All photos © Luis Fabini. Above: 2010 Vaqueiros / Brazil. The vaqueiros wear the handmade uniform of protective leather clothing necessary for roping cows amidst lethal thorns throughout the bush caatinga.
“Horsemen of the Americas”, is a personal study of a breed of man whose culture and relationship to its natural habitat has continued to adapt and evolve over 400 years. These working horsemen, though seldom recognized, have been a pillar of the economy and the history of the Americas since the time of the Conquest. In the United States and Canada these horsemen are called cowboys, in Mexico they are known as charros, in Ecuador as chagras, in Colombia and Venezuela as llaneros, in Peru as chalanes and qorilazos, in Chile they are called the huasos, Brazil has its pantaneiros and vaqueiros, and Uruguay and Argentina’s the gauchos.
“Man and horse is the most formidable partnership ever forged between two living beings. Through an intrinsic bond with the land, a philosophy of masculinity, freedom and courage, these magnificent centaurs invented a new way of life, and continue today, though their number has dwindled. A way of life is surely disappearing: their traditions, their languages, and their particular legacy is being lost forever”, Fabini says. Fabini started working on this project in 2004, and has spent an average of eight months a year on the road since then. He will be looking for a book publisher and exhibition opportunity over the next year as he concludes the 8 year project. To see more of Luis Fabini’s work click here.
2010 / Qorilazos / Peru, Chumbivilcas. Juan Carlos Vidal Patino Monroy.
2010 Vaqueiros / Brazil, Sertao. Working in the corrals with a bull.
2008 / Chagras / Ecuador, Cotopaxi Páramo. Wild horses round-up 14.000 feet high.
2005 / Gauchos / Uruguay, Tacuarembo. Cattle herder.
2010 / Huasos / Chile, Central Andes. Foreman Luciano Miranda Araya ropes a wild stallion.
2006 / Gauchos / Brazil, Bagé. Team of horsemen, in full swing during a paleteada, consisting of two horsemen galloping alongside a running cow, pressing the animal’s shoulders tightly, leading the run-away cow and thereby changing its direction.
2009 / Cowboys / USA, Nebraska. Open-range branding during the spring round-up.
2009 / Cowboys / USA, Nebraska. Cord Haythorn.
2009 / Cowboys / USA, Texas. Range crew leaving camp to make a drive.
Hermosas fotos!!!…todas ellas reflejan tanta pasión!!! pura vida y fuerza!
Es hermoso como de un momento aparentemente comun y corriente, podemos con tus fotos trasladarnos a un espacio unico y artistico que esta lleno de vida y movimiento por completo!
Gracias.
I loved the pictures and your passion is reflected in what you do.
Besos
Beautiful photos!!!!! Thanks for bring to us these amazing world.
Felicitaciones Luis! Realmente en cada foto se siente una conexión increible que te trasladan a un momento único!! gracias por permitirnos deleitarnos con tu trabajo.
Spectacular, the precision of the moment in which the pictures were taken!
Loved them!
AL PRINCIPIO NO LAS VI TODAS PORQUE NO ME BAJABAN, EL INTERNET ESTABA LENTO, PERO DESPUES CUANDO TERMINARON DE ABRIRSE ME FUI MARAVILLANDO, PARECEN VERDADEROS CUADROS QUE TE TRANSPORTAN A ESE TIEMPO, INCREIBLE COMO CAPTASTE EL MOVIMIENTO DE TODO, FELICITACIONES..
GRACIAS!!
Las fotos estan maravillosas! No matter the name – cowboy, gaucho or vaqueiro – you Luis capture the essence of what it means to be a “Horseman of the Americas.” Thank you for this beautiful and thoughtful body of work…and for recording this fading moment in time.
Bellas!!!!!. Sobran las palabras ante tal obra de arte.
Congratulations!!!
Luis, me asombra tu destreza fotografica donde la realidad se hace arte.
Tus fotografías son estampas donde no sobra ni falta nada,en un juego de luces y sombras que enaltecen al hombre que permanece unido a su tradición.
Imágenes sensibles a la luz del espíritu….impresionante !!!!!
Beatiful work!!! How you capture everything, every gaze, the colours, the moment, the LIFE!!! The life in that moment, and forever! Really amazing. Very beatiful.
Sólamente un espíritu libre como Luis Fabini podría haber plasmado de forma tan mágica y bella esos mundos duros, solitarios pero enternecedores al mismo tiempo, gracias no sólo a su excelencia técnica fotográfica sino sobre todo a su propio ser y sentir esa vida de libertad. ¡¡¡¡Enhorabuena amigo, magnífico y sobrecojedor trabajo!!!!
Luis Fabini is definitely a really talented and gifted photographer. His work shows us all the strenght, plasticity, and life that those horsemen exudated. Thank you for revealing to the world such magnificent people.
Este trabajo es algo que toca muy profundo porque esta mostrando con mucha fuerza, toda una forma de vida, un pasado, y quizás un no futuro, plasmado con una gran sensibilidad y estética, en el momento presente. Muy hermoso!
I loved the pictures and your passion is reflected in what you do.
Great work!!!… I love it
super foto
Este trabajo es algo que toca muy profundo porque esta mostrando con mucha fuerza, toda una forma de vida, un pasado, y quizás un no futuro, plasmado con una gran sensibilidad y estética, en el momento presente. Muy hermoso!
Felicitaciones Luis! Realmente en cada foto se siente una conexión increible que te trasladan a un momento único!! gracias por permitirnos deleitarnos con tu trabajo.
WOW! stunning photo’s that really tell the story