From California to Oklahoma to Illinois, Black communities are saddling up and grasping the reins of a horse or ornery bull. A thriving culture that’s gained attention in recent years, these competitors form bonds in and out of the rodeo arena, where their animals kick up dust and barrel across the ring.
Since 2015, photographer Ivan McClellan has been embedded within these communities across the U.S. His new book, Eight Seconds: Legacy in Motion, is an addendum to his earlier body of work with 91 new images that spotlight the people and places integral to Black rodeo culture.
Published by Damiani, the updated edition features Texan teenager Kortnee Solomon, who’s captivated audiences as one of the youngest competitors, on the cover. Flanked by horses, Solomon stands proudly wearing a rainbow-colored money shirt and blue hat, her eyes shaded by the brim.
Additional images zoom into the arena alongside cowboys racing across the dirt stage and toward the stands, where the audience cheers under the bright, stadium lights. Whereas these industrial bulbs can illuminate journalistic photos of the rodeo in a way that embraces over-exposure, McClellan leans into shadow and a sense of warmth, capturing portraits and candid shots that exude the familiarity and mutual respect of the longstanding relationships he’s built.
Find both the earlier and new edition on Bookshop. Find a larger archive of McClellan’s work on his website and Instagram.
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