Adam Jahiel is an American documentary photographer, well known for his project, “The Last Cowboy”. Jahiel has been photographing the cowboys of the Great Basin for years, documenting the authentic American subculture. His photos contrast hollywood adaptations of the cowboys, and depict images that hold true to the tradition. While the art of cowboying is almost obsolete, Jahiel captures the ferocious tenacity of the remaining cowboys.
The images are more than just pictures of a stereotypical cowboy as depicted by a hollywood movie. These pictures show the unfiltered reality of real life cowboys. While modern American society sees cowboys as rough and tough, Jahiel manages to capture a lot of tender moments, exposing a more humanitarian side to the nature of their work. The images challenge the viewer’s perception of who cowboys truly are. One might even start to see cowboying as more of a form of art, due to the tenderness, focus, and authenticity represented in each photo.
Adam Jahiel, Remuda #6
2001
Adam Jahiel, Sunrise, YP Ranch
1995
Adam Jahiel, Three Men and a Tub
1994