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ENLARGE
Dale Smith zooms in on an event in the small arena at the SSIR.
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ENLARGE
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David Ranson/LVN Photos Rodeo photographer Larry Smith waits for the action in the large arena at the SSIR.
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Rodeos.
A good working horse: $20,000.
A nice pick-up truck to pull the horse trailer: $35,000.
Photos of a spectacular performance: Priceless.
Veteran rodeo photographer Larry Smith feels strongly about the memories photography brings to thousands of cowboys and cowgirls he and his staff meet during the year.
Smith has been in the photography business for three decades, and for the past 15 years, he has traveled to various rodeos trying to capture on images of a good performance. He has been shooting photos of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association for the past six years, and with his work at junior and high school rodeos, Smith has made many friends and happy customers.
A good working horse: $20,000.
A nice pick-up truck to pull the horse trailer: $35,000.
Photos of a spectacular performance: Priceless.
Veteran rodeo photographer Larry Smith feels strongly about the memories photography brings to thousands of cowboys and cowgirls he and his staff meet during the year.
Smith has been in the photography business for three decades, and for the past 15 years, he has traveled to various rodeos trying to capture on images of a good performance. He has been shooting photos of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association for the past six years, and with his work at junior and high school rodeos, Smith has made many friends and happy customers.
"It's one of the most gratifying things I have done. The youth are very appreciative of what we do," said Smith at the Silver State International Rodeo which just concluded its 20th run on Sunday.
Smith also said parents and especially grandmothers enjoy buying the photographs of their young performers.
"What we're doing is supplying memories down the road," Smith explained.
Once a rodeo section or go-around concludes, Smith tries to have as many photos downloaded as possible. Images are then inserted into a viewing binder or some of the better shots are posted on portable dividers outside his trailer.
"High school rodeo people are much more respectful of other's property," said Smith, so he leaves the various photos posted during the performances and overnight.
Dave Ramelli, Smith's third photographer and computer photo technician, said photos are priceless because people can't replace them.
"These are priceless moments they will keep for the rest of their lives," Ramelli stressed.
Smith also said parents and especially grandmothers enjoy buying the photographs of their young performers.
"What we're doing is supplying memories down the road," Smith explained.
Once a rodeo section or go-around concludes, Smith tries to have as many photos downloaded as possible. Images are then inserted into a viewing binder or some of the better shots are posted on portable dividers outside his trailer.
"High school rodeo people are much more respectful of other's property," said Smith, so he leaves the various photos posted during the performances and overnight.
Dave Ramelli, Smith's third photographer and computer photo technician, said photos are priceless because people can't replace them.
"These are priceless moments they will keep for the rest of their lives," Ramelli stressed.
While most participants or parents will buy photographs for the memories, Ramelli said some performers will either view or buy the photographs as a learning tool.
"They'll see the photos to see what they did wrong," Ramelli said.
Montana cowboys Ross Leach from Livingston and Brett Harris from Ronan said their parents will usually buy some photos.
"It's immediate to see what they have," said Leach.
Queen attendant Holly Matz, who lives in Missoula, thumbed through several pages of photos in a binder. She said her parents buy photos from "every other rodeo."
"My parents will shoot video and buy photos," she said.
"They'll see the photos to see what they did wrong," Ramelli said.
Montana cowboys Ross Leach from Livingston and Brett Harris from Ronan said their parents will usually buy some photos.
"It's immediate to see what they have," said Leach.
Queen attendant Holly Matz, who lives in Missoula, thumbed through several pages of photos in a binder. She said her parents buy photos from "every other rodeo."
"My parents will shoot video and buy photos," she said.
Traveling to the various rode events has taken Smith, his wife Dale and their staff on the road almost nine months a year from their Red Bluff, Calif., base. Smith said he keeps the radius of their travels from 800 to 1,000 miles.
They attend junior through senior rodeos, horse shows and other events too numerous to mention. With his support crew, Smith said he doesn't want to keep them away from Red Bluff for weeks at a time.
When the rodeo season winds down or Larry Smith has some extra time, he also photographs auto or drag racing.
"You need to change what you shoot once in a while," he said.
The SSIR, though, kept Larry, his wife and a third photographer, Dave, busy. As they packed up their equipment, Smith figured they snapped almost 10,000 photos to include every single section and the Top 15 finals.
For the past week Smith centered his attention on the big arena while Dale took care of the small arena photography. Smith prefers the excitement of the big arena with the bullriding and steer wrestling, yet he is cautious about his movement. He feels he plays it safe, but his wife doesn't think so.
"The best shot I am told is the one before you get hit," he laughed. "I never want to experience that one."
They attend junior through senior rodeos, horse shows and other events too numerous to mention. With his support crew, Smith said he doesn't want to keep them away from Red Bluff for weeks at a time.
When the rodeo season winds down or Larry Smith has some extra time, he also photographs auto or drag racing.
"You need to change what you shoot once in a while," he said.
The SSIR, though, kept Larry, his wife and a third photographer, Dave, busy. As they packed up their equipment, Smith figured they snapped almost 10,000 photos to include every single section and the Top 15 finals.
For the past week Smith centered his attention on the big arena while Dale took care of the small arena photography. Smith prefers the excitement of the big arena with the bullriding and steer wrestling, yet he is cautious about his movement. He feels he plays it safe, but his wife doesn't think so.
"The best shot I am told is the one before you get hit," he laughed. "I never want to experience that one."
Knowing where to stand and understanding the movement of the animals develops like a sixth sense, and Smith gives pointers to newspaper photographers and freelancers who want to refine their photographic skills.
His advice is simple but sound: "Stay out of the way but be in a position to take a shot."
Smith's arsenal is quite impressive. Each photographer uses a $6,000 Nikon digital camera, and back in his trailer behind the grandstands, he has three computers that are used for downloading and printing images.
Chaos usually occurs at the end of a rodeo. That's when the photo trailer experiences on onslaught of buyers.
"It gets pretty busy at the end," said Larry's daughter Michelle Smith.
For the first part of the rodeo, Michelle Smith said they will print and sell photos but near the end of the rodeo, they will send the portraits to their customers.
Because of the backload of photographing the Reno Rodeo, the SSIR and several other events, Larry Smith said the next three weeks will be devoted to clearing up the backlog.
His advice is simple but sound: "Stay out of the way but be in a position to take a shot."
Smith's arsenal is quite impressive. Each photographer uses a $6,000 Nikon digital camera, and back in his trailer behind the grandstands, he has three computers that are used for downloading and printing images.
Chaos usually occurs at the end of a rodeo. That's when the photo trailer experiences on onslaught of buyers.
"It gets pretty busy at the end," said Larry's daughter Michelle Smith.
For the first part of the rodeo, Michelle Smith said they will print and sell photos but near the end of the rodeo, they will send the portraits to their customers.
Because of the backload of photographing the Reno Rodeo, the SSIR and several other events, Larry Smith said the next three weeks will be devoted to clearing up the backlog.
