A bunch of bull OT

[kiev4a]

Recently there was a discussion on the forum that drifted toward TLRs and I made some comments about shooting rodeo with a Rollei, right down in the arena with the stock. Someone said that was -- well -- stupid. I probably was but I was in my 20s at the time and believed I was immortal.

Included is a photo taken during that period in the area at the Snake River Stampede in Nampa, Idaho, sometime in the late '60s or early 70s. Rollei, probably at f8 or f11 with camera preset to aout 30 feet and using the sportsfinder, Honeywell Strobe and Tri-x Film. Don't know who the rider was but the bull was named "Double Ought." At the time this was taken the bull had been on the rodeo circuit several years and had never been ridden to the buzzer. This cowboy didn't make it either.

If you look closely you can see that while the bull may be bucking, his eye is looking at the camera. Bulls always looked toward the flash of a camera. Horses didn't seem to even see a flash. On a night rodeo the lighting wasn't good enough to shoot from behind the fence using a telephoto. Nowadays I don't think they allow photographers in a professional rodeo arena and if they did, I wouldn't. I'm no longer in my 20s and I know I'm mortal.

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

8 seconds is a long, long time when you are on one of those monsters.

Wayne

PS Nice shot!!

 

[einolu]

thats a great photo!

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Great photo, Wayne. "Bull" is one thing we have plenty of out here.

 

[nwcanonman]

Very nice shot.
The last local rodeo here they had a pro at the far end of the arena (female) with a Big flash and tele-lens.
They also allowed me to shoot from the stands with flash. I think they're glad to have paying customers and didn't care about whether I had a camera/flash or not ~ ; - )
😀

 

[kiev4a]

The reason I was shooting this particular rodeo was the official photographer had got himself pinned up against a chute gate by a bull who gave him several broken ribs and a collapsed lung! He was approaching age 60 at the time and should have known better. My excuse was youthful stupidity.

 

[nwcanonman]

Kiev4a,
Hey, "approaching 60" doesn't mean one is a doddering old man. I'm in that catagory and in better shape than many 30 somethings I know. Common sense is the thing that should come with longevity though ~ ; - )

 

[nwcanonman]

greyhoundman,
Remember that in order to be able to still go "full throttle" to the grave is staying in good enough shape to still go "full throttle" - LOL.
Some old actor/comedian once said, "If I'd have known I'd live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself" is still true.
While I'm paying for some of the physical abuse I self imposed in my youth, I'd still do it over. I don't want to sit in some nursing home 20 years from now and wish I'd done something worth remembering. I'm still doing it !!!

 

[Rob]

Great shot Wayne, no way will they let anyone get that close these days...