Photographing Cowboys at the Matador Ranch, MT.

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My father, Kurt Markus, was photographing cowboys long before it was cool. Back in the 1980s, he carved out a niche with his soulful, black-and-white images of the American West, all shot on film. Digital photography didn’t exist yet — obviously — but even if it had, I think he still would’ve stuck with film. It’s what made his work so timeless.

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His legacy is what drew me to start scouting ranches across Montana. It felt like the right place to begin, not just because of the history, but because Montana is home — even though I live in New Mexico now, it’s still the place I’m rooted.

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A good friend of mine from Montana State University, where we both graduated with degrees in graphic design, lives near Dillon. I asked if she could reach out to a few local ranches to see if I could come photograph the spring branding season. Around the same time, I found out that Ted Brackenbury — an old cowboy my dad photographed back in the day — was working on the neighboring Matador Ranch. Ted put in a good word for me.

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Suddenly, all the pieces just fit.

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I packed up my film cameras and spent time at the Matador, documenting the rhythm of cowboy life during branding season. There’s something about shooting with film — the slower pace, the intention behind each frame — that feels right in that environment. It’s not about chasing perfection, it’s about catching something real.​​​