Ranch windmill silhouette

A silhouette image of a ranch windmill. These icons pepper the vast landscapes of ranch country across North America. They are an important landmark for cowboys and cattle. The wind turns them to pump water into the troughs for the livestock. They wear down by the weather. So, they are patched together with tape and makeshift parts to keep them running. 

This windmill was near some corrals on the Matador Ranch in west Texas. The sun was rising, and I was able to capture this icon with an interesting sky behind it. I remember feeling a sense of calmness when snapping the camera. The windmill takes many of us back to our roots. Above all, it symbolizes hard work, tradition and the ranching lifestyle.