As an artist I was invited to photograph the local Springville Rodeo which is part of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association. Going behind the scenes and staying silent was my goal. This way I could capture candid photos of the young men, women and children who support each other as they prepare to rope, ride and win.
There are three parts to the Springville rodeo: the Little Britches competition, steer roping, and the final competition, bull riding.
The Little Britches competition involves the parents who support and prepare the children who brave riding a running sheep and try to stay on the sheep for the short ride.
Roping a steer pits the strength and speed of the steer against the strength, speed and roping skills of the cowboy and his horse.
Finally, Bull riding is the sport that involves the bull, the bull rider and the bull fighter. Bull rides can last from a few seconds to a maximum of eight seconds, and there is a significant threat of bodily danger to the rider. The bull fighters, dressed as an entertaining clown, are actually skilled protectors of the bull rider. Their job is to corral the bull away from the bull rider and into the bull pen.
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