The Wide Shot celebrates the work of Bay Area photographers, showcasing their latest projects and the behind-the-scenes stories of how they got the shots.
Gabriela Hasbun’s dedication to photographing the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo for more than a decade is a testament to the art of documentary photography. Her images not only record the event but highlight the vibrancy of the Black rodeo community, while challenging the prevailing narrative of the Western.
Black cowboys and cowgirls have contributed significantly to the culture of the American West. We see this in movies like “Sinners” and albums like Beyonce’s “Cowboy Carter.” Historically, the stories of Black cowboys have been overlooked or marginalized. Hasbun’s photographs, featured in her 2022 book “The New Black West,” play a vital role in correcting that record.
What inspired the project?
Strangely enough, it all started with a craving for fried catfish. My neighbor invited me on a quest to find the real deal. We ended up at the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, which has been the only Black touring rodeo in America for the past 41 years. While the fish was good, it was the horses and the entire scene that pulled me in…