Bull Riding - Rock Bottom Arkansas

[Bonish Photo]

Spent the entire Memorial Day Weekend in Northern Arkansas at the Rock Bottom Chuck Wagon Races. Friday night they had a Rodeo which featured some Bull Riding!

This was the first time we had ever tried our hand at shooting this type of event, but all I can say is the wife and I are both totally hooked. Between the speed and amazing ability of the riders, we can see why it has such a huge following!


Canon 5D, 400 f/2.8 - ISO 3200 1/125 @ f/2.8

This poor guy wasnt even out of the shoot yet and had already put in more than 8 seconds on a this bad mofo bucking and slamming him against the side of the gates!!!


Canon 5D, 400 f/2.8 - ISO 3200 1/60 @ f/2.8


Canon 5D, 400 f/2.8 - ISO 3200 1/180 @ f/2.8 - I lucked out on this one and somebodies flash must have gone off behind the rider which gave me almost studio like lighting on the whole scene! Some time yer' just lucky I guess!

These are the Wife's Shots

Some of these things come out of the gate in the air and already trying to get the riders off their backs!


Canon 30D - 70-200 f/2.8 - ISO 1600 1/100 @ f/2.8


Canon 30D - 70-200 f/2.8 - ISO 1600 1/100 @ f/2.8


Canon 30D - 70-200 f/2.8 - ISO 1600 1/100 @ f/2.8

Entire Gallery can be seen hereif you want to see more of the crazy action! Thanks for Looking and Comments always appreciated!

[noreturnphotos]

Pat and Cindy,
Great captures! Looks like you had alot of fun!
I see you are using a 400 prime? and Cindy is using a zoom? Is this correct?
Beautiful work again!

[Bonish Photo]

Thanks for the comments Royce, yes Cindy is using a 70-200 f/2.8 and I was using a 400 f/2.8. She likes to be right up on the arena and close to the action. I really think she just wanted to be closer to all the studly cowboys...LOL

I was across the arena in the Announcers booth so I had an elevated angle, and she was sitting on the ground. I personally think her images are a bit better looking because of the low angle. Next time we get this opportunity, I think we'll switch positions to see who likes it better.

Cant wait for next time!!

[peter nap]

You two have way too much fun Pat!

Really great pictures, especially considering the light.

I think the wife beat you this time. The low angle does look better.

[Bonish Photo]

Ok, the pictures I first posted were from Friday nights event. What I didnt know was on Sunday night they were bringing in another Bull Riding event and this one was sanctioned by the ARCA which has Pro PBR Riders and sanctioned bulls in it.

What this means is it made Fridays Bull Riding look like Childs Play compared to these heavy hitters.

Here are a few more pictures!!


One of Cindy's shots taken with a Canon 30D and a 70-200 f/2.8


Notice the snot coming off the bulls nostrils! That's a cool image in my book!!

Take a second to look at this shot! Something tells me the kid that is 8' in the air and going to land on his back is going to be in a bit of pain come morning time!



Sunday Nights Bull Riding Gallery

[jmthompson]

Great shots Pat! Did you have to get media access for shooting, or were you just shooting as spectators? I know at alot of the PBR events, they are restricting any "pro" cameras due to the PETA movement and "misuse" of the pictures, so I was just wondering if you had any trouble getting access? I think it is mainly rodeos on the West Coast, but I know all of the actual PBR Tour is restricting cameras now, and only their PR and media relations are allowed to take photos. Have you ran into that anywhere?

Jana

[Bonish Photo]

Good to know Jana, Cindy and I were the Official Event Photographers for this event, so we were allowed to go anywhere with our cameras.

I'm in the process of trying to get some media passes to the Rodeo's in Cody and the one coming up in Jackson Hole, so I'll let you know how that goes. I know that this rodeo we shot wasnt a PBR Sanctioned event, they just brought in a bunch of riders and bulls from the PBR Ranks.