May 15, 2026 | 2026, Action, Adventure, Cowboys, Cowgirls, Life, Ranch Photography, Ranching, Travel, Western, Western Horses, Western Photography
My Return to the Sandhills as a Ranch Photographer: Ranch Life, Calves & Cow Horses
There’s a certain kind of rhythm to ranch life you don’t fully understand until you’re standing in the middle of it.
Last week, I found myself back in the Nebraska Sandhills at Arapahoe Ranch, visiting Audra and Chad Johnson right in the heart of calving season. With over 400 calves due and the season about halfway through, the days were long, the pace steady, and the work constant.
This trip felt especially meaningful given everything Nebraska ranchers have been facing lately. Recent fires have devastated parts of the state, and while Arapahoe Ranch was spared, the reality is never far away. Between severe drought and relentless winds, the threat of fire is always on people’s minds in their daily lives there.
I flew into Rapid City, South Dakota, where my friend Mackenzie Myers (you might know her as @themnfarmgirl) picked me up and we drove to the ranch. From there, it was a few days fully immersed in documenting real ranch life, no pausing for perfect light or do-overs. Although I have to say it’s hard to take a bad photo with these beautiful backdrops!
Mackenzie had a group of girls meet her to shoot product photography for a turquoise company, which added another creative layer to the trip.
Thanks to Tyler Wall for joining us at the ranch!
And then there were the skies.
We were blessed with some incredible ones during my visit, and I couldn’t help but play a little. One morning, with a stellar sunrise, Mackenzie’s constant light, and the ranch tent as our backdrop, we created something that felt really special, one of those shots you won’t forget, and yes…the moon really was there!
I also stepped a bit outside my norm and experimented with light painting with Audra and Chad as my models. I’ve used this technique before in product and still life work, but never with a live, moving subject. It was a learning curve, but one I’m so glad I leaned into. I think the images turned out to be something pretty unique!
This ranch has a way of pulling me back. My first visit last year left a mark, and coming back only confirmed it; the Sandhills are as beautiful as they are honest. There’s no pretending here. Just miles of rolling ground, cattle to tend to, and work that speaks for itself.
One of the highlights for me this time was getting to watch Audra’s young stallion, Boomer. He’s the kind of horse that makes you stop and pay attention. Quiet, willing, and all business. From roping and heading to dragging calves and putting in long days without a fuss. He’s becoming exactly what a great ranch horse should be. And honestly, he’s exactly my kind of horse!
Huge THANK YOU to Audra and Chad for the wonderful hospitality during our visit!
Trips like this always remind me why I do what I do.
It’s not just about the images; it’s about telling the story of people, places,
and a way of life that deserves to be seen, remembered, and respected.
