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Modern Huntsman

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For those of you who don't already know, Modern Huntsman is a biannual publication for like-minded conservationists, creatives, and outdoor enthusiasts. Born out of frustration with the way hunting is often misrepresented today, this publication is told from the perspective of hunting purists and philosophers, unaltered by the skews of mainstream media, corporate interests, or misinformed emotional rants. In short, we're returning to the root traditions, in hopes of improving the perception of hunting in modern society.

For many of us, hunting is a way of life, a tradition passed down by our grandfathers, fathers, and brave mothers. It's a way of staying connected to the land, harvesting wild food to sustain our families, our souls, and is a shared passion and pursuit in many countries the world over. Hunting also plays a majority role in conservation, which ensures that expanses of land stay untamed, and that wildlife populations thrive — something we’ll be prominently focusing on as we move forward with the publication.

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But this isn't just for hunters, and while we know that there will be opposition, we believe that through our collective stories, photographs, and films, we'll be able to educate some folks about overlooked realities, and win the minds and hearts of those who still have them open. Through presenting stories based in virtue, ethics, personal growth, and statistical merit, our aim is to inspire, educate, challenge, and set the record straight in some cases.  

We've assembled some of the best photographers and writers in the outdoor world, many of which you might already know. These are folks who've spent their years living off the land, enduring extreme conditions, and have sometimes risked their lives to ensure that wildlife thrives, and the traditions of hunting survive the modern age.

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From the mountains of the American west to the fields of south Texas, the savannahs of East Africa to the governmental councils on regulation, Volume One covers a diverse range of topics, all unified by common ethics. Printed on thick matte stock, and bound into a substantial book of over 200 pages, it is more of an art portfolio than a publication, and a fitting showcase for the breathtaking work everyone has produced. We have no advertisements in the first issue, and as we move forward we’ll begin to integrate select brands and organizations to partner on stories of hunting history, conservation success, and notable characters, outfitters, chefs, and artists in the community. These will be collaborative, integrated stories instead of intrusive and heavy-handed ads, which will help us keep the message pure, and the conversations constructive.

We’ve sold through our first print run of 5,000 copies in three months, and have just re-ordered another 5,000 to continue sharing our mission with both hunters and non-hunters alike. Volume Two is scheduled to release in the fall of 2018, and will be centered around a theme of public lands, which is a hot topic in the United States to be sure. Apart from the political applications, we’ll also be exploring the realities of land access in other parts of the world, and how that affects land use, wildlife management, and hunting access. We’ll also be focusing on how these issues can bring folks together under common cause to protect what’s important, rather than squabble over something potentially insignificant.

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This is just the first step in a long, important journey for Modern Huntsman, and we'd be honored to have you join us. To conclude, I’d like to leave you some parting words, as a sort of call to action in what has become such an emotionally charged debate: For hunters, we ask that you carefully consider the the effect that your actions can have on not only your environment, but on the perception of this tradition. Whether through deed, word, or photograph, we feel that care should be taken, and respect given, for how quickly news can be spread in today’s world for good or ill. Therefore, choose your steps wisely, and wherever possible, see that they aim in a direction of positive progress and accurate representation, instead of confrontational detriment and further divisiveness.

For non-hunters, we appreciate your open-mindedness, and willingness to hear what we feel is a different, yet very important side of the hunting narrative. While we can’t speak for everyone, it is our aim to give voice to the overwhelming amount of like-minded hunters and conservationists who often lead quiet lives, in hopes of connecting with more folks like yourself, and finding common ground. We’d ask that as situations arise, you recall the beauty and honesty on these pages, as compared to the message that the mainstream media presents, and let respectful passion and conservation statistics win out over the often skewed biases and violent emotions.

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And while some of you may never pick up a bow or a shotgun to harvest your own food, know that should the day come when you decide to, this community would jump at the opportunity to show you the ropes. Where you may have once felt opposition, you’d now find comradery, and a sense of belonging in one of the oldest traditions known to humankind. In short, we’d love to take you hunting.

Whether in the field, or in metaphor,

Happy Hunting.

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For more information, to order a copy or subscribe to Modern Huntsman, you can visit one of the links below.

