Features

Wax on, wax off

August 21, 2011

As my boss pointed out to someone this week: I really like car shows. I can’t deny it. On Saturday I stopped by a local MOPAR car show to look for a feature. Knowing that all the muscle cars from the 1960s and 1970s were brightly painted in oranges, yellows and purples, I figured I’d find some good eye candy at the event. I ended up photographing a gentleman who had owned the same 1970 AMC AMX since he ordered it new back in 1969. I snapped a few shots of him cleaning the car up then spent about 45 minutes talking to him about his car. Might not be the world’s best photo, but the interaction with the subject yielded an interesting backstory about his car – including a part about the Hells Angels – that made my morning.

Terry Hoyt wipes down the side of his 1970 AMX, a two-seater muscle car built by the American Motors Corporation between 1968 and 1970, during the Cowboy Classic MOPAR Show on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011, in Cheyenne. Hoyt ordered the car in November 1969 and picked it up on Feb. 25, 1970. It is one of only 122 cars AMC built in 1970 with an orange and flat black paint scheme. Hoyt said that he dated his wife, Susan, in the car after he bought it.

Final day at Laramie County Fair

August 13, 2011

Kelton Krakow, 6, left and Cooper Lakin, 6, sit on a fence in the sheep barn during the Laramie County Fair on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011, at Frontier Park. — Kelton Krakow, 6, left and Cooper Lakin, 6, sit on a fence in the sheep barn during the Laramie

Laramie County Fair mutton bustin

August 10, 2011

Logan Stockton, 6, falls to the ground after letting go of a sheep during the Laramie County Fair's mutton bustin on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011, at Frontier Park. Stockton scored a 78.

Jackie Cushing, left, covers up to stay dry in a sudden rain shower as she wais for the start of the mutton bustin with her grandchildren Ethan, 10, Lauren, 8, and Maren French, 11, during the Laramie County Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011, at Frontier Park.

2011 Cheyenne Frontier Days (Part 2)

August 4, 2011

Cheyenne Frontier Days was quite a learning experience for me. It’s the first time I’ve had the opportunity to cover such a large sporting event. In college I covered the Little 500 bicycle race. It was an event that I at the time thought was huge. Not so much. Not to take anything away from Little 500, but it is not as massive as CFD. Ten days can really chew you up and spit you out. It’s quite a grind. I learned most importantly it is a marathon not a sprint. I also learned to bring Claritin to the arena. I’m apparently allergic to rodeo. This made the second week difficult as I battled allergies. After covering this year’s CFD, I’m already looking forward to next year’s event. I now know what to expect and imagine my coverage next year will improve because of my experiences this year.

Shawn Downing from Silver Star, Mont. wrestles a steer during the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo on Tuesday, July 26, 2011, at Frontier Park.

Kelly Timberman from Mills, Wyo. tapes up his arm before a bareback ride during the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo on Friday, July 29, 2011, at Frontier Park.

2011 Cheyenne Frontier Days (Part 1)

August 3, 2011

Cheyenne Frontier Days was my first experience shooting a rodeo. But to say that CFD is just a rodeo is understating the “Daddy of ’em All.” It’s billed as a celebration of western culture, and it lives up to that description. For ten days, Cheyenne is drastically transformed from a sleepy western city into a booming tourist destination where cowboy hats are the norm. CFD is a very visually diverse event for a photographer. Aside from the rodeo there are events and opportunities for great pictures every day. Downtown pancake breakfasts, parades, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and nightly concerts are just some of the events I had the opportunity to cover this year away from the daily rodeo action. Here is part one of a two-part series featuring 42 of my favorites from Cheyenne Frontier Days. I will post part two on Thursday along with more of my reflections on the assignment.