3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

midwest

Kids Have Fun Mutton Busting

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At many county fairs and rodeos in the Midwest and across the United State little kids line up to ride a sheep. To protect the sheep there are weight limits, normally under 60 lbs. It’s not uncommon to see boys and girls in cowboy boots and hats as young as four years old clinging on as life depended on it.

Normally the kids don’t make it more than two seconds when they topple off. But this little girl rode like a champ and was the best I’ve ever seen.

Mutton Busting at the Wahoo Nebraska Rodeo
Mutton Busting at the Wahoo Nebraska Rodeo
Mutton Busting
The secret is to cling like a tick, get low and hug the neck
Mutton Bustin or Sheep riding at the rodeo
This little girl was so good she had to be plucked off after 8 seconds
The walk of a Mutton Bustin Champion
The walk of a Mutton Bustin Champion

As the announcer said “If you want something done, just get a woman” Most all the kids had fun, most dusting themselves off and giving a big smile. A few got trampled, beyond what they expected, and a hug from Mom or Dad made everything right again. Most likely they will be back in line next year.

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Wahoo Nebraska Rodeo

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On any given summer Friday or Saturday night in the Western United States a rodeo can be found within driving distance. In eastern Nebraska the Wahoo rodeo has been a long tradition for 58 years.

In his younger days my husband traveled the rodeo circuit as a steer wrestler, otherwise known as a “bull dogger”. Every rodeo event has a practical working purpose on the ranch. It didn’t start as a sport, but as a way for a ranch to gain bragging rights and cowboys to one up each other. The history of rodeo dates back to the 1600 Spanish ranchers and their Mexican cowboys.

Patriotism is Strong at the Opening of a Rodeo
Patriotism is Strong at the Opening to the Wahoo Nebraska Rodeo. Note the young boy with his hat over his heart.

The rodeo opened with the announcer giving tribute to family, thanking all military personal, and saying a prayer for God to protect the cowboys and keep them safe during the night. I wish I had brought my video camera as the speech is extremely moving and brings a tear to your eye.

Calf Roping at the Wahoo Nebraska Rodeo
Calf Roping at the Wahoo Nebraska Rodeo
Cowboys waiting for their turn
Cowboys waiting for their turn
Saddle bronc riding
Saddle bronc riding (click for larger image)

All photos were shot with a Canon Rebel XS with a 75-300 lens. Since the rodeo doesn’t start until 8pm and everything is fast I had the ISO cranked up to 800 right away and it wasn’t long before it went to 1600. Aperture was high at 5.6 and shutter speed no lower than 1/100 sec.

Being around horses and attending previous rodeos I could anticipate my shots to get the best picture like this bull exploding out of the chute.

Bull riding
Bull riding

Lightroom 4 was used in post production for cropping white balance and increased clarity. Noise reduction was accomplised in the Luminescence function I described last week.

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Lucky Guy: Mockingbird Sun, I’m Liking It

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Couldn’t resist posting another song from  Mockingbird Sun. I love  the share tool on the Bandcamp website that lets me embed songs right into WordPress. So enjoy another song and more photos from their opening during the Huey Lewis concert for Omaha Fourth of July celebration in 2012. I dare you to listen to just one song. 

Mockingbird Sun in Pictures

Mockingbird Sun in concert in Omaha Nebraska
Mockingbird Sun in concert in Omaha Nebraska

 

Mockingbird Sun
Mockingbird Sun

Just a little photography information. I was trying to get a handle on using my Canon 75-300 mm lens and get sharp images with the long lens. I ended up pushing the ISO up to 800/1600 so my shutter speed would stay at 1/100 or higher. That eliminated the blurriness I get from the hand shake. There is a general rule of thumb to keep your shutter speed half of your lens reach. So for 300mm the shutter aid for speed speed of 1/150 sec, 200 mm=1/100 sec and so on.

Another tip is open up the aperture as far as you can, the shot above was at f/5.6, you also achieve that nice dreamy blur background. My friend Beth used her monopod during the concert, which I’m going to have to start doing. I found out my husband has a monopod for his hunting scope. It may need to be re-purposed.

If you missed my first post about Mockingbird Sun check them out here.

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Mockingbird Sun Opens for Huey Lewis

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Normally opening bands are forgetful, but Huey Lewis would only have a band that was worthy of sharing their stage. Mockingbird Sun fills this requirement. During the Celebrate America concert in Omaha Nebraska Mockingbird Sun was a great start to the evening. Click on the streaming media button below and give their music a listen.

How would you describe their style? I’d say, clean, summertime country rockabilly with a good mix of tight harmony (including banjo). The lyrics and songwriting tells a story and the melody makes me want to cruise the countryside in a convertible with the top down, or sit by the lake with a cold drink.

Mockingbird Sun in concert in Omaha Nebrask
Mockingbird Sun in concert in Omaha Nebraska
Mockingbird Sun in concert in Omaha Nebrask
Bret kicking it up in Omaha

Mockingbird Sun in concert in Omaha NebraskI love outdoor concerts, somehow it makes the music sound better, They were very good and definitely worth a Music Monday shout out. Now to find some more outdoor concerts. Bands are fun to photograph, the instruments, the action and the sheer fun the musicians have playing off each other when they get into a good vibe. 

Lately I have rediscovered Mockingbird Sun and pull up their streaming music and listen to them while I’m working on the computer. It’s nice to rediscover good music.