Growin’ up to be a Cowboy
Ventura County Rodeo, Ventura California
This little boy, maybe 5 years old, is a ‘natural’. Look at his body language. You can feel his concentration. If he weren’t under three feet tall, you’d think he had been roping for years. I’ve got several photos of boys like this one. Boys who grow up on ranches, who learn ranching by working with their fathers. They are not little boys. They are little men.
A rodeo is a great place to photograph. Sad to say, but the politically correct want to shut them down. Why can’t we just leave each other alone and let each enjoy life in his own way?
This is an old print. It must be twenty years old. I had a telephoto lens, I’m sure. The boy is in the center of the photo, but for action shots, it’s a good thing. Remember that if you are at a ball game. Shooting the pitcher or batter or anyone else and having them dead center emphasizes action.
For other rodeo shots click on these links:
http://www.rosemarysheel.com/archives/cowgirls-and-cowboys
http://www.rosemarysheel.com/archives/team-roping