At the rodeo

 Wading through images saved on the external hard drive, I was searching for subject matter to use in a drawing class. What fun to come across rodeo pics off of John's camera as he was learning to use it a few years back:

The rodeo is a spectacle, but never more so than in the final minutes when they let loose all of the broncs in a dusty, spirited stampede that swerves in a wild gallop around the arena. It is breath taking. I love pictures of horses.


But there were lots of shots to admire. Flipping through photos shot in continuous drive mode:

 Team steer-roping: they're going full speed. How do those hats stay on?

 Down goes one cowboy, tackling the steer. His hat stays put.

 The tricky steer puts on the brakes.

 This causes the cowboy to miss completely.

 Although his hat and sunglasses never move from his head. Pretty cool.

 The rodeo clown has the most dangerous job: keeping an enraged bull from goring his downed rider.

 I don't remember if there's a cowboy inside that barrel, but personally I'd rather be in there...

 ...than out here.

 Rodeo clowns get paid quite a bit of money to do this. Don't worry, he's fine.

 See? Back on his feet in the next shot.

 The bull stops being so mad. And wow, the cowboy clown keeps that hat on the whole time. Amazing!