David Zlotky freezes high-intensity sport and motion in a riveting collection of rodeo photography. View more of his portfolio on his website.
“I Dare Ya” photography, 24″ x 24″
I’ve always enjoyed taking a subject and interpreting it in different ways.
“We Are One” photography, 31″ x 22″
Two years ago, I set out to create a body of fine art photographs for an upcoming gallery show and chose the rodeo as my subject. Rodeo is classic Americana, and as a Kansan I’m surrounded by small-town arenas where rodeos take place through Spring, Summer, and Fall.
“Go Big Red” photography, 31″ x 24″
Over the course of a year, I produced thirteen images for the show, printing each as a limited edition and building the frames myself out of oak, maple and mahogany. All were in color, often involving extensive editing in Photoshop to bring my visions to life.
“Bullseye” photography, 14″ x 9″
My process treated the photographs much like paintings, working with a digital pen and Wacom tablet to refine the images and simplify the backgrounds to isolate the action for dramatic and aesthetic effect.
“Pickup Man” photography, 40″ X 28″
After the show, which was well received, I wanted to explore the subject in new ways. I began creating black and white images, some of which have won international recognition, including Gold and Bronze medals and a People’s Choice Award. I love monochrome for its ability to simplify an image by losing the added complexity of color.
“With a Little Help from My Friends” photography, 14″ x 22″
Recently, I’ve taken a more documentary approach, relying far less on post-processing and allowing the images to stand on their own, in all their raw grit and storytelling power.
“Airborne” photography, 14″ x 10″
Photographing small-town rodeos isn’t easy. The events take place in the evening and the arenas are dimly lit. Because the action is fast and unpredictable, I push my cameras to their limits, embracing the imperfections of high ISO images and then spending hours mitigating the effect of digital noise caused by the overworked camera sensors. Much of my editing is devoted to balancing those technical limitations while preserving the raw energy of the captured moment.
“Golden Girl” photography, 28″ x 22″
I’ve worked as a painter and professional photographer for many years. My paintings are in several national collections including the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum. My photographs have been exhibited in juried shows and galleries. Most recently I was honored to be named the Photographer of the Year in the Film and Analogue category of the Exposure One Awards for my Where the Wild Things Are series.
“Ready to Ride” photography, 34″ x 18″
What drives me is the desire to produce work that is aesthetically sophisticated and well crafted. Ultimately, I make this work to be seen and lived with, to find its way into galleries and collector’s homes where it can tell its stories for years to come.
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