Parts Unknown
Durango, Colorado – 2023
When we shoot in the winter, weather plays a large part in our planning, but given the speed at which weather can change, it does not pay to be too prescriptive too far out from shooting days. But we continually check weather patterns and within 36 hours of a shoot, we tend to home in on a certain plan.
There are, I guess, four or five weather possibilities in the winter: melting snow and sunny, which is horrid; cold and sunny, which is better but restricts filming time; a snowstorm, which is exciting, but can impair detail or, ideally, the end of a big snow fall.
In the Rockies, I guess there are about a dozen days a year when a big storm passes through and clears, leaving behind a winter wonderland and kind gentle light. This is the film maker’s big opportunity, provided the props are in place and access is still possible. It is always challenging, but these are the days we wait for. They don’t come that often.
We know the Durango to Silverton steam train well and have built up a strong friendship with the owner Al Harper and his wonderful team of engineers in Durango. I sensed there was an opportunity at this jaw dropping location made famous by its appearance some 50 years ago in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. We were in town and waiting as the storm system pushed through. It had lasted 36 hours and left 18 inches of new snow in the San Juan Forest that the old steam train cuts through.
We had to operate fast, as the light was picking up all the time and both teams worked quickly to get everyone in position early in the day. The Native American and the horse had the toughest job – that was no easy brief that day.
When I look at this photograph, I feel some sense of pride, it is a hell of a shot. But not pride in myself, pride in all the people that made it happen. A real team effort.
Available sizes
LARGE: Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image size: 69" x 56" in (175.3 cm x 142.2 cm)
- Framed Image: 84" x 71" in (213.4 cm x 180.3 cm)
STANDARD: Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image size: 46" x 37" in (116.8 cm x 93.98 cm)
- Framed Image: 61" x 52" in (154.9 cm x 190.5 cm)
We ship worldwide and use a multitude of providers to safely deliver your masterpiece. Domestic delivery and installation may also be available via Hilton Asmus Contemporary’s private art shuttle. Please inquire.
Red Dead
Durango, Colorado – 2023
In the mountains of America, my experience is that the really cold conditions tend to be on cloudless days first thing in the morning, particularly at sunrise when the temperature briefly dips. Operating when it is frigid is a real examination, not just of one’s hunger to get the shot but one’s fluency with the camera. Hand warmers are such a wonderful invention.
This morning, up on the Durango & Silverton narrow gauge railroad, was one such occasion. The storm had cleared and was replaced
by a cloudless sky and frigid temperatures. At sunrise we were down to around -15°F or -26°C and these conditions offered so much potential for the filmmaker as everything froze – from human beards and human breath to horse breath.
I am always nervous of boring people and anything in a picture that defies gravity tends to work for me as it adds energy and dynamism. The props I had that morning gave every chance to fully embrace this modus operandi – especially if my camera was pointed directly either side of the rising sun.
My cowboy – who is a dead ringer for Rip from the Yellowstone Series – is a charming Texan called Cole Nallion rather than Cole Hauser who plays Rip Wheeler. Cole worked as a cowboy extra and handler in another Taylor Sheridan series – 1883 – and it is easy to see why he and Sam Elliott got along.
This one split second image caught my notice straight away as there is an anonymity to his face. We don’t need to see his eyes, because this is not a story about him per se, it is a story about the loosely governed wild west, where cowboys like him often made a living from doing shady things. He is playing to a genre before he is playing himself.
The photograph has a Red Dead Redemption feel to it and the bigger it is printed the more powerful the emotion it elicits. It’s a bad ass moment.
Available sizes
LARGE: Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image size: 63" x 56" in (160 cm x 142.2 cm)
- Framed Image: 78" x 71" in (198.1 cm x 180.3 cm)
STANDARD: Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image size: 42" x 37" in (106.7 cm x 93.98 cm)
- Framed Image: 57" x 52" in (144.8 cm x 190.5 cm)
We ship worldwide and use a multitude of providers to safely deliver your masterpiece. Domestic delivery and installation may also be available via Hilton Asmus Contemporary’s private art shuttle. Please inquire.
Reservoir Dogs
Durango, Colorado – 2023
I am not ashamed of the fact that I often have an audience in my mind when I take a shot. In this case in the Diamond Belle Saloon in Durango, Colorado, my instincts were that it would appeal more if the frame was busy because my experience with this famous old wild west bar is that it is always something of a gathering place for all those who like a drink. It is how bars should be and is celebrated as such. I want the audience to say; “I wish I was in that bar that night” or even “we need more interesting people in our bar”. This frame sweats and that was always my intent.
