After spending a week at Lost Valley I'm feeling totally recharged and excited about seeing this project come together, and what exactly IS this project? Well, thanks to Tara Kirk,(fellow former LVR employee and incredibly gifted writer) we have taken loads of information and interviews and refined them all into this final description:
Lost Valley Ranch is celebrating 50 years of successful business in the guest ranching business and this book will be a pictorial tribute to the beauty of that success.
The goal of this book is to appropriately represent the timeless essence of Lost Valley Ranch and the unique impact it has made on the lives of guests and staff over 5 decades.
The book is being created for anyone and everyone who has ever spent time at Lost Valley, with the hope that this collection of iconic images and words can articulate and immortalize the character of this ranch.
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Like almost everyone who's ever crossed the Lost Valley cattle guard, our affection for the ranch is profound and passionate.
But every time we tried to articulate the magic of "the ranch," we found ourselves at a loss: How do you encapsulate the wonder of something as seemingly 'regular' as a dude ranch in the Colorado Rockies? How do you convey your intimate connection to a place that hundreds of other people feel just as much personal ownership of? And how do you begin to do justice to the potency of adventure that the ranch has exuded - and endured - throughout the past fifty years?
Then we realized something profound. The most unique thing about the ranch is its sameness... across 5 decades. The more we asked people to describe "Lost Valley Ranch," the more we heard the same things. Again and again. It didn't matter what decade they visited, what their family was like, or how old they were. They fell in love with the timeless essence of Lost Valley.
That's when we stumbled on to the fact that - while one person's verbalization of what they love about the ranch can never really describe how great it is - a collection of images could actually paint a very complete picture. So, the hope is to present a collection of iconic images that represent the magnitude of the Lost Valley experience... a way to honor and immortalize its truly epic essence.
Timing and others details about the book will be coming soon!
Lost Valley Ranch is celebrating 50 years of successful business in the guest ranching business and this book will be a pictorial tribute to the beauty of that success.
The goal of this book is to appropriately represent the timeless essence of Lost Valley Ranch and the unique impact it has made on the lives of guests and staff over 5 decades.
The book is being created for anyone and everyone who has ever spent time at Lost Valley, with the hope that this collection of iconic images and words can articulate and immortalize the character of this ranch.
************************************
Like almost everyone who's ever crossed the Lost Valley cattle guard, our affection for the ranch is profound and passionate.
But every time we tried to articulate the magic of "the ranch," we found ourselves at a loss: How do you encapsulate the wonder of something as seemingly 'regular' as a dude ranch in the Colorado Rockies? How do you convey your intimate connection to a place that hundreds of other people feel just as much personal ownership of? And how do you begin to do justice to the potency of adventure that the ranch has exuded - and endured - throughout the past fifty years?
Then we realized something profound. The most unique thing about the ranch is its sameness... across 5 decades. The more we asked people to describe "Lost Valley Ranch," the more we heard the same things. Again and again. It didn't matter what decade they visited, what their family was like, or how old they were. They fell in love with the timeless essence of Lost Valley.
That's when we stumbled on to the fact that - while one person's verbalization of what they love about the ranch can never really describe how great it is - a collection of images could actually paint a very complete picture. So, the hope is to present a collection of iconic images that represent the magnitude of the Lost Valley experience... a way to honor and immortalize its truly epic essence.
Timing and others details about the book will be coming soon!
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
lost valley ranch: sneak peek for the book.
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Ross and I have been celebrating the fact that his little sister, Kristen, arrived at Lost Valley last Sunday and is just getting settled in for her first summer as an official "staff gal" for the whole summer. If you are new around here and want to read a little more of my personal history with Lost Valley click here, here and/or here.
As Kristen drove into Colorado, she saw this sign. Anyone who has drive across KS and into CO literally rejoices at seeing this sign. Even though you have to keep driving for at least another hour before seeing any mountains, this sign signifies that the mountains are in fact coming....
As Kristen drove into Colorado, she saw this sign. Anyone who has drive across KS and into CO literally rejoices at seeing this sign. Even though you have to keep driving for at least another hour before seeing any mountains, this sign signifies that the mountains are in fact coming....
This is what she gets to wake up to every morning... ah, down at the old corral. Looking at this image makes me happy. Goodness how one place can flood my heart and mind with such rich memories.
It's just the simple every day stuff out at Lost Valley that make it so timeless. The uniquity of the ranch is the sameness of the ranch.
