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Eight Seconds: the Quebec Rodeos
“In the little time I spend with them, the men strike me as a mix of athlete, performer, daredevil and innocent country boy. Despite the danger and the grievous injuries–fractured jaws, broken noses and collarbones, spinal cord injuries–and the risk of death, they persevere because the rodeo has an addictive hold on their souls, and because the ride is their chosen way of life. Watching these men, I feel an unfamiliar nostalgia not only for a time that is passing, but a way life that never existed here. And yet this way of life, the life of the cowboy in Quebec, is not merely decorative and it is so much more than spectacle.” Author Madeleine Thien, 2007
Rodeos were introduced to Quebec, Canada in the early 70’s, a short while ago compared to western Canada. From 2003 to 2005 I researched and documented Quebec rodeos and their cowboys, witnessing the development of a sub-culture that includes not only Quebecers but also attracts cowboys from across Canada and throughout the United States. This relatively new activity and its associated culture are taking shape in rural Quebec. From late spring to early fall, Quebec hosts about 25 rodeos annually. The relationship between these cowboys is stunning. The common love for the sport dilutes any prejudices of race or language and unifies the cowboys like a happy dysfunctional family.
Most Quebec cowboys don’t have a usual cowboy upbringing and are not necessarily raised on a farm. The cowboys come from across the province; they are from cities, from suburbs and from towns. These cowboys are out of the ordinary because most of them have come to adopt and fall in love with the cowboy lifestyle. Most started riding in their 20’s, rather late when compared again to Western Canada and the American cowboys, where they are often raised with a cowboy mindset and start riding at a young age.
This documentary project is not only about the 8 seconds, the danger, the hype and glory but also to explore the Quebec rodeo experience and the uniqueness of these cowboys.
Photographs: Aislinn Leggett
Music: Brad Barr
Website: www.aislinnleggett.com
Cathy,
All
It’s been one of the great days in the history of BURN and Road Trips. The day exactly represents what BURN is about and where it can take people. Long story short, Panos, in his real person met Charles Peterson, Katia Roberts, and Tom Hyde. In one single day. I have not seen him so excited. It is truly a great feeling to see someone to be this happy because of BURN.
BURN – is a place to share, meet, learn, and also get burned. It has happened today and won’t stop. Besides that I hate these four – Charles, Tom, Katia, and Panos for being “only by appointment” and only before f-ing 6pm. But it’s ok. I’ll get over it
Just see it for yourself. Its all about lines.
http://haiko.net/Line/
BRYAN F…
yes, hard to get past the Winogrand work….one thing i would like to do here eventually is to place the selected essay next to a classic….as in your reference…this could really stimulate discussion.. that may not always be possible and the logistics of getting hold of jpegs to post of some of the classics might be difficult…if you can think of a way for me to do this, please let me know…anyway, thanks for bringing up one of my all-time favorite photographers…
cheers, david
DAVID.
Perhaps we are too much alike. I feel EXACTLY the same way you do.
From you “I received a tirade after all of what i thought was well meaning photographic critique and phrased as such.” YOUR words but MY experience and emotions also.
What you are calling my tirade against you was simply me asking why you are so hard on me? Trying to understand what you were talking about, which seemed to come out of left field. Why not at least mention that you were attempting to critique me (?) although I don’t see how you could based on not hardly ever seeing any of my work. I’m sorry for saying so but your words came off like criticism not critique. You even mentioned in advance that what you were about to say could possibly hurt my feelings and it did. Am I not allowed to admit that?
I understood and appreciated everything you said using the albumn analogy and about publishing but you lost me on the “critique.” I guess it is just too difficult to discuss like that online where one can only imagine tone.
As far as thinking you have not succeeded in getting me to go out and shoot “in fine style”…I don’t know how you can say that when you haven’t seen any of what I’ve shot. I have shot SO MUCH at other rodeos, powwows, jewelry stores….all kinds of work from last summer and fall. I have not shown it to you, that is true, mostly because I do not feel ready to show it but it does not mean you are a failure at getting me to go out and shoot. I am thinking about photography ALWAYS and shooting anything that looks good to me. You have indeed motivated and inspired me and will continue to, whether we are in communication or not.
For someone who was offering “i promise, as always, to facilitate any way i can…” just minutes ago you don’t seem to be able to tolerate criticism very well either.
