"Fertile Ground" photography show at JRB Art at the Elms, Oklahoma City

I'm delighted to announce that I will have a show at the prestigious JRB Art at the Elms Gallery in Oklahoma City, OK beginning on June 2nd, 2017.  The show will include work from A Handful of Dust, as well as a number of images from the Starlight series.

On June 10th at 2PM, I'll be giving a talk at the gallery about the two projects and will also show new video from A Handful of Dust.  I'm excited that the show will be up at the same time as the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum's annual Prix de West.

Ranch Photo Workshop April 9th-10th, 2016

Photograph on two iconic working ranches in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains Sponsored by the Carnegie Arts Center, Turlock CA

Experience first hand what it's like to live the life of a cowboy as we visit ranches in Merced and Raymond California. One is a homestead ranch dating back to the 1850's and the other to the 1920's, so there's plenty of history and beauty to capture here.

Over the course of the two days, you’ll photograph the intensity of cattle drives, the craftsmanship of horseshoeing, and the tremendous physicality of branding. Along the way, Allen will share valuable tips on composition, techniques to either freeze the action or create stunning pan and blurred images, and how to work with natural light to create powerful, evocative photographs.

Beyond that, you'll have time to shoot portraits with the cowboys and cowgirls in magnificent backgrounds. Allen will show you how to direct your subject to create powerful portraits using natural light, reflectors and speedlights.

Saturday, April 9th
7AM meet at ranch.  Shoot cattle drive and horseshoeing
11AM Go to town to edit, select five images for review and have lunch on your own
2PM Critique
4:00 Return to ranch for evening shoot, followed by dutch-oven BBQ

Sunday, April 10th
7AM Meet at ranch.  Photograph gathering of cattle, branding and cowboy portraits
12PM Go to town to edit, select five images for review, and have lunch on your own
3PM Final review

Schedule is subject to change.

This workshop is perfect for photo-enthusiast and professional photographers. Bring your laptop loaded with editing software (Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, etc)

Fee: $1095.

For information, feel free to contact me at 303-333-3316.
To register, go to the Carnegie Arts Center registration page.

This workshop is being staged in support of an exhibit at the Carnegie Arts Center in Turlock, CA. to raise awareness of the importance of ranching not only as a way of life, but also for its role in environmental stewardship. A portion of the workshop fee is being contributed to the Sierra Foothill Conservancy.

A Handful of Dust Photograph in the Arvada Art Show

I'm gratified that a recent image for A Handful of Dust has been selected for the Art of the State 2016  juried show at the prestigious Arvada Arts Center in Colorado.  The show opens Thursday, January 21st and runs through March 27th.

The genesis for the Starlight series was a comment made by Bruce Cogan in the trailer for the documentary.  At one point, Bruce says "Have you ever been outside at night under a full moon? It's so bright you could read a newspaper."

Well, I thought about that comment for a long time, and decided to capture some of that beauty that few people see.  Hay Bales, Elbert County was the very first image I made for the series, so of course it's wonderful to see it gain approval from such a venerable organization. 

To see more of the series, go to BirnbachImages.com.

New trailer for A Handful of Dust completed

We've completed the new trailer for A Handful of Dust.  Working closely with our Director of Photography Edward Done and Executive Producer Daniel Junge, I collaborated with editor  Niko Van Steenhoven to craft a new trailer.  The focus of this piece is the issue of labor and immigration regulations that threaten to destroy the way of life of a large scale sheep operation like the Ladder Ranch, one of the subjects for the documentary.

I welcome your comments and suggestions.

A curator talks about "A Handful of Dust" documentary

The Coors Western Art Exhibit and Sale opened to the public last night at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, and I'm gratified to be a part of it.  Here's a quote about A Handful of Dust by the curator.

“Part of our mission with the Coors Show is to educate people on what it really means be a Westerner, to work the land, raise livestock and make a living at it. Allen’s work allows us to have this conversation, and beautifully so. But beyond the conversation, these photographs—stills from his documentary “A Handful of Dust”—bridge the reality of ranching with fine art, not in a romanticized way, but in a very real, honest and humble way that resonates a truth about the West.” Rose Fredrick, curator, Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale

A Handful of Dust Photos on display at the Coors Western Art Show

Last night was the preview event at the Coors Western Art Show and Sale at the National Western Stock Show. It was wonderful to see the diversity of work on display, from painting to sculpture, photography and mixed media.  It's an honor to be included.

