A Portrait of a Rodeo

A walk around the arena

I first stepped into the dirt of an arena with a camera two decades ago in Mexico, and I’ve been drawn back to the gravity of these spaces ever since. I didn’t grow up wanting to be a cowboy—in fact, a few early "bad horse" experiences made sure of that. Yet, I’ve always held a reverence for the tough, prideful, and unyielding posture of those who live in this world.

After experiencing that first arena, my focus was clear: I was there to document the faces of this fleeting subculture through portraiture. I don’t show up to photograph the rides or the action—though I snap a few of those moments along the way. I’m looking for the truth carried in the faces of those drawn to this circle of dirt. This series is a deeply personal study of courage, grit, and chaos, created in the dust of the arena.

A high-contrast black and white portrait capturing the raw emotion and weathered character of a subject at a rodeo in Madison County, North Carolina.
A gritty, personal black and white documentary photograph from behind the chutes at an arena in Mexico, focusing on the heavy atmosphere before the gates open.
A close-up, intentional first-person portrait of a rodeo participant in Mexico, capturing an absolute truth and unvarnished presence in a split-second moment.
A documentary image tracking the fast-paced motion and quiet tension of riders and stock enveloped in dust under the lights of a Mexican arena.
A portrait-heavy documentary frame showcasing the quiet gravity and raw likeness of the arena hands working the pens during a traditional rodeo in Mexico.
A heavy, high-contrast black and white portrait of a matador in Mexico, capturing the quiet gravity and raw intensity in his expression before entering the arena.
A gritty, first-person documentary photograph from a rodeo in Madison County, North Carolina, capturing the unvarnished characters and fleeting motion behind the chutes.
A heavy, high-contrast black and white documentary portrait capturing the raw character and quiet tension of a participant at the rodeo in Philip, South Dakota. boot in the air.
A first-person documentary photograph from the dirt behind the chutes at a South Dakota rodeo, capturing the fleeting presence and atmosphere of the arena.
A raw, high-contrast black and white documentary photograph capturing the fleeting presence and quiet gravity of riders behind the chutes in Philip, South Dakota.
A portrait-heavy documentary image focusing on the unvarnished characters and weathered faces of the community at a South Dakota rodeo arena.
A high-contrast black and white portrait of a bull rider in Philip, South Dakota, capturing the intense focus, quiet gravity, and adrenaline before a ride.
A high-contrast black and white large format photograph capturing a detailed portrait of a rodeo participant in Madison County, North Carolina, showing rich textures and fine grain.
A photograph displaying a physical darkroom print of the large format Madison County rodeo portrait, showcasing the raw edges of the paper and the tangible quality of the photographic print.
A high-contrast black and white documentary photograph capturing a young girl barrel racer at the Madison County rodeo in North Carolina.
A close-up black and white portrait of a girl barrel racer in Madison County, North Carolina, focusing on her expression and gear before competing.
A black and white documentary portrait of a mother attending the rodeo in South Dakota, capturing a candid, quiet moment in the crowd.

FEATURED DOCUMENTARY SERIES

Portraits

Salt of the Mountains