About the Project “European Cowboy”
‘European Cowboy’ is a book about identity, expression, and freedom. It depicts a close-knit community of young cowboys in Europe who practice “bull riding,” part of the classic (American) rodeo and also the most dangerous sport in the world. During the summer months, these men travel through Belgium, France, and Italy to pursue their dreams of freedom and heroism by participating in local rodeos. For most of them, then, bull riding is much more than a sport; it is part of a lifestyle in which they strive for a sincere life in which man and animal live together. In part, their lifestyle is also based on the ideal image of ‘the Cowboy’ as we collectively remember it from the mythical American West. In “European Cowboy,” visual elements of this mythical cowboy we know from television series, movies, and commercials are interwoven with the harsh realities of individual dreams, friendship, and vulnerabilities of the real cowboys of Europe in their quest for personal forms of identity and freedom. (From the European Cowboy website)
About Bjorn Staps
Bjorn is an experienced photographer born and raised in the Netherlands. He works on both personal projects and assignments. As a photographer, he is attracted to natural moments of people experiencing life. In his personal work, Bjorn focuses on people or communities who do not necessarily conform to society’s norms, but are in search of personal forms of identity, expression, and freedom. The protagonists in his work have the courage to shape their personal lives in their search for independence and heroism.
Learn more about Bjorn and buy your copy of the European Cowboy at EuropeanCowboy.com and follow Bjorn on Instagram @bjornstaps
What originally piqued your interest in capturing the essence of the “European Cowboy”?
As a person, I have always been interested in the lonely hero. Not Spiderman or Batman, but the working class hero as appearing in Bruce Springsteen’s songs. The solitary protagonist in search of success and heroism is an interest that has become a common thread in my work. I also find the visual language surrounding the American West and the Cowboy in movies, TV series and commercials very interesting. The combination of real cowboys in countries where you would not immediately expect them, with rodeo as the most dangerous sport on earth was a perfect combination for me.
Were the photos in the book taken across a series of events? If not, how were they curated?
The photos of European Cowboy were taken over a period of four years in Belgium, France and Italy. In these 3 countries there are about 10 to 15 ranches where bullriding is being practiced and that’s where all the images were shot. I photographed during the annual rodeos, but also during weekend training sessions. In the book I wanted to depict not only the sport itself or the European cowboy lifestyle, but especially focus on the young cowboys’ quest for success and heroism combined with their close friendships. In the book, the designer created a rhythm with the images depicting a rodeo event with an emphasis on the mutual bond of the cowboys within it. Because the rodeo community in Europe is rather small and hidden, the action moments in the book are hidden in fold-out pages. A hidden section in the book as it were. In the back of the book is a section where the cowboys featured in the book are portrayed with their biography, races won and lists of their injuries. And there are quite a few injuries with some of the guys! Sometimes you even wonder why they do it, because it’s so dangerous. These pages are printed with gold ink to emphasize success, or the desire for success.
What stood out to you about the “cowboy” ideals and lifestyle that urged you to create an entire book and project around it?
Before starting the project, I had no idea what kind of people I would meet on the ranches and during the rodeos. What struck me most was the incredibly strong bond of friendship that the cowboys have among themselves. During bull riding, they are constantly saving each other’s lives by distracting the bull when a rider falls of or to make sure riders (and also the bulls!) stay safe during rides, The bond between them becomes super strong in a short period of time and the love of for their animals is enormous. It is beautiful to see how within this super masculine environment these men are not ashamed to show their friendship for each other. Besides focussing on the bull riding, the ranches and the cowboys, the bond between the men has become one of the main topics of the book.
As a photographer, I was welcome everywhere and was offered help on all sides. Rarely have I felt so welcome during my photography work! It’s a great community where I still love to hang out!
