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Rodeo Clown and Daughter


Rodeo Clown and Daughter
Photo Information
Copyright: Stan Obert (scobert) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1637 W: 16 N: 1866] (5321)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2000-01
Categories: Event
Camera: Nikon F-100, Fuji Provia 400F
Exposure: f/4.5, 1/125 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Kids from the World Part III [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-01-18 6:59
Viewed: 1321
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Rodeo clowns are dressed as clowns and they can be funny and sometimes pretend to be whimsical but their jobs are very important ones that they take very seriously. They can be the matter of life and death for the rodeo cowboys. Their secondary job is to amuse the audience with their antics and by exchanging jokes and wise cracks with the rodeo announcers (see his wireless microphone), but their primary role it is to physically distract the nasty tempered rodeo bulls and horses from causing serious injury or death after the cowboys are thrown off or jump off the twisting and turning animals. This job can be as dangerous as that of the rodeo cowboy and rodeo clowns are gifted athletes in their own right. They have to be physically strong and have lightning fast reflexes and be graceful. When I observe these amazing athletes and showmen, I believe that many of these courageous characters must have had some background in gymnastics because their power, agility and grace is amazing to watch. All of these tough characters have farming and ranching backgrounds and this hard and demanding work toughens them up. It is no Western sterotype; the rugged cowboys and rodeo clowns are the real deal.

This nice gentleman, a Western Montana native, is a long standing rodeo clown and a regular performer for the National Western Stockshow. He took an intermission break and retrieved his sleepy daughter who just awakened from her nap. When he approached me I identified myself and asked if he would like to pose for a couple of moments and he graciously responded. I sent him some photos later and he was kind enough to sign a model release form for him and his daughter. This adorable little girl is about ten years old now.

The National Western Stockshow and Rodeo is an indoor event which is held in January of each year and this accounts for the dark background. I was only interested in properly exposing the subjects and the dark background was just fine with me because I like dark, uncluttered backgrounds when they occur.
isabela_sor, avene, ben4321, jwmunro, AROBN54, gunbud, Delfin, plimrn, zmey, Bruno40, japiey has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

This is a fantastic image and the note is very informative too
Very very touching story it is...
TFS

Hello Stan, (my neighbour for today)

I have only one word for this: adorable! Great job! The note is very interesting, too - I had heard about rodeo clowns but didn't know too much about them. Thanks for sharing!

Best wishes
Claudia

  • Great 
  • avene Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1298 W: 75 N: 1626] (6058)
  • [2008-01-18 7:21]

see, I learned something new today - about the rodeo clowns and that their appearance is very, very deceiving.
excellent shot, Stan. the dark bacground is perfect for emphasising the colourful clothes. but what I like most is the look on the girl's face, I'm not sure she was ready for her close-ups :))
thanks for sharing.
best,
K.

  •      
  • ben4321 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1918 W: 133 N: 2023] (9199)
  • [2008-01-18 7:45]

There's no denying that this is a well-taken portrait of this father and daughter Stan, although I must admit it's a little 'cute' for my taste. Nothing wrong with that though!
Personally I'd have preferred less flash power and more exposure for the background, but on the other hand the dark neutral background does work well.
Like I said, it's a cute picture, and it needs your interesting note to bring it to life. Without that note it would have been of more interest to the father and his daughter than the wider world in general. At least, that's my opinion.

Cheers,
Ben

Hi, Stan,
Elle est tres bonne cette photo avec une belle ambiance.
Le bebe est si etonne et curieux a la fois.
Superb!
Merci
Bon WE er vendredi soir.
Valerka:)

Hello Stan -

Spot on as always. I do like how the little girl has made eye contact with you and how her father is focused on her and not hogging the scene. Well done.

Thank you for sharing.

John

Hello Stan,
This photo of Rodeo Clown and Daughter had been a very beautiful composition. You caught semi sleepy and semi interrogating pose perfect. Dark background has shown the colors great.
Regards,
Seref

Hey, Stan,
what a great expression on that kid. I love babies and she's a cutie. Marvelous color and for using a flash you got great contrast. I like that dark background and the way an obviously doting father is smiling at his little girl. Great catch and outstanding note! Have a fine weekend, Stan, and thanks,
Shelly

Hello Stan!
Great story! Very nice image! Beautiful composition, colors and details! Nice frame!
TFS, best regards, Zorica

Stan, yesterday, at work, I saw your upload and I was thinking what this clown's job was (for obvious reasons I had not much time left for reading side notes) ... so see, it is not true that we just jump from one picture to the other but the amount of pictures being uploaded is amazing and I quite often get lost :) I was just reading your note to everybody in the room so we all had our today's lesson. I like the pictures best when a good note goes along! So this is one is GOOD, and cute above. Take care, have a good day, it is getting dark here. Barbara.

  • Great 
  • plimrn Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3748 W: 232 N: 5030] (15911)
  • [2008-01-19 18:57]

Hi Stan,
Great contrast between the child's simple beauty and the garish clown make-up. I read recently that clowns are universally hated by children; but clearly this little girl has become accustomed to her Daddy's other face. Great note as well; rodeo clowns are really a special breed of clown.
HLJ, Pat

  • Great 
  • zmey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1284 W: 101 N: 1302] (5046)
  • [2008-01-19 20:58]

hello again, Stan

the picture is nice, but you are right in your note to today's foto, without the great note this would seem to many as just another cute clown portrait. (on a technical note, i like your style of separating the background by strongly underexposing it) it absolutely needs the note to be comprehended and put in the context of your rodeo storyline.

maybe a couple bolded out keywords would help get people actually read it. some might refrain from reading just by the sheer seemingly monothone length of the material to read. pieces of text standing out might attract attention.

the story itself is great, stan. very informative for someone like me, whose only acquaintance with rodeo is through "third-party" TV programs with plenty of commercials in them.

TFS
kristaps

Stan,
More than the photo, the note here is very valuable. Learning about the world thru photography.
well done
Jorge

  • Great 
  • japiey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1822 W: 331 N: 2577] (9337)
  • [2008-01-20 19:08]

Dear Stan,

A fine shot that makes happy moods..
The kid is beautifull, and the father very funny.
Excellent presentation, good tones.
All the best.

jean paul

  • Great 
  • gunbud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 4443 W: 4 N: 3949] (17979)
  • [2008-01-21 18:43]

Hi Stan,
Very clear crisp colors to this lovely portrait of the proud father/clown and his sleepy eyed daughter. Wonderful proud grin old dad's face and a sleepy innocence on the charming little daughter.
Regards, Tom

Near his child he is not anymore a clown ...only a father,looking her so serious and happy
Nice double portrait,2 different expressions
Hugs

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