Order Volume One: https://www.modernhuntsman.co/shop/volume-one

Subscribe to future issues: https://www.modernhuntsman.co/subscribe/

MH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernhuntsman/

This story was originally written for the Westley Richards Explora Blog, which can be viewed in its original form here. 

Welcome - Karibu - Benvenuti

Welcome to the  new site! It's come a long way from where I started, and though I still have more work to do, I thought I'd at least get what I've done so far up and running. Plenty of new work on here that most of you have never seen, and it's exciting for it to be in one place, after all these years. 

While I certainly plan to update this chronicle with a lot more stories, updates, and adventures, this will have to do for now. More to come soon, I promise. In the meantime, here are a few images I shot in Montana this past fall. Hope you enjoy! 

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Russell's Reserve - Lawrenceburg, KY

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I’ve been a bourbon drinker for a while now, and despite being frequently asked about my impressions of bourbon country in Kentucky, up to this point I’ve had nothing to say. But the legend of that area travels far and wide, and rather than have someone else tell me about it, I wanted to see for myself. So on a frosty autumn morning in late October, I finally got that chance.

As I drove through the rolling hills and changing leaves, a thick fog enveloped the Kentucky River, creeping by in slow sheets, and heightening the drama of my entrance into Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, the home of Russell’s Reserve (and its parent brand Wild Turkey). Rounding the bend of an s-curve bridge, the fog cleared for a moment, and perched atop a wooded hill, I could see what looked to be a farmhouse roof/turned tasting room.

Arriving at the Visitor Center, I was immediately greeted by a few women employees who felt more like aunts than strangers, and they told me to make myself at home. Lining an entire wall of the entry hallway was a collage of the visual history of this famous area, with photographs, old bottles, and even Prohibition documents that outlined the people, events, and products that helped shape this town into what it is. But one figure stands out amidst all of that multi- generational history — Jimmy Russell, the very man I was there to meet.

Jimmy Russell is a living legend in the bourbon world, and apart from working here for 63 years, is a member of the Bourbon Hall of Fame, and is largely responsible for the return in popularity for this “true American spirit,” as he calls it. Getting the chance to not only meet him in person, but to sit down in his office for an interview was a really unique opportunity, and something I’ll never forget.

We talked for over an hour about his love for making bourbon, the ups and downs of the business over the years, and why he insists on never changing the recipe for Russell’s Reserve. In his words, “If you’ve got something going good, you don’t fool with it.” Born and raised right there in Lawrenceburg, Jimmy still lives within a mile of his childhood home, and is continuing a family tradition of making bourbon, passed on by his father. One of his sons, Eddie, and his grandson Bruce, have followed in his footsteps. His granddaughter Joann works for the company as well.

Starting the job in 1954, Jimmy says he’s never actually worked a day in his life, because he loves it so much. “The day it feels like work is the day I’ll retire.” And much to everyone’s delight, it doesn’t seem like that day will be anytime soon.As our conversation wound down, Jimmy had business elsewhere, in this case the Visitor Center, where he personally greets guests, takes photos with them, signs their purchased bottles, and insists that they call him “just Jimmy.” Both humble and wise, he’s the type of man we all can learn a thing or two from.

Next, I met up with Eddie Russell, Jimmy’s son. Also a member of the Bourbon Hall of Fame, Eddie was the originator of the Russell’s Reserve line, creating the first batch in honor of his dad’s 45th anniversary at the company. Somehow, everyone managed to keep the true identity of the product from Jimmy, despite the frequent tasting sessions for feedback. It was only after the bourbon was bottled that Jimmy learned it was in his honor, and since then, it has become a family effort. The result being a superior bourbon that represents their combined distilling experience of nearly 100 years.

Now a little bit wiser to the Russell family history, Eddie gave me a private tour, including the distillery, barrel aging houses, and surrounding grounds. Unlike most tours, I got to see behind all of the curtains, and open the doors that say “employees only.” Everybody there greeted each other by name, and it felt more like a family reunion than a major distillery. Folks genuinely care about the work they are doing there, and many are carrying on three or four generations of working there, the Russells included.

