EDITOR’S NOTE: For this month’s portfolio, we’ve combined the work of two of our most talented photographers: Scott Baxter, the artist behind the 100 Years, 100 Ranchers project that we featured in 2011 and 2012, and Joel Grimes, a longtime contributor to Arizona Highways. Our objective with the piece was to capture real people in their real worlds, without the Hollywood stereotypes of Wyatt Earp and Geronimo. As you’ll see, both Scott and Joel did just that. For his part, Scott used a large-format camera. He then developed the film using the palladium process, a technique known for the archival quality of the prints it produces. Meanwhile, Joel used 4x5 and 6x7 cameras to make his images.

 

Cowboys by Scott Baxter

 

“Cody is a working cowboy in Apache County,” Scott Baxter says. “I didn’t know I was going to photograph him. Cody showed up to ride horses for a rancher there, and he agreed to be photographed.”

Cody Cunningham, X Diamond Ranch, South Fork

“Cody is a working cowboy in Apache County,” Scott Baxter says. “I didn’t know I was going to photograph him. Cody showed up to ride horses for a rancher there, and he agreed to be photographed.”

CAMERA: CAMBO 8x10; FILM: ILFORD HP5; SHUTTER: 1/30 SEC; APERTURE: F/11; ISO: 400; FOCAL LENGTH: 300 MM

 

“Joel and his wife worked at the O-R-O Ranch in Yavapai County, which is north of Prescott, for three years. At the time I shot this, he was day-working at ranches in Camp Verde and Sonoita. He’s a young guy, but he’s been doing this for a long time.”

Joel Maloney, Queen Creek

“Joel and his wife worked at the O-R-O Ranch in Yavapai County, which is north of Prescott, for three years. At the time I shot this, he was day-working at ranches in Camp Verde and Sonoita. He’s a young guy, but he’s been doing this for a long time.”

CAMERA: CAMBO 8x10; FILM: ILFORD HP5; SHUTTER: 1/30 SEC; APERTURE: F/11; ISO: 400; FOCAL LENGTH: 300 MM

 

“Andy cowboys at Rosemont Ranch. The ranch manager is a friend of mine, and Andy is his main hand. He tells me Andy can work any 25-year-old under the table.”

Andy Zeigler, Rosemont Ranch, north of Sonoita

“Andy cowboys at Rosemont Ranch. The ranch manager is a friend of mine, and Andy is his main hand. He tells me Andy can work any 25-year-old under the table.”

CAMERA: CAMBO 8x10; FILM: KODAK TRI-X; SHUTTER: 1/15 SEC; APERTURE: F/11; ISO: 320; FOCAL LENGTH: 300 MM

 

“José is the foreman at Sierra Bonita Ranch and has been there for more than 30 years.”

José Adame, Sierra Bonita Ranch, near Willcox

“José is the foreman at Sierra Bonita Ranch and has been there for more than 30 years.”

CAMERA: CAMBO 8x10; FILM: kodak TRI-X; SHUTTER: 1/30 SEC; APERTURE: F/11; ISO: 320; FOCAL LENGTH: 300 MM

 

“I had to shoot Duke in this doorway at the CO Bar Ranch because this area, about 35 miles north of Flagstaff, is very open and windy. There was a steady wind of about 30 mph during the shoot.”

Duke Vance, CO Bar Ranch, near Flagstaff

“I had to shoot Duke in this doorway at the CO Bar Ranch because this area, about 35 miles north of Flagstaff, is very open and windy. There was a steady wind of about 30 mph during the shoot.”

CAMERA: CAMBO 8x10; FILM: ILFORD HP5; SHUTTER: 1/30 SEC; APERTURE: F/11; ISO: 400; FOCAL LENGTH: 300 MM

 

“This is one of the original Sierra Bonita Ranch compound walls. They were built in the 1870s, and they were made 8 feet to 10 feet thick to protect the cowboys from Apache Indian attacks. I just thought the texture and cracks were interesting in framing Matt for this photograph.”