Anyone close to my camera had to be characters out of a story book and play to the lore of the wild west. I want to exaggerate not dumb things down as that helps the storyteller. In a staged image such as this, there is no need to ask permission to be creative; in fact, it is a necessary precondition.
Cara Delevingne’s face is so strong and powerful that I knew there was no room for another girl on her same focal plane, but there would be room for a black wolf and then a menacing poker player. The background could then look after itself, but I wanted to pay homage to the saloon girls who are synonymous with the bar.
Cara loves this image – which always matters to me. She is a gift for a photographer and not to fully capitalize on her eyes and her vibe would be a rookie error.
Available sizes
LARGE: Edition of 20 + 3 AP
- Image size: 56" x 91" in (142.2 cm x 231.1 cm)
- Framed Image: 71" x 106" in (180.3 cm x 269.2 cm)
STANDARD: Edition of 20 + 3 AP
- Image size: 37" x 60" in (93.98 cm x 152.4 cm)
- Framed Image: 52" x 75" in (132.1 cm x 190.5 cm)
We ship worldwide and use a multitude of providers to safely deliver your masterpiece. Domestic delivery and installation may also be available via Hilton Asmus Contemporary’s private art shuttle. Please inquire.
Manifest Destiny
Durango, Colorado – 2023
“Other nations have tried to check the fulfillment of our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions.
It was in 1845 that John Louis O’Sullivan, a popular columnist, articulated the long-standing American belief in the God-given mission of the United States to expand across North America all the way to the Pacific Ocean. In so doing he coined the term “Manifest Destiny”.
There was a sense of unbridled purpose. Nothing would get in their way: forests would be cut; mountains carved and railroads built. 60 million bison were culled and replaced by cattle. Native Americans faced an existential crisis.
Some tribes, of course, fought, whilst others negotiated. There was heavy loss of life on both sides and there is irony now that this period of nation building is deeply uncomfortable for many current day Americans. What created the wealthiest country in the world is not something to celebrate.
Railroads were an integral part of the Manifest Destiny and undermined the sovereignty of Native nations. Their construction threatened to destroy indigenous communities and their cultures as the railroad expanded into territories inhabited by Native Americans.
But for all that, encounters between steam trains and Native Americans were not necessarily as Hollywood has depicted. There was not much conflict and indigenous people mostly watched the railroad construction with a degree of fascination. Indeed, some found themselves drawn into a closer relationship with settlers because of the commercial opportunities that came with railroad construction. There was collaboration and often Native Americans offered protection from bandits.
19th century artists often depicted Native Americans as passive contextual narrative in railroad images; they are present but only to frame the story, not make the story. They simply establish the scene. This was my intent one cold February morning at Horseshoe Bend on the famous Durango & Silverton Railroad high in the San Jose Mountains. The Native American is not on the bend to attack, he is there simply to proudly show his presence. It is for the viewer to imagine how the next five minutes unfolded.
A great deal of logistical teamwork enabled this opportunity that cold sunny morning and the result is a strong photograph. As always it is a big team effort to create work like this.
Available sizes
LARGE: Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image size: 56" x 60" in (142.2 cm x 152.4 cm)
- Framed Image: 71" x 75" in (180.3 cm x 190.5 cm)
STANDARD: Edition of 12 + 3 AP
- Image size: 37" x 40" in (93.98 cm x 101.6 cm)
- Framed Image: 52" x 55" in (132.1 cm x 139.7 cm)
We ship worldwide and use a multitude of providers to safely deliver your masterpiece. Domestic delivery and installation may also be available via Hilton Asmus Contemporary’s private art shuttle. Please inquire.
Any Given Sunday
Paradise Valley, Montana – 2023
“To tell a story in a single photograph tends to require layers to the image and a carefully composed set. When I first saw this gallows, high in the mountains of Montana, I knew I had a prop, but the story around it would need some thought. There needed to be a twist.
Ostensibly, filming a public hanging in a frontier town is not the most appealing of concepts. If there is no context it could all be a little dark and macabre. Our starting premise in all that we do is to entertain rather than shock; we want to be playful long before we want to be earnest.
My revisionist take was to play on the idea that in this merciless and uncompromising era, there would be someone embracing the fact that justice had been done with the demise of the criminal. That person would be the lead in the image, rather the camera being focused on the gallows itself.
We chose American model Brooks Nader as the saloon girl who, for whatever reason, chose to celebrate the impending death. Brooks is smart and knew exactly how to play the role and introduce sexuality into a scene that otherwise could be all too sombre. I told her my camera was about to dive into the pages of a western storybook and all that really mattered was her look – it had to be right. She was perfect for the role that cold January morning.