One of the most interesting things by far was the barrel house, or “rickhouse,” as they call it in bourbon country, which has been standing since 1894. Full of aged, weathered wood, the late morning light filtered through dusty panes of glass that have stood the test of time. Contrasting with more modern, climate controlled barrel houses that other companies might use, the Russell’s prefer to keep things the way they’ve always been, and keep time honored traditions alive. It’s one of the coolest buildings I’ve ever seen, and I walked the halls in silence for quite some time, admiring the barrels yet to be bottled, all in various stages of their lives.

As the day came to a close, we met back up with Jimmy, so that I could thank them both, and be on my way. Out of curiosity, I asked them both which of the Russell’s Reserve line was their favorite, and they both said the 10 year small batch bourbon, which is a testament to the quality. If two Bourbon Hall of Famers provide a recommendation, I’m sure going to follow it.

And while there is always debate about how you should drink it, Jimmy was adamant that it should be enjoyed any way you want to. “The most important thing is that you slow down, enjoy the flavors, and the company of friends and family around you,” he told me. “I have one favorite cocktail though...I like to take one cube of ice, and flavor it with bourbon,” he added with a chuckle.

It was a fitting note to end on — a lighthearted joke from a man who is ensuring his family legacy through dedication and hard work, and is still loving every minute of it. 

If you find yourself in Kentucky, make a point to stop by the Wild Turkey Distillery in Lawrenceburg –  which is situated between Lexington and Louisville. I’m sure the Russells would love to meet you.

Diamond Cross Ranch - Moran, WY

This past fall, I had the pleasure of visiting the Diamond Cross Ranch in Moran, Wyoming, which is just a short ways outside of Jackson Hole. Historic through and through, this place is an absolute gem, and a true representation of what the west has to offer. The Golliher/Long family was kind enough to host us for a few days and as you can see, we came away with no shortage of quality imagery. 

Major thanks for my friend and fellow photographer Chris Douglas for the invitation, whose work is more than worth a look at.

I certainly plan to return this fall during my annual respite in Montana, and re-visit the new friends I made here. If you're ever in the area, look them up, they offer horsemanship lessons that are hard to beat. 

Tecovas Goes West

Tecovas Boots has become one of my favorite clients, and by this point, are good friends. I've been very fortunate to work directly with the founder, Paul Hedrick, who has graciously trusted me to help pave a path for the brand he created. For this shoot, our fourth thus far, we headed out to West Texas. Drawing from the talents and resources of our friends over at West Pack, we managed to secure the Gage Hotel in Marathon as our home base.

Over the course of three days, we shot in and around The Gage, Alpine, Big Bend, and Marfa, with some additional help from our pals over at El Cosmico. It was a fantastic shoot, and we were able to walk away with plenty of content for use across all of Tecovas' channels. Really looking forward to the next one, which we've already got in the works.

Stay tuned!  

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Ball and Buck: Berkshires

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Up to this point in my life, I had spent very little time in the Northeast, with only tales of hunts from friends, or books to paint a portrait of New England’s sporting traditions. It’s a bizarre concept to feel at home thousands of miles away on the African savannah, yet feel a stranger in my own land as I enter into New Hampshire for the first time. But in the the rolling hills and cold, clear streams of the Berkshire Mountains, I found a sportsman’s paradise. Encamped at the unofficial Ball and Buck cabin, a pastoral bastion in the Berkshires, I spent a few days surveying the woods, wildlife, local traditions, and of course, the beer.

I find it important to be able to order the “right thing” at foreign watering holes if you’re to have any chance at befriending the keepers of local hunting knowledge. In this case, a friend and guide saved us from any extemporaneous interrogation, being both a turkey whisperer and trout slayer. The plan was simple enough; fill a turkey tag in the morning, and weigh down a trout net in the afternoon. A blast, then cast.

But simple plans don’t always have simple endings, as all hunters know. 

We rose hours before dawn, layering in camouflaged garments of varying warmth and mobility to stave off the misty cold of the northern woods, and crept into the lessening blackness. Our first position was on the outskirts of a great sloped field, encircled by trees.

The decoys were carefully placed, and as light began to trickle through the still barren branches, our fowl lipped leader began to loose the calls. 