Rose Fredrick, curator of the show, asked me to speak about what makes photography collectible, and then talk a little bit about A Handful of Dust.  Afterwards, I had the opportunity to talk with a number of younger people hoping to take over the reins at their family ranch.  A very encouraging and enjoyable night.

Fall cattle drive at the Ladder Ranch

My how time flies.  Here we are in December and I'm just getting around to editing photographs I took on September 30th at the fall cattle drive at the Ladder Ranch.  

Looking at these images took me back.  It was a rainy day, and there was a chill in the  northern Colorado mountain air close to the Wyoming border.  I remember feeling a bit more adrenalin coursing through my body, because this was going to be the first time I would try to shoot while riding a horse.

I had some experience shooting from a mule on our trip to Baja in March, but mules and horses are very different animals and the mare I was given was easily half again as tall as the mule I had ridden.  In addition, I decided that I wanted to be able to shoot both with wide angle and long lenses, so I set up one camera with a 17-40mm lens, and another with a 70-200mm.  Mounting in itself seemed like a formidable task.

But it was a great day.  Yeah, there were those times where my horse decided to gallop when the two cowboys I was with would spur there horses on.  No amount of firm words and pulling on the reins would stop her from keeping up with her buddies.  But for the most part, she seemed to know when I put the reins over the saddle horn that she needed to take it easy so I could shoot with both hands on the camera.

More to come, but here's the first image I was attracted to.

Coors Western Art Show

I'm honored and gratified that seven images from A Handful of Dust have been selected to be shown at the Coors Western Art Show in January 2015. 

The Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale began as the joint inspiration of Coors Brewing Company and the National Western Stock Show. Since 1993, Coors and the National Western have worked together to develop what is now considered one of the finest western art exhibits in the United States. 

I'm delighted that the photographs will be seen by thousands of visitors over a two week period, and for the potential to build a larger community of supporters for the project. 

The exhibit is open from January 10th-25th at the National Western Stock Show, 4655 Humboldt St, Denver, CO 80216.

Interview on Colorado and Company

Today I had the great pleasure to meet Denise Plante, and be interviewed for her show, Colorado and Company, which airs on KUSA 9News in Denver. The subject of the interview was the exhibit of photographs from "A Handful of Dust" at the Byers-Evans House Museum.  The show runs through August 30th, 2014 and admission is free.

Denise asked some insightful questions, and it was fun to share my feelings about the value of ranching, and the importance that it has on many levels.   A thoroughly enjoyable time, and I'm grateful to Denise, and KUSA for giving voice to this story.

Here's the segment.

Byers-Evans House Museum Catalog

Here's a preview of the images that will be shown at the Byers-Evans House Museum June 6th-August 30th.  I'm fortunate to have had Ron Landucci of Infinite Editions make the rich and evocative prints for the show.  Prints for the show are either 13.5 x 20 or 24 x 36 inches.  

Baja California #1

Everett Ranch Drive #9

Ladder Ranch #14

Sheep Shearing #1

Ladder Ranch Branding #12

Ladder Ranch Branding #1

Baker Ranch Cattle Drive #1

Baker Ranch Cattle Drive #12

Afternoon storm, Wyoming

Baker Ranch #3

Baker Ranch Branding #6

Baker Ranch Cattle Drive #15

Baker Ranch Cattle Drive #15

Baker Ranch Branding #11

Baker Ranch Cattle Drive #10

Baker Ranch Cattle Drive #3

Baker Ranch Branding #8

Sheep Shearing #3

Baker Ranch Cattle Drive #17

All images are for sale as limited edition archival carbon pigment prints.  For information, call 303-333-3316 or email.

A Handful of Dust Exhibit Opens at Byers-Evans House Museum June 6th

I'm delighted that the Byers-Evans House Museum in Denver will be hosting an exhibit of photographs and video from A Handful of Dust.   The show will debut with a free reception from 5 to 9 p.m. during the First Friday Art Walk in the Golden Triangle Museum District on June 6. The show will be on view through August 30, 2014. Admission to the opening reception is free.

For more information, stop by the Byers-Evans House Gallery located at 1310 Bannock Street in downtown Denver or visit www.byersevanshousemuseum.org.

