This photo essay series is an authentic look at not only the way Josh and Brooke live today but a visual of the ‘live off the land’ necessity that pioneers demonstrated when they forged the west many years ago. Whether it be logging for winter warmth, farming, fishing, hunting, or baking the daily bread, it’s all about preparation and survival for the winter months. Being situated amongst the vast amount of natural resources allows Josh and Brooke to understand the timeless effect of North America. Getting back to the basics takes sacrifice, but with hard work, there’s always an abundant return.

Joshua is an outdoorsman born and raised on the rugged coast of Vancouver Island Canada to a long line of commercial fishermen. With his admiration for the pioneers of the past, his ambition is to put in the same blood and sweat that they would use. Currently, Josh is a part-time artist and operates a small vegetable farm which plays a role in living a self-sufficient lifestyle.

This photo essay was taken mostly on his land in Black Creek, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada or on the Oyster River, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.

Joshua S. Hansen @joshuahansen and Brooke Rempel @theburntlife_

All photos were taken by them.

*Special Note* The couple, now married, were engaged during the photoshoot for this story!

Meet the Stewart family. Their passion for food security and diversity in agriculture led them to Douglas, Arizona where they are financing a sustainable farming project to make good, clean food more accessible. 
Photography by Ivan McClellan.

The Americana look is now translated into apparel designs for Big D Speedshop: Skulls, cowboy hats, and the combination of the two!

You can find Sean at his studio in Denton, Texas or in his gallery in Dallas’ Design District.

Sean wears the Boss of the Plains.

About Big D Speedshop

Based in Dallas, Texas, Big D Speedshop builds motorcycles with a particular interest in twins: Indians, Harleys, BMWs, Ducatis, Triumphs and others. One at a time, hand-fabrication. Their bikes and riding-style are very much town & country.

Check them out at instagram.com/big_d_speedshop/

About Sean Starr

Blending his background as a sign-painter, designer and illustrator Sean has achieved international reputation working with bands such as The Cranberries and The Toadies. As well as renowned brands like Indian Motorcycles, GAP and Sony Music. Starr works with the same traditional materials and techniques that have been used for centuries by sign painters, gilders and artisans.

More of his work can be seen at http://www.starrstudios.net/

My first solo road trip changed everything. In the span of two weeks I came face-to-face with a bear in the middle of the night, got chased by an elk, backpacked 40 miles through the Rocky Mountains with my best friend, saw more beautiful landscapes than I’d ever imagined, and found my new home away from home, New Mexico.

It was my first real adventure. It scared me to death, but it didn’t kill me. I was hooked. There’s a strange sense of loneliness, fear, freedom and inspiration out there.  I didn’t know it at the time, but that feeling would become the driving force behind everything I do. About halfway through the trip, I can remember standing on top of Hallett Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. I could taste the blood on my lips. They were chapped from side to side. I had about 40 pounds of unnecessary junk in my pack, half a bottle of water, a camera I barely knew how to use, and absolutely no clue what I was doing. None of that mattered. Right then and there, I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I’ve been doing it ever since. Today I’m a lifestyle photographer by trade and a traveler by pure personal obsession. The American West has a direct line to my soul and I spend as much time exploring it as I can. Every year, I load up the truck with camera gear, fill the back with camping supplies and head west on Interstate 40 to find new, interesting places and get to know the people who call it home.

Life on the road is pure freedom. There’s no sense of ordinary. Nothing is clockwork. Everything is new. There’s a path, a handful of destinations, and thousands of miles of undiscovered territory in between.

It all started with landscape photography. Today, my work has become a wider look at the culture, lifestyles, and natural environments that make up some of the wilder parts of this country, but landscapes remain the foundation my work is built on.

Shiprock Pinnacle is one of the most beautiful yet controversial landmarks in the Southwest.

The slot canyons of Page, Arizona are some of the most iconic formations of the American West.  The most popular is Antelope Canyon.  If you ever make the trip, do yourself a solid and check out Rattlesnake Canyon (pictured) while you’re at it.

Monument Valley. I don’t care how “over-photographed” a place is. These landscapes are ancient. They don’t belong to anyone. Not in the grand scheme of things. They’re just as amazing now as they ever were. I value originality as much as anyone, but I never let it interfere with things that inspire me.

Dusk at White Sands, New Mexico. This image is one of my favorites.

There’s an important difference between “life on the road” and “living on the road.” An essential part of my workflow is having a home-base and time to reflect.  More importantly, the contrast between life on the road and life at home is what makes travel so special to me. It’s about stepping away from everyday life into something new and inspiring. Regardless of the destination, travel is thrilling. I would never extinguish that by making an everyday routine of it.