** I'll be traveling this weekend and through next week with limited access to the internet!!!
It's just the simple every day stuff out at Lost Valley that make it so timeless. The uniquity of the ranch is the sameness of the ranch.
** I'll be traveling this weekend and through next week with limited access to the internet!!!
Jill says:
I think I said "I am SO jealous" over 100 times to those LVL travelers. Why can't we just go today??? xoxo
(06.19.10 @ 07:51 AM)
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keeping it in the family.
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Cowboys are so serious. Kind of.
Yesterday I said goodbye to TX (and Ross, sniffle sniffle) then proceeded to drive across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama before I cross into Georgia today. I'll be shooting a very special wedding outside Atlanta tomorrow then joining up with the lovely ladies of Southern Proper for a shoot that is keeping me up at night I'm so stoked about it. I feel very blessed to be so busy in the final stretch before our little family is reunited at home... finally!!!
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the serious cowboy.
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Heaven is high and earth wide. If you ride three feet higher
above the ground than other men, you will know what that means. - Rudolf Binding
I spent most of the day yesterday down around the corral and loved taking in the images of the horses and wranglers. I've always been quite taken with horses, so even now, despite their shaggy coats and the spring mud, I could watch them for hours.
I spent most of the day yesterday down around the corral and loved taking in the images of the horses and wranglers. I've always been quite taken with horses, so even now, despite their shaggy coats and the spring mud, I could watch them for hours.
Beata English says:
These photographs are amazing! i absolutely adore the B&W image of the horses! Such an wonderful place!
(04.06.10 @ 06:35 PM)
stacy says:
the colors are so rich, it's like i'm there... so gorgeous!
(04.06.10 @ 08:04 PM)
Beca says:
can i just say i'm loving these?!!
so beautiful amy - makes me miss it!
meredith huntley says:
awesome these pics make me want to move there!
(04.07.10 @ 08:34 AM)
Candice says:
like the rest, these pictures make me ACHE to visit a place like this....
(04.07.10 @ 09:38 AM)
Sally jayne says:
Oh how these make me miss LVL!!! I can't wait to see this book come together!!!! Awesome job Amy!!
(04.07.10 @ 10:46 PM)
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lost valley ranch: day three.
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One of the richest elements about Lost Valley is the truth that this is a place where relationships flourish. The task's and to-do's of every day life are stripped away. It offers the simple beauty of taking the time to sit on a porch swing. Taking a walk. Riding together. Sharing meals and laughter together. Numerous people that I've been talking with have shared that they feel like their time spent at the Ranch allows them to be the truest version of themself... and there is a certain freedom in that feeling.
Your beautiful baby from the outside in
Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again
Go on, take on this whole world
But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl. -Tim McGraw
Your beautiful baby from the outside in
Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again
Go on, take on this whole world
But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl. -Tim McGraw
Heidi K says:
Wow. Again! I love these so much...you have a way of capturing so much personality in all of your photos. Becca looks like she's going to come talk to me straight from the picture! And you're right. I never knew myself until I came here to the Valley. I have no idea how, but you captured all of our true selves in these photos. Well done!
(04.08.10 @ 03:21 PM)
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lost valley ranch: day two.
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These pictures make my heart ache!! I miss this place and the people so much. Thanks for putting this together with Tara. I can't wait to buy the book.
(08.24.10 @ 11:00 PM)Amy, these pics make my heart smile :o)
(08.25.10 @ 12:14 AM)Beautiful Amy! I really hope to take all the kids to LV someday!
(08.25.10 @ 04:52 PM)Oooo-aaah is the only word that can portray the emotion these pictures pull from my heart.
(08.25.10 @ 10:21 PM)LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Can we order some prints?
(08.26.10 @ 11:43 AM)oh my gosh - GORGEOUS!
(08.27.10 @ 02:15 PM)Amazing photos! Your description of the project is so right on. Can't wait to see the finished book!
(08.28.10 @ 12:21 AM)you and LVR were so meant to be. i think i need to take kiele there some day. you'll have to let me know your future trips and maybe we could join you. kiele would so, so love it!! and we'll definitely be getting your book. can't wait! absolutely amazing and so very proud of you.
(08.28.10 @ 11:08 AM)xo
deb
Amy! These images literally gave me chills. These are INCREDIBLE sweet friend.
(08.28.10 @ 01:38 PM)Extraordinary!
(09.02.10 @ 10:10 PM)