Oakdale, also known as the Cowboy Capital of the World, hosted their spring rodeo on April 8 & 9, 2017. We were able to attend the Friday slack and performance, jump down to San Luis Obispo for the 77th Annual Poly Royal Rodeo, and then back up for Oakdale's Sunday performance.

Oakdale is one of the most fun rodeos in California, and always draws a huge crowd! It is also particularly unique because it has a very cool access point for shooting rough stock, which is very close to the chutes. The ability to shoot from under the bottom panel creates a unique and dramatic angle for images. Many years ago my friend, Marcelo Fuentes, told me as a photographer to dig a hole and crawl in it. It's definitely a big part of what I do today!

The weather variations also make it fun, at least for the photographers. Quite often you'll have rain, with slop and mud, which makes for some crazy images.

Additionally, their barrel-man Clint Sylvester is one the best in the business, and add Chance Jackson and Rick Moffatt as bullfighters and you have two of the toughest men in the sport.

Till next year, Oakdale.