A lone rider against the mountains — that’s the image at the top of this post, and in many ways, the spirit of The Western Lensman Dispatch. One figure, rooted in tradition, standing against the vastness of the West while weather and time press forward.
This space is my way of capturing the Contemporary West in all its forms — the daily realities, the enduring grit, and the evolving stories that shape life here today.
I’m Markus Van Meter — photographer, storyteller, and former cowboy for Ralph Lauren’s Double RL Ranch. Through fine art photography and long-form storytelling, I document the West as I see it: resilient, beautiful, and complicated.
What you’ll find in The Dispatch:
Lifestyle → coffee brewed on the trail, gear tested in the field, life in mountain towns.
Grit → ranching families, rodeo arenas, the hard work that keeps the West alive.
Adventure → fall rides through golden aspens, high-country trails, and Western road trips.
Environment → wildfires, water rights, the land itself and how it’s changing.
Culture & History → heritage ranches, cowboy traditions, Western makers, and the stories we can’t afford to lose.
Posts come in a few different forms:
Features — in-depth stories with photo essays and companion podcast episodes.
Field Notes — shorter reflections and single images from the trail.
Behind the Lens — my process and philosophy of documenting the West.
Conversations — interviews with people shaping the West today.
Most of what I publish here will be free to read. Paid subscribers will gain access to expanded photo galleries, full interview transcripts, and early previews of The Western Lensman magazine and my upcoming fine art book project, Legacy in Grain.
The Contemporary West is still unfolding — in ranching work, in seasonal changes, in heritage families, and in challenges like wildfire and water. The Dispatch is my way of recording it as it happens, with camera in hand and a deep respect for the land and people.
I’m glad you’re here to ride along.
– Markus