Jim Algie talks about the most representative photo he has ever taken of his home province of Alberta, which he snapped at the Sasquatch Music and Arts Festival in Alberta’s Drayton Valley in 2007.
We were walking towards the main music stage and had to pass by a long line of cowboys on horseback. My lady love at the time, who hails from Manchester, thought it was some Glastonbury-like cowboy cosplay. She wanted her photo taken beside a horse whose head was on the same level as hers.
After I snapped the pic, she said to the cowboy, “Is this your horsey? He’s well cute.”
“Sure is, ma’am, until he chews your face off. Please back away from the horse.”
She backed up a few yards then said to him, “Are you guys part of the festival?”
“Hell no, we. was out chasing heiffers and dropped by for a look see.”
A few hours later when a country band was playing the now drunk cowboy stomped his way through the campfire to gaze lovingly at his beer, when I took this pic.
He looked at her and said, “Pardon me, ma’am, but do you know how to two step?”
Since even the rednecks adhere to a manly code of honor in our part of the mild west he looked at me to make sure I did not disapprove.
I nodded while thinking to myself, “Go ahead, ass wipe, you entertain her for a while.”
Hobbled my alcohol, they two stepped and staggered around in front of the stage. Now it was my turn to gaze longingly at, and drink deeply from, my neglected beer.
Jim Algie’s books and albums are available from Amazon or a flea market near you.