To me, there’s something slightly comedic about calling in turkeys, because if successful, these giant birds come angrily strutting out of the woods looking for a fight, a frolic with a female, or both. In this instance, no birds came, so we continued our search elsewhere, stopping occasionally on the edge of fields, woods, or farms to let out a few calls. And after a few hours of lonesome bellows, a tom finally answered on the outskirts of an apple orchard. 

We hurried into position, our backs to the freshly blossoming trees, and waited, though not very long because, as the saying goes, “they were comin’ in hot.” It wasn’t five minutes before three males came across the field at an aggressive pace, looking for a good old fashioned fight. But to their great surprise, they found us, and the pointed barrel of the Ruger x Ball and Buck shotgun, under which the largest of the three birds quickly fell. A beautiful specimen, we said a few words of thanks and congratulations, took a handful of photos, and were off to the boat ramp, where we cleaned and dressed the bird for a feast to follow. 

A change of gear was in order, and being that the new B&B spring line needed “field testing,” we gladly outfitted from head to toe, including the rods and reels. We were to float the Deerfield River, which wound through a canyon whose depth I did not know existed in New Hampshire.

It was an incredibly beautiful landscape, riddle with diverse tree species, changing terrain, and unexpectedly, a healthy population of trout. 

We floated casually in and out of pools, riffles, and deep eddies, casting a variety of flies throughout the day, and managed to land quite a few fish. Metallic rainbows and vibrant brown trout, it was a testament to the hearty nature of these fish, with numbers far beyond what I expected from a stream so close to farms, roads, and “civilization.” But it just goes to show that you can’t assume until you’ve gone, and you don’t know until you do. The sun sinking, and the trout safely released back into their prospective homes, we loaded the raft on the trailer, packed everything up, and cracked a few cold ones to toast a successful slice of the good, sporting life. 

My previous notions happily dashed on the rocky banks of the Deerfield River, I left with aprofound sense of respect and admiration for this part of America that I knew very little about. Where frontiers may still exist in the West, it is very reassuring to see successful conservation at work in an area that has been colonized since the birth of our nation. Hope indeed for the future of hunting and fishing. It’s rare enough to still find wild enough places to hunt turkey and catch trout in the same day, let alone so close to major cities. It was a sporting experience I won’t soon forget, and I’ll be back soon, hopefully in time for the turkey feast. 

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Shinola: Cajune Boats

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If you've ever been to Montana, then you’d know that fly-fishing is a very serious matter there. And amidst the legends and lore surrounding this angling mecca, one boat maker has made a name for himself, though decidedly more quietly than others.

Situated in a spartan workshop in Paradise Valley, just a few scenic miles outside of Livingston, Jason Cajune is building boats the way they used to; out of wood. 

Spending much of his childhood in Glacier National Park, Cajune accompanied his step-father as he piloted traditional wooden boats across the various lakes for over 40 years. Originally built in the 1920’s by the Great Northern Railroad, these old-world wooden vessels became his playground, and nautical schoolroom. As a dock boy and “bilge rat,” Jason spent summers painting and varnishing the boats, and by the end of high school, had intimate knowledge of the wooden, plank-and-frame style. 

After acquiring a degree in architecture, Jason migrated to Olympia, Washington to work for a boat maker specializing in fiberglass and epoxy. It didn’t take him long to realize that it wasn’t for him, and he moved back to Montana for good. Specifically targeting the fly-fishing market, Cajune set out to apply his knowledge of traditional boat building to a clustered fly fishing market. To say it worked would be a dramatic understatement. 

“I was guiding fly fishing for awhile, and thought that most of the boats I saw on the rivers were complete junk. So I built my first boat on the porch under a tarp in the rain, and it sold immediately. I built a second one in 1995, which coincided with the start of the internet nicely. I put a website up, and the boat sold before it was even finished.” 

Before you could say “you’ve got mail,” word got out, a burgeoning business was born, and the rest is highly decorated history. Clients from near and far began to line up; traditional boats for traditional fly-fishermen. “I guess I just made the product that people wanted,” Jason humbly stated as his german short haired pointer ambled about the shop. Often starting from napkin sketches, and the occasional model for a new hull design, each boat is built from scratch using a combination of African mahogany, white ash, white oak, and various fir woods.

On average, each boat takes about 300-400 hours of labor. Each boat is unique, shaped to the customer’s taste and needs.

