In the tradition of the old-time west, I traveled through the grounds with a Deardorff 8x10 camera. Not much has changed since its original 1923 design – it’s a basic mahogany box with a bellows and lens on the front that projects my subject upside down. It’s a multi-step procedure to make an image; you have to level the camera, compose the photograph, focus on the background glass, set the exposure, and then slide a 8x10 holder into the back to expose one sheet of film, each of which costs $6.00.
This year, I wanted to slow my process down by taking portraits of people at the Stampede. It’s estimated we now shoot close to Two-billion photographs a day, so how do you make a photograph stand out?
The 12-pound camera draws a crowd whenever I set it up. People flock to get a picture of me taking a picture. But because I slow down, my subjects slow down, which allows me to search for quiet moments amidst the chaos.
2015 Calgary Stampede Princess Haley Peckham, Queen Mick Plemel and Princess Kimberly Stewart act as official ambassadors of the Calgary Stampede. The Stampede royalty were crowned last fall and are judged on their riding ability, personality and ability to speak comfortably with people. The Queen and princesses do 350 events during the year.
Native elder Leo Pretty Young Man Jr of the Siksika Nation represents his people at the start of the popular chuckwagon races. Pretty Young Man Jr takes part in the Indian Village every year, educating spectators on aboriginal way of life and setting up a tee pee for people to tour.
After being photographed by a new digital camera in a old-time costume, Calgarian Mandie Leslie is photographed by a real old-time 8-by-10 camera. Ms. Leslie visited the Stampede with her husband and son and decided to have an family photo taken in period costumes.
The Remple brothers, Wade (left) and Gary, are pick-up men at the Stampede, hauling saddle bronc and bareback riders off their bucking horses. They have worked the Stampede for more than 25 years and are considered two of the best horsemen in the business. Six-year-old Kennedi MacMillan, know as the Pick Up Chick, gathers the horses after the wild pony race.
Food worker Tara Jesperson sells fresh-cut fries under the watchful eye of Meaghan Maloney, an auditor with the Calgary Stampede. This is Ms. Jesperson‘s 20th year travelling to fairs and rodeos and says she loves being on the road. “This is where I am home,” she says. Ms. Maloney, a Calgary accountant during the year, audits cash coming in and out of the various venues during Stampede.
Quick-witted Canadian singer-songwriter Tim Hus describes himself as having a voice sweeter than a Husqvarna chainsaw, a wit sharper than rusty barbed wire, and a list of songs longer than a Saskatchewan fence line. Hus has released six albums, and sings Canadiana so well, he was asked by the late Stompin’ Tom Connors to tour with him. Hus plays in this year’s Stampede Grandstand Show.
World renowned National Geographic photographer William Albert Allard visits friends in Calgary and continues his work on cowboy culture. Mr. Allard, one of the most important and influential photographers of the 20th century, created a seminal body of work around cowboy life and culture. The 77 year old photographer has been capturing poetic images of American culture and on international issues for more than 50 years, including photographic documentaries on the Pennsylvania Amish, India’s ‘Untouchable’ caste and Thailand’s street elephants.
Stetson Lawrence, 26, ruled the day after riding the bull Seven Dust for a score 89.5. The Williston, N.D. cowboy, a Stampede first-timer, is the reigning Canadian PBR Series champion and took home $5,500 and a new shiny bronze trophy.
Four times a day during the Calgary Stampede, the Cannon Lady, aka, Jennifer Schneider is shot of of a cannon and flies through the air to the amazement and amusement of spectators. Though this is her first year entertaining at the Stampede, Ms. Schneider comes from a cannon family. Her father and sister also get shot out of a cannon. I “have a perfect life. Every day I wake up and have fun,” she says.
Bullrider Shane Peters, from Delburne, Alta., is just starting his career and is fresh off winning the Alberta High School Finals in the fall of 2014. He’s standing behind the chutes at the 16th annual Ranchman's Renegades Bullbustin' event, which takes place two days before Stampede and marks its unofficial start.
Cowboy's Dance Hall beer-tub girl Erin Neely works at the popular saloon during Stampede. Cowboy’s is one of the busiest places during Stampede, where thousands of guests view top music acts that include Alan Jackson and the Sheep Dogs. Waitresses and bartenders can expect to make top dollar for tips.
A J Stahl from Canmore, Alta. made 18 baskets in a row and walked away with a huge stuffed dog. He described the experience as being incredibly hard. Despite living only an hour away, this was his first Stampede. He said a friend’s daughter will be the doll’s lucky recipient
Photographer Todd Korol stands with his Deardorff 8x10 camera on the Stampede grounds. (Chris Bolin for The Globe and Mail)