Matt Ford, Sierra Bonita Ranch, near Willcox

“This is one of the original Sierra Bonita Ranch compound walls. They were built in the 1870s, and they were made 8 feet to 10 feet thick to protect the cowboys from Apache Indian attacks. I just thought the texture and cracks were interesting in framing Matt for this photograph.”

CAMERA: CAMBO 8x10; FILM: kodak TRI-X; SHUTTER: 1/30 SEC; APERTURE: F/11; ISO: 320; FOCAL LENGTH: 300 MM

 

“Sheila was the first person I contacted when I started this project. This was shot at a horse barn at the Flying M Ranch. She’s a good hand. I met her through the 100 Years, 100 Ranchers project.”

Sheila Carlson, Flying M Ranch, near Flagstaff

“Sheila was the first person I contacted when I started this project. This was shot at a horse barn at the Flying M Ranch. She’s a good hand. I met her through the 100 Years, 100 Ranchers project.”

CAMERA: LINHOF TECHNIKARDAN 4x5; FILM: KODAK PLUS-X; SHUTTER: 1/15 SEC; APERTURE: F/11; ISO: 125; FOCAL LENGTH: 210 MM

 

“Justin is at least a third-generation cowboy, as are many of the cowboys at the CO Bar Ranch. His dad and his grandpa also worked there. He’s 22; he was the youngest cowboy I photographed. Real quiet kid, but he had a really nice look.”

Justin Morgan Rodgers, CO Bar Ranch, near Flagstaff

“Justin is at least a third-generation cowboy, as are many of the cowboys at the CO Bar Ranch. His dad and his grandpa also worked there. He’s 22; he was the youngest cowboy I photographed. Real quiet kid, but he had a really nice look.”

CAMERA: CAMBO 8x10; FILM: ILFORD HP5; SHUTTER: 1/30 SEC; APERTURE: F/11; ISO: 400; FOCAL LENGTH: 300 MM

 

“Kenneth was photographed at the X Diamond Ranch. He shoes horses and works as a cowboy in Apache and Navajo counties.”

Kenneth “KT” Thompson, X Diamond Ranch, South Fork

“Kenneth was photographed at the X Diamond Ranch. He shoes horses and works as a cowboy in Apache and Navajo counties.”

CAMERA: CAMBO 8x10; FILM: ILFORD HP5; SHUTTER: 1/30 SEC; APERTURE: F/11; ISO: 400; FOCAL LENGTH: 300 MM

 

Indians by Joel Grimes

 

“For the lighting on this shot, I used a strobe and a large softbox as a modifier.”

Rose, Shiprock, New Mexico

“For the lighting on this shot, I used a strobe and a large softbox as a modifier.”

CAMERA: CANHAM 4x5; film: polaroid type 55; SHUTTER: 1/500 SEC; APERTURE: F/16; ISO: 50; FOCAL LENGTH: 90 MM

 

“During a Fourth of July event at the fairgrounds, I set up a black background cloth and recruited as many Navajo subjects as possible over the weekend,” Joel Grimes says. “With the Stash kids, I struck gold.”

Terriline and Fernando Stash, Window Rock

“During a Fourth of July event at the fairgrounds, I set up a black background cloth and recruited as many Navajo subjects as possible over the weekend,” Joel Grimes says. “With the Stash kids, I struck gold.”

CAMERA: MAMIYA RB67; film: kodak t-max 100; SHUTTER: 1/500 SEC; APERTURE: F/11; ISO: 100; FOCAL LENGTH: 50 MM

 

“The beautiful thing about using powerful studio strobes outdoors is that you can overpower the sun. Without the use of artificial light, I would have sacrificed detail in Casey’s face to get detail in the clouds.”

Casey Todebeeney, Red Mesa

“The beautiful thing about using powerful studio strobes outdoors is that you can overpower the sun. Without the use of artificial light, I would have sacrificed detail in Casey’s face to get detail in the clouds.”

