The rodeo reminds me of church. In my hometown of Prescott, Arizona, the "World's Oldest Rodeo" holds a sacred bond in the community. Since 1888, the rodeo has been a tradition repeated every 4th of July during the Prescott Frontier Days, like the dedication to a Sunday service. Rock and country songs act as hymns harmonizing with the chatter of popping beer cans. An American flag is trotted around the arena's perimeter, the national anthem is sung, and a prayer of protection is said to the Lord above. These are the rituals of American ranching days gone by. The competitors, baptized in sweat, are soaked and stained. Dust peppers the air. Stories of determination, triumph, vulnerability, and pain are revealed in fleeting seconds.

I want to record this gospel. I follow the action with a camera in my hand, each new competitor like a hero from the Bible. The rapid click of my shutter records their motion, and a decisive moment makes the shot. When I photograph the rodeo, I triumph and fail like its competitors.

The rodeo is not predictable, but it's the part that I enjoy most when photographing this event. It's challenging technically. Fast shutter speeds, moving targets, milliseconds to react, and low lighting conditions challenge my skills to keep up. Regardless of whether I capture a great shot or not is circumvented by the pure exhibition of raw, human emotion that unfolds before me, exalting the pride of true American tradition.

Rodeo as a sport, celebrated as it can be to followers, is also a subject of animal cruelty. The animals are used for sport, wrestled, branded, and caged. The belief that these animals are treated with cruelty is a reason to keep many out of support of rodeo. Others insist the animals are treated with care and unharmed. Despite this controversy, the followers of this church return to praise the competitors year after year.

The images shared in this gallery record key events from the 2018/2019 Prescott Arizona Frontier Days.

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