WEST TEXAS, TEXAS - 2025

Slightly unintentionally, this tableau greedily features four of the most emblematic symbols of 20th century Americana: the bison; the cowboy; the Ford Model T and oil derricks. Each have played their role in the growth of the country and in ensuring that the American dream has legs.

This photograph was taken in a boom oil town site we built in West Texas, which is appropriate as the vast Permian Basin is one of the reasons why America is self-sufficient. The Permian alone looks after 20% of American daily oil demand.

For over 100 years now, the oil industry has been at the heart of the economic success of Texas and anyone with a modicum of common sense knows that this is unequivocally something to celebrate. I am delighted that Taylor Sheridan did exactly this, in his own inimitable way, with his highly watchable series Landman.

The history of the oil industry, and the history of the world in the last 140 years, are difficult to decouple; it remains the world’s most important commodity and the character rich industry is often played out in some of the world’s more off beat locations. That is why we are drawn to it with our storytelling, there is a rich amount of material, especially if we go back in time and make it a period production.

The bison has, of course, also played a major role in American history. There have been some dicey moments for this mammal in the West, but all is now good and I thought it would be a fun prop to include on set. Bizarrely we have got to know a very charming guy in Denver who owns a business called Bison Oil and Gas - so we were left with no choice for the name of this photograph.