When Is Changing The Past Not Kosher?

[Bob Boze Bell]

February 20, 2013

Wrestling with a Texas Ranger cover we are working on for May. The problem we face is we have run group shots on the past two covers and I just don't want to go there again because the covers get stale and elicit remarks like, "I already have that issue," or, worse, "Well, that's the same old cover they've run for the past three issues." Not good. Did a sketch of the cover I really want:

 

Ranger advancing with a rifle in a border town. The problem is finding any old photos that illustrate this. Had Dan The Man Harshberger create a new photo from the pieces of several existing photos and he came up with a very strong cover image, but we're concerned it's a bit odd, or even unethical, to illustrate a non-Ranger as a Ranger.

 

It's an interesting dilemma: no one would blink if I did an illustration of this, from a composite of existing phtographs, but when you use a real photo of someone as a photo illustration it gets dicey. What do you think?

 

We may go with an art cover to illustrate The Deadliest Corridor on the Texas border:

 

Hmmmmm. We're on the hunt. Stay tuned.

 

"When you forgive, you in no way change the past—but, you sure do change the future."

—Bernard Meltzer

 

 

[Jeff Hildebrandt]

How about seeing a Texas Ranger from the back, ala Marshal Dillon or possibly ghostly images of Rangers from then mingling on the same streets with civilians (or police) in a modern setting? 

[Dave McGowan]

Surely there is a pic around somewhere of one of the Captains? A battalion commander would be concerned about his men going into such a corridor would he not? And therefore symbolic.

Yes, I'm aware most senior officers spend more time being politicians than they do being cops (less so then than now, but still) but a good (captain, sergeant, staff-sergeant, chief, sheriff, etc.) will still be concerned with his personnel.

[Wolfgang]

Looks good to me.   And speaking of "good" . . . I like . . . no . . . LOVE True West Magazine E-nuf that I bought the March issue at Wall Mart today . . . . after putting ALL THE ISSUES front and center on the rack.  I still have never seen the February issue ! ! !  DAMN, damn . . . and triple damn, . . . . . whut has happened to my lifetime subscription ? ? ? . . . . .

[Bob Boze Bell]

Wolfgang, I will get your mailing address from Carole tomorrow and send you a Feb. issue. You have to have it, Man. It's one of the best we have ever done.

[Iain Sanders]

Dicing-up history?  If done as a last resort, there should always be a hi-viz note of exactly what's been done - surely!

[Wolfgang]

Thanks Bob, . . .   :)

[Bob Boze Bell]

Wolfgang, sorry, I need your full name and address. If you don't want to post it here, email me at [e-mail]

[Buck Grizzly]

There really isn't too many action shots of the Rangers in action. In fact most of the shots are not very heroic what so ever, and paint a picture of non-exceptional ordinary men.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Txrangercallicot.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ripford.jpg

Even the cartoon/drawings are less than spectacular.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Texas_Ranger_1846.png

[Buck Grizzly]

The drawing at the bottom of the page is kin of flashy.

http://www.curtrich.com/gs.txrangcost2.html

[Bob Boze Bell]

Yes, Buck, the painting of the Texas Ranger is by Joe Grandee, who has probably done more True West covers than even me. We are going to be doing a retrospective of his long career in the October issue of True West.