My sense is that these occasions were all too frequent in the loosely governed Wild West. Despite the church in the background, nihilism was at the core of civilization in this part of the world in 1890 and death was not an event in itself. Any given Sunday, something could happen and it would not normally be that good.
It looks like, on this Sunday, it was about to all kick off. If the real life Brooks Nader was in charge, the saloon would have a busy afternoon.”
AVAILABLE SIZES:
LARGE: Edition of 12
- Image Size: 43” x 102” in (109.22 cm x 259.08 cm)
- Framed Image: 58” x 117” in (147.32 cm x 297.18 cm)
STANDARD: Edition of 12
- Image Size: 37” x 77” in (93.98 cm x 195.58 cm)
- Framed Image: 47” x 92” (119.38 cm x 233.68 cm)
We ship worldwide and use a multitude of providers to safely deliver your masterpiece. Domestic delivery and installation may also be available via Hilton Asmus Contemporary’s private art shuttle. Please inquire.
1895
Paradise Valley, Montana – 2023
“I am drawn to historic pictures of the American West; indeed, I have been far too indulgent in building my own collection of Edward Curtis images. He was such a tough and resourceful operator and his body of work is humbling for all those who now work in the same field.
Photographs of frontier or gold rush towns from the late 19th century have had a particular draw on me. There is so much information to take in, despite cameras being in their infancy. They offer a much-needed insight into daily life of nation building.
For some time, I have aspired to take a cinematic revisionist still of a wild west town and when we found this location in Western Montana, I was like a dog with a bone; I could not let go. My goal was not just to photograph the town and its people, but to convey a sense of the final frontier. This required an elevated position to offer contextuality and enable me to tell a story of a community on the edge.
The “push west” is a good hunting ground for storytellers because of the topography that hosted it and the characters that lived it. They add layers to any narrative as do the winter conditions that often dressed the stage. I knew that I wanted to make this picture when there was snow everywhere – there was no other way.
There are many people to thank for helping me pull this off – all the extras, the costume houses and my production team. Photography like this is not a singular trade, it is a big team effort and those around me made my job relatively easy.
I can look at this picture for a long time and that was always the intent.”
AVAILABLE SIZES:
LARGE: Edition of 12
- Image Size: 50” x 100” in (127 cm x 254 cm)
- Framed Image: 65” x 115” in (165.1 cm x 292.1 cm)
STANDARD: Edition of 12
- Image Size: 37” x 74” in (93.98 cm x 188 cm)
- Framed Image: 52” x 89” (132.08 cm x 226.1 cm)
We ship worldwide and use a multitude of providers to safely deliver your masterpiece. Domestic delivery and installation may also be available via Hilton Asmus Contemporary’s private art shuttle. Please inquire.
Deadwood
Big Timber, Montana – 2023
“As we continue our journey across the length and breadth of America, there is one place that we keep returning to with a frequency that hints at a very strong bond. That place is Montana. For film makers it offers so many canvases on which to tell stories; from majestic “Big Sky” scenery to marooned saloons where the walls talk of the olden days.
Over the years we have established deep friendships in the state with locals who can help either as extras or in logistics. I feel we have the full tool kit here and it shows in our work.
I am not alone in feeling a visceral sense of belonging when I step outside Bozeman airport. As the great American writer John Steinbeck wrote of Montana:
“For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection, but with Montana it is love, and it’s difficult to analyse love when you’re in it.”
This photograph, taken with American model Brooks Nader, makes me smile. It’s The Crazy Mountains in the background and as all those who know Brooks will testify, she operates just outside sanity. But she is smart, adorable and the camera loves her.”
AVAILABLE SIZES:
LARGE: Edition of 12
- Image Size: 48” x 102” in (121.9 cm x 259.1 cm)
- Framed Image: 63” x 117” in (160 cm x 297.2 cm)
STANDARD: Edition of 12
- Image Size: 37” x 79” in (93.98 cm x 200.7 cm)
- Framed Image: 52” x 94” (132.1 cm x 238.8 cm)
We ship worldwide and use a multitude of providers to safely deliver your masterpiece. Domestic delivery and installation may also be available via Hilton Asmus Contemporary’s private art shuttle. Please inquire.
The Girl with the Golden Gun
Paradise Valley, Montana – 2023
“Mae West was the star of many a giddy western. The Hollywood legend, known for her breezy sex appeal and her lighthearted bawdy double entendres, gave us so many great quotes, two favourites being “is that a pistol in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me?” and of course “between two evils, I generally like to pick the one I never tried before”.
Brooks Nader is a modern-day Mae West and she was perfect for our wild west shoot in Montana. Playful, intelligent and sassy, Brooks is such a joy to work with and the camera loves her. My direct was to style her as a dolled up saloon girl with authority and attitude, as well as carrying her usual level of sexual provocation. As directs go, that was probably one of the easier ones Brooks has been given.
