National Western Rodeo

[Milehighguy]

Annually in Denver, Colorado, USA the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo is held for about 2 1/2 weeks. The day I shot the weather outside was bitter cold with snow on the ground, so I stayed inside. Here are a few shots from the rodeo. The odd lighting within the arena was really tough to deal with and, again, I was in a learning experience with my lenses, aperture settings, etc. etc. Could have done better.

1) Bronco rider at work

2) Bull rider out of the gate

3) Bull rider at liftoff

4) Dismounted with protection

5) Rodeo Clown, "Hey bull, get me if you can!!!"

6) A tough way to make a living ... bull rider exit.

7) Trick Riders 1

8) Trick Riders 2

[madcrow]

Fantastic and beautiful series. Awesome action and story, nearly as good as being there. Would there be many injuries at one of those rodeos.

[Shadowman]

Nice series, some good angles of view.

[rpcrowe]

Fantastic and beautiful series. Awesome action and story, nearly as good as being there. Would there be many injuries at one of those rodeos.

Caveman injuries... Cavemen (Neanderthal and such) would hunt large animals using groups of hunters. Since projectile weapons had not been evolved, killing these beasts was done up close and dangerously.

Studies have been made, by examining skeletal remains, of the injuries incurred. Guess what the modern day equivalent to these injuries is... Those injuries incurred by rodeo riders...

[Geoff F]

You have done well with difficult scenes.

A pity about some foreground/background elements with the first three; none of which was your fault.

If only the excellent action in #1 had occurred a little further away to give the full clear scene.

There is a 'headless man' in #2 but I find those unconnected hands in the top right corner more distracting.

I like the way you have gone wider in #3 to show the wider scene including good angles on those watching; but a pity about that 'head on the ground'.

But, as I said, not your fault and you have done the best with what was available here.

All the others work very well.

[bnnrcn]

Nice series, #6 is super

[Milehighguy]

Maurice ... thanks for your comments. Yes, regretfully, there can be serious injuries to both man and beast. Perhaps not as much as in the past but certainly this is a risky activity for all accounts. I do appreciate those who have strong feelings against this Western US "sport" which lingers on as a tradition within the deep roots of cattle and cowboy county.

[Milehighguy]

Shadow man/John ... thanks for your comments.

[Milehighguy]

Geoff ... Thanks for the helpful comments. I always appreciate your eye and thoughts. As I brought the pictures in from the camera into Photoshop I gave some thought to do more with them than just cropping, white balance adjustments and a little other balancing of toning. If I was doing landscape I would have cleaned up the background/foreground issues you noted, but thought, given the environment, that keeping these things in kept it more true to the nature of the relation to the photographer and subject. The "head" in #3 is the most intrusive for sure. I am going to clean that up for sure, though. Best regards.

[Milehighguy]

Binnur ... thanks!