sight he says, of 50 horses all running together, is one that most people will never get to see. Bob Dylan wrote a song on this very topic using only 17 words:

“All the tired horses in the sun…..”

The guy has done it all, taken the beatings, and asked for more. He’s been inducted into every Hall of Fame a cowpuncher could possibly be associated with. Somehow that doesn’t seem enough of an honor though. Boots should be everyone's hero. He’s a national treasure and outstanding human being. We should all strive to accomplish in our own lives what he has in his. Burson says “Yeah, he’s a cowboy, but he wants to be one tomorrow too”. If more people had that attitude, the world would be a better place.

We were just about done talking when Boots’ story paused abruptly . A mischievous smile came to his face and the words stopped flowing. His attention fixed on one of the guys in a nearby corral working a young horse that was fixing to blow up. The grin stayed as he reminisced “I rode a lot of bucking horses in years past. I could get on a horse like that, just gather that thing up, and he’d be 3 feet in the air when I got that right stirrup”. Boots is a Christian. If he weren’t, and followed a religion believing in reincarnation, he says that’s what he’d want to come back as, a bucking horse. At 90 years young he knows precisely how good his life has been and isn’t scared of the inevitable. In a very matter of fact way he spoke about his funeral, being buried in the cemetery on the Four Sixes, and the speech by his friend Joe Leathers. When asked what he hopes Joe will say, Boots paused then replied humbly with a far off stare ”He was an honorable man. Done what he said he would. And didn’t mistreat his horses”

Portrait of Boots O'Neal the famous Texas cowboy — Portrait of Boots O’Neal

Silhouette of a cowboy on his horse at sunrise on a cattle ranch in Texas — Boots O’Neal on his horse at sunrise on the 6666 Ranch in Texas

Boots O'Neal

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Montana Road Trip

Rob Hammer June 1, 2023

Talking highly about Montana is better left to the most lyrical of wordsmiths because I certainly can’t do that place any justice. Maybe that should be a personal goal? I’m fresh off the road after spending over a week in that glorious state and can’t wait to go back. This trip was particularly visual due to to the heavy winter snowfall that made everything greener than green. I’ve never been to Ireland, but the particular hue off grass felt more like something you could only see there. Check back soon to see images from the two cattle ranches I photographed, but don’t expect any images of trout. Those are only in my head.

American West Photography

Rob Hammer April 21, 2023

Cowboy Photography - Prints

It’s always great to get press on your work, especially when it’s a big outlet like the Daily Mail. If you want to go on “followers’, they come in at 22+million on Facebook, whatever that means. Either way, I’m honored to have them do a feature on my cowboy photography - a project I love. It’s also quite young compared to some of the others like Barbershops of America or American Backcourts, which have both been going on now for ten years!

Click here to see more of my cowboy photography. Or contact me directly if you’re looking Western prints / wall art for your home, office, or commercial space.

Cowboy Photography -Editorial - Rob Hammer - Daily Mail

Cowboy Photography - Buckaroos

Rob Hammer February 10, 2023

The Great Basin Buckaroo

Cowboy Photography - American West - Prints

The Great Basin is a special part of the American West, particularly as it applies to cowboy culture and the buckaroos that call it home. Among the few remaining iconic ranches still left in northern Nevada are the C-Punch Ranch in Lovelock and the Winecup Gamble Ranch in Montello. Both are jaw dropping beautiful and incomprehensibly large. The C-Punch, the biggest I’ve been to so far, is 1.8 million acres. Yeah. Try wrapping your head around that. Seeing all these properties in different parts of the country has been amazing. Each region has its own allure. Nobody ever said to pick a favorite, but there’s something about the land in northern Nevada that really does it for me. Still working on putting that into words, but it’s exceptional, to say the least and took a few years to truly understand. At first, places that big, open, and seemingly void of life are difficult to grasp. Then something clicks and you can’t get enough of it. The muted colors, textures, and vibes of the Sage Brush Sea are intoxicating.