“The boats I’ve been doing lately take close to 400 hours, because I’m doing a lot more customization, and making most of the hardware out of bronze. I’m casting, welding, and really pushing the designs further than I ever have.” 

Where boats used to start around 10k, with a waiting list of about a year, Jason’s new boats start around 40k, and he estimates that he’s about 5 years out on orders. It takes over a year to complete a boat, and he usually works on multiple boats at a time.

“The past few years I’ve done two boats a year, but we did 20 one year when I had help and we were really cranking.” His best guess is that three will launch in 2015, but according to him, it’s really hard to tell a customer a launch date. 

“Everybody wants everything now, and I’m not really into that. If you want a cheap boat, really quickly, that’s what fiberglass is for. But if you want something that’s handmade and is built to last, well that’s why I’m here. For some reason, people think wood is an obsolete material, and I often have to convince customers that it’s not.” Using only the highest quality materials, the finished vessels are fully functional works of art. Having spent a fair amount of time on Montana rivers myself, it’s not hard to spot one of Cajune’s boats, especially one that has been well oiled. They age beautifully. 

Drawing from his architectural background, Jason admits to placing a certain amount of emphasis on a beautiful form and shape, but ultimately, it’s the usability that it boils down to. “In the end, it’s a boat, and has to function in the water. But if you can combine that with beautiful form and style, then it can be really interesting. Sure I’m building boats for clients, but to be honest, I’m really building it for the guy who will be repairing it in 50 years later, and he’s gonna say that it was done correctly.” 

As Cajune enjoys 20 years of boat making business, he’s almost halfway to that mark of approval. It’s rare that an artist can have such security in their craft, but it seems destined that as long as Montana’s rivers flow, Jason Cajune’s business will grow. 

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Shinola: Pastrana Studio

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For Texas natives Kate & Julian Pastrana, the path that led to designing and shaping works of art from wood had very humble, and homely, beginnings. “When we first got married, we couldn’t afford any quality furniture for our house, so we just decided to start building it ourselves,” Julian told me in his soft spoken, genuine demeanor. And build it they did. 

Part farmhouse, part furniture showroom, their home on the rural outskirts of Denton, Texas is an ever-evolving canvas of the couple’s creativity, and sense of design. Bar stools, serving boards, tables of various sizes, and prototype chairs populate their country home, which acts as both drawing board and proving ground.

 “The advantage of building things for ourselves first is that we get to make sure it works. We sit on the bar stools, eat off the serving boards, and break in the tables. It has to work in our home before it can be in anyone else’s,” Kate told me as we sipped coffee on their screened in porch (which they also built). With hints of improvement projects around every corner, including custom woodwork on the walls, their abode is a testament to a philosophy of function. 

Operating out of their adjacent garage turned workshop, the couple collaborates on the process from start to finish; from home improvement idea, to polished product. This also allows them to spend more time together on Julian’s days off from being a full time firefighter and EMT. And though they both have creative backgrounds, neither of them had any woodworking experience prior to this endeavor.

 “I taught myself to play the guitar years ago, so I figured I could teach myself to run a few saws too,” Julian confidently stated, his shirt and jeans festooned with sawdust from a recent wood cut. “It’s always a learning process…about different types of wood, where to find them, and their individual properties. We use a lot of Texas woods, most of which are sourced locally, and we enjoy educating people about what we discover through the process.” 

In a world dominated by single servings and furniture built by number, the Pastranas are hand making products that will stand the test of time, grow in beauty, and hopefully be passed on as family heirlooms. Though it is their business, the fact that it remains a creative outlet for home improvement, ensures the authenticity and virtue in their aims; they want to create beautiful things that will work, and last. 

 

“It’s a passion for us, and something we will continue to do regardless of whether people buy anything or not,” Kate remarked, fighting a smile off that revealed just how happy and whole she feels doing this work. “That’s the difference between being JUST a woodworker, or being an artist…it’s not just about function, but about the desire to create something beautiful.” And those creations are being collected left and right by loyal customers, friends, and design aficionados, especially in Texas.  