Vaqueros in Baja California

Ranching in the United States can trace its origins back to the Moors in Africa, and from there to the Iberian Peninsula.  In the 16th century, the Spanish drove cattle from Mexico into Baja California and from there to Alto California (now the U.S.) as well as into what is now New Mexico in 1598.

In mid-March, I traveled with a group of people to a part of Baja California that is so remote that people there still ranch in the same way as they did when the Spanish came through the region.

Over one week, we rode mules through some amazing country.  We visited a number of ranches, and I shot both still images and video interviews with a number of the vaqueros (cowboys), who clearly love their land and their traditions. 

A truly extraordinary experience, and I'm indebted to Rick Knight, one of the advisors on this project, for inviting me on this trip.  

Under a magnificent sky

I just returned from three days of shooting at the Ladder Ranch in Wyoming for the documentary.  The reason I went up was to cover lambing, which is in full swing right now.  After a day that started at 5AM and ended with dinner in town at 8PM, I arrived back at the ranch headquarters at 9:30.  I was physically and mentally exhausted but grateful for some wonderful still and motion images I had captured.  A lamb, just a few minutes old, struggling to stand up, while her mother licked her clean.  Day-old triplets nursing in the barn, almost completely blending into the hay they lay upon.  Peruvian sheepherders skillfully putting a rejected lamb with a ewe that had lost her own lamb at birth.  It was all so primal, and at the same time so very grounding.

Anyway, I pulled up to the ranch headquarters, thinking all I wanted to do was clean up and get into bed, but when I shut off the lights and opened the car door I was stunned by the sky above me.  The stars were so bright I could feel my eyes straining to see deep into space to see all the little details.  I knew immediately that I had to shoot something to capture the grandeur one only witnesses in the rural West, far away from city lights.

I set up my Canon 5D MkIII to shoot a time lapse sequence over the next couple of hours.  I hope to have that series edited in the next few days, but this was the first frame from the sequence.  It's rare that a image truly captures the feeling I have when I press the shutter.  But when I look at  this photograph, I'm right back there, feeling the wonder and connectedness to this glorious planet.

Daniel Junge signs on as Executive Producer

I'm delighted that Daniel Junge has agreed to serve as Executive Producer for A Handful of Dust.  

Daniel is an Oscar-winning (and 2-time nominated) documentary filmmaker. Junge was born and raised in Wyoming and graduated from Colorado College and attended NYU Film School. His first documentary feature, CHIEFS, won best documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival and broadcast on PBS. Since that time, Junge has directed over a dozen feature and short films which have broadcast on HBO, BBC, PBS and over 50 other networks.

Being from Wyoming, Daniel has a special affinity for ranching, and I'm humbled by his willingness to help steward this project.  

A new development at the Ladder Ranch

I've just come back from three days of shooting at The Ladder Ranch in Wyoming, a place that has captured my heart.  The O'Toole family, with their roots in the area since the 1880's, is committed to sustainable ranching and environmental conservation.  In fact, they have just won the 2014 Leopold Conservation Award for their enlightened stewardship of the land.

Ironically, an energy exploration company is coming into the area to do hydraulic fracturing on Battle Mountain (shown here).  The concern is that drilling will not only create problems for wildlife migration, but will also impact sage grouse (an endangered species) that live in the area.  It has already impacted the fall hunting season, one of the sources of income for the ranch, and there is an issue with how much water is needed to do this kind of drilling when the West is experiencing a devastating drought.

The O'Toole's intend to fight this drilling, and I'll be documenting the situation as best I can.  Over the next week, I'll be posting more images from this week's shoot.

Energizing time at National Cowboy Poetry Gathering

I've been overwhelmed by the energy at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nevada these past two days.  It's been cold and grey outside, but within the Convention Center there is great activity with lots of performances of music and poetry, and workshops about the ranching world.

Part of the reason I came here was to document the participation in four of those workshops by members of the O'Toole family, who are subjects of "A Handful of Dust."  Pat and Sharon have been involved in a facilitated workshop about the future of ranching, and Meghan participated in a panel discussion called "Back on the Ranch."  Today, Pat will be on a panel speaking about food production in the West. 

