National Geographic Poland | Mustafah Abdulaziz :: Berlin :: Photographer

National Geographic Poland

The Cowboys of Patagonia: Peninsula Varas, Chile, 2008.

Early morning clouds break against the Darwin Range in far southern Patagonia, a common sight for roaming cowboys. Romanticized in literature, Patagonia remains one of the harshest and remote areas of the world where cowboys carry on the traditions of their forefathers into the 21st century.

The Cowboys of Patagonia: Darwin Range, 2008.

Cowboys travel from all directions to the outpost town of Cerro Castillo in the south of Patagonia to compete in an annual rodeo that tests the skill and daring of young and older cowboys alike.

The Cowboys of Patagonia: Rodeo, Cerro Castillo, 2008.

Chilean cowboys, or huasos, take a morning rest inside a corrall after rounding up a group of wild horses.

The Cowboys of Patagonia: Corrall, Chile, 2008.

A huasa, or female Chilean cowboy, comforts her horse while in the mountains of Peninsula Varas, where she assists her brother in running a estancia, or ranch. There is generally no distinction of responsibilities for women. Daughters of cowboys are often skilled horsewomen in their own right.

The Cowboys of Patagonia: Peninsula Varas, Chile, 2008.

The Cowboys of Patagonia: Sebestian Iglesias, Chile, 2008.

The tourist commercialization of Patagonia, a vast frontier of wilderness occupied by the romantic huaso culture, has shown more and more signs of the 21st century. Holding firmly to their cowboy roots, a mother dresses her son in the traditional huaso garb while a sibling drinks from a bottle of Sprite.

The Cowboys of Patagonia: Puerto Natales, Chile, 2008.

Cowboys in Patagonia remain versatile, delving into both the cattle and sheep trades in order to make a living. Photograph from Chilean Patagonia near Puerto Natales.

The Cowboys of Patagonia: Puerto Natales, Chile, 2008.

As they grow older, the young males take on more and more responsibility and begin to mimic the habits of older cowboys, like smoking and flourishes on their garments.

The Cowboys of Patagonia: Cerro Castillo, Chile, 2008.

Young cowboys put away their horses for the day. As they grow older, the young males take on more and more responsibility and begin to mimic the habits of older cowboys, like smoking and flourishes on their garments.

The Cowboys of Patagonia: Cerro Castillo, Chile, 2008.

Cowboy near the Argentinean/Chilean border in Tierra del Fuego, Patagonia, South America.

The Cowboys of Patagonia: Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, 2008.

Displaying versatility similar to the American cowboy, huasos set fish nets for salmon off the coast of their ranch as twilight falls. In addition to being skilled horsemen, these cowboys are adept at maintaining a lifestyle independent of towns or cities. They fish for their breakfast, slaughter goats for their dinner, and grow their own vegetables.

The Cowboys of Patagonia: Peninsula Varas, Chile, 2008.

A cowboy fights against a aggressive cow at a stable in Cerro Castillo, Chile.

The Cowboys of Patagonia: Cerro Castillo, Chile, 2008.

Cowboys in Patagonia remain versatile, delving into both the cattle and sheep trades in order to make a living.

The Cowboys of Patagonia: Patagonia, Chile, 2008.

While one cowboy sings on guitar, another smokes around a lamb fire pit. Because of the remote nature of their ranches, these barbecues are perfect oppurtunities to catch up, share new stories, and meet new people.

The Cowboys of Patagonia: Patagonia, Chile, 2008.

After proving their horsemenship on top wild horses and their mettle on the backs of prodded cows, a group of cowboys huddle near a pick up truck to view their rides on a JVC handheld video recorder.

The Cowboys of Patagonia: Cerro Castillo, Chile, 2008.

The lives of Chilean cowboys are intertwined with their horses. While a cowboy goes to meet his companions for dinner, his black horse is tied up to a abandoned building in a town near Torres del Paine.

The Cowboys of Patagonia: Cerro Castillo, Chile, 2008.

Map of South America, documenting the travels of photographer Mustafah Abdulaziz in January, February, and March of 2008.

The Cowboys of Patagonia: Map of South America, documenting the travels of photographer in January, February, and March of 2008.

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