TravelWorld International Magazine Fall 2022
The magazine written and photographed by North American Travel Journalists Association members.
The magazine written and photographed by North American Travel Journalists Association members.
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considered the “Bull Riding” event to be the<br />
premier photographic opportunity of the<br />
rodeo, not only because of their sheer size<br />
and weight, but also because of the ferocity<br />
of the beasts. As a photographer I often seek<br />
out unique positions to capture interesting<br />
images. This time I thought that being right<br />
behind the chute where the bulls burst forward would<br />
be an ideal spot! It was interesting … but terrifying!<br />
At the end of the fourth night, after the last bull<br />
had flung off its unwelcome passenger, and the fans<br />
had filed out, and the lights were turned off for the<br />
final time, I actually felt a few melancholy pangs<br />
as I looked around the arena. While there are over<br />
600 rodeos held in America each year, and some<br />
are iconic, like the massive week long “Calgary<br />
Stampede” in Alberta (which may have Hollywood<br />
actor Kevin Costner as its parade Marshall), and<br />
“Frontier Days” in Cheyenne, Wyoming (which<br />
may have country music superstars Brooks and<br />
Dunn performing center stage), no other rodeos can<br />
surpass the beautiful soul of a small-town rodeo like<br />
the one held in the heartland of America, Leon Iowa.<br />
When the gate flung open for this ride the bull immediately spun<br />
to the left, reared its hind quarters and let fly with a vicious double<br />
barrelled kick. The loud “PRANGGGGGGGG” that echoed in<br />
my ears as the bulls legs smashed the wrought iron bars inches<br />
from my face momentarily stopped my heart. Had those bars not<br />
separated that 1,600 pounds of solid muscle from my head your<br />
humble narrator would likely be composing this story with a pack<br />
of crayons and drool on my chin. The clots of dirt that flung from<br />
its legs and hooves covered my face and body. I deemed this as a<br />
good thing though because the mud splats on my clothing perfectly<br />
camouflaged the fact that I’d crapped my pants.<br />
Well done, guys. Well done.<br />
16<br />
Performances also included the<br />
‘Wichita War Dancers’ first nations<br />
Comanche Kevin Browning, from<br />
‘War Pony Productions’<br />
Nick Jordan, the 2021 IRCA champion<br />
bareback rider lasted for the full 8 seconds.<br />
I bet your rodeo doesn’t have Mark Webber<br />
from Bloomington Illinois blasting away with<br />
his flame thrower!
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