The San Dimas Rodeo takes place every year 30-odd miles east of downtown Los Angeles, California.
It’s not exactly where you’d think there would be a rodeo. Not that I understand why the National Finals Rodeo takes place in Las Vegas, but anyway…
San Dimas is perhaps most known for its’ role in the movie “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure“. I would perhaps argue that it was a town on the Santa Fe Railroad mainline that is most relevant – it’s also the home of the Pacific Railroad Museum. And, there are those who would postulate that it’s the Rodeo that makes San Dimas famous.
Regardless of your perspective, the Rodeo is a step back in time, perhaps to a simpler day, or is it a romanticized event that rekindles the Old West? It’s a lot of things to a lot of people. Regardless of the meanings and metaphors one can find in the event, it’s still men and women versus the animals and in conjunction with their animals. Debates can take place of the virtues of talent and bravery – and which is really the most important factor, sanity versus insanity, and on and on.
For the spectators, it’s an event that evokes laughter, cheering, ooohs and ahhhs, gasps, and apprehension – and all of those can take place in the same minute.
For the photographers, the images evoke skill, concentration, trials and tribulation, pain and joy, strength and brawn, persistence and determination, and more.
I’m fairly certain that perusing this gallery will be provocative. Think about what you see here in the faces and the expressions and the images.
To learn more about the San Dimas Rodeo, just click here.
The San Dimas Rodeo is a PRCA sanctioned event. Due to that, plus the fact that people’s faces are seen, and there are things like licensing and model releases and “stuff” to be dealt with, this is a view-only gallery. None of these images will make it to anyone’s wall by my own, but they’re here for your viewing pleasure.