Bulls can bash up against the side of the fence though, so you can’t ever be too comfortable, you have to be ready to sprint
served. But I don’t want them to be engaging with me either, because I am documenting what they are doing.”
Elise said when working behind the shoots she aims to be swift, but not too fast that she is disturbing riders or bulls.
“It’s important to be aware the riders are getting into their head space,” she said.
“They are about to be doing something that’s pretty dangerous.”
Elise has found the perfect spot to capture that iconic bullriding image, about halfway down from the shoots around the arena.
“Bulls can bash up against the side of the fence though, so you can’t ever be too comfortable, you have to be ready to sprint,” she said.
The key to sports photography, she said, was learning to anticipate what would happen next so you were ready for the shot.
“I can normally predict this now by watching how the bulls move,” she said.
There is a risk of arena photos starting to look the same, so Elise makes it her goal to hunt for new frames.
“You are always looking in your peripherals too just to make sure there is nothing you are missing,” she said.
“While the bull ride is happening there could be 10 other things happening, whether it’s in the crowd, or with the bull riders — there is a lot to be told with their story.”
Elise worked at the PBR until the Townsville 23-24.
By then she was about eight months pregnant.
“So I will be big then … I probably won’t fit behind the shoots,” she laughed.
Now living in Lismore with her partner, Elise is keen to see how her career will progress.
There is no nine-to-five as a photographer, but that’s why she enjoys it.
“There is no Monday to Friday with photography, you just work when there is work. And that’s good,” she said.
“And I am always travelling which I love, it’s one of my favourite things about my work.
“With the PBR I know grand on finals in November when the dates are and when I will be away.
“It can be challenging when you are in a relationship and you are away all the time.
“But I might be away a lot for one month, then the next month not so much.”