Sketches

Oct

2012

Sketches: Dancing Cowboys

A couple of Catron County cowboys horse around during the annual Pie Town Festival in Pie Town, New Mexico

Oct

2012

I shot my first wedding last month. A lovely celebration between a couple who clearly love each other, not simply in the romantic way that most weddings tend to evoke, but in a deep and committed way. They already have a family; they love similar things; they respect each other’s identity, integrity, and individuality. And they make a great team.

This is one of my favorite shots from that day. A simple setting. A simple pose. A simple story.

Oct

2012

Sketches: Native Cowboy

A young Indian cowboy sits alone and brooding high in the stands at the International Indian Finals Rodeo in Albuquerque, New Mexico, September 2012.

The contestants wait all evening for the shot at glory. Whether it be a barrel race lasting nearly a minute, a team calf roping event lasting half a minute, or the eternity that 8 seconds can seem on the back of a raging bull, they have one chance in the evening to pull off a great ride or to suffer abject defeat and possible injury.

I don’t know what led this young cowpoke to brood so: a poor ride; a father’s scolding; the mocking of friends. But it was clear he needed to be with his own thoughts for a while.

The International Indian Finals Rodeo drew competitors from Calgary, from Hopi, from Mescalero Apache, from Navajo and from many in between, with each competitor carrying the pride of their tribe on their shoulders. In addition, they carried the pride of Native, First Nation’s People.

There were not many spectators. A few curious attendees, but mostly the sense was that the stands were populated with the competitors’ family members. But I tell you, the competitors were as good as they come.

Oct

2012

Sketches: Consternation

Oct

2012

Sketches: Beaverbones

Sep

2012

Sketches: Upright

Sep

2012

Sketches: Leaner

I went to Pie Town, New Mexico this past weekend along with Dan Milnor from Smogranch, Charlene Winfred from Perth, Australia, and Flemming Bo Jensen from Denmark for the Pie Festival. The town is a stone’s throw from my late father-in-laws ranch and I’d been there many times before, to have pie and to have lunch. This time the annual Pie Town Festival was going on complete with pie eating contest, pie queen, horseshoe competition and all sorts of good family fun.

I also briefly met Arthur Drooker through Dan, who has been remaking the Farm Security Administration portfolio that Russell Lee made back in the depression. He calls it Pie Town Revisited. Really cool stuff. If you happen to be driving through Pie Town (!) the photographs are on display in the Pie-O-Neer cafe on the north side of the road. Worth a visit.

Personally, I prefer the Good Pie Cafe on the south side of the road where I found the fellows in the picture. I especially like their chocolate pie. My son likes the milkshakes.

Sep

2012

Sketches: Dynamism

I’ve been accused of creating images that are center balanced. But not statically balance, “dynamically balanced”, as my friend Ray Ketcham would say. Does this image fit the mold?