As I said, we are probably too much alike…
When you say “I am done” I can accept that and agree with you. It is way too painful to have always these misunderstandings. You have already done more for me than I could ever hope for. I will always be grateful and will not ask anything more of you. I am happy to observe here on burn, silently.
Thanks for everything David.
HAIK.
You have put a big smile on my face. Yes today I got burned. Lines were crossed…
With your photos you said the same thing Eric said in words. Thanks so much.
Very sweet :))
CATHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY….
ENOUGH….
i have no more Leicas to break….
c’mon now….
please look at HAIK’S slideshow above…below or whatever….get it????????????????
its all about LINES…
YOU CROSSED them all….
DAVID… is doing a FREE workshop for ALL of us….
you are exhausting the guy and the REST OF US….
thousands of people watching…..
laugh, enjoy… GO TO WORK…. bring us photos…
you talk too motherf*****g much….
shoot more , talk less…
Haik was polite…
great things happened today… and you missed them all…
period…
CHARLES P.
KATIA R.
TOM H….
thank you all for that great BURN historic day…..
what more to ask?????????????????
ERIC.
I can’t thank you enough for your kind words. They mean more to me than you will every know. You are a dear friend to be so concerned and to try to help clear up the misunderstanding David and I had. I totally understood everything you said and you are right, it is all about the photography…the rest of it is of no importance. As you can see David has already said what he had to say below.
To be clear…I have photographed MANY rodeos and will continue to do so but the photos I showed on road trips that David was talking about were only from one rodeo. That is all I have shown here…but there is much more.
It is so funny…what got you and David confused, what caused the misunderstanding between us was my mentioning my own photography. The only reason I did that was because it was too difficult for me to say anything negative to Aislinn about HER photographs without also saying the same (true) thing about my own…my attempt not to hurt HER feelings, so instead in end both David and I are feeling badly. Huge lesson for me!!!
I will not forget anything you have said here and will go out and sweat. You are right, that is what I need to do. I am rooting for your success Eric and am one of your biggest supporters. I wish you all the best.
Cathy…
im still in Seattle…
im going out right to shoot a Rodeo….right now…
f***k venice….
Rodeo will be the new thing….
but not with horses or cowboys….
no, no, no…..
it will be me naked riding on a RAT….
ok… Haik will shoot it…
with a gun….
oh god….. i see Haik running towards me with the DUCT TAPE…
duct tape is silver… your SILENCE IS GOLD…
thank you for the laughs you offered us tonight….
ok… im about to get duct taped once again…
Haikkkkk!
please ,… MERCY….
what did i say….
no….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
James, don’t forget that many photograph because they must: it’s what they are as opposed to what they do.
Cathy:
I also do not want to ‘jump on the bandwagon’ here but I have to agree with Eric and David. Let me be gentle. I also read your comments too as a kind of indictment against if not the work of Aislinn then at the least against David’s judgment about this essay versus your work. It seemed pretty cleary, BUT as we all know words can be easily misinterpreted/misunderstood. Now, as you know, I’m a big supporter of everyone here so please do not think that I am ‘attacking’ so I’ll try to make it not very verbose (everone’s eyes roll! ;) ). I REMEMBER your rodeo photographs very well (it’s the stupid photographic memory) and there were some pictures that worked: the best, the child on the horse with the parents and the ‘rodeo queens’ at dusk. both of these photographs stick in my memory well but I think many of the other photographs didn’t convey either the emotional or metaphoric power of those two or the experience in a way other than ‘photos at a night at the rodeo.’ Does this mean you’re not a good photographer? does this mean that you couldn’t knock a rodeo story out of the park as Aislinn and Lance: of course not. What it does mean is that as one photographer wrote here yesterday, it takes hard work and sustained commitment and LUCK to get it right. I saw David’s questions to you at the time, and now here, as loving questions to offer ideas about how to consider about the work. As a teacher myself, i think this is always the better approach (credit to socrates): to ask questions of students rather than ‘tell them’ what’s wrong. I didnt see David’s reply either as antagonistic here but again an attempt to spell out the differences between your rodeo and this one.
but above all, i think it is so important to try to remember that every photographer and every editor has a duty to help and foster and nuture one another through understanding and dialogue. In truth, david is the world’s greatest editor/teacher. this aint ’cause he’s Harvey (magnum) but because 99.9% of the editor’s i’ve ever met/dealt with spent little time giving meaningful ideas as to why they didnt like something, let alone offering attempts to nurture vision and growth. I think your comment, while not intended, looked more like Road Trip dialogue born of frustration with this work and fired off the wrong pistons. But, as eric, panos and Haik have said, please try to remember none of this is personal, nore should you view it as that, only as a way to enrich and enjoy the work and the discussion that arises from here.
