Vaquero

"Take a ride through California’s history to meet the original cowboys of the West Coast"

Director Blake Myers crafts a portrait of the Spanish and Mexican cowboys of California, known as vaqueros, in this new documentary film. Captured through the stories of locals, this visual poem shows the modern side of a centuries-old culture preserved through generational traditions. Originally from New Zealand and now residing in Los Angeles, the director spent the past year and a half with his friend, photographer Ben Kilpatrick, documenting ranches along the rivers of the sprawling city. “We both got fascinated by the area,” says Myers. “One day, we approached a few men riding along the fence line outside their stable and asked if we could take some pictures. That’s how it all started.”