Growing up in Texas, Willie Nelson has always been one of my heroes—not just because he can write a great song, but because he is unapologetically himself. In his music, his personal life, and his public presence, there’s a consistency that’s hard to ignore. He walks that line between cowboy, artist, and hippie without ever feeling like he’s trying to be anything other than who he is. That’s something I’ve always respected.
So when I had the opportunity to go backstage at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo, I knew I didn’t just want action shots—I wanted to capture the real cowboys.
Yellow Scene Magazine sent me on assignment to grab a cover shot for their “Best of the West” issue. But I wanted more than a cover, more than some rad action shots—I wanted portraits. Honest ones of the young men and women carrying forward a tradition deeply rooted in American agriculture.
With the smell of hay in the air, I stepped backstage, started conversations, and made a few portraits along the way.
Here are some of my favorite images from my time at the rodeo in Denver.