I too have a very close personal relationship with David, one that extends beyond the relationship between photograher to photographer and I can tell you that not one time as that ‘trust’ and relationship been altered or hurt by ‘disagreements.’ David and I have not always agreed, but this as only ever been about the work and profession. David has to be one of the most open people i’ve known and one thing that is remarkably different is David’s generosity and his openness. I have never known david to personalize a disagreement, in fact, david makes it very clear that when discussing photography this is not about the personal relationship. In fact, he’s been incredibly patient and understanding. He makes it very clear and open and honest about personal bonds and discussion about work. David will go to bat for anyone, anyone, regardless of the relationship but he makes it very clear that it is important that within the discussion/relationship of photography, it is important not to personalize feelings. I also know that David is one of the few photographers i’ve had a relationship with who will not close the door, but in fact makes it (much to his stress) absolutely certain that communication is open. If he finds fault with work, he’s a straight shooter and this has nothing to do with the feelings he has as a friend: he’ll give you time and an ear and reflection and what else can a photographer and a friend ask for. My loyalty to david, as a friend and a photographer, is not because david is David Harvey but because he always has time to listen and to reflect and to serve up his experience and professionalism. this is no less true here. I count him as a close family friend, but i also count on him as a professional colleague, one who gives it straight, not bullshit, and with an openess and generosity that is uncommon. I think it is very important that photographers separate this, make a distinction. we must not personalize our work and our lives vis-a-vis others opinions and reflections. Burn is a magazine to showcase work and to extend reflection and conversation abut photography. I cannot think of another professional magazine that allows such rich and unfettered access to both the photographers and the editor. David has never turned his back on a friend or a photographer and it is so important we separate the discussion from our friendship. IN other words, we MUST look at others work not as “i can do that or what’s wrong with my work” but as ‘what works in this work.” Last week, I received Charles Peterson’s book Cypher (buy it folks) and i spent each moring for 5 days looking at the work, blown away and thinking, reflecting on it. Charles work couldnt be more different from my own and yet i looked and looked and thought “damn, how’d he get that access” ‘how’d he use the flash like that’ ‘howd he capture that depth of field’. we must not compare ourselves but must investigate and question and work hard. I have never known, not one time, david to provide anything but remarkably genereous time and thoughts with the goal of getting photographers to be the best that they were and I read his comments exactly in that light. In fact, david has spent more time caring and promoting the work of photograhers, and my own families work, than the gallery that put my own pics on walls and sold them. It’s not personal, its an opportunity and one that comes from a place of commitment: his commitment to really foster photography and foster the lives of photographers. Again, i do not say this ’cause he’s dave harvey or this is Burn but because as a working photographer, i’ve had that incredible experience. I cannot think of another magazine or photographer or school that has done so much for photographers and in return has asked so little of others.
and one last note. i live with another working photographer whose work is poetic and beautiful and challenging and not once is there a need to compare. in fact, when i look at her work i think “ok, bob, see, that’s great stuff, stay inspired” in toronto, we are lucky because we have a group, albeit small, of friends and photographers who support and help one another, all of our work is wildly different and yet it is because of our concern for one another, our appreciation for our projects and our care to know that each of us is bettered by our friendships and our support that makes it all sing. I think people need to look at Burn as an incredible resource to provide continued inspiration and reflection, access to wonderful and challenging and interesting work and we must also value what is offered. David is a tirelessly loving and tirelessly honest and supportive friend, mentor and, yes, editor. It is so important that we dont thing its about ‘our work’ vs. ‘their work’ but look instead not at what we do but what others do and enrich ourselves from that. each person puts their hearts out their when they share work but it’s important we put a shell around our orientation, but not our hearts. david’s pretty clear eyed on that and i think when we begin to not separate the work from the ‘me’, we can see alot better that in the end, what the prize is. like i said, i too am a crazy emotional guy who puts everything into what i make and write and i think yoyu’ll see that david does that too, and that’s rare and that is what makes the relationship with him, as both a photogarpher and as friend so rich. and that has nothing to do with his ’success’ as a photogarpher.
