If you've read some of my interviews lately for the promotion of my book, it seems everyone wants to know what I never shoot.My answer is almost always cowboy boots. I don't know why, I just never see them done in a cool way (and maybe I saw them done in too many bad ways when I was growing up in Indiana).
However, in those same interviews I also say that what I am always looking for is something done in a way I haven't seen before, i.e. a color combo, pattern mix.
So, this weekend while I was in Vegas to celebrate my Mom's birthday (Happy Birthday Mom!!) a rodeo broke out.
My sister, who is a part-time cowgirl, pointed out the cowboy boots on one of the bull riders. He was wearing typical boots, but he had wrapped the ankles with a leather strap so they would stay on while he was riding the bull.
Well, that opened the floodgates. Everywhere I looked I saw such cool cowboy style. Notice the guy below with his pressed and creased jeans. My sister pointed out that if he was from Texas his shirt would have been more starched.
For the next three hours Garance and I filled card after card with cowboy cool.
In those same recent interviews I mentioned that in the next year I want to add more "national costume" photos from exotic locations like Peru or India. What I realized while I was shooting is that "The Cowboy" would have to be one of America's most important national costumes.
Bruce Weber has always championed the idea of backyard photography, and this is my first attempt at sharing an even wider world of style with you.
