Gardner by Ryan Monaghan

At the core of hunting, is the basic mission to kill. Whether killing for food, or as sport, the task is visceral and physical, both for hunter and hunt-ed alike. Hey, Hot Shot! contender Ryan Monaghan explores this culture in his work, showing the two-sided beauty and brutality of hunting and trapping.

He writes,

They [the images] show the results of a tradition that is no longer vital for human survival, but yet has spawned an entire subculture around it. The photographs touch on the complex sentiments felt when successfully acting upon the primitive urge to harvest something wild and elusive, and explore the cold beauty that is often found in a world considered so violent by so many.

Like photographer Erika Larsen, whose photo essays The Hunt and Young Blood also explore the clashing duality of the gruesome and the graceful in hunting culture, Monaghan's portraits of show much more than the blood of capture. Community, connection to the outdoors, and elements of ritual reaffirm the bonds some feel to this age-old pastime.

See additional work from this series on Ryan's website.