"Riders of the West" Linda MacCannell

A couple of nice outgoing ladies stopped in my shop today. They expressed interest in my collection of cameras on display." I'm a photographer" one of the ladies mentioned."That's great" I said" what is your favorite format"." 4x5 "she replied.Hmm I'm thinking serious stuff. After the 30 min of visiting her friend said" you should show him your book". I asked the name of it and she said. "Riders of the West"" Oh I have that book ,in fact about 20 copies". Sticking out her hand she said "I'm Linda MacCannell and I'm the photographer". This is a book about Indian Rodeo both large and very small events here in the states and Canada.The unusual part is she used a Linhof 4x5! There is a nice pix of her camera set up at Red Rock State Park here in Gallup,NM.I have a lot of native American Customers who are involved in rodeo and love looking through the book looking at people they know and occasionally buying a copy. This style of rodeo is not the slick TV style but a look at a wonderful way of life. I have bought about 100 copies over the years from a discount book supplier. Linda said it didn't sell well and is likely off the shelves. My point is you never know who will come into your life and what stories they have to tell.Imagine using a 4x5 to shoot rodeo. Regards,Bill

COOL STORY...
hope you had her sign a copy or two for ya..

NM Bill,

I have a friend that lives in Gallup. He used to be a photographer now he is into bicycles. Dr Phil Flemming. If you see him tell him Lee said hi.

lee\c

Hi all, The following almost knocked my socks off. Linda came in to see me the other day.She and some friends were down from Durango,Col.to do a little shopping here in Gallup. After exchanging hello's and meeting her friends she hands me a very large, thin ,wrapped in red package.You guessed it.A 16x20 mounted print of one of the images from her book. The subject happens to be a mutual friend.The print is stunning as it came from a 4x5 neg shot with a Linhof. I must be living right. Just had to share this. Regards,Bill

Glad you did, share it that is. What a nice story.

Cool story Bill. It is always good to hear of such interesting events.

gene