Mirage

Mirage
Beau Simmons
Edition of 10 + 2 Artist Proofs for Each Size
Unframed Sizes (Framed Sizes)
32" x 40" (39" x 47")
48" x 60" (55" x 67")
75" x 60" (84" x 69")

"A cowboy doesn't need much—just a horse, a hat, and the land beneath his boots. They live simply, but they live with honor. A cowboy isn't about looking tough or being admired. They are about doing what needs to be done, day in and day out, without complaint. It's about the small, quiet victories—getting the herd home, fixing a broken fence, earning the trust of a wild horse.

The photograph here was taken just a few miles south of the Grand Canyon. Each day of my time here was spent working in the driest environments covered in sage, cholla cactus, and juniper. The wide-open scenery allows you to see to the horizon and even past that. You're so far removed from the rest of civilization that you sometimes forget there's anybody else out there. The bawling from cattle, along with the yips and hollers of the cowboys, disrupts the calm air. The occasional gust of wind kicks up dust, forcing our eyes to squint and tuck our heads down, shielding our faces with our hats from the sharp, tiny grains of sand. Throughout the vast scenery and fluctuating weather patterns all around you, it truly is a beautiful place. A place I still find myself looking back on as I reminisce over the memories.

I was given an extra cot where I slept for the week alongside some of the younger cowboys. We would wake up at 4 am each day, enjoy a quick breakfast, and load up the trucks where we would drive out to various pastures and gather cow/calf pairs for branding. This photograph was intentionally shot on a 1/30th of a second shutter speed on my film camera to capture the movement and emotion of these moments. Dust filled every inch of our faces as the sun beat down over our heads, with little to no clouds ever gracing us with shade. Being short a cowboy or two, I was tasked with branding calves in between taking photos. I always enjoy lending a hand and working amongst those with a lifestyle I deeply admire. Arizona, you truly have some incredible country to break a sweat on. It doesn't get any more cowboy than this."