there’s a russian proverb: the morning always brings surprises. I hope and trust that in the morning, you’ll see it all differently. Now, there is only 1 type of revenge and i know it’s one that would pump david (and all our) hearts: make a brilliant rodeo essay and get it into submission!
hope that makes sense. :))
bob
AISLINN! :)))
thank you so much for this wonderful essay. i’ve really enjoyed looking and listening to it…and would love to see + hear the 20 minute version :))
And thanks too, as a dad, ’cause you’ve given me something new to do with my son: i guess i have to hook up with Veba and get our kids over to the rodeo! :))
thanks so much for the work :))
all the best
bob
Hey Chris,
The text above by author Madeleine Thien is actually a small excerpt of a much longer text. Madeleine is a very dear friend and an extremely talented writer. In September 2007, when I was getting prepared for the first exhibit of Eight Seconds, I asked Madelaine to accompany me to one of the rodeos to see if she would be inspired to write a piece for me, for the project. She agreed. Since the text is quite long, I couldn’t put the entire work up here. So, my husband has kindly put up the text on my website. So since you asked, here it is! and I thought it was a good idea that people could have the opportunity to read it – if they want to.
http://www.aislinnleggett.com/works/quebec-rodeos/text/
I do think a brief bio could help..after all, if we are at burn, we will see the work first, and many times will not have time to navigate away before leaving a comment..
holy smokes! who’d of guessed… rodeos in Quebec! look at this beautiful rodeo project.. i’m screwed. :) what really struck me was the dream-like quality of some of the images like 1, 9 (for me this soft white aesthetic of a violent trip works), and 15.. and the very nice audio which plays the perfect dance partner to the photos in this little ditty.. the audio in this really got my attention, i’m taking notes Aislinn! :) to hear the francophones mixed in with the cowbells and haunting slide steel and prayer and hollerin’.. this totally worked for me. kinda reminded me of their french kin down over in Acadiana whom i will visit again in a week or so. this is an impressive piece and i have a feeling Aislinn will sell a print or two.
working,
lance
The rodeo is quite a big deal here in New Zealand too. I followed a few of them a few years ago. What amazed me was how little prize money the cowboys received for the amount of abuse their bodies took.
Most 1st place winnings wouldn’t be over $500; usually around the $150-300 range. When you take in the amount of travel needed and that most hold down fulltime jobs too, they definitely do it for the love of the sport. The best often travel to Australia, Canada and the USA to try to get amongst the big prize money.
Many of the competitors are from established rodeo families where two or three generations will be competing.
Over the Xmas/New Year period there is a series of around 9 rodeos in under two weeks in the South Island and all the local shepherds, musterers and farm hands come into town from the large sheep stations to compete. I’ve always been meaning to cover these events and NZ rodeo in general but never have enough time to cover it adequately. I don’t want to end up repeating what thousands of other photographers have already done.
Cheers everyone.
Lance ,
U R a class act…
You work is superb… I wanna point out that there should be no comparison between two photogs… even if in the surface it seems that they are shooting or dealing with the same subject..
this essay, your approach or Cathy’s rodeo work are 3 DIFFERENT “THINGS”…
3 different approaches… All needed for different reasons…All can and should exist…
its useless and dangerous to compare them…
As a viewer , i want to see ( view ) them all…
Different philosophies.. INDIVIDUALITY…
anyways i cant wait for “Thirst for Grit”( hope i spelled it right!) to come up
peace and hugs
This is an essay after my own heart, I really like the fact that that it was shot along the sidelines. It is such a beautiful & quiet essay, dealing with a less than quiet subject!
Look forward to seeing more..
Cheers, Jeremy
I think that this one has the images to put it over the top. While I personally am not really into event photography all that much, I do like many of the singles here.
Cathy, I think you are being a bit unfair, personally. I mean you concede the fact that you have not shown David much so what can you really expect. Also, to be resentful of being asked questions? Thats silly. Those kinds of questions are meant to push you towards improvement. Do you think you are there already that you dont need to be asked or pushed?
Great essay. Fantastic. Thanks for showing!