Kae Cheatham - Fine Artist
As a photographer, I specialize in 'domestic animal enterprises and rural activities.' This includes shooting rodeo and USET events, as well as fairs, pow wows, gymkhanas and reenactments. I started off with SLRs, (My first camera was a Nikkormat FTN) and would still be using them if I could buy decent film.
This picture, of a traditional dancer was taken with my Nikon 6006 
a few decades ago, and was one of 50 finalists in a national competition that drew more than 25,000 entries. I was pretty pleased!
Now I use DLSRs and have fully embraced the electronic digital era. No more need to find the right film; I can change ISO in the middle of a shoot; minimal processing fees and no breathing fumes of darkroom chemicals; I can shoot, shoot shoot without worrying about the cost. Digital manipulation is also a plus. Graphic arts techniques are applied to some my photos; it is absolutely fun, but I don't feel a neeed to use it on everything. I dabble a bit in designing web sites, digital art, and have done photo restoration.
I am also the author of eleven books, many published poems, and some articles. When I trek about my region giving presentations about writing or Western American history, I always have my cameras with hopes of capturing a unique event, viewpoint or situation.
Writing articles put me in a photojournalist category, as I was stringer for a national rodeo magazine and covered some IPRA regional events with words and pictures. On assignment at events, such as dog agility or dressage competitions, taught me how to quickly compose and take a picture. Lighting wasn't always optimum, and there was no time to make many adjustments. Eight seconds for a bull rider to score; maybe two for the photographer to capture the moment--especially if the rodeo is indoors or at night (a flash doesn't recycle fast enough for more than two shots). Now, with no more weekly rodeos in my life, I'm enjoying the slow down and ability to take time with shots.