I don’t always travel alone. If I’m on a solo trip, it’s usually because no one I know felt like living out of the back of a truck for two weeks. Every once in a while I hit the road with someone who does. Traveling with others is what ultimately broadened the scope of my work from landscape to lifestyle photographer. Pictured is one of my closest friends and fellow photographer, John David Pittman breaking in his slick, new Stetson Royal Flush just south of Las Vegas, New Mexico.

Meeting new people is a natural part of traveling – one I took for granted for a long time. Over the years, I became more and more interested in getting to know them. Their personalities and stories brought so much more meaning to the work. From there, friendships formed. Today, it’s become a wider look at culture, lifestyle, and natural environments. I seek out the people and places that make the West so weird, beautiful and inescapably interesting. This is a portrait of Phillip Manycattle. We crossed paths somewhere near the New Mexico and Arizona border. After lunch I asked him if I could make his portrait.  He stood against this wall and said, “I think this would be a good picture. What do you think?” I think he was right.

He introduced himself as Drifter. I eventually learned his given name. Not many people know it, and he likes to keep it that way. We crossed paths in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He’s as wild as they come. If real outlaws still exist, THIS guy is one of the few.

If I’ve learned anything about people in my travels it’s that most are genuinely good. They’re nice. People care about each other. I’ve also found that the most special among them don’t ask for attention. Those who exude a sense of purpose and peace about themselves seem to be the least concerned with how they’re perceived by the world around them. Their personalities, style, and perspective seem to be shaped by genuine personal interests rather than crafting a persona. This is a portrait of Wild Bill Rivas, a local artist in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

J.D. Noble, the hat smith of Santa Fe, putting a few custom touches on a Stetson classic.

Don’t let the get-up fool you.  Among other things, Rob is the official skateboarding competition announcer of Northern Arizona.  He’s a father, a skater, and a friend to many a weary traveler passing through Flagstaff.  He’s as real as they come.

More than pictures, stories or adventure, the greatest thing to come from this path is the lifelong friends I’ve made along the way. I’ve met so many wonderful people. Most encounters become distant memories and a stack of pictures over time. But a few special encounters go on to become lifelong friendships.

Shop similar Stetson Straw Hats here.

Michelle and I first met when we both lived in Hawaii. I was only there for a short time, and we only met in passing. It wasn’t until years later that we met again through the wonders of social media and a mutual love for the Southwest. She’s a brilliant artist, photographer, scholar, and a perfect example of lifelong friendships forged on the road.

On a typical day, you can find me wearing gratuitous amounts of denim and doing my best to tame a head of ridiculously curly hair under any hat that might hold it. This one is a Stetson passed down from my great-grandfather.  I like new cameras, film cameras, wide open landscapes, road trips, saucy pizza, cowboy boots, craft beer, junky motorcycles, backpacking, deserts, mountains and keeping it real. I shoot every day. I never stop pushing forward, and I fully believe that where there is passion there is an opportunity. Find yours.

Get Heath’s look here.

About Heath Herring:

Heath Herring is a lifestyle and travel photographer.

His work is a unique portrayal of outdoor culture and life in the American West.

You can check out more of Heath’s work at instagram.com/heath_herring or www.HeathHerring.com.

Photos and story by Jordan Killpack

In January I left my job in Amsterdam and returned home to Idaho. I went to reconnect with the land and my childhood dream to be a cowboy. Since returning home, I’ve spent most of my time with a small group of cowboys who break horses and raise cattle for a living. 

Brothers, Shawn, Houston, J2, and Tyler, live near the Continental Divide and the Idaho/Montana state line. At the end of a dirt road and just past the spot where the radio turns to static. The gritty lifestyle and harshness of the terrain found here contrast the potential notion of the John Wayne cowboy, yet true happiness is evident in their eyes. Whether riding a freshly-broke horse for the first time or calling for the dogs, a glimmer shines out from each pair of eyes, on fire for a new day.

They live the ultimate cowboy dream. 

These brothers inspire me with their commitment to the craft of the cowboy life. They train horses for a living, riding each horse every day of the week. Waking up early and spending the frigid days outside with their animals goes without asking. They live to train horses and seek the challenges that that brings. Money, shelter, and big-city luxuries are all afterthoughts. To be true to one’s dream requires the dedication of honing the craft each day, thinking little about peripheral distractions.

 These photos tell the story of the true cowboy dream. To wake each day and work. Then to get up and do it again the next, and the next. No fame and fortune. No cheering crowds. These are the dreams on the divide.

Water tower in Dubois, Idaho.

Out checking on an Appaloosa stud colt.

Artist Bio

Jordan is an analog photographer and storyteller from Idaho Falls, Idaho. He travels in search of capturing stories and documenting lives through film photography (the photos in this story are digital). He recently returned home to Idaho after a three year stint in Amsterdam. While he’s worked all over the world, his current focus is on the Idaho cowboy and the concept of home. Vogue Italia and FOTOiSTANBUL have both featured Jordan’s work. 

