NOT MY FIRST RODEO

I was having little success looking for cowboy cues and culture in a fairground parking lot in South Jersey.  I was at the county fair again, hunting for photographs.  Last year I had politely asked if I could photograph the rodeo events from ground-level, right along the arena fence.  I was told "no".  So instead I thought I'd look for photos of the "other side" of the rodeo - in the prep area.  I wasn't finding any.

The 90° afternoon was adding to my frustration.  I had almost given up when the riders started gathering their horses in the warm-up ring.  Their dusty silhouettes in the lowering sunlight re-piqued my interest.  I started wondering if I could finagle my way into the actual rodeo corrals and chutes acting as an assignment photographer.  I heaved my photo bag over my shoulder, quietly laughing and reminding myself - this was not my first rodeo...

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