Finding a way to get in the dirt without getting in the way, and not getting run over by a 1500-pound wild horse is all part of the chase, the excitement and what takes to become a part of the image. To really feel and become a part of the energy and chaos and turn it into a split-second representation of that amazing dance between man and animal. - Steve Wrubel
Steve Wrubel has spent much of his life traveling the world with a camera, from the rugged Pacific coast to the beaches of West Africa and the Mojave Desert. But it’s the American West that has truly captivated him. In 2019, he began documenting one of its last enduring icons—the rodeo cowboy.
The American Rodeo is built on deep tradition, and Steve’s connection to it grew as he immersed himself in cowboy culture. After shooting his first rodeo, he swapped his car for a rugged pickup, Angus, which has since carried him across nearly every state west of the Mississippi. Steve embraces long drives, finding inspiration in the solitude and vastness of landscapes like Shiprock, New Mexico, and the Pawnee National Grasslands. These areas remain largely unchanged since the days when cowboys drove cattle across open ranges.
Steve’s work focuses on capturing a way of life largely untouched by modernity. Like the cowboys he follows, he values the skill and connection it takes to work with animals and land. Both seek to tame the wild, if only for a few fleeting seconds. Through these moments, Steve captures the raw beauty of the American West—an image of both artistry and enduring spirit.
