Last summer, I had an opportunity to photograph a handful of people while they practiced roping in the dusty sunset. Growing up in the dressage world where everything is carefully calculated and movements are decided before even entering the ring, I was a bit caught off guard when I began to photograph this group roping. There was so many different factors that went into play when capturing the movement of the rider, the horse, the rope, and the zigzagging calf! Then to make it more challenging, the dust was thick and where I wanted to stand to capture prime lighting, was directly in the path of where they were running!

It was a welcome challenge that left me reviewing the night and brainstorming how I could better my images the next time I photographed roping. Unfortunately, my schedule last summer became insanely busy with an incredible amount of booked sessions so I was not able to return to photograph this group again.

With new calves arriving in April and a bit of an opening before my busy season takes off in May, I am looking forward to spending a few nights ring side photographing more roping! Learning additional photography skills and photographing new (to me!) equine sports, provides me opportunities to grow as an artist. These are the nights that I look forward to, the nights where my creativity and imagination as an artist run wild!