A lone bronc rider inspects his next ride at the Jacksonvile Rodeo in Texas.
An unidentified cowboy removes his hat during prayer before the Jacksonville Rodeo in east Texas begins.
Cowboys have two distinct ways to distinguish themselves and that’s by their boots and their hats. Some will say that belt buckles are part of the iconography, but some buckles are awards from competition.
A bronc stares through the bars of his enclosure prior to having a rider attempt to remain attached for 8 seconds.
The gloved hand of a bull rider as he waits for the gate to open and the longest 8 seconds of his life to begin.
Cowboys are men of faith. There is always prayer before any rodeo event begins. All participants are aware of the danger involved.
A lot of what goes on during a rodeo is waiting; the events themselves last only seconds.
The point of no return arrives as a bull rider climbs on a bull. Some bulls weigh as much as half a ton.
The gate opens and for the next few seconds the only thing that matters is to hold on for 8 seconds and giving the judges a reason to award enough points to qualify for the finals.
Photographer Jaime Carrero has been documenting the life and craft of cowboys in East Texas. These images, taken during the summer of 2011 at the Jacksonville Rodeo, are part of a larger body of work on Texas cowboys.
Jaime Carrero
Jaime R. Carrero is an independent editorial photographer based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. His work has been published by The Associated Press, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and Dallas Morning News among other news outlets. He is represented by Zuma Press. To see more of his work, visit www.jaimecarrero.com
Jaime R. Carrero is an independent editorial photographer based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas. His work has been published by The Associated Press, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times and Dallas Morning News among other news outlets. He is represented by Zuma Press. To see more of his work, visit www.jaimecarrero.com