Mason Clements stretches just behind the chutes before the Young Living Farms Rodeo held Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, in Mona, Utah. A relative newcomer to rodeo, Mason competes in the bareback-riding event and last year placed 10th at the world's top rodeo, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
December is oftentimes thought of as a month of reflection and finality to the year, and those things held especially true for me this last month of 2018 as a rodeo project I had been working on since May published in the Daily Herald. (That project is shown as the photo above and the 15 following below.)
I began my photo essay on local professional bareback rider Mason Clements when I approached a local rodeo with a story pitch on any up-and-coming cowboys living in our coverage area. I had been wanting to photograph more rodeos since beginning work in Utah, and saw the opprotunity to get my fix through focusing one of the newspaper's Monday Close-Ups on the subject. Mason fell in the among the middle of a list given to me of rodeo athletes ranging from multi-time world champions to absolute no-names. What I thought would be a two-or-three-day shoot profiling Mason to be published about two weeks later gradually grew into a much longer-term project.
After photographing Mason working out and competing at a single rodeo, I thought, "Hey, let's just keep shooting this and see where it goes." Rodeos are "sexy" (as we say in the photo world), and I wanted to really dig into the rodeo lifestyle. So, I began juggling at times up to three Monday Close-Up photo stories to cover my monthly requirements in addition to my daily assignments as I chipped away at photographing Mason.
When time would allow, I would pop into Mason's life roughly once or twice a month as he'd compete in the rodeo circuit. I infrequently get to photograph subjects for more than a month, so it was quite nice to really settle into Mason's life and become a part of his routine. Each month I'd feel like the story needed some more "umph", so I'd find another shorter-term project to run for that month's Monday Close-Up and I'd keep shooting Mason. After a bit of time with Mason, I toyed with the idea of following him all the way to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo held in Las Vegas in December. What started as a general inquiry to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association at the start of August began a back-and-forth battle for access that eventually resulted in me being granted a limited-access credential to the WNFR in late November. After covering Mason for a few months, I made the six-hour drive from Provo to Las Vegas this December to follow Mason on his last day competing at the world's top rodeo.
I followed Mason around for most of the day on December 15th as he went about the last day at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The WNFR being an extremely taxing 10-day back-to-back gauntlet, Mason slept in and spent most of his time before the rodeo working out, eating right and soothing his injuries. At the rodeo itself, I only had access to photograph the bareback-riding event from one stationary position and had no access to anything within the arena or backstage besides that. Despite limited access, photographing the world's top rodeo was quite a spectacle (in which I even donned a cowboy hat to "blend in").
I haven't worked on a long-term project (which I consider to be more than two months) since college, and I re-learned a lot from dipping back into longer-form storytelling. Mason's story ran as a two-part series on the front page of the Daily Herald on the last Saturday and Sunday of the year.
To read more about Mason, you can read
the two stories I wrote to accompany the photo essay: Part 1 – provodh.com/ypz64, Part 2 – provodh.com/f05wk.
Mason Clements laces up his boots before the Strawberry Days Rodeo held Friday, June 22, 2018, at the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rodeo Grounds in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Mason is currently a resident of Springville, which holds the 801 area code, but he was born in Henderson, Nevada.
Kaycee Feild gestures to his mentee, Mason Clements, as they joke around while preparing for the Days of '47 Rodeo held Thursday, July 19, 2018, at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City. Feild, of Genola, is a four-time world champion bareback rider, and helps coach Clements. “We’re competitive with each other no matter what we do,” said Clements. “Then we add making money, the physicality of rodeo, the crowds and it makes it that much more fun and makes us more competitive.”
Mason Clements dons his cowboy hat as he prepares to head to the chutes before the Strawberry Days Rodeo held Friday, June 22, 2018, at the PRCA Rodeo Grounds in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Clements competed in roughly 85 rodeos this year, riding in as many as four to five rodeos a week during the peak summer season.
Mason Clements and his horse burst out of the chutes as he competes during the Strawberry Days Rodeo held Friday, June 22, 2018, at the PRCA Rodeo Grounds in Pleasant Grove, Utah. “Bareback riding has been compared to riding a jackhammer with one hand,” according to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
Mason Clements holds out his hand for his nephew, Jax Clements, 3, of Salt Lake City, to high-five him as some of Mason's family surrounds him after he was injured during the Days of '47 Rodeo held Thursday, July 19, 2018, at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City, Utah. Mason would soon thereafter find that he had torn his ACL, but he continued to compete through the season.
Mason Clements exits the media room after being interviewed by a member of the media during the Days of '47 Rodeo held Thursday, July 19, 2018, at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City, Utah. Bareback riding generally ranks as the second most injury-prone event in rodeo, according to Current Sports Medicine Reports.
Mason Clements rides a stationary bike during a workout Wednesday, May 23, 2018, at Anytime Fitness in Payson, Utah. Mason tries to hit the gym when he's not either competing in rodeos or training for them. He tries to meet with a personal trainer at least once every month or two.
Mason Clements holds the wheels steady as Kaycee Feild rides atop a bucking machine Tuesday, June 12, 2018, at Feild's home in Genola, Utah. When they have time, the two bareback riders train together.
Mason Clements is interviewed by a member of the media after competing in the Days of '47 Rodeo held Thursday, July 19, 2018, at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Mason Clements kisses Brianna Winn, his girlfriend, as he leaves his hotel room at the Palms Casino Resort on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Considered the world's top rodeo, the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo begins Dec. 6 and takes place on ten consecutive nights in "Sin City".
Mason Clements signs a bill for room-service food as he lies in a compression bag in his hotel room at the Palms Casino Resort on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Back to back rodeos for ten nights can test a cowboy's body, and Mason spent as much time as he could prepping his body in the mornings and afternoons before competing each evening.
