Home Travel Incredible photographs capture modern cowboys across the United States and South America, revealing “humanity at its finest.”

Incredible photographs capture modern cowboys across the United States and South America, revealing “humanity at its finest.”

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Anouk became fascinated by jeans while growing up in France. She says:

“They live simple lives, their work pays little, it’s dirty and difficult, and yet cowboys are always some of the happiest people I’ve ever met,” says renowned photographer Anouk Krantz, who just traveled through North America and from the South, portraying current events. Ranchers for their amazing new coffee table photobook.

Frontera: Cowboys of the Americas (by Image Posting), is full of stunning unposed photographs of people who, he tells MailOnline Travel, are “the living, breathing symbol of freedom and independence.”

Anouk continues: “In these foreign frontiers, I put my trust in the hands of the local cowboys. We didn’t speak the same language, and yet I felt like we immediately had an unspoken mutual respect and bond. They are moments that I will never forget. Humanity at its finest.’

Frontier follows Anouk’s 2019 photobook, West: The American Cowboy, and 2021’s American Cowboys, both set in the United States.

Anouk adds: ‘It was a revelation to learn about this vast and prosperous culture that is loosely united throughout the American continent and that, after generations, continues to reflect the same basic principles, virtues and customs with unwavering pride. In fact, the essence and spirit of the American West is deeply rooted in all of them.

‘But my job is not just about the cowboy. It is an ongoing reflection on who we have become as a collective species on earth, while drawing inspiration from a culture that has remained steadfast and true to its way of life, its values ​​and its heritage for 150 years.’

These are some of Anouk’s favorite photos from Frontier…

Anouk became fascinated by jeans while growing up in France. She says, “I was intrigued by their lives, as they were portrayed in books and movies as irreverent, rugged frontiersmen, with lives full of romance, danger, adventure and intrigue.” The photo above was taken in the USA.

Anouk moved to New York as an adult and began traveling around the US, where the photo above was taken. The photographer explored the cowboy culture she had become a big fan of as a child and revealed:

Anouk moved to New York as an adult and began traveling around the US, where the photo above was taken. The photographer explored the cowboy culture she had become a big fan of as a child and revealed: “Whether I was in Texas, Kansas or neighboring states, people smiled, men tipped their hats, waved. to strangers and exchanged friendly greetings.

Anouk was surprised to see how, even after many generations, the thriving cowboy culture

Anouk was surprised to see how, even after many generations, the thriving cowboy culture “continues to reflect the same basic principles, virtues and customs with unwavering pride.” In fact, the essence and spirit of the American West is deeply rooted in all of them.’ The image above, titled Marlboro, was taken in the US.

Anouk says: 'Everyday life (of cowboys), races, landscape, climate, language, tools, equipment and cultures each have their own nuances and yet all belong to a singular tapestry of inheritance, which preserves eternal hope, soul and optimism. that entails living in freedom and independence.' The image above, titled 'Merica, was taken in the United States.

Anouk says: ‘Everyday life (of cowboys), races, landscape, climate, language, tools, equipment and cultures each have their own nuances and yet all belong to a singular tapestry of inheritance, which preserves eternal hope, soul and optimism. that entails living in freedom and independence.’ The image above, titled ‘Merica, was taken in the United States.

While Anouk says that most people in the modern world are

While Anouk says that most people in the modern world are “constantly changing,” the cowboys have “firm beliefs that a noble life can be achieved if it is based on their values ​​of hard work, self-reliance, humility and sacrifice to support their children. families and communities.” That’s why he chose to travel throughout the American continent photographing them, taking the photo above in the US.

The Frontera: Cowboys of the Americas project was the first time Anouk went to South America to document modern-day ranchers. The photo above was taken in Uruguay and has no pose to

The Frontera: Cowboys of the Americas project was the first time Anouk went to South America to document modern-day ranchers. The photo above was taken in Uruguay and is unposed for “a more natural and authentic image.” Anouk explains: “I try to give them (the cowboys) space so they can be themselves and once they realize my process, they forget I’m there.”

One of Anouk's favorite moments was in Brazil's Pantanal, the largest tropical wetland in the world, where the Pantaneiros have lived since the 18th century. Anouk met some of these Brazilian cowboys, including the one pictured above, and rode with them through chest-deep waters and tropical forests. 'It was very hot and humid. The alligators floated just half a meter from my legs

One of Anouk’s favorite moments was in Brazil’s Pantanal, the largest tropical wetland in the world, where the Pantaneiros have lived since the 18th century. Anouk met some of these Brazilian cowboys, including the one pictured above, and rode with them through chest-deep waters and tropical forests. ‘It was very hot and humid. The alligators were floating just half a meter from my legs,” he recalls.

At first, Anouk says she found it

At first, Anouk says he found it “difficult” to integrate with ranchers, who are “private and skeptical of outsiders.” However, the cowboy friends she had made earlier in the United States slowly introduced her to others, including the ranchers of Mexico, above. “In the end everything turned out well,” he adds.

Above, a photograph taken in Uruguay, where Spanish is predominantly spoken. Anouk was surprised at how she and the cowboys of these foreign borders

Above, a photograph taken in Uruguay, where Spanish is predominantly spoken. Anouk was surprised at how she and the cowboys from these foreign frontiers “immediately had a bond and an unspoken respect for each other,” despite not speaking the same language.

During his travels through South America, Anouk saw gauchos riding barefoot through

During his travels in South America, Anouk saw gauchos riding barefoot through “the endless tall, emerald-green grasses of the Pampas of Argentina,” above. Following tradition, these gauchos carry a large knife on their belt and drink a bitter, caffeine-rich tea called mate, instead of coffee.

A fourth-generation gaucho in Uruguay (where the photo above was taken) named Colacho Lanfranco told Anouk how his family first settled there in 1880, revealing:

A fourth-generation gaucho in Uruguay (where the photo above was taken) named Colacho Lanfranco told Anouk how his family first settled there in 1880, revealing: “One hundred and forty-four years later, we are still living and working in these lands”. , with the same values ​​as the first generations

Anouk traveled to Guatemala, pictured above, for Frontier.

Anouk traveled to Guatemala, pictured above, for Frontier. “The world is now turning to cowboys for inspiration like never before,” he says. “To review them in the 21st century is to look in the mirror to realize how quickly and how far our own dominant culture has come”

Frontier: Cowboys of the Americas is available now and is published by Images Publishing. It's available on Amazon for £53.82/$85

Frontier: Cowboys of the Americas is available now and is published by Images Publishing. It is available from Amazon for £53.82/$85

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