3/16/2024 Poplarville, MS | Pearl River Wranglers
Ah, let’s get back to some normal content. Let’s talk about how my rodeo last weekend went! I’ve missed getting to write up these little recaps and just chit chat about camera settings and what nots.
The one thing I was most excited for during this show was…. drumroll… I was MENTORING someone! Montana Lyons, an aspiring photographer, reached out to me about learning to shoot rodeo photography. What better way to learn than to shoot at a youth rodeo for 11 hours? After a few hundred runs you will feel like a pro, lol!
In all seriousness, it’s always fun to get to talk photography with someone. I remember 4 years ago being so scared and intimidated by other photographers, I could’ve saved myself so much money and time if I had been willing to ask others for some help. Now, I am a constant nuisance to my photog friends and constantly ask them questions about anything I can imagine (sorry, love y’all tho).
Here’s a few photos that Montana got while shooting with me! Not bad for her first stab at action stuff, right? I don’t even think my first barrel racing pictures where in focus, lol!
NOW, let’s talk about the actual rodeo. I was overall really happy with how it went. The show was at Poplarville, my hometown arena, and one that I’ve shot in probably the most out of any in Mississippi. One thing I did really enjoy was the additional of STICK HORSE BARREL RACING. Seriously, possibly the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.
As far as settings, they remained pretty much the same for most of the day. Shutter and ISO of course vary slightly.
Shutter: 1/640 - 1/1000
Aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 1250 - 2000ish
One thing that I noticed while explaining settings to Montana, I have been shooting using manual mode a lot of this stuff has become second nature to me. I can look at a lighting setting and eyeball guess what my settings are going to be. This stuff takes so much time to learn, and it can be really overwhelming when you’re first starting. And, as much as it sucks to tell someone, it’s really something that can only be learned from exposure. I used to show up to shows over an hour early just to try to get my settings right.
I suppose there’s not much else to say about this show. It went really smooth, nothing went up in flames or anything. It was a long, slightly boring, day. But hey, that’s just how it goes. I was at this show from 10am-7pm and still left before the end of it due to a 2 hour drive home. It does make me really happy to see associations that I love thriving. Pearl River Wranglers was the first association that I EVER shot for, and the fact that I still get to make me so happy. The board members are so friendly and I just know I’m welcomed there anytime.
Thanks for stopping by the blog to read up on some of what I’ve got going on. On the roster for the upcoming weekend is a South Eastern Youth Rodeo in Milton, FL, which I’m super pumped about!