Click here to shop prints of my cowboy photography

Photograph of a cowboy working cattle on the C-Punch Ranch - Nevada

Cowboys roping cattle on the C-Punch Ranch in Lovelock, Nevada — C-Punch Ranch

Photograph of a buckaroo catching horses

Photograph of Great Basin Buckaroos branding cattle — Buckaroos branding cattle in Nevada

Cowboys working on the Winecup Gamble Ranch in Montello, Nevada — Black and white photograph of cowboys on the Winecup Gamble Ranch

Cowboy moving cattle on the Winecup Gamble Ranch

A cowboy working on the C-Punch Ranch in Lovelock, Nevada — C-Punch Ranch

Cowboys working colts in a round pen on the C-Punch Ranch in Lovelock, Nevada — C-Punch Ranch - Cowboys working horses in a round pen

A cowboy on the C-Punch Ranch in Lovelock, Nevada — C-Punch Ranch

Trapper Rogers - Winecup Gamble Ranch - Montello, Nevada — Portrait of Trapper Rodgers

A cowboy lets his horse drink water after branding on the C-Punch Ranch in Lovelock, Nevada — C-Punch Ranch - a cowboy waters his horse

A cowboy pets his cattle dog after a day of work on the C-Punch Ranch in Lovelock, Nevada — C-Punch Ranch

Photograph of a cowboy riding his horse through a huge pasture on the C-Punch Ranch - Lovelock, Nevada — A cowboy riding his horse on the C-Punch Ranch in northern Nevada

Catching Horses

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Wyoming Cattle Ranch

Rob Hammer September 19, 2022

Wyoming Cowboy Photography

American West

A cowboy gathering cattle on a ranch outside Laramie, Wyoming. Cowboy Photographer Rob Hammer. — Wyoming cattle drive

Wyoming is a land rich in rugged beauty, where open plains meet towering mountain ranges, and the cowboy way of life still thrives. One of the most iconic images that evokes the spirit of the American West is that of a working cowboy on a Wyoming cattle ranch. These photos not only showcase the breathtaking landscapes but also the hard work, dedication, and heritage that define ranch life.

A cattle drive on a large ranch in Wyoming by cowboy photographer Rob Hammer. — Cowboys moving cattle on a ranch in Wyoming

A cowboy lets his horse drink from a pond during a long cattle drive on a ranch in Wyoming by cowboy photographer Rob Hammer. — Black and white cowboy photography print

Cowboys herd cattle on a rugged section of open ranch in Wyoming by cowboy photographer Rob Hammer — Wyoming cowboys

Click HERE to see more cowboy photography from this series.

ROAD TRIP

Rob Hammer May 21, 2022

THE BAD:This past week was the first time in a while since I’ve been on this particular route through Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. The findings were not good economically. It was hard to see so many familiar small town restaurants and hotels closed, boarded up, or in the process of being demolished. Maybe the timing was a coincidence, but you have to wonder if it was all the result of COVID? Either way it’s a shame.

THE GOOD: Road trips are always so much fun, educational, and therapeutic. This one had me shooting on a cattle ranch (The Four Sixes) in the Texas panhandle where I met some great people and had a hell of a lot of fun shooting with them. Will be a while until I can post those images. So for now you can click HERE to see more of my Cowboy photography.

Texas Road Trip

Cowboy Photographs

Rob Hammer November 28, 2021

Cowboy Photography - Prints - American West Wall Art

Western Photos - Cowboy Culture

Had a conversation with a buddy the other day about hunting/fishing which came after a very unproductive outing that certainly wasn’t from a lack of effort. When you put time into either of those sports it can be frustrating to get skunked. Frustrating isn’t a strong enough word actually. My most recent trip was a few weeks ago on the lower Owens River outside of Bishop, CA. Felt like I was doing everything right but results said the opposite. The fish were rising and eating bugs off the top. Every bug that is, besides mine. Kept changing flies, moving locations, water depth, yada yada yada. Not so much as a nibble. Later in the day I ran across a lady about 75 years old who had just pulled in a nice brown trout and quickly mentioned that it was her first time ever fly fishing. Ok, I thought, this place is going to be a Hand Out. Hour and a half later, not a damn thing. So I sat on the tailgate drinking a beer at sunset staring at the pastel sky saying out loud “I fuckin hate fly fishing” to absolutely no one. Which obviously isn’t true, but my ego was damaged and I was tired. And when you’ve been fishing for any amount of time, you realize that’s just how it goes sometimes. Back to that conversation. We talked about how boring it would be if you went out every day and netted 20 monster trout. Or were guaranteed to hit your limit of ducks, deer, elk, whatever it is you’re after. No, that would suck. That is not a sport. Where is the fun in that? There is none.

It’s probably a stretch to make a comparison, but that’s the way I feel about morning light. Later afternoon light for that matter too. It’s so good that you want to hit the pause button on the sun to make it stay in that position, barely peaking over the horizon. Crisp. Golden. Tasty. Then you realize a lot of the appeal is due to it’s fleeting nature. Morning/evening shots wouldn’t be as desirable if you could make them all day. It’s fun to dream though. Out on a ranch, mornings are special. Really special. You’re lucky to get a couple good frames in before that light is gone. And that is one of the many factors that what will keep me going back again and again and again.

Click here to see more Western Photographs