A pair of cowboys strike similar poses while leaning against a wall as they talk backstage at the rodeo. Austin, Texas 1982. (© Guy Reynolds)
Fall of 1982 was the first semester I worked as a staff photographer for the Daily Texan, the UT-Austin student newspaper. I’ve always enjoyed rodeos and when one came to the Frank Erwin Center I gave myself an assignment and made it into a photo page for the paper. And it wasn’t the action I was there for although I did shot some of that. I’m always more intrigued by what goes on behind the scenes at an event than what’s put on for the audience. “Show ‘em what they missed, even if they were there,” is my mantra.
A competitor finds a place to be alone with his thoughts before his time in the arena. (© Guy Reynolds)
A bareback rider hangs on during his time in the arena. (© Guy Reynolds)
A young rodeo fan kills time back stage. (© Guy Reynolds )
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