Several months ago, Harland was invited to photograph Dodge City Days, an annual 10 day festival that includes BBQ contest, street dances, concerts, a wild west show, a cattle drive, a PRCA rodeo, and many other events. The festival ran from July 25 through August 2, but we only attended the last weekend where we saw the cattle drive, the wild west show, and the rodeo.
We’re not huge rodeo fans, but this one was very well done, well-attended, and we ended up having a great time. The best part was that they invited us to photograph from one of those exclusive, (expensive) boxes situated over the chutes, so we were right on top of the action all night.
Here are a few of my shots from the evening:

SUNSET IN THE ARENA

PRAYER BEFORE RIDING THE BULL

GROUP PRAYER BEFORE BULLRIDING

BULL RIDING

WHEN THE RIDER FALLS, THE BULL WILL OFTEN GO AFTER HIM

RODEO CLOWNS PROTECTING A FALLEN RIDER

RODEO CLOWNS PROTECTING A FALLEN RIDER

STEER WRESTLING

PREPARING TO BRONC RIDE

FINDING THE PERFECT GRIP BEFORE BRONC RIDING

LEAVING THE CHUTE

BRONC RIDING

BRONC RIDING

BRONC RIDING

BRONC RIDING

CALF ROPING

TWILIGHT AT THE ARENA
My favorite events were the bull and bronc riding. And I have a new-found admiration for rodeo clowns who stand their ground against raging bulls to protect the riders.
Have you been to a rodeo? What were your favorite events?
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