Mount Isa Rodeo

18 August 2022

Most people that you talk to will tell you that Mount Isa Rodeo lost some of its atmosphere and traditional vibe when it moved from Kalkadoon Park into town to Buchanan Park. It was an opportunity to kind of rebrand and claim its rightful place as an iconic tourism event and cater not only for rodeo competitions and rural people, but also to showcase the region and attract spectators and festival goers from far reaching areas. I don't remember ever going to the Rodeo at Kalkadoon Park, although I visited the venue many times, as the Mount Isa Gun Club was also there. Personally, I love the Buchanan Park venue. At certain times of day the light is sensational and produces epic photos, and the raised stands means that everyone can see the action clearly. The only thing I don't like is that it's difficult to race around the arena to change positions between events as the programme rolls through so quickly and it's such a large area to cover.

Here's a phone snap of the road in to Mount Isa. As a kid when we drove there we used to try and be the first to see the stack. I think Dad would start shouting, "I can see Mount Isa!" just after we left Cloncurry. I thought I'd share the Uncle Jack joke from my childhood that I reckon I heard every time we went to visit...

What did the big chimney say to the little chimney? (Appropriate because there are two chimneys, and one is bigger...)

You're too young to smoke!

(This windscreen WAS clean - I swear!)

This year the programme ran for over 12 hours on the second and third day, and 8 hours on the first and fourth day. I've seen more sunrises in the last week than I have for the previous 12 months.

So much of what makes what I do what it is depends on timing. Not only timing the photo, but putting the photo out there. It would be much easier for me to take all the photos, then sort and edit them at my leisure after the event. If I did that there might not end up being much point in this instant, digital age, where we want the information in real time. Therefore, during an event there's not a lot of opportunity for long, rejuvenating sleeps. I think I may be tired for a month after this.

I began this blog entry whilst in Mount Isa, and had no chance to get back to it until I had been home for two days. Thankfully the owner of the florist shop where I freelance swapped a day for me, and I was able to spend the first day back in front of the computer. The more I do, the more I find still to do! I can see that this coming weekend will be spent in the same manner as that first day back. I discovered that it's possible for the arm connected to the hand that operates the mouse to fall asleep due to lack of movement from the wrist up. I think I may have to look into a standing desk. I sit on a gym ball instead of a chair, and this has been great for my posture, although I do catch myself getting distracted by testing out my balance when I should be focusing on something more productive.

Record entries at Isa Rodeo (almost 1000!) equates to just over 9000 photos to sort. Add that to the 5475 from Nebo and I have a lot to keep me busy for the next little while. I have to thank the Australian Junior Rodeo Association for having me at Mount Isa as their Official Photographer.

Week 31 of 52Frames was "Choose a Colour". A random colour generator selected red for me, and as it happens I am brilliant at growing feral red fruits (strawberries, cherry tomatoes, rosellas, and occasionally a capsicum) or yellow flowers... most other things with markedly less success. Anyway, I discovered a ripe strawberry. Rather than eat it, as I normally would at watering time I photographed... and then promptly ate it - no option to re-shoot!

Last week's 52Frames topic was "Night Photography", so I had appropriate subject matter without having to do anything especially for it. I submitted a photo from the Open Bareback section on Friday night. I'll put it in the next blog... which will be in a couple of days, since I'm so late with this one.

This week the topic is "Water" and I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to do. Hopefully inspiration will strike.

Overall it's been a good couple of weeks, even though my perm has fallen out and I lost my Wordle streak on Day One of the Rodeo. Hairdos and word games are not the end of the World.

It's been quite a party, ain't it

Purple Fairy