Memories Can Make It Worthwhile

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#photography, bareback, cold, colorado, country, cowboy, cowboys, culture, elizabeth Stampede, freelance, freelancing, frigid, horse, horses, lifestyle, lincoln rogers, memories, phtographing, professional, rain, rodeo, rugged, rural, sport, tough, weather, west, western

It’s not exactly Singing in the Rain, but photographing in less-than-ideal weather is something you just do when you earn money with your camera. Wind whipping up? Rain starting to pour? It might be time to reach into the camera bag and pull out the emergency countermeasures (known by most people as lightweight windbreakers and plastic bags) and keep shooting.

While I have a lot of great photography related memories… a lot… I will always recall the freezing Sunday afternoon rain of the 2014 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo. Despite it being early June, the downpour was frigid. My fingers were so cold they were basically stuck in the curved position of gripping my camera. On the positive side, at least I couldn’t drop my equipment in the mud.

Colorado cowboy Tyler Scales gritted out a rain-soaked ride for a solid 83-point score, which was the best bareback ride of the day.

I am a freelancer, so I get to choose what I cover and what I photograph. Ice cold rain is not something I typically enjoy (and I pity those that do), but I do love covering good rodeos and photo opportunities in the rain can be unique. So I stayed a while longer and I am glad I did.

While the crowd had already been sent home due to weather conditions, the rodeo action restarted hours later to finish up in front of empty stands.

Why am I glad I stayed? While I was able to use some of the shots for my published article, the real reason I am glad I stayed is the memories that were made. I will always have the memories that go with those photos. Was it miserable weather for photographing? Yep. Did I want to leave sooner than I did? Yes again. But now, when I go back and look at the photos, I get to smile as I recall being there.

Sometimes I can’t believe I get paid to write and photograph. What is that old saying? Do what you love and love what you do.

“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” ~ John 8:32

You can also find Lincoln Rogers on
www.lincolnrogers.com and the conservative,
Pro-America social media platform USA.Life
I like it there!

The Thermometer Says What?

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cold, cold front, fox, freezing, funny, horses, humorous, lincoln rogers, snow, temperatures, wildlife, winter, winter weather

Uh, no… I don’t enjoy the snow and cold this much.

Soooo…  I’m tapping the thermometer inside the house that measures the outside temperature because it CAN’T be minus eleven degrees outside right now.  Right?  This is the third evening in a row with temps at minus ten or more, and I’m procrastinating about heading out to the barn to make sure the horses’ water buckets (heated, of course) are in good shape and their blankets are fitting correctly.

Now before I get any responses from the good folks who endure crazy freezing temperatures in Montana, North Dakota, Alaska and/or Canada (you can’t be human – you came from an alien race that left a dying, frozen planet), this doesn’t happen in the Denver, Colorado area.  Sure, we get cold snaps, but it typically bounces right back after a couple of days to blue skies and reasonably comfortable temps.  Instead, it appears we’re stuck with this arctic cold front for a few more days.

At least the fox will enjoy it…

A Life Untamed (Cowboy Poetry)

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#photography, American Frontier, beef, cattle, cold, cowboy, cowboy hat, cowboy hats, cowboy poem, cowboy poetry, cowboys, dedicated, fine art photography, herd, horse, horses, Latigo, lincoln rogers, market, massive, mother nature, nature, old west, poem, poetry, ranch, ranching, ride, saddles, spurs, tough, toughness, Visual Arts, weather, west, western

Sitting here watching the thermometer hover at zero degrees today brought to mind the toughness and spirit of the cowboys who used to drive the massive cattle herds to market rain, sleet or snow in the old west.  Then I caught myself, because contemporary cowboys are still working the massive cattle herds no matter what mother nature throws their way.

This cowboy poem of mine is dedicated to cowboys past and present and was published in 2005 by the good folks at CowboyPoetry.com.

A Life Untamed (by Lincoln Rogers, 2005)

Dedicated to the working cowboy – past and present

The western trails bore Longhorn,
Over oceans of grass Plain,
And Cowboys rode like captains,
Through the waves of sun and rain.

4-inch brims and rowelled spurs,
Along with chaps and Latigo,
Matching leather on face and saddle,
Of a seasoned, working pro.

Some say the era of the Cowboy,
Is but a faded dream at best,
But that independent spirit,
Remains the heartbeat of the West.

Miles removed from concrete jungles,
On open vistas kissed by sun,
Modern Cowboys ride the range,
Just like those days the West was won.

So word and song is raised in honor,
To everyone who bears the flame;
Who stokes the fire of admiration,
For a life no one will tame.

© 2005, Lincoln Rogers
This poem may not be reprinted or reposted without the author’s written permission.

Have a great day and don’t let your horse come home without ya!

Lincoln

Check out Lincoln’s online gallery of Fine Art Photography.