story by Siri Stevens
David Seymore is working on his 13th year of taking rodeo photography. He came about it quite by accident, helping to raise money for the National Little Britches in Dodge City, Kansas. “I worked a deal with Walgreens to develop my pictures each night, Pat would sell them the next day on the picnic table for $5. We donated all that back to the Little Britches for awards.” David has worked for 20 years now at a local cooperative (Pride Ag Resources) in outside sales of fertilizer and chemicals. “I like my job and the people I work with,” he said. “I’ve got about four years left.” After he retires, he hopes to go on the road shooting rodeo. His wife, Pat, retires in two years from teaching. She has dedicated 40 years to her career as a special education teacher. She will go down the road with him from time to time, but she also plans to spend time with their grandchildren. They have two sons Christopher and Stephen, three grandchildren Deacon 12, Reagan 2 1/2, and Samuel 4 months. The boys also work with Justin Sports Med.
He has gone from a Minolta film camera to a Canon 7D Mark 11, and continues to upgrade his equipment. His goal is a Canon 1D Mark IV. “If my wife will let me.” He got his PRCA card six years ago and has shot the WNFR twice now from the mote. “I enjoy shooting rodeo,” said the 63 year old. “I like the action – and it’s actually relaxing. I know it sounds dumb, but when I’m looking through my lens, I’m not thinking about anything except what’s coming at me and I try to do the best I can.”
David wishes he would have found this hobby sooner so that he would have a better understanding than he has now. “Technology is changing so fast, it’s hard to keep up.” He shoots around six PRCA rodeos and about that many KPRA rodeos each year, and sprinkles some barrel races in between. This marks his 6th year shooting the KPRA finals. “I try to balance being at home and shooting,” he says. “If we want to travel, we try to work it in with a PRCA or KPRA rodeo and see the country.” He hopes to expand that when he retires. “I’ve got family in lots of places and we can make a big circle and shoot rodeos and then come back home.”
Shooting the Dodge City RoundUp was the most prestigious event he has shot to date. “I fell in love with rodeo all over again – from the way the animals move to the speed of it – I love it! I’ve made great friends and I want to keep doing it.”
