"John Annerino is one of a handful of photographers with a real empathy for the West. His work has an edge to it, reflecting the sheer size and power of his subject — a subject he treats with love and respect." — Newsweek

Few things are as classically American as the cowboy. And the most thrilling real-life setting for a modern cowboy is one of America's fastest growing spectator sports and its most dangerous … roughstock rodeo, a sport that makes professional wrestling look comatose. Now comes Roughstock: the first full-color photography book dedicated to the culture of rodeo — packed with one hundred thirty gorgeous photographs never before seen.

Today's rodeo cowboys — much like those of yesterday — are multicultural, with African Americans among the greatest rodeo stars and Hispanics, whites, and Native Americans well represented. Women, too, are active rodeo stars. In all, more than 23,000 dues-paying cowboys and cowgirls belong to over seventy rodeo associations. Each year, they compete for more than $22 million in prize money in more t

Photojournalist John Annerino has been horned by bulls and stomped by broncs in his quest to capture rodeos on film. From California to Virginia, Roughstock documents Native American, African American, all-women, and traditional rodeos; with gritty, action-packed behind the chutes photographs, up close, mean and personal.

John Annerino was born on the edge of the desert, where he still lives. An Arizona native, his credits include Life, Time, Newsweek, the New York Times, Scientific American, and many publications worldwide. He is the author of eight books, among them Dead in Their Tracks (Four Walls Eight Windows) and Apache (Marlowe and Co., 1998).