How He Photographed

• Beginning in 1905, when he was 19, Smith worked on the range as a cowhand, carrying his camera with him to capture the hard work of the cowboys.
• One report described Smith galloping ahead of the herd he wanted to photograph. Once at the spot he thought was right for the photograph, he jumped off his horse, set up his equipment, and was ready to photograph when his subjects arrived.
• He followed roundups and worked with different outfits whose work approximated what the open range was like.
• He found that there was no set pattern to the work of the cowboy. Much of the work was dependant on circumstances, including the weather, geography, and the animals’ behavior. But always the cowhands were clear on their mission—taking care of the cattle.

• In order to capture on film the cowhand at work, Smith had to anticipate what might happen, remain flexible to accommodate changes that did occur, and be patient. He imagined what the photograph would look like from different perspectives, and then he determined his final composition.