I’ve been working for the Salinas Californian just over a year now, and the first event I’ve covered twice for the paper was Spirit West Coast. Here are a few images from this year’s Christian music festival and a short video at the bottom of the post.
Christian music misconception from Conner Jay on Vimeo.
I shot a lot of rodeo action last week. Here are a few of my favorite peak action moments, and a few frames of totally gratuitous violence involving bulls.
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The thick aroma of whiskey and hay filled the Bull Crossing Cantina, a makeshift bar the California Rodeo Salinas. People dance and fall over, the splashing of spilled drinks darkening your shoes. The liquor flows heavy and quick.
“Take my picture!” People scream and try and squeeze their faces into the camera. Others exhibit a hazy oblivion to everything around them.
The Crown Royal Girls swing t-shirts over their heads and throw straw hats into the crowd. It’s chaos as the hands snatch up everything.
Police scramble, as the scanner runs wild with public intoxication, random brawls and a few stabbings.
It’s a foreign experience at 1 a.m. A phenomenon contained to drinking and special circumstance.
A friend told me, “No one goes to the rodeo to see their favorite cowboy. Can you name one?” People go the rodeo to drink.
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Salinas firefighters were kind enough to invite me along to some of the madness that ensues on the Day of our Independence, as we jumped from one fire to the next. Below are a few images from today, and click the link below for the full story:
Salinas firefighters put out four fires on south side.
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The sounds of Banda music play constantly in the background of Salinas. Accordions and tubas buzz out of homes, cars and concerts. Today I had Banda pounding through my brain all day at the Dia de la Familia today in at the Salinas Sports Complex. It’s far more contagious then rhythmic.
One of the best things about living and working in Salinas is finding yourself immersed in a totally different culture in your own backyard.
by cjay
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by cjay
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