Its hard to believe that it was about thirteen years ago that I entered the world of professional photography when I took a job shooting rodeos for my friend Mark Oakie's brother Alan. I enjoyed my weekends on the high school rodeo circuit shooting rodeos all across the state of Utah. I got the opportunity to push my skills and abilities as a photographer to their very limits every weekend. And this was back in the days of film, no LCD screen on the back of the camera to check and make sure you got the shot. You had to know your exposure and how to get the shot every time without being able to see the pictures until they got back from the lab a week later. I spent about two years shooting for Alan, and I loved it, but I had moved on to weddings and portraits, and left rodeos behind for a while.
Last weekend I had the opportunity to step back into the arena and shoot another rodeo. I must admit, I was a bit nervous. It had been a few years since I last shot a rodeo, and I was hoping I had not lost the knack. I was shooting the Pacific Coast Junior Bull Riders rodeo in Norco, Ca, which was part of the cities horse week festivities. Once I got behind the chute gates, it was as if I had never left. I felt right at home amongst the livestock and cowboys. Once the event started, I got back into my groove in no time at all. I ended up getting some good shots during the event, I did miss one calf rider due to my camera having a quick fit, and wouldn't you know it, he won his division, and his dad was interested in buying a print of his ride. Its frustrating, but those things do happen. In all, it went pretty good, and I hope to get the chance to shoot another of their events.
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