Ivan McClellan expands his portrait of Black rodeo life
Eight Seconds: Legacy in Motion is an updated edition of Ivan McClellan’s long-term work on Black rodeo communities in the United States. The book adds 91 new images and returns to a culture shaped by competition, mutual support, and close ties between riders, horses, and crowds.
McClellan has been working within these communities since 2015, moving from California to Oklahoma and Illinois. Published by Damiani, the new book extends an already sustained body of work with 91 additional photographs that look beyond the arena to the people and places that hold this culture together.
The cover features Texas teenager Kortnee Solomon, framed by horses and wearing a blue hat and a rainbow-colored money shirt. Her direct stance suggests how much the future of this tradition depends on young competitors, and on the discipline and confidence the sport asks them to build.
What makes the series compelling for artists and image-makers is McClellan’s attention to gesture, expression, and the relationships between people and animals. He photographs the dust, speed, and pressure of the ring, but he also stays with the quieter moments where trust and familiarity become visible.
A documentary eye shaped by closeness
The article notes that McClellan favors shadow and warmth over the hard glare of stadium lighting. For readers interested in painting and drawing, the photographs offer a lesson in how light can define mood and structure, while still keeping the social life of the subject at the center.
Source : Colossal