Rodeo
I’ve never been much of a rodeo fan, having imagined it to be a sport where men on bulls demonstrate the ultimate challenge of strength, skill and insanity. Nowhere is this confrontation more apparent than in Jaripeo, or Mexican bull riding. Dating back to the 16th century, until recently riders rode the bull to its death. Jaripeo has evolved over the years but is still an impressive test of courage. Hanging on with only their legs, riders step off just before the bull collapses of exhaustion. Today, one is likely to find both women and men competing, especially in the slightly toned-down American version where competitors ride horses and bulls. Moderated or not, American rodeo continues to involve blood, sweat, danger, and a great deal of expertise. I’ve since developed a great respect for this sport which, depending on how close I get while photographing the action, often results in dust in my face, mud on my lenses and grit in my teeth. For me, that’s close enough.
-Clark James Mishler
