So after a decade of shooting in this field you have to be wondering what is in my camera bag when I travel to rodeos because let’s face it gear is important. While gear is not the end all be all for me it is a part of my tools to create in this field so I do I have preferred tech babies to travel with me.
When I started out in rodeo I had no clue what would even help photographing the events. I was primarily portrait photographer at the time so my gear was for great light with relative sparse movement. The utter and exact opposite of rodeo! In fact my first rodeo images were horrible because I really wasn’t much of a sports photographer let alone had gear that functioned well for a highly motion oriented subject.
I only went to photograph this first rodeo because my friend, a specialty act performer, asked me too. Looking back I am glad I didn’t give up because of the utter trash those first images were. I have come such a long way since those first painful starting out days my gear has changed significantly since then as well. Back then I really only had the internet for guidance there wasn’t rodeo photographers in abundance in my area.
Anyways long story short my camera bag has kind of changed from then to now.
Back when I started my bag consisted of my Olympus Evolt 520 (10 megapixels which was a lot for the amateur way back when!) Stock lens 14-55mm f/3-5.6, plastic and 70-300 f/3-6, also plastic with an external flash off-brand (honestly can’t remember much about it, it was sort lived taken out by a trick rider and a horse in one of my first rodeos that I was in arena for).
By the middle stage of my career I had upgraded my camera to a Canon Rebel T3i, canon L glass lenses, and a 50 mm prime lens. My lens range was still very much like my original kit- 14-55mm f/3-5.6, plastic and 70-300 f/3-6. However my knowledge of shooting had improved I was shooting consistent manual and knew my ISO. Yes my images were grainy, a lot darker and not a beautiful as my work now but I was improving!
My kit today is different and yet not has different as it could be. I do not tote incredibly expensive lens to rodeos simply because they are still something I consider a luxury. No I have never even rented those massive and beautiful lens for canon that olympic photographers use. Would I love to try them, absolutely, 100% sign me up and let me play! But in realistic terms I buy everything from self funds used to create my business and what my business brings in, I have to be frugal and smart essentially.
So today I shoot with the Canon 80D, Tamron Lenses 24-70 mm f/2.8, 70-200 mm f/2.8 macro (hoping to upgrade to the G2 one day!) Canon 50 mm prime lens f/1.4, as well as having 55 mm and 70-300mm in bag on the off chance I feel the need to use them. I haven’t photographed with those two in about five years but you never know when you will want to challenge yourself.
I am not a gear centric photographer, I know several gear centric photographers who constantly buy bodies and lens, yeah they have some great work but the hefty price tag doesn’t yield a business break even point to profit margin so I definitely believe in skills over gear to get the job done. Knowing how your gear works, what you can do, and developing your eye will be more valuable than going gear crazy.
Not only that but by learning your gear and not going crazy buying new bodies and lens all the time you will develop a style and have more consistent shooting because you aren’t learning something new. When you take on clients and make a business this is especially important because generally you are looking for sales and profits vs creation just for fun.
Learn gear, learn its value but don’t go crazy; the gear is merely a tool and some of the best photographers I have meant have a limited budget and limited gear. Make what you have work.
“Chapter Five of Becoming a Better Photographer” How Rodeo Photography Helps published in January 2019. ”