Field to Flame

Ranch vibes. Brenham, Texas

By Photographer Robert Jacob Lerma

Shop the Open Road 6X Cowboy Hat.

Feeding the fire. Truth Barbeque, Brenham, Texas.

Shop the Open Road Straw Cowboy Hat.

Behind every great man is a better woman. Truth Barbeque, Brenham, Texas.

Shop Stetson Fedoras.

“Too much of anything is bad, but too much of good whiskey is barely enough.” – Mark Twain

Shop Stetson Shirts or learn more about Stetson Bourbon.

Take the road less traveled. Especially if it’s a dirt road.

Shop Stetson Cowboy Boots.

South Congress. Austin, Texas.

Shop Women’s Hats.

Pitmaster Roy Perez of Kreuz Market in Lockhart walks softly and carries a big knife. With his trademark muttonchops, he’s easily one of most recognized people in BBQ.

Shop the Stetson Shasta 10X Cowboy Hat.

Cooking BBQ is not easy. And it’s not for everyone. The people who do it, love what they do. Early mornings and long hours are the norm at a lot of the top places. Pitmaster Miguel Vidal of Valentina’s Tex-Mex BBQ routinely starts his day at 2am, not sleeping much for days at a time.

About the Photographer

Robert Jacob Lerma is a freelance photographer based in Austin, Texas. He works as CEO of a psychiatric hospital and travels on weekends photographing around the country. His images have appeared in National Geographic, Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, Time, Southern Living, Forbes, Texas Monthly, Vogue, USA Today and The Washington Post. He serves as Board President for Foodways Texas and shoots for brands such as Yeti, 44 Farms, Stetson and Carpenter Watches.

You can follow him on Instagram @robertjacoblerma or visit his website at roberjacoblerma.com.