Southwestern Photojournalism Conference

Two weekends ago, I returned to the Southwestern Photojournalism Conference in Texas. This year though I got to participate in the student practicum. My group went and explored the stockyards of Fort Worth. There were cowboys, long horn steer, shoe shiners, and good food. The actual conference was amazing but I won't be able to summarize all of the advice, stories, and tips the phenomenal speakers gave unless I wrote for the next three hours. You'll just have to come next year! It is definitely worth it. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the weekend!

Cowboy Ranch

They of course had some cattle!

 We hopped the fence and explored the field next store that had all these abandoned old cars! 

 

The old west meets modern technology. 

What's a ranch without some horses? 

   

Isn't God an awesome painter?

The Stockyards

Cowboy; Ricardo Rodriquez

As we admired a local art gallery, Whitney inquired about the noise coming from behind a back door. 

The owner said that it was the workshop and to go introduce ourselves. These guys were restoring a table from the 30's. 

All you see is hands but that is what Rodney uses to polish shoes every day on the streets of the Stockyards. He was a character, making up raps the whole time he was shining her boots. 

The entire weekend was a learning experience. I learned I need to work on my stranger skills, on getting close and to explore the photography I enjoy even if others don't. I learned that I love art photography but I also want to explore journalistic photography.