The Tibetan Cowboy, by Barry Cawston

I decided to take a picture of this pumping station as an alternative image of Tibet to the much photographed Patala Palace in Lhasa as it seemed to say more about the changing culture of the country as a result of China’s strong influence. I felt that the modernist/communist/ structuralist box looked amazingly out of place in the Himalayan landscape. Then to my astonishment a young Tibetan walked around the corner and was happy to be in the picture. He had a James Dean like coolness and a suit which looked like is was cut in London’s Savile Row. The whole event feel incredibly surreal and I think this comes across in the picture.

Wista 5/4 Field Camera | Shot on Kodak 400nc | 90mm lens | F32 @ 1/60secs
The Tibetan Cowboy, by Barry Cawston

Award Winner: Photo of the Day | March 29
Photo of the Day Award Category: Travel Photography
Photograph Location: Lhasa | Tibet

Photographer: Barry Cawston (Axbridge Somerset, UK) Registered
Barry Cawston is a freelance photographer with a client list that includes English Heritage, The Guardian & The Sunday Telegraph. He also runs The Drugstore Gallery with my partner Soraya Schofield which showcases our work and eight other photographers. We have taken the gallery to the Affordable Art Fairs in Bristol, London & Paris and hope to exhibit at the New York AAF in 2012. He has won several awards for his photography Including The South West Art Award in 2011, the British Journal of Photography, Nikon Endframe Award. He has being featured in a TV art program called “‘Show Me the Monet” this May. He has recently had two solo shows in London, one at Capital Culture In Covent Garden and the other at Sarah Myerscough Fine Art in Mayfair ( who now represents me). He is hoping to do the Trans -Siberian Railway this summer for a show at Sarah Myerscough and in an art centre in St Petersbugh next year.
Barry’s work is quite varied but largely shot on a large format field camera and printed by himself in a traditional colour darkroom set up in the gallery. He trys and bring out the emotional element of an image in the print and often enlarge the prints to one or two meters.

Portfolio: http://www.barrycawston.com/
Gallery: http://www.thedrugstoregallery.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/barrycawston