Cindy Bilinsky
August 2026 - Bad Day
Original
About the Image(s)
This was a rodeo competition held at our local fair. This was shot about 7:30 pm and the sun backlit the image as it was getting low in the sky. I used my Canon 5R and Canon 70-200 lens. This was shot at ISO100, 200mm, f2.8 and 1/1000 sec. I did some basic editing in Lightroom, cropped the image and slightly straightened the image.
This bull rider came off the bull pretty quickly and got hung up on the bull rope and the bull was dragging him in circles. I like the lighting in this shot as it helps in showing the dirt being kicked up by the bull.
12 comments posted
Nice job Cindy capturing the action and excitement of the moment. The expression of the man behind the bull adds to the story. You had some good light at 7:30 PM to be able to take the shot at ISO 100. Posted: 08/07/2026 01:09:44
Robert,
Thank you for your feedback. There definitely was a lot of action to shoot at the rodeo. The lighting is what we hope for and it lasts for such a short period of time. Fortunately, I was able to get several shots in during that lighting. Posted: 08/19/2026 23:41:25
Thank you for your feedback. There definitely was a lot of action to shoot at the rodeo. The lighting is what we hope for and it lasts for such a short period of time. Fortunately, I was able to get several shots in during that lighting. Posted: 08/19/2026 23:41:25
Great action shot Cindy. You got all the action, the bull's eye (no pun intended), the dust, and the faces of the cowboys. The spectators are excellent. Great work. Posted: 08/09/2026 20:44:49
Andres,
Thank you for your kind words. I loved the expression of that bulls face. He definitely forgot about the rider he threw off and had his full attention on the cowboy bull fighter. Posted: 08/19/2026 23:42:57
Thank you for your kind words. I loved the expression of that bulls face. He definitely forgot about the rider he threw off and had his full attention on the cowboy bull fighter. Posted: 08/19/2026 23:42:57
Cindy, great image. You have captured the action and the eye of the bull with both front legs up and head down. The bull and people in the foreground are in sharp focus. I like how the dust being kicked up is lit by the setting sun. Very nice image. Posted: 08/09/2026 21:31:24
Mary Ann
Yes, the light was beautiful and changed quickly. I used auto ISO for a period of time to accommodate the fast-changing light. I was surprised at the large number of sharply focused images I was able to get with the amount of movement. Posted: 08/19/2026 23:45:39
Yes, the light was beautiful and changed quickly. I used auto ISO for a period of time to accommodate the fast-changing light. I was surprised at the large number of sharply focused images I was able to get with the amount of movement. Posted: 08/19/2026 23:45:39
Cindy, what a great action shot! The movement of the bull and his angry eyes display the danger of the moment. The expressions of the people in the crowd focus my attention on the bull and draw my eyes inward. Your cropping works well to eliminate less important elements. Since you show us the dangerous situation, I want to know the outcome. Did the rider get loose from the rope before getting injured? Posted: 08/10/2026 16:17:35
Ruth,
Yes, fortunately the rider did get loose from the bull rope after being spun around about 3 revolutions. That is a scary thing to watch unfold when they get hung-up on the rope. Unfortunately the next rider was tromped on and pinned by his bull and he took a trip to the hospital. My understanding is he will make a full recovery but he had a dislocated hip, abdominal injuries and he needed surgery. Posted: 08/19/2026 23:48:50
Yes, fortunately the rider did get loose from the bull rope after being spun around about 3 revolutions. That is a scary thing to watch unfold when they get hung-up on the rope. Unfortunately the next rider was tromped on and pinned by his bull and he took a trip to the hospital. My understanding is he will make a full recovery but he had a dislocated hip, abdominal injuries and he needed surgery. Posted: 08/19/2026 23:48:50
Cindy, some of my favorite shots have been taken at rodeos. The Bull Riding is always the most exciting part for me. Very few riders make the 8 seconds required to complete the ride. The bulls are really frightening because they always go for the fallen rider. The two guys o the right and left are probably bull fighters which is the more modern name for the clowns. They are there to distract the bull from the fallen rider and do a very brave show, usually succeeding. I can't tell which is the rider with the rope caught on him. Like the others I certainly hope the rider freed himself from the rope.
Great capture of this exciting moment. Good job. Posted: 08/16/2026 00:13:45
Great capture of this exciting moment. Good job. Posted: 08/16/2026 00:13:45
Joan,
The rider is the man with the helmet and protective vest to the right of the bull. The rodeo clowns are wearing cowboy hats and quite honestly should be wearing helmet and protective vests as well. I compete with driving horses in an event that is an Olympic competition called combined driving. It is made up of three event, driven dressage, cones and marathon. We are required to wear helmets and protective vests. The marathon component is a 7-8 mile cross-country component that has intermittent obstacles, going through water, over bridges, through woods etc. It is a dangerous sport and when you are around 1000-2000 pound animals you have to do all you can to be safe. Posted: 08/19/2026 23:57:05
The rider is the man with the helmet and protective vest to the right of the bull. The rodeo clowns are wearing cowboy hats and quite honestly should be wearing helmet and protective vests as well. I compete with driving horses in an event that is an Olympic competition called combined driving. It is made up of three event, driven dressage, cones and marathon. We are required to wear helmets and protective vests. The marathon component is a 7-8 mile cross-country component that has intermittent obstacles, going through water, over bridges, through woods etc. It is a dangerous sport and when you are around 1000-2000 pound animals you have to do all you can to be safe. Posted: 08/19/2026 23:57:05
Hi Cindy,
You got a good angle to capture all the details of the rodeo scene. The light is beautiful! With a fast shutter speed, you were able to freeze the action of the bull and capture peak moments of its leap and flying dirt. Great photo! Posted: 08/16/2026 14:44:48
You got a good angle to capture all the details of the rodeo scene. The light is beautiful! With a fast shutter speed, you were able to freeze the action of the bull and capture peak moments of its leap and flying dirt. Great photo! Posted: 08/16/2026 14:44:48
Kieu,
Thank you for your kind words. I enjoy taking action shots of animals. The rodeo provides a lot of opportunity for action shots. Posted: 08/20/2026 00:03:09
Thank you for your kind words. I enjoy taking action shots of animals. The rodeo provides a lot of opportunity for action shots. Posted: 08/20/2026 00:03:09