Follow him on Instagram at: @jdkillpack

For his portfolio and inquiries visit his website at: jordankillpack.com 

Riding shotgun with James Burks, Farm Manager at 44 Farms. With thousands of acres, miles of fence and cattle herds in multiple pens, a truck is essential on the farm.

Burks wears a Shasta 10X Premier Cowboy Hat.

Meet Luke Jenkins. Director of Farm Operations at 44 Farms.

Days spent with man’s best friend at 44 Farms, Cameron, Texas.

On the farm, no task is too small for James Burks. Fixing barbed wire fences, snapped by rowdy bulls is part of the job.

On the farm, no task is too small for James Burks. Fixing barbed wire fences, snapped by rowdy bulls is part of the job.

Ready to ride.

All hat, all cattle.

Out to lunch.

Standing in the morning sun, watching the bulls go by.

44 Farms cattle drive.

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.

Was the store always a hat store?

At the beginning, for a limited time, it was a used clothing and hat store, then my father and my uncle started selling name-brand hats. When they started they didn’t know how’d it go and they just gathered steam as time went by. We are celebrating 100 years this year. We’ve been with Stetson pretty much 100 years. We carry over 300 dozen hats in stock, in over 15 colors, we carry hats sizes from 6.5 – 8. In our western line, we carry from a 3X all the way to a 1000X…that’s the highest that Stetson makes.

How much do the hats cost?

We cater to all walks of life. I have hats from $20 to $5500.

Why is the store so unique? (Specifically Abe’s wife Myrna answering)

There is a lot of magic to the store. We have all of this wonderful merchandise, but the other aspect of the success of the store is where we are. We are in San Antonio, Texas. We have the legacy of the Alamo two blocks away. We are such a historic place and Stetson is so symbolic of Americana. The Mexican culture is very rich. We have people come in from all over the world to see our city and see us. This store is a piece of Americana. And it’s because of the way we are as Texans with our culture, and it’s because of the romance and mystique of the Stetson hat. So all of that together makes for a very appealing blend for everyone who walks in. Along with the fact that we give them what they want, they walk away with an exact sculpture for their head…in any color and any quality.

Someone told me once that we sell happiness here. We have a whole experience…it’s not that they are going to come here just to buy a hat, they are going to come here to be treated as individuals and walk out the door not only having a hat, some fun with us and exchanging stories, but getting just the right thing that they’re going to have for the rest of their life. It’s an experience, not just a retail exchange.

Why is it called Paris Hatters?

Back in the day my father carried stuff from Europe. The common idea is that everything that was the best and the finest came from Paris. We didn’t think it would be a longevity thing…It just happened as time went by.

What has been a major effect on the success of your store?

There was a point where San Antonio had over 20 hatters and they started to fall away. There was a steady pattern where we just hung in there and things were fine, but then when the movies hit we saw a big resurgence in western with Urban Cowboy and it never ended, it just kept on going after that. We do a lot of hats for movies. I did three hats for Lonesome Dove. We did two hats for All the Pretty Horses and numerous hats for The Newton Boys.

There has also been a snowball effect. In our history, when we started with that increase from John Travolta wearing a hat, then there came more movies with more people wearing hats, and then we also had the advent of the world wide web. That took us from being well known among Texans to being well known pretty much all over the world. It just mushroomed even more. And of course, Stetson, with their fame and their quality has also helped.

How have you seen more recent changes in San Antonio affect your store?

We are very happy that we have the type of city government that keeps the city on the for with travelers. We just were There is so much that draws people to the city. And the city is always thinking of ways to bring us even more traffic. That’s a variable that helps us tremendously. The city is very tourist oriented. The conferences, the parties, the events…it’s a great blend for us to take advantage of being right downtown.

How do you see the next generation impacting Paris Hatters, particularly your daughter, Alexandra?

She brings a new perspective that is more socially adept. She understands marketing, the use of social media. She understands what young people want. She brings another beautiful perspective to what we know and have been doing for 100 years.

She has a lot more modern way of doing things. Quicker, easier ways of getting to the same end.

Who was the most memorable celebrity or figure who you sold a Stetson to?

Well, he was not the funniest, but the most iconic. The Pope…Pope John Paul II. Well, he’s a saint now so you can’t beat that. We “hatted” a saint! The Pope is not just there to accept gifts from just anyone, and the reason he accepted the gift is that it came from the Archbishops of Texas. It was their symbol of Texas and it’s why they chose to give him a fine Stetson. That’s how we became involved.

When someone walks in the door can you tell their hat size?

Absolutely!

Would you say people are buying more hats now than before?

Absolutely. Hands down, especially the younger generation. Fedoras, Open Roads…ten years ago you couldn’t get a teenager to wear one. Now more than ever we have younger men buying hats. They are more comfortable wearing hats now than they used to be. We have a generation of kids who are more fashion-forward.