Independent journalism documenting the intersection of grit, grace, and mental health in the Western world. Real stories from behind the chutes.
As a non-profit photography studio, we believe everyone deserves beautiful memories. Our blog often highlights the stories behind our sessions, showcasing our passion for capturing genuine moments. Discover how we offer free services to those in need, using our lens to uplift and create lasting heirlooms. Your stories inspire us, and we hope to inspire you too.
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Sometimes, the best thing a photographer can do is pull their eyes away from the viewfinder, take a step back, and look at the bigger picture. With a rare open weekend on the rodeo schedule, I had a chance to do exactly that. The brain-dump that follows is a mix of where this studio is at, where it’s going, and the unfiltered reality of the miles we’re putting down.
A lot of guys will tell you they ride for the adrenaline or the gold buckles. But if you want to know what’s actually keeping a young hand down the road when the weekends go cold and the mud gets deep, you have to look at the hustle outside the arena.
If you head out looking for Gimlet, Alberta, you’re going to find a lot of pasture, a lot of farmland, and very few houses. You’ll pass the old church barely standing its ground, and right after that, you’ll hit the Gimlet Community Hall and Rodeo Grounds. The community literally kept the bones of the old school and attached the hall to it. It’s a place that refuses to be forgotten.
If you look at Trochu on a map, it might just look like another dot in rural Alberta. But since a guy named Armand Trochu settled the St. Anne Ranch back in 1903, this town has been the lifeblood of a massive agricultural community.
If you want to understand the true heartbeat of a rural Alberta town, don’t just look at the dirt in the arena look at the old blue painted bleachers.
Lee J Kemp
Every Moment Is A Choice Studio
Lee J Kemp
It is incredibly nice to finally wake up to blue skies, sunshine, and the hope that the rain is done for at least a few days. This past weekend was a phenomenal one for rodeo across Alberta, even if my original itinerary didn't go exactly to plan.
By Lee Kemp | EMIAC Studio
By Lee Kemp | EMIAC Studio
By Lee Kemp | EMIAC Studio
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