“We’ve been in business just over a year, and the response has been amazing. There is such a supportive community here in Denton, and the encouragement of other artists and peers has pushed us, and kept us going. Thankfully the growth has been very manageable, as it’s just the two of us filling orders,” Julian was happy to report. 

While most of their business has come from online orders, success at recent pop-up shops has allowed them to branch into some larger, one-of-a-kind pieces for clients who wanted custom work, as well as several concept restaurants in the North Texas. Other times it’s just a friend who needs something specific for their house.

“We let the wood speak for itself, and try not to cover up the natural grains. We also don’t do a lot of raw edge work, so it isn’t very rustic, but can still fit into that aesthetic mix in someone’s home because of the natural woods,” Julian said of their style. 

With the resurgence of the maker movement in recent years, people are once again learning to appreciate quality over quantity, which often requires an investment towards a marginally higher price tag. High caliber is becoming more popular, which is good news for the hard working folks behind Pastrana Studio. But regardless of changing times and trends, Kate & Julian will continue to craft wares that not only suit their lifestyle, but many of the ones yet to come. With a dedication to simple function, quality craftsmanship, and timeless design, this quiet couple behind Pastrana Studio is at the very pulse of what the maker movement is all about.

Ball and Buck: Simbo's Cabin

On a secluded, pine-laden plot bordering the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado lies Simbo’s cabin. Built entirely by his hands, it is a testament to one man’s ingenuity and resourcefulness, and has become a place of rest, inspiration, and solace for me in the most sacred of ways.

More and more frequently, I make the pilgrimage from Texas, and each time it becomes harder to leave. And not just petty disappointment for a trip’s end, but a gut-wrenching, alkaline inducing, feeling of dread and separation that runs me off the rails for a short time. 

When my mind and body revolt in this way, I try to listen, and discover the source of such a physiological warning sign. This time, on the morning before my departure, I sat on the front porch listening to the rain hitting the woodpile, with birds of different melody and plumage reveling in the mountain shower, and thought about what this cabin, and all others, might represent. 

A cabin can be in many places, in a variety of ecosystems or country sides, but most of them serve a similar function. Mountain, beach, lake, desert, forest or prairie cabin, the mental state one enters upon arrival is usually the same.

It offers a chance to strip away the stresses of modern life, to drop all of the worries we carry around every day, and move past the put-ons we are preached at about, held responsible for, or judged by. None of those matter here, and are shown fully in their false light by the breeze whispering in the pines, the roar of the river, or the steadfast silence of the mountain.

The cabin offers us access to a mostly forgotten, sacred source of life. But you must choose to pursue it. Just as monuments are created for honor, or symbols created for reference, the cabin acts as both, reminding us to step out of the story we’re often caught up in, the negative patterns we’ve developed, and the excuses we make to avoid things.

 All of these make us sick and unhappy, and pull us away from a peaceful existence. Gently, a cabin prompts us to observe the pulse of life around us, and the amazing source of vitality and inspiration that abounds. Out here, the forcefulness of civilization is lessened, drowned out by the radiant glow of nature, where the veil between man and the surrounding environment is thinned.

The cabin can be a gateway, a trail head of sorts to our real, intended nature, where nothing is expected or demanded, just is. 

Some have learned to live without it, some never had it, but those of us who do need a close connection with the natural world must seek it, listen to it, and learn from it. Where does this come from, and why are we so pulled to answer the call? For the same reason that the goose flies south, or the elk shed their noble antlers, the bear hibernates, or why the wolf howls; we too need this for our survival.

And not survival of the body per say, but of the soul, and a life with meaningful experience.

Whether through the changing of the seasons, the waxing of the moon, or the turning of the tides, nature has much to teach us, and we’ve only to keep returning to the cabin to receive those lessons. 

Bell & Oak Collaboration

This collaboration was largely born out of the fact that I just didn’t have a good camera strap. Though there are a few companies out there who make them, I have no connection or loyalty to them, and I wanted to pursue a more meaningful solution. Clint and I, both being Texan, share a similar background in western heritage, so I thought this was the perfect chance to team up. Being that I travel quite frequently, cameras in tow, it would be an opportunity for me to take a little bit of Texas with me (not to mention toughness). 

