Miles Dean

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of shooting a freelance assignment for the Star-Ledger.

Newark schoolteacher Miles Dean is on a six-month, 6,000-mile journey, entirely on horseback, from New York to California to raise awareness of black cowboys and other African Americans who helped shape American history.

Miles travels on horseback by day, then meets with his professional driver, Karen Trowers, in the evenings. She drives a truck and horse trailer so they can camp along the way. Also Miles changes horses every 10 miles or so to keep them from being overworked.

This was a great assignment, the kind that makes you love this job. I met with Miles in Las Cruces, N.M., which is about three hours south of Albuquerque. It was a challenging shoot at times, essentially playing leap frog with Miles as he moved along the way, trying to find different shots and not overcrowd him...and to keep out of the way of other drivers.


ride


prep


grip


groom


work


hat


directions


miles


trailblazer


new friends


talkin' boots


old west



trailblazer, contd.


stretch/rest