Very rarely do I go on rants raves about the imperfections of my industry as I feel like that I am very fortunate and lucky to get to do something that I love almost daily. There are those times though that I simply cannot keep it to myself, one of the biggest pet peeve‘s I have is not giving credit to the photographer that shoots the shot by people who just grab images and use them as if they were their own.

In a world where we run and gun with hundreds of other photographers trying to find that one unique shot, the one that’s different that tells the story, going through all the hooplaws it takes it takes to gain access to the event, carrying multiple cameras and pounds of gear, always facing the chance of getting run over by a pissed off Bull or horse, and we except all of these parameters lusting for that one shot. It’s not necessarily about the shot but more of the accomplishment of satisfying your minds eye and being part of a great moment as you record it for your own personal gratification. With all that being said the thing that we do is only reward it if it’s shared with your followers and fan club. The good and the bad thing in today’s world of instant gratification and social media is the fact that your images are so easily obtained and reposted and most of the time welcomed, I just don’t understand why it’s so hard for the same people that share it under their name to give Photo credit to the photographer. I’m not just talking about mine but I see several images taken by my compadres in the field and not receiving credit, I just feel like that is a major disrespect to both myself and them, just common courtesy if nothing else to name the photographer.

Maybe this thought comes from the fact That people don’t really consider photographs as a tangible item, the hours put into capturing them and the thousands of dollars invested in the equipment to do so, it’s so simple, just tag the photographer in the post because in reality they on the photograph!I can understand the occasional rider to be so excited by a ride that they forget to name the photog, but the big boys know better!

This doesn’t just apply to the rodeo industry, it is across the board in photography, Portraits, Sports, photojournalism, all of which I am a part of as well. As a simple courtesy folks, tag your photographer, show a little respect.

Sincerely, Joe Duty Owner/Photographer, Joeduty.com/ Texas Vision Photography art.joeduty.com A  Sanger, Texas O  817-999-3141  E joe@joeduty.com   W  joeduty.com texasphotographyworkshops.com https://joeduty.artstorefronts.com  “Know me through my images, for they speak the language that words cannot, they cannot lie, for they are from within.” ~ Ansel Adams