The Western Lensman was born from lived experience—not just behind the camera, but in the saddle.

Photographer and storyteller Markus Van Meter began this Colorado journey as a working cowboy for Ralph Lauren at the Double RL Ranch in Ridgway, Colorado. That time planted the seed for what would become a lifelong pursuit: documenting the Western way of life with clarity, soul, and respect.

After 13 years living on Colorado’s Western Slope, Markus has developed a vision rooted in the land, shaped by light, and sharpened by time. His photography blends fine art composition with editorial storytelling, anchored in a black-and-white process known as Heritage Leather—a restrained, film-inspired style built to honor legacy without spectacle.

But The Western Lensman is more than a magazine. It’s a working platform—a visual archive—dedicated to capturing the evolving character of the American West.

Each story is composed with intention, and every commission is shaped by a long-standing career in branding, marketing, and content creation. This background brings polish and clarity to the work—but never at the cost of authenticity. The goal is simple: to create imagery and editorial that resonates with depth, truth, and longevity.

Beyond the page, The Western Lensman offers brand storytelling, photographic essays, and commissioned work for those who want to honor a lifestyle, document a place, or elevate their heritage with intention and grit.

This is a place for those who know the West isn’t fading—it’s evolving. And it deserves to be framed with reverence.

Welcome to The Western Lensman.