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Behind the Lens With Andy Watson: Regular Season Concludes in Nampa Before World Finals at AT&T Stadium

By: Andy Watson

Andy Watson of Bull Stock Media is in his 25th season as the PBR’s lead photographer, and has captured nearly every ride in PBR history.

“To be able to freeze that moment and look at it and see everything in it is really cool, and to (the riders) it means a lot,” Watson said. “Every ride is something special, whether it is good, bad, great form or their buddies are in the background.”

This season, Watson is taking fans behind the lens of some of his favorite photos, sharing his thoughts and processes as he covers each Unleash The Beast event.

Below are Watson’s favorite images from the PBR Take The Money And Ride, presented by Union Home Mortgage, in Nampa, Idaho.

To see more Bull Stock Media images, follow along @Bullstockmedia (Instagram & Facebook) or check out bullstockmedia.com.

“I don’t always get to wander around and shoot different angles while covering an event. My job consists of covering the rides and always having a usable shot of the winners, thus leaving the arena during a show gets tough. Knowing the scheduled TV breaks allows me to gauge when I have a few minutes to wander around and capture moments like these when the guys are getting their minds right to do their job.”

“I’ve had several favorite bulls over the years while photographing the PBR. Some just buck hard, some have awesome personalities, some have a really photogenic bucking style. The TNT/Hart bull, Milk Man, is quickly becoming one of those favorites!”

“Our bullfighters have an ability to always be in the right place at the right time. Jesse Byrne has been showing this ability lately as he flies through the air to make this save for Cooper Davis. While shooting, you have to always be aware of what is happening in the scene to predict where the next opportunity for a great photo will be.”

“In 2004, I was kneeling in the Idaho Center dirt in nearly exactly the same spot as I was last Saturday. World Champions Michael Gaffney and Little Yellow Jacket matched up for a PBR record-tying score of 96.5 points. The crowd went wild, and the ride went down in the history books. Saturday night, we almost got to see another special moment. J.B. Mauney rode the Hart Cattle Co./Hale/Bloyd bull I’m Legit Too for 7.25 seconds for what would have been one of the most amazing rides I have seen.”

“Every arena produces opportunities for a little something different in a photo. The tunnel to the arena in Nampa, Idaho, is no exception. Tight enough that it’s tough to pass oncoming traffic, especially while packing gear, but it sure makes for some moody images. And I was pleasantly surprised to notice the Monster Energy barrel was placed in a perfect spot to work with Derek Kolbaba’s sponsor.”

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