Featured: Art Spur Poetry and Art Cowboy Poetry at the BAR-D Ranch www.CowboyPoetry.com

It's been said that a picture is worth a thousand words...we know many that are worthy of a poem or a song. In Art Spur, we invite poets and songwriters to let selections of Western art inspire their poetry and songs.
Our thirty-fourth piece offered to "spur" the imagination—in celebration of the Ninth Annual National Day of the Cowboy, July 27, 2013—is "Heading West," a photograph by Washington state photographer Molly Morrow (www.mollymorrow.com), widely recognized for her PRCA rodeo photography.

© Molly Morrow, www.mollymorrow.com; reproduction prohibited
"Heading West"

Molly Morrow tells about the photograph:

A yearly event, the crew for the Mert Stampfly Ranch takes mother cows and calves to spring pasture north of Ellensburg, Washington. The photograph shows Mert’s cows and crew, heading west through the wildflower-covered sage.
I was horseback when I photographed this. I was riding my good photo horse, Greta at the time. She had bucked with me earlier that morning, but I held on to my camera and didn't pull leather. She turns 29 this year.

Art Spur subjects are meant to inspire poetry and songs; we look for poems and songs inspired by the piece, not necessarily for a literal description of the image or its subject.
Submissions from all are welcome through Wednesday, July 24, 2013.

Find submission information below.

About Molly Morrow

photo by Connie Bennett
Molly Morrow and Greta

A versatile photographer as comfortable working in the studio as she is riding a horse, Molly Morrow has used her camera to capture the Western way of life for more than 30 years. With a creative spark and engaging attitude, Molly specializes in photographing the people, places and traditions of the West. Her portrait work, as well as her images of professional rodeos, landscapes and cowhands, can be found everywhere from print and online publications, commercial advertising and art galleries, to family homes and offices.
“Capturing the moment is what it’s all about,” says Molly, “in a fleeting second the opportunity is gone. My job as a photographer is to save that moment for all to see and share. It doesn’t matter if it is a loving glance or a spinning bull ride, salting away the image is what’s important.”
As a Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) photographer, Molly shoots rodeos throughout the West, including The National Finals Rodeo and nightly awards presentations, Cheyenne Frontier Days, Ellensburg Rodeo, Northwest Regional Rodeo/Ellensburg (NIRA), Bares and Broncs, Toppenish Rodeo, the Pendleton Round-Up, and Coulee City, Last Stand Rodeo.
“In her seven years as a PRCA photographer, Molly Morrow has proven to be one of the elite chroniclers of the cowboy sport,” said Jim Bainbridge, senior public relations coordinator at the PRCA. “The quality of her photos, her professionalism and can-do attitude separate her from the pack.”
Molly’s images also have appeared in national publications such as Western Horseman, Pro Rodeo Sports News, Cowboy’s Digest, Competitor News, The Basin Business Journal, and Rodeo Fame. Her work has also appeared in Western Way Magazine. She shows annually in October at the Western and Wildlife Show sponsored by the Fred Oldfield Western Heritage and Art Center in Puyallup, Washington. Other showings of her work include this past March (2013) in Great Falls, Montana, at the Great Western Living and Design Exhibition.

“Molly has provided us with great rodeo action shots, and also has been on assignment for us, capturing the unique relationship between rodeo competitors and their horses,” said Susan Morrison, managing editor of Western Horseman magazine.

Additionally, many other artists ask Molly to photograph their work for publication and reproduction, including nationally recognized and award winning sculptor Paul Crites. “I have been a professional artist/sculptor for some 43 plus years and have worked with many photographers. None have had the magic of Molly Morrow. I refer to her as ‘Merlin the Magician,’” Crites said. “Molly is able to capture the vision, passion and quality of what I embed into my work and bring it out to the viewer. I am fortunate indeed to work with a professional such as Molly, and you can underscore professional twice. Plus she is a hoot to work with, nothing dull going on here. And best of all she’s a friend!"

A new project for 2013, Western Artist, Cheryl Volz is working with Molly’s photographs and creating individual drawings of rodeo contestants in colored pencil for the Cow Palace Event Guide. It will be printed in Fall, 2013.

Top rodeo contestants, such as 2012 PRCA World Champion Bull Rider Cody Teel, request and use Molly’s photos for their fan pages and autograph sheets.

To complement her portraiture and action photography work, Molly also offers graphic design and print production services through her full-service studio in Ellensburg, Washington. Folks there know they can trust Molly to bring enthusiasm and professionalism to any project.

“Molly provided creative ideas to bring to life historic photographs of the Ellensburg Rodeo for the Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame photo project,” said members of the Ellensburg Rodeo Hall of Fame board. “Her professional knowledge of printing photos and graphic art techniques made it possible to create beautifully framed images for a future ERHOF museum. We especially appreciate her artistic work and good humor.”

For more information, contact Molly Morrow:

518 North Pine
Ellensburg, Washington 98926
509-929-7050

molly@mollymorrow.com
www.mollymorrow.com

provided May, 2013

See some additional examples of Molly Morrow's work in our feature here.

Find more about Molly Morrow and more of her work at her web site, www.MollyMorrow.com.

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Submissions

Poetry submissions were welcome from all, through Wednesday, July 24, 2013. Selected poems will be posted on or before the Ninth annual National Day of the Cowboy, Saturday, July 27, 2013.

Even if you have a poem or song pending, you are welcome to send one submission inspired by "Heading West."
Art Spur subjects are meant to inspire; we look for poems and songs inspired by the piece, not necessarily for a literal description of the image or its subject.

Do follow our regular guidelines for submissions here.

When you email your submission, please indicate that it is an Art Spur submission in the subject line.

Submissions are welcome through July 24, 2013.