CAMERA: MAMIYA RB67; film: kodak t-max 100; SHUTTER: 1/125 SEC; APERTURE: F/16; ISO: 100; FOCAL LENGTH: 50 MM

 

“This was one of the first portaits I photographed over the two years I spent in the field for Navajo: Portrait of a Nation. Rose welcomed me into her home with open arms.”

Rose Tracy (right), Ganado

“This was one of the first portaits I photographed over the two years I spent in the field for Navajo: Portrait of a Nation. Rose welcomed me into her home with open arms.”

CAMERA: WISTA 4x5; film: polaroid type 55; SHUTTER: 1 SEC; APERTURE: F/16; ISO: 100; FOCAL LENGTH: 210 MM

 

“He’s a retired medicine man. After I shot a few images with the strobes, I turned them off to try a silhouette approach. It was the right decision.”

Andilthdoney Begay, Indian Wells

“He’s a retired medicine man. After I shot a few images with the strobes, I turned them off to try a silhouette approach. It was the right decision.”

CAMERA: MAMIYA RB67; FILM: KODAK T-MAX 100; SHUTTER: 1 SEC; APERTURE: F/11; ISO: 100; FOCAL LENGTH: 50 MM

 

“I had Oreland place one of his beautiful stone creations in the foreground to emphasize his artwork.”

Oreland Joe, Shiprock, New Mexico

“I had Oreland place one of his beautiful stone creations in the foreground to emphasize his artwork.”

CAMERA: MAMIYA RB67; FILM: KODAK T-MAX 100; SHUTTER: 2 SEC; APERTURE: F/11; ISO: 100; FOCAL LENGTH: 50 MM

 

“Slim did not speak a word of English, but I somehow ended up in his home, photographing a portrait of him in his kitchen. It’s amazing how quickly you can adapt to using hand signals.”

Slim Biakeddy (left), Tuba City

“Slim did not speak a word of English, but I somehow ended up in his home, photographing a portrait of him in his kitchen. It’s amazing how quickly you can adapt to using hand signals.”

CAMERA: MAMIYA RB67; FILM: KODAK T-MAX 100; SHUTTER: 1 SEC; APERTURE: F/11; ISO: 100; FOCAL LENGTH: 50 MM

 

“Mary Ann’s goat kept following her around, and I was hoping I could capture that bond in a photograph. The day produced some great clouds, which helped to build drama in this image.”

Mary Ann Nockiadeneh, Pillow Hill

“Mary Ann’s goat kept following her around, and I was hoping I could capture that bond in a photograph. The day produced some great clouds, which helped to build drama in this image.”

CAMERA: MAMIYA RB67; FILM: KODAK T-MAX 100; SHUTTER: 1/125 SEC; APERTURE: F/16; ISO: 100; FOCAL LENGTH: 50 MM

 

“When I walked into Jimmy’s home, I could immediately tell he had a military background. It was spotless, and everything was in order. He was very proud of his service.”

Sergeant Jimmy E. Dickson, Tuba City

“When I walked into Jimmy’s home, I could immediately tell he had a military background. It was spotless, and everything was in order. He was very proud of his service.”

CAMERA: MAMIYA RB67; FILM: KODAK T-MAX 100; SHUTTER: 1 SEC; APERTURE: F/11; ISO: 100; FOCAL LENGTH: 50 MM

 

“Out of the 45,000 images I captured over two years, this is one of my favorites. It’s partly because her face tells such a great story. I had pre-visualized this image for more than a year before finding the right subject and opportunity. Capturing Lutie on film was like winning the lottery.”

Lutie Wilson, Pillow Hill

“Out of the 45,000 images I captured over two years, this is one of my favorites. It’s partly because her face tells such a great story. I had pre-visualized this image for more than a year before finding the right subject and opportunity.
Capturing Lutie on film was like winning the lottery.”

CAMERA: MAMIYA RB67; FILM: KODAK T-MAX 100; SHUTTER: 1/500 SEC; APERTURE: F/11; ISO: 100; FOCAL LENGTH: 50 MM