Based on some initial ideas I had, he created a prototype that I took out on assignments over the course of the summer and fall of 2014 Through torrential downpours in the Gulf of Mexico, arid heat in the high plains of Montana’s Paradise Valley, gale force winds in the mountains of Oregon, and the permeating mist of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, this camera strap only got stronger, and more supple. The term “field tested” has never been more appropriate, and it passed with flying colors.

We made a few adjustments to the hardware along the line, and downsized the shoulder strap, leaving us now with what, in my opinion, is the perfect camera strap.  Adjustable, dependable, and tough as hell, it only sweetens the deal that it’s as beautiful as it is. No surprise at all that Clint NAILED the design and function of this, and I can’t wait to see where all this strap travels in the world, the cameras that it helps uphold, and the beautiful images that arise as a result of it. 

Folks, we've got ourselves a classic here, and I already bought three more for the rest of my cameras. They'll probably outlast the rest of the gear. 

Aim true & shoot straight, 

Tyler Sharp

Garden & Gun: Hageman Reserve

Honored to have my second contribution to Garden & Gun magazine in the Feb/March 2015 issue, on the Hageman Reserve in Sulphur Bluff, Texas. This 14,000 acre private sporting club is the first of its' kind, and offers upland, waterfowl, deer, and hog hunting, as well as a world class sporting clays course, 65,000 sq ft lodge, and more amenities that I can list here. 

Really fortunate to have been able to visit this unique property several times, and will be posting more of the images I shot in the near future. These are just a few selects from my assignment back in November, and you can see the full story live on Garden & Gun's blog here. 

Covey Rise: Napa Valley Reserve

So rewarding to see my first feature story for Covey Rise in print, even more so because I got to write, as well as shoot this story. It was my first trip to Napa Valley, and I think it will be hard for me to top this experience.

The Napa Valley Reserve is quite a unique location, and I think I may have been permanently spoiled as far as wine tasting goes. I hope you enjoy the story!

Garden & Gun: Helice at the Dallas Gun Club

I also filmed & edited a short video during the assignment, that goes a little more into detail about the sport of Helice, and what Mike Higgins hopes to see happen for the future of the sport. 

The video was originally featured on Garden & Gun's website, as well as the ipad/tablet version of the magazine. 

Photography, Editing & Creative Direction by Tyler Sharp.
 



Phoot Camp 2014

Dutch portrait photographer Marije Kuiper, who was for sure one of this year's Phoot Camp muses for many of us. 

I was thrilled to receive an invitation back to Phoot Camp in 2014, an annual retreat for 35 photographers in a unique location each time. It was my third year to attend, and this year it was in Joshua Tree, California. 

Just a few selects portraits from the 4 day photo extravaganza, but you can see plenty more online by searching the #phootcamp hashtag. Such wonderful images in that collection. 

Garrett Cornelison and his 67' Chevy Impala.  

Super talented portrait photographer Josh Wool sitting for me. 

Tyler ON INSTAGRAM

Our family lost a legend today. He was a true cowboy, an amazing role model, and the best grandfather I could’ve hoped for. He taught me how to ride a horse, gave me my first pair of boots and Stetson, and showed me how to be a Texan gentleman.
Haven’t been able to find the time lately for personal posts, on account of being at the grindstone for Volume 5 of @modernhuntsman. These past few months have been trying, but I could not be more proud of or thankful for my team, who has showe
: ***CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS*** • Do you want to be published in Volume 5 of Modern Huntsman? Well here’s your chance. Between now and Tuesday May 19th, we’ll be selecting 5 images to be included into our Traditions Issue, releasing in
We’re finally staring to see some consistent warmer weather in Montana, which is perfect for field testing some of the new @modernhuntsman shirts and hats we just launched. Not sure why it took us this long, but better late than never as they s
Excited to announce our cover for @modernhuntsman Volume Five: Traditions. • This photograph, taken by the extremely talented @jenjudgephoto, is from a story that chronicles a tribe of nomadic reindeer herders in the remote reaches of the Siberi
Just a photo of a happy shaggy dog while it's a rainy Monday in Montana.
A brief glimpse into our fifth @modernhuntsman book: Traditions. • Our team has been hard at work editing photos and stories the past few weeks, and the work is absolutely stellar. I’m not sure how submissions continue to improve every tim