"In the Slack" - portraits from Cowtown, NJ

I spent several months photographing the longest running weekly rodeo in the United States. I was initially drawn to the action. It takes place in bursts. A run through the barrel racing course takes no more than 20 seconds. 8 Seconds on a bull is a long time. Their sport is physically demanding, dangerous, and many aspects are out of their control. I realized that the athletes spent most of their time in quiet contemplation, getting ready for their brief time under the lights. This is where I found the most beauty and these moments are where I decided to focus my attention.