# 21 - Our current two-year RV trip across North America. This week's; Pro-Rodeo in Mercedes (Rio Grande Valley), Southern Texas. - Pentax K-3

Email: brqyvn@gmail.com

 Hi Photographer friends,

We spent some time in Southern Texas and last spring we had the chance to attend a Bull Riding Rodeo. It is entertaining for us, the crowd, but this is no sissy sport. It is entertaining for us, the crowd, but this is no “sissy” sport. The riders really get banged up.

Each bull has a unique name and number used to identify the bull. A sufficient number of bulls each judged to be of good strength, health, agility, and age, are selected to perform. The rider and bull are matched randomly before the competition, although starting in 2008, some ranked riders are allowed to choose their own bulls from a bull draft for selected rounds in PBR events.

A rider mounts a bull and grips a flat braided rope. After he secures a good grip on the rope, the rider nods to signal he is ready. The bucking chute (a small enclosure which opens from the side) is opened and the bull storms out into the arena. The rider must attempt to stay on the bull for at least eight seconds, while only touching the bull with his riding hand. His other hand must remain free for the duration of the ride. Originally, the rules required a 10 second ride, but that was changed to the current eight seconds.

The bull bucks, rears, kicks, spins, and twists in an effort to throw the rider off. This continues for a number of seconds until the rider bucks off or dismounts after completing his ride. A loud buzzer or whistle announces the completion of an eight second ride.

Throughout the ride, bullfighters, also popularly known as rodeo clowns, stay near the bull in order to aid the rider if necessary. When the ride ends, either intentionally or not, the bullfighters distract the bull to protect the rider from harm.

Many competitions have a format that involves multiple rounds, sometimes called "go-rounds." Generally, events span two to three nights. The rider is given a chance to ride one bull per night. The total points scored by the end of the event are recorded, and after the first or first two go rounds, the top 20 riders are given a chance to ride one more bull. This final round is called the "short go". After the end of the short go, the rider with the most total points wins the event. 

(Above From Wikipedia - read more here.)

Understandably, most riders are in their twenties.
Pentax K-3 and smc Pentax DA 50-200mm f4-5.6 ED WR

The Rodeo Queen and her horse stood still during the National Anthem.

There is such a camaraderie in this sport, not comparable to other sports.

Riders help each other getting a good and solid grip, before the gate opens

Are you ready?

"This one is taking me for a spin"

The Rodeo Clowns have to be as good a shape as the riders.

It's not uncommon for the Rodeo Clowns to take the hit.

"Get off my back"

On your mark, get set...

The images above were all taken with the Pentax K-3, using one lens only. The images were reduced in size for faster uploading to this blog. I also tweaked the saturation and clarity, not that the images weren't good coming directly from the camera, but because images on a computer screen need a little more punch.

Thanks for reading,

Yvon Bourque

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# 20 - Our current two-year RV trip across North America. This week's; Pointe Loma - Part of San Diego. Pentax K-3

Email: brqyvn@gmail.com 

 Hi Photographer friends,

We have paid for one month stay at a local RV Resort. There is so much to see in San Diego and the surroundings. This is a great City and the weather cannot be beat. The average high in the summer is 77 Degree F and the average low is 67 Degree F. The average high in the Winter is 65 Degree F and the average low is 49 Degree F. 

I spent the day in Point Loma. Point Loma is historically important as the landing place of the first European expedition to came ashore in present-day California. The peninsula has been described as "where California began". Today, Point Loma houses two major military bases, a national cemetery, and a national monument. 

The Point Loma Lighthouse is located at the height of the peninsula, The Old Point Loma Lighthouse was not just the housing for a light; it was the home of the people who took care of the light. It was a light and a house in one.

The images below were all taken with the Pentax K-3, using various Pentax lenses. The images were reduced in size for faster uploading to this blog. I also tweaked the saturation and clarity, not that the images weren't good coming directly from the camera, but because images on a computer screen need a little more punch.

As I wrote at the top of this page, I will be in the area for about four weeks and will post about the nearby locations. There are so many places to see in this area, that it's overwhelming.

I would appreciate if you would visit my Facebook page and like the site. I tend to post more images and other interesting Pentax tidbits from all over the world. It's one location where you can read posts about Pentax worldwide, without surfing the Internet. The Facebook page can be accessed here;
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View of San Diego near the Lighthouse. K-3 and DA* 60-250mm @ 100mm

This is the  San Diego Bay. Pentax K-3 and DA 16-45mm

The Point Loma Lighthouse -  K-3 and DA* 16-50mm 

This is the actual light and lens atop the lighthouse.
 They actually don't allow access, but my K-3 was small enough
 to hold it inside the dome. DA 10-17mm

View of the spiral staircase looking up.
Each floor was a part of the resident quarters.
K-3 and DA 10-17mm

View of the staircase looking down.
A young couple posed for this image. Thank you guys.
K-3 and DA 10-17mm

I took a long walk to the shore level, 1.6 mile going down but...1.6 mile to go up.
My legs still hurt, but it was worth it.
Pentax K-3 and DA 16-45mm

Aww! It must be a hard job, but someone has to do it.
K-3 and DA* 60-250mm @ 60mm

I can't think of a better way to spend your day, if you have the money.
If you are lucky enough to take pictures of it...you are lucky enough.
K-3 and DA* 60-250mm @ 250mm

This is part of the military base. Not too shabby isn't it?
K-3 and DA* 60-250mm @ 100mm

The same beautiful location a bit closer. I couldn't walk to it.
It is restricted. Wonder why?
K-3 and DA* 60-250mm @ 250mm

That's it for this week. Hope you enjoyed the images as much as I enjoyed taking them.

Yvon Bourque