Shell, Wyoming

In Shell, WY the locals are friendly and genuine, but protective. If you're just passing through town, they'll smile and shake your hand, but they won't invite you in. They are salt of the earth people and ranching is their all-consuming way of life, not something they do for show. After living in town for a year, working on a ranch, I was invited in – to dinners, to brandings, to help with weekend projects – and it allowed me the opportunity to capture these intimate images of the Western culture that is still thriving in remote parts of the United States to this day.