The last cowboys: Stunning black and white images show a rugged and romantic piece of Americana as it clings on for survival


Breath-taking photographs have captured America's last cowboys, as the age-old profession, or art-form, all but dies out.

A national icon, and an integral part of the country's story, the cowboy is a romantic, rugged metaphor for America's frontier past -- and one that has captivated Hollywood for decades.



For years, photographer Adam Jahiel has been taking pictures of the cowboys of Nevada's Great Basin, perhaps one of the most inhospitable regions of the already harsh West.

Stunning: The breath-taking photographs capture America's last cowboys

'These people represent one of the last authentic American subcultures, one that is disappearing at a rapid rate,' Jahiel said. RELATED ARTICLES Previous

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The late 1900s were tough times for cowboys, ranchers, farmers and anyone working with the land in the U.S. Changing modes of food distribution and production, widespread urbanisation and severe economic difficulties forced many to sell their land, go bankrupt, change professions, or take out large loans. In 2003, there were just under 10,000 cowboys left in the U.S., making an average of $19,340 per year working in ranches, stockyards and rodeos.

Disappearing: The age-old profession, or art-form, is all but dying out

Icon: Cowboys are an American icon

Beautiful: The moody images show horses on the dusty cattle ranches

About one-third of these workers were listed in the subcategory of 'spectator sports,' making their living primarily at rodeos, circuses and theatrical venues as livestock handlers. But the hard-working cowboys of the Great Basin have clung on, with a ferocious tenacity.

And Jahiel's stunning black and white images show the men and boys keeping the tradition alive in all their rugged glory.

The photographs capture Nevada's picturesque landscapes and vast skies as well as the beautiful horses and dusty cattle yards.

Cowboys: The subculture is an integral part of the country's story

Passion: photographer Adam Jahiel has been taking pictures of the Nevada cowboys for years

Metaphor: The cowboy is a romantic, rugged metaphor for America's frontier past

'The cowboy tradition has its roots in the oldest of human conflicts: man against nature and man against himself,' Jahiel said.

'Respect here doesn’t come from the trappings of modern life. Talent, knowledge and skill are valued above all else.'

The collection of stunning black and white images poignantly depicts the heroic, hard-working, hard-riding cowboy that is almost inseparable from American history itself. Movies: Cowboys have captivated Hollywood for decades

Great Basin: The pictures show the cowboys of Nevada's Great Basin

Inhospitable: The area is perhaps one of the most inhospitable regions of the already harsh West

Authentic: 'These people represent one of the last authentic American subcultures, one that is disappearing at a rapid rate,' Jahiel says

Art-form: Cowboying as an art-form is almost obsolete

Tough times: The late 1900s were difficult for cowboys, ranchers, farmers and anyone working with the land in the U.S.

Struggle: Changing modes of food distribution and production, widespread urbanization and severe economic difficulties forced many to sell their land, go bankrupt, change professions, or take out large loans

Holding on: But these cowboys have clung on, with a ferocious tenacity

Glory: Jahiel's stunning black and white images show the men and boys keeping the tradition alive in all their rugged glory

Picturesque: The photographs capture Nevada's picturesque landscapes and vast skies as well as the beautiful horses and dusty cattle yards

Tradition: 'The cowboy tradition has its roots in the oldest of human conflicts: man against nature and man against himself,' Jahiel says

Respect: 'Respect here doesn¿t come from the trappings of modern life,' Jahiel says

Heroic: The collection of stunning black and white images poignantly depicts the heroic, hard-working, hard-riding cowboy that is almost inseparable from American history itself



