Posted on 05/22/2006 6:23:30 AM PDT by Theodore R.
Picture perfect cowboy BY JOE GULICK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
A photograph taken of a Lubbock cowboy and his horse in front of a spectacular West Texas sunset has gained fame both inside and outside the Lubbock city limits and was honored in Austin last week by both houses of the Texas Legislature.
Employees of Visit Lubbock, the city's convention and visitors bureau, titled the photograph "The Legend Lives On" and used it as the cover of its current Lubbock Visitor Guide. The picture also has been used in several advertisements for Lubbock, including ones in People Magazine, Texas Monthly and Continental Airlines.
The Texas Travel Industry Association awarded Visit Lubbock its first-ever Excellence in Photography Award for Tourism in March for the use of the photo on the Lubbock Visitor Guide.
Artie Limmer/ Provided by Visit Lubbock This photograph of Lubbock cowboy Brice Chapman and his horse, Crossfire, silhouetted against a sunset on land Chapman owns east of Lubbock, was selected as the cover of the current Lubbock visitors guide. It won a state award for excellence in photography for Visit Lubbock, the city's convention and visitors bureau, and was recognized on the floors of both houses of the Texas Legislature.artie limmer t provided by visit lubbock
State Rep. Cheri Isett and State Sen. Bob Duncan honored the award for Lubbock's cowboy photo with resolutions that were read on the floors of the House and Senate on May 15.
Gary Lawrence, CEO of the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance, said the popularity of the visitors guides went through the roof with the cowboy photo on the cover. Visit Lubbock printed 100,000 copies of the previous guide and 200,000 copies of the current guide, he said.
"We had to reorder visitors guides twice last year. Even the Amarillo Visitors Center asked us for more of them," he said.
The award-winning photograph was taken of Brice Chapman and his horse, Crossfire, on land that Chapman owns east of Lubbock. Lubbock photographer Artie Limmer took it on behalf of the Thomas Agency.
"At the end of the day, we lucked out and some funny clouds came through," Limmer said. "And Brice was great because he could get the horse to stand up like that. Horses generally don't do that sort of thing."
Limmer, who works full-time for Texas Tech and does a lot of freelance work, said the type of clouds that
appeared were not really the type of clouds that he had been looking for, but he was pleased with the look they brought to the scene.
"As far as shooting the photograph, it was a matter of composing it - him getting the horse up and finding the angle where the clouds looked best," Limmer said. "In photography, most of the time nothing happens right. Fortunately for this shot, everything happened right."
Chapman said, "That horse has been my friend for about 13 years, I guess. It's an honor just to have a horse like that, and it's an honor and a privilege to have a picture taken like that.
Crossfire is 15-years-old and is a registered American paint horse, Chapman said. He has been trained to rear up, bow, count, nod his head yes and no, spin a rope in his mouth and do other tricks.
Chapman, 36, shoes horses and is a performer who does trick roping and routines with horses and his trained dog. He has been invited to go to the White House this week to do trick roping at a presidential picnic. Chapman has appeared at the South Plains Fair and performs locally at schools and rodeos.
The award from the Texas Travel Industry Association included a $500 honorarium, according to Marcy Jarrett, executive director of Visit Lubbock. She said the money would be used to frame a 30-inch-by-40-inch print of the picture, the award, the joint resolutions from the House and Senate and a special recognition from the city for office display.
Lawrence said Visit Lubbock is in the process of putting together ranch tours for people who come to Lubbock and want to see cowboys at work.
"We think that we in Lubbock are what's left of Texas," he said. "Let me give you an example. If you're in Kansas and someone tells you to close your eyes and say what Texas is like, you will be seeing horses, cattle, ranches and wide open spaces. You don't see it in Dallas, in Houston or in San Antonio. But you can see it here."
To comment on this story:
joe.gulick@lubbockonline.com t 766-8758
brian.williams@lubbockonline.com t 766-8717
Yes, but in this instance I think he was posing for photo.
I think he's already tame, judging from the saddle, reins, etc.
Thanks, Joe, for hosting the image. It is very nice, indeed.
I remember a few years ago the youngest coming home from school all excited about the cowboy who visited her school. From the story of the event, it might easily have been Brice and his companions. Hmmm.
Mot necessarily, although I know this one was. A filly my husband was breaking was all geared up. I believe she ended up as a horse in the bronc riding rodeo stock. She pitched him off about three times. The last time, we had to call the ambulance. He ended up landing smack dab on his neck and compressed some vertabra. That was about 30 something years ago. That was just outside of Ranger Texas. Had cars lined up and down the highway. The idiot ems called the fire department too. LOLOL Hubby had people yelling and whooping BEFORE he ended up on the round the last time. Not too many years ago he learned how to gentle break them. Worked wonderfully with two half brother geldings we had.
Beautiful picture BTW!
Interesting. Gotta be careful with back injuries. Shouldn't get too wreckless with the old spinal column if you can help it. Anyway, I was just supposing. All I know about breaking horses I learned from watching "Lonesome Dove." :-P
Odd sort of comment; they do everytime I get anywhere near one.
Beautiful photo; thanks for posting.
Made me think of you partner ............. RIP
Lubbock/TTU photographer ping
I'm an Indiana basketball orphan who now supports Texas Tech because of Coach Knight. I was in Lubbock for this year's Oklahoma-Tech basketball game in February.
Lonesome Dove is a great movie! He has had no real problems with it since then (he's 61 now) It was close to his neck are (upper back) I agree with you. You sort of can't tell from the pic. Reminds me of the old Roy Rogers and Lone Ranger shows. Hi Ho and away!!!
Thanks for the ping! Gotta love Lubbock and Texas Tech!!
I so love Texas men.
Anything that makes Lubbock look good is fine with me.
Neat photo. Thanks for the ping.
That would be the beautiful and talented ValerieUSA
what I can tell you is that is the typical Sunset or sunrise each and every day out here in Lubbock, Texas
Cowboys are welcome here, Natalie Maines is NOT!
"Gotta love Lubbock and Texas Tech!!"
Uh, no ... we don't. GIG 'EM!!!!! ;-)
ValerieUSA, and she does take beautiful pics!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.