Beyond shooting video, I've been fortunate to meet some wonderful people here.  Darcy Minter, the Communications Director of the Western Folklife Center introduced to me a number of performers who have graciously agreed to contribute their talent to the documentary.  Gail Steiger, Amy Hale Auker, Jessie Veeder, Joel Nelson and Linda Hussa, all luminaries in this world, have shown a generosity that is truly heartwarming. 

There hasn't been a lot of free time, and in fact I haven't even made it to any performances.  But I've kept my Ricoh GR on my belt and grabbed some little details that caught my eye.  The amazing colors, patterns and textures in the clothing is dizzying, and the novelty items in the shops are humorous and endearing. 

Today is the last day, and I'm looking forward to it immensely.

On the way to the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Today I'm on my way to Elko, Nevada to the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, staged by The Western Folklife Center, which "is dedicated to exploring, presenting and preserving the diverse and dynamic cultural heritage of the American West."

This is my second time going to the event, and this year's theme is "Expressing the Rural West--Into the Future!"  I'm particularly interested because Pat, Sharon and Meghan O'Toole from the Ladder Ranch will be speaking in several workshops.  And since they are part of the documentary, this seemed like an opportune time to capture their thoughts on film.

Beyond that, there are 50 cowboy poets and musicians performing over the next few days, so it should be a great opportunity to meet people who might contribute their talents to the documentary.  It should be a fun and productive few days.

Of course, whenever I travel, I'm always on the lookout for great visuals.  Here a a couple from along I-80 between Salt Lake City and Elko.

A Call for Year End Tax Deductible Donation

This has been an important year in moving "A Handful of Dust" forward.  We've identified several of the ranches we will profile, and begun shooting on two of them.  Three academic advisors have been brought onboard to help guide the project.  Fiscal sponsorship, which allows tax deductible donations from individuals and foundations  has been secured, and a grant writer is working on proposals that will go out in January.  American Cowboy Magazine did a feature story about the project.  And I've spent time meeting people from the ranching, conservation and environmental worlds to begin building the community that will spread the word about the project.

That said, it has also been a year in which pressures on ranching have escalated.  Because of the extended drought, expanding energy exploration, and more attempts to transfer water rights from ranching communities to cities, conditions are changing.  It all stresses the urgency of getting this project done.

I'd like to ask you to consider making a year end, tax deductible donation to this effort.  Your contribution will enable us to ramp up shooting, capturing what is happening right now across the West.  In the past 30 years, over half a million ranches have gone under, but we can affect the future.  Help us by making a donation today at this link.

Fact finding and building relationships at Quivira Conference

On the recommendation of several people, I spent three days at the 2013 Quivira Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  The Quivira Coalition was founded in 1997 with the mission "to build resilience by fostering ecological, economic and social health on western landscapes through education, innovation, collaboration and progressive public and private land stewardship."

The conference was an opportunity to hear experts talk about rangeland management, conservation practices and climate change, and hear ranchers from the U.S. and New Zealand talk about their observations in a deeply personal way.  Some of the lectures, especially the ones by Jonathan Overpack, a climatologist, and Amy Haak from Trout Unlimited and were unsettling because they provided evidence that climate change is real and measurable.  A simple thing like pollination may not happen because as temperatures rise, timing could be off between when plants bloom and migratory pollinators  arrive.  Grasslands will be more subject to plant loss and hotter fires.  And warm water fish like bass will replace cold water species like trout as stream temperatures rise.  

At the same time, there were some very positive notes as well.  A rancher from New Zealand explained in detail a new approach to regenerating rangeland.  A representative from the Forest Service talked about flexibility in land management.  Eight hundred people who care about the future of agriculture and ranching shared experiences and networking opportunities.  Though there are challenges, I came away encouraged by the passion the attendees had for making the best of the hand they've been dealt.

It was also a great opportunity for me to connect with organizations that are concerned with supporting ranchers and agriculture in general.  I met people from Western Landowners Alliance, Young Farmers Coalition, New Mexico Land Conservancy, and of course, the leaders of Quivira Coalition.  Plus a number of l wonderful ranchers who clearly are great stewards of both private and public land.

I certainly plan on attending the conference next year!

American Cowboy Does Feature Story about A Handful of Dust

The October/November issue of American Cowboy Magazine has a feature story about A Handful of Dust.  I'm delighted that Editor-in-Chief Bob Welch took a strong interest in the vision for the project, and has become a booster for it.  He's promised to do updates and post to their blog as well.  I couldn't be happier.