Beautiful evening light, cowboy hats, twang and mud, subliminally brought out my native Texan side as I too, with camera in hand, was having fun with the boys. This August, I was fortunate to shoot two rodeo assignments in Fayette County: the Fayette County Fair and the Bullskin Township Fair. The guys were gentlemen to attendees, yet cursed, taunted and spit at their bull foes. Personally, I didn't have much interest in shooting the actual riding because the scenes beside the sport itself were so brilliant. That is what I love most about sports photography: the story around the game.
Riders carry flags before a rodeo during the Bullskin Township Community Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015 in Wooddale.
Wyatt Frick of Dunbar, 18, waits for the rodeo to begin during the Bullskin Township Community Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015 in Wooddale.
Riders get ready before the rodeo during the Bullskin Township Community Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015 in Wooddale.
Lane Smouse, 15, of West Newton stretches before the bull riding competition during the Bullskin Township Community Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015 in Wooddale.
Jesse Swink, 22, of Acme listens to the national anthem before the rodeo during the Bullskin Township Community Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015 in Wooddale.
Shane Stiffler, 25, of Clearfield is announced to the crowd during a rodeo at the Fayette County Fair on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015 in Dunbar.
Jesse Swink, 22, of Acme readies a bull before the rodeo during the Bullskin Township Community Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015 in Wooddale.
George Tomochak of Beaver prayers during a rodeo at the Fayette County Fair on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015 in Dunbar.
A bull is prepared in a chute before the rodeo during the Bullskin Township Community Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015 in Wooddale.
Lane Smouse of West Newton, 15, preps in a bull chute during a rodeo at the Fayette County Fair on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015 in Dunbar.
Hunter Rahm, 12, of Uniontown pauses for a moment during a rodeo at the Fayette County Fair on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015 in Dunbar.
A cowboy waits to move a bull through the chutes during a rodeo at the Fayette County Fair on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015 in Dunbar.