The Rodeo: Candy Bell 1993

Nancy Andrews made this black and white photograph, The Rodeo: Candy Bell, sometime in the late twentieth century. It’s like a scene from a movie, gritty and raw. The high contrast gives it an immediacy, pulling you right into the rodeo arena. I’m drawn to Candy’s face, her wide, toothy smile that cuts through the seriousness of the rodeo setting. There's a realness to her expression, a kind of uninhibited joy. Notice the dark shadow cast by her hat, and how it frames her face. It's a simple but powerful choice by Andrews. It’s a great picture because it gives us a glimpse into a world that feels both familiar and distant. The photo reminds me of work by Diane Arbus, whose empathetic eye captured something similar in American life. Ultimately, Andrews' photograph leaves us with more questions than answers, and that’s what makes it so compelling.