Mason Clements makes his way to his truck after leaving the Palms Casino Resort to head to the final night of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
During previous performances at this year's WNFR, Mason also injured his right hand, which is his riding hand. Pictured here at a previous rodeo, Mason Clements tapes up his arms as he prepares before the Fort Herriman PRCA Rodeo on Saturday, June 2, 2018, at the arena next to W&M Butterfield Park in Herriman, Utah.
Mason Clements bursts out of the chutes atop Frontier Rodeo's Gunfire as he competes in the bareback-riding event during the final night of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo held Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Over the ten nights of the rodeo, Mason competed against 15 world-class bareback riders and placed as high as second twice.
Mason Clements finished in ninth place overall within the bareback-riding division at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, one spot better than the previous year. Pictured here at a previous rodeo, Mason Clements hugs Brianna Winn, his girlfriend, after competing in the Young Living Farms Rodeo held Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, in Mona, Utah. Clements underwent ACL surgery at the end of 2018, and looks forward to next rodeo season.
Besides wrapping up my rodeo project, last month was a more exciting December than some. The Brigham Young University women's volleyball team advanced all the way to the NCAA's Final Four in Minneapolis, but was sadly swept in the first match by Stanford. BYU's football team also earned a bowl game in Idaho, but sadly no photographers were sent to either the out-of-state volleyball or football games despite sending reporters.
Besides the usually splattering of sports assignments, December predictably saw many holiday-themed stories including light displays, volunteer efforts, Santa sightings, Christmas concerts and other general festivities.
As I wrap up another calendar year at the Daily Herald, I've really learned to appreciate the communities I cover. From providing breaking news coverage on two wildfires burning more than 100,000 acres which threatened to destroy two south-county communities, to watching local sports teams go for state and national titles and getting to see local athletes develop from year to year, this past 365 days working at the Daily Herald as solidified the thought in my mind that there is no job I can love more than being a newspaper photojournalist at a daily publication. I hope to continue to foster that love in 2019, and to also see more of my growing knowledge of the community I cover to be more visible in my photographs.
Brigham Young University players celebrate after sweeping the University of Texas in an NCAA regional final match Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, at Smith Fieldhouse in Provo. The win allowed the Cougars to advance to the NCAA women's volleyball Final Four held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The team was later swept by Stanford in the national semifinals.
Brigham Young University guard TJ Haws (30) is wrapped up by Utah State University forward Dwayne Brown Jr. (2) on a play during a game between the Brigham Young University Cougars and the Utah State University Aggies held Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018, at the Marriott Center in Provo. An offensive foul was called on Haws during the play.
Brigham Young University libero Mary Lake (18) bumps the ball back toward the net during an NCAA regional final match between the Brigham Young University Cougars and the University of Texas Longhorns held Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, at Smith Fieldhouse in Provo.
Brigham Young University guard TJ Haws (30) is helped up by forward Yoeli Childs (23) and guard Zac Seljaas (2) after Haws was fouled while making a three-pointer during a game between the Brigham Young University Cougars and the University of Utah Utes as part of the Beehive Classic held Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City.
Brigham Young University guard Zac Seljaas (2) dunks the ball during a game between the Brigham Young University Cougars and the University of Utah Utes as part of the Beehive Classic held Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City.
Brigham Young University fans cheer at the start of an NCAA regional final match between the Brigham Young University Cougars and the University of Texas Longhorns held Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, at Smith Fieldhouse in Provo.
Brigham Young University guard TJ Haws (30) lays the ball up after driving the baseline and past Utah State University center Neemias Queta (23) during a game between the Brigham Young University Cougars and the Utah State University Aggies held Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018, at the Marriott Center in Provo.
Westlake senior shooting guards Samantha Hester, right, and Marissa Scoresby pose for a portrait Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018, at Westlake High School in Saratoga Springs. The duo has coined the nickname "the splash sisters" and is hoping to help lead their team to the state finals once again this season.
Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth plays a large handbell as she jokes around during the opening night of Christmas with The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square held Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint's Conference Center in Salt Lake City.
Lydia Wiscombe, of Highland, throws a toy snowball at Santa Claus as she's accompanied by Heather Lott, a student volunteer from Utah Valley University, during a Quiet Santa session Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, at University Place in Orem. Lydia lives with CDKL5, a disorder that has symptoms similar to Rett Syndrome, including seizures, loss of language skills, hand wringing and developmental problems.
Shelia Adams, of Park City, reacts as Rose, a northern saw-whet owl, looks her way after Adams and her daughter, Gabby, 11, had a photo taken of them with the owl during the night-owling program held Friday, Dec. 28, 2018, at the Sundance Nordic Center.
Andrew Honey, 14, right, and his brother, Anthony, 12, play a video game together as their brother, Joshua, 15, wheels about in the hallway Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, at the Honey family's home in American Fork. The boys all have Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare genetic disease that fatally deteriorates muscles in primarily male victims and has confined these brothers to wheelchairs.
Rebecca Dewey hugs her husband, Dylan, during a brief recess in Dylan Dewey's sentencing held at the 4th Judicial District Court on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018, in Provo. Dylan Dewey was sentenced to 90 days in the Utah County Jail for a class A misdemeanor of unlawful sexual activity with a 16- or 17-year-old.
Kelsie Whitaker, of Provo, looks through bags of gifts for different families before then delivering those bags to families as part of the United Way of Utah County's Sub for Santa program Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018, at Community Action Services and Food Bank in Provo.
Author and U.S. Army veteran Leslie Zimmerman helps her daughter Kennedy, 10, build a graham-cracker house as Zimmerman and her extended family all create graham-cracker houses together Friday, Dec. 21, 2018, at the author's mother's home in Orem.