Noah Gainey
@noahgainey2 Aug
Rodeo / Western Photography
I’ve been photographing rodeos and the western communities around them for 2 years and have taken what I’ve learned from my Chicago street days into this world. I’m apart of the community now to the point I’m hauling bulls to events for a stock contractor. Anyone else shooting this kind of work or have photographers/projects that inspire you? I know there’s a few big name street photographer that have ventured into this area but I’m curious if anyone here knows this area or documents it.
edited
Adding some of my recent favorites from this year
Hey, Noah. The Colorado Photographic Arts Center recently had a show featuring cowboys. The website isn't great but it does name the artists:
https://cpacphoto.org/western-cowboy-reloaded/
The show included my friend Ian Warren, who did a project on rodeos:
https://www.ianwarrenphotography.com/the-west-is
Another artist featured in the show is Constance Jaeggi:
https://constancejaeggi.com
Especially her Poetics of Home project:
https://www.escaramuzathepoeticsofhome.com
Clifton Mooney is working rodeos:
https://www.instagram.com/gauchecowboy/
Josh Hopkins, the mayor of Chugwater, Wyoming, which hosts my favorite rodeo of all, is an analog photography advocate:
https://www.instagram.com/chugwaterite/
Some of my photos from Chugwater's most recent rodeo:
If you come through Colorado, let me know!
Josh Hopkins, I met a photographer at a rodeo a few weeks back that knows him decently well. I would love to make it back out west soon
Harry Williams, hwilliamsjrphoto on Instagram, has been photographing black rodeos and is very good. He's using b&w.
These are great man. Are you getting them into a zine or anything? Would be very cool to see.
I have a print of this photo signed by William Albert Allard at home. He shot some incredible rodeo stuff.
Thank you!
I am working on getting a zine together. The plan is for photos alongside scans of my notebook with my thoughts I take when I’m at an event.
Hi Shane.
'The Horse in Motion' by Muybridge comes to mind looking at this image as all the horses feet appear to be off the ground at the same time in this wonderful picture. (I think I can hear an Elmer Bernstein soundtrack somewhere in the distance)
Plus, if you don't mind, how old were you when you discovered there was a film with your name in the title and do you have the poster for the film?
Cheers.
I’m named after the film :) I read the book recently and it’s a great read. It’s written specifically through the pov of the child.
...and now I'm going to go down the rabbit hole of how many different covers the book had :-)
Thank you for your answers ☕
I have nothing to add I'm afraid but I was fascinated to see Paulie B's Road trip on YouTube: 4 urbane NYC city dwellers enthralled by the rodeo scene on their travels across the US.
Btw, is Jim Krantz one of tue photographers you refer to?
Really love this series Noah, so well done. Really get a sense of the community
Thank you for the kind words! It’s been a fun journey getting to know everyone and showing everything behind the action.
You should check out fellow Frameliner @perry.holser work. He's got some fantastic rodeo work.
Thanks @chris !
I have shot a few rodeos in California before, and have been interested in shooting some again but I was surprised to learn about the pRCA that charges photographers who pass their muster a fee to be accredited and shoot the event. When I shot them I was working for a magazine and didn’t deal with anything other than my editors. Having grown up on a ranch around horse people and rodeos, I was a little disgusted by such strict rules for photography. Have you ever encountered this?
Some nice work here Noah. I shot for a day at the San Antonio Rodeo earlier this year and loved it, already hoping to go back next year
Beautiful photos man, I’d recommend hitting up Joshua. He does a lot of rodeo stuff as well. My mates been hitting him up for advice and shooting etc https://www.instagram.com/chugwaterite?igsh=MW9rZTgxMWI5dng0Yg==
Hi Noah. I've just recently jumped into this world. I've been photographing this one particular rodeo in Ohio pretty regularly and find it really interesting. Pretty sure I'm getting a lot of the cliche shots out of my system right up front, but I am enjoying the process.