children

Mar

2015

Sketches: Behind the Chutes

Last fall I attended several local rodeos here in New Mexico: the Casper Baca Roughstock Rodeo Fall Series and the Bosque Farms Rodeo Association Fall Rodeo. Both rodeos allowed me up-close access, for which I am grateful. This kind of access allowed for photographs beyond the action in the arena and a glimpse into the focus and preparation involved in rodeo competition.

Recently a short series of behind the scenes images from these rodeos were posted on my Instagram, Facebook, and Flickr feeds but were neglected here. This post rectifies that.

A young cowboy awaits his 8 seconds on the steer. Bull riding is as much a mental game as it is a physical one.

Bull and Rider

A bull rider sits on a bull in the chutes leading to the bucking chute. A sense of familiarity appears to exist for both cowboy and bull.

A cowboy awaits his ride. There is a lot of time spent waiting for the 8 seconds aboard a bull.

A cowboy perhaps ponders what could have been after a Bosque Farms Rodeo Association Rodeo, Bosque Farms, New Mexico.

Dec

2014

The Season

It is the season here in the United States and in many areas of the world. At time of careful selection, of careful transportation…

At time of wondrous transformation.

Happy Holidays to you from me, whatever the holiday. Whatever encourages you to wonder, whatever rekindles those moments of awe, may you have many.

Feb

2014

Sketches: Distress

Liam realizes his brother has claimed the last piece of watermelon.

Jul

2013

When Comes the Rain

As you might imagine-with New Mexico being a desert and all-rain is scarce here. This year especially we received less than an inch during the first 6 months of the year.

Drought? Perhaps.

Desert life, mostly.

We are fascinated with rain here. We have drainage channels (Arroyo’s) that stand dry most of the time with associated folk tales warning of their dangers (La Llorona). We have levees, we have storm drains, we have firemen specifically trained in water rescue. In the desert.

For when comes the rain, it comes. Hard and fast and cold it comes turning the dry arroyos into raging torrents, flooding streets, and breathing life into this desert community.

In my young children’s lives rain is an oddity, and an opportunity.

The summer rains came the other day.

Apr

2013

Sketches: The Couple

Some relationships are meant for a reason.

Some relationships are meant for a season.

And a few relationship – just a few – are meant for a lifetime.

Jan

2013

Sketches: Brothers

A bonus treat today for you: a two-fer! While I haven’t stated it publicly, these sketches on Wednesdays are an opportunity for me to practice a necessary – and very important skill – in photography: that of the edit. Edit, that is, in terms of selection rather than post-processing. These Wednesday posts offer an opportunity to ruthlessly edit my work, my play, down to one meaningful image. A little glimpse of irony perhaps, or something representative of New Mexico, of culture, of fitting in, of not fitting in, or a glimpse into my life, or your life.

I struggle with these edits. What should I show in this one image this week? What is worthwhile? And why, once the choice is made, this image?

It hurts throwing out images. This is a painful process. But it is necessary. Arriving at good images requires it. By throwing out the chaff ruthlessly we come to the wheat; the good stuff. There will be a few, I think. Not many, but a few. I am curious about those.

Today, a glimpse into my life. Brothers. A theme I have my eye on as these young brothers grow their relationship. I am curious how it will play out for them. I am curious what I can record for them. A bonding. A sharing. Differences. Similarities. Shared experiences.