The idea for this shoot was to play with both the interior and exterior of the saloon because that would widen my narrative and give a fuller sense of place. As interior design photographers know, this is never an easy task, as the light differential is material.”
AVAILABLE SIZES:
LARGE: Edition of 12
- Image Size: 56” x 73” in (142.2 cm x 185.4 cm)
- Framed Image: 71” x 88” in (180.3 cm x 223.5 cm)
STANDARD: Edition of 12
- Image Size: 37” x 49” in (93.98 cm x 124.5 cm)
- Framed Image: 52” x 64” (132.1 cm x 162.6 cm)
We ship worldwide and use a multitude of providers to safely deliver your masterpiece. Domestic delivery and installation may also be available via Hilton Asmus Contemporary’s private art shuttle. Please inquire.
BLACKFEET NATION
Blackfeet Nation
Montana, USA – 2022
In the 17th century, the Blackfeet settled in the region that is now Montana. Previously, they resided in the woodlands north and west of the Great Lakes, but pressure from British traders pushed them west. They eventually acquired firearms and horses and became a formidable example of the classic Plains Indian culture.
Ravaged by smallpox and constantly struggling with the challenges of extreme winters, low bison numbers and relative isolation, the Blackfeet had great fortitude and are often now referred to as the “Real People” of Montana.
The Blackfeet’s tribal headquarters are in the town of Browning in the extreme North West corner of the state. The celebrated Glacier National Park may sit to the west and with it comes smart resorts like Whitefish, but Browning has little refinement – it is a grim and remote frontier town that is avoided by most travelers. It’s all a bit sketchy up there – especially in the winter.
However, within 20 minutes of Browning, the Blackfeet enjoy some of the most majestic scenery in America, and it was this that drew me to the location. It was always going to be a winter shoot, as the snow added in another character for free.
So in January 2023, we made the road trip north from Bozeman – it’s a long way, and the sense of adventure intensifies towards the Canadian border. This is a remote and isolated corner of America, and relative to other reservations in the US, I sense that filmmakers have had a light footprint around Browning.
The tribal elder, Dutch Lunak and his horse Rain Man make for a powerful combination. The Blackfeet take the greatest joy in celebrating their heritage, and Dutch wears his look well. I wanted a face that conveyed dignity, wisdom and sovereignty, and I think he gave me all three.
On the way home from Browning, Dutch took us to his favourite saloon in the village of Dupuyer (census population 86). Buffalo Joe’s is a gem of an establishment, and quite soon, this picture will be on the wall.
AVAILABLE SIZES:
LARGE - Edition of 12:
- Image Size: 71” x 96” in (180.3 cm x 243.8 cm)
STANDARD - Edition of 12:
- Image Size: 52” x 69” in (132.1 cm x 175.3 cm)
We ship worldwide and use a multitude of providers to safely deliver your masterpiece. Domestic delivery and installation may also be available via Hilton Asmus Contemporary’s private art shuttle. Please inquire.
Summit (Colour)
Arizona, USA – 2022
The modern and enlightened narrative on post-Civil War meetings between cowboys and native Americans homes in on communication as opposed to conflict. Of course, the truth was somewhere between the two and the Comanche in particular were not renowned for holding summits with those travelling west.
The work of Charlie Russell, the celebrated American painter of the wild west, has certainly influenced me as he understood how the grandeur of the American West added an extra character for free into his frontier storytelling. He also was sympathetic to the depiction of Native Americans and his work more often embodied a sense of peace not aggression. Given the amount of time he spent living with The Blackfeet Nation in Montana in the late 1880s, this is instructive.
There could be no more jaw dropping backdrop for this meeting than Monument Valley; it is the beating heart of the South West. But to take this photograph was a big logistical exercise and we wonder whether we may have broken new ground here. The route up the escarpment to the south is just too steep for most horsemen. I can’t find anything quite like it and that is always a good moment.
It was a cold morning at that altitude, even in October and the light snow cover adds an additional layer to the story. It is very much my kind of photograph.
AVAILABLE SIZES:
LARGE: Edition of 12
- Image Size: 56” x 88” in (142.2 cm x 223.5 cm)
- Framed Image: 71” x 103” in (180.3 cm x 261.6 cm)
STANDARD: Edition of 12
- Image size: 37” x 58” in (93.98 cm x 147.3 cm)
- Framed Image: 52” x 73” in (132.1 cm x 185.4 cm)
We ship worldwide and use a multitude of providers to safely deliver your masterpiece. Domestic delivery and installation may also be available via Hilton Asmus Contemporary’s private art shuttle. Please inquire.