AARON WHITFIELD PHOTOGRAPHY

The Cowboy Way

The modern day cowboy is a living legend. The traditions of the wild west are alive and well today in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains of Alberta.

A selection of this series is hanging in the Lazy S - the premier club in the Grandstand at the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede.

Images from this album were also featured as a 12-part series in Calgary's FFWD arts and entertainment publication.

A cowboy straps on his chaps which are a key part of his attire to protect from bushes and thorns while riding.
   
Feeding the livestock is a regular part of the morning chores.
   
Two barn cats sit on a window ledge and watch the action below.
     
  
Doug Richards watches a calf approach as he prepares to pull the gate of the chute closed during branding at the Devil's Head Ranch.
   
Jimmy Richards rounds up the cows for the spring branding at the Devil's Head Ranch, west of Cochrane.
   
Doug Richards prepares his brand at the Devil's Head Ranch.
     
  
A brand is applied to a calf.
   
A brand makes it's mark.
   
A rancher with his trusty dog, checks on the progress of the spreading of the hay.
     
  
A long horn grazes in the field.
   
A horse grazes in the field.
   
A horse grazes in the field.
     
  
A horse grazes in the field.
   
A horse gallops through an open field.
   
A horse gallops through an open field.
     
  
A horse gallops through an open field.
   
  
     
  
   
A big mean bull stare down.
   
Jimmy Richards keeps a close eye on a bull as he pours a bucket of feed.
     
  
A barrell outfitted with a blanket and roped to near-by trees is the ideal training ground for any young cowboy.
   
A calf gets through the chute in an attempt to de-horn her at the LJ Ranch west of Cochrane.
   
A cowgirl takes her grandaughter out for a ride.
     
  
Cowboys and Cowgirls push the herd into the sorting ring.
   
A cowboy pulls in a calf for branding.
   
Gloved hands grasp the iron rod of a brand.
     
  
Two old time cowboys share a few words.
   
Two cowboys chat on a beautiful blue sky day on the range.
   
A horse is saddled and ready to head out on the range.
     
  
A cowboy prepares to mount his horse.
   
A cowboy overlooks the range from his perch a top his trusty steed.
   
Tools of the trade.
     
  
Two cowboys advance on the herd as they prepare to rope a calf.
   
Cowboys take the herd back out to the pasture after another spring branding wraps up.
   
A cowboy hat and shades sit on a fence rail.
     
  
A cowboy sits against a fence after a long day on the range.
   
An anvil sits on the floor in a tack room.
   
Saddles sit till the next ride in a well equiped tack room.
     
  
Saddles sit till the next ride in a well equiped tack room.
   
Saddles sit till the next ride in a well equiped tack room.
   
A cowboys work is never done. Repair of a favourite saddle commences after the other day's chores are done.
     
  
A horse grazes in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains after a day on the range.
   
A cowboy straps on his chaps which are a key part of his attire to protect from bushes and thorns while riding.