DARREN CARROLL + THE AMERICAN RODEO

April 19, 2023
    It’s been a while since Darren Carroll had been on the rodeo beat, and it was wonderful to be back on it thanks to a new client, Teton Ridge. As the presenting sponsor of The American Western Weekend in Arlington, TX, last month, Darren was brought in to photograph a series of portraits of all the competitors, and then to stick around and photograph the nightly performances over the course of four days.

    Darren said "to borrow a phrase, this certainly wasn’t my first rodeo. That came in 1998, when Sports illustrated sent me to cover the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. I'd never been to a rodeo before, much less the NFR, but I quickly fell in love with everything about the sport—from the event itself to the participants to the lifestyle surrounding the event. The NFR became a staple on my schedule, with the magazine sending me out to Las Vegas every December without a story or a writer, just the simple instruction to bring back a couple of good pictures for its front-of-the-book “Leading Off” section of two-page spreads. I guess I did something right, because that pattern continued for a dozen years, and in the midst of it, in 2002 I was named the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Rodeo Photographer of the Year. And yes, I have the belt buckle to prove it!"

    "Things being what they were in the editorial business, eventually sending a photographer on a 5- or 10- day shoot without the justification of a story became a non-starter for the magazine, and my Decembers started looking a little different. (In the ‘Whenever one door closes, another one opens” department, the next year I was hired to shoot Dick’s Sporting Goods' annual golf buyers guide and online catalog, and for the next 10 years that occupied the NFR’s former place on my schedule)."

    "I may have gotten out of the water, but always seemed to be dipping my toe back in—be it with a 5-day documentary assignment for Sports Illustrated on the itinerant lives of rodeo cowboys, a story on a school for aspiring rodeo clowns and bullfighters for ESPN, a portrait shoot for SI Kids, corporate work for my (then) local county's Chamber of Commerce, or a personal project on Charreria, the Mexican national sport from which American rodeo derives many of its traditions. So while I guess you can say I never really left, I was always hoping for the opportunity to dive back in head-first. Thanks to the folks at Teton Ridge, I was able to."

    see more of Darren's work here!

    THOSE 3 REPS + FRESHLY COOKED CREATIVE

    May 28, 2025
    🪄 Bringing Our Brand to Life with Freshly Cooked Creative 🪄 When we set out to celebrate our 36-year journey - and communicate who we are today - we partnered with Freshly Cooked Creative to help us tell that story visually and memorably. The result is a stunning animated piece that begins with our sapling logo and grows into a vibrant, flourishing tree. It’s more than a beautiful metaphor. The animation reflects our evolution: deep roots in the industry, decades-long relationships, and a future full of growth and possibility. Every frame is intentional, designed to reflect our expanding capabilities and continued relevance in the creative space. But Freshly Cooked didn’t stop at animation. They delivered a complete brand package built to meet today’s marketing demands. We now have: Four optimized formats of the animation for use across digital platforms Custom-designed web icons, Zoom backgrounds, and event signage Branded social media assets and sticker graphics for both digital and in-person impact Thanks to Freshly Cooked Creative , we now have a dynamic, versatile visual system that honors our past while positioning us for what’s next. Curious how Freshly Cooked can help bring your next campaign, pitch, or brand refresh to life? Check out their latest work and reach out to us if you want to see more!

    ICONIC + JAMES NELSON

    May 21, 2025
    ✨ Why Custom Illustration Matter ✨ Why icons deserve a second look! Icons are often treated like a checkbox - something to grab from a stock library or pull from an existing UI kit. But when they’re built intentionally, they become one of the most quietly powerful tools in your creative arsenal. Custom icons do more than reinforce a brand. They clarify communication. They guide users. They bring visual consistency to even the most complex projects - across digital, print, packaging, environments, and campaigns. Illustrator James Nelson approaches icon work with that kind of purpose. His sets are clean, strategic, and built to flex—whether they’re solving for user experience, packaging hierarchies, internal comms, or large-scale marketing systems.

    ROLLING LOUD + LINCOLN DURHAM

    April 1, 2025
    ✨ Lincoln Durham - 3D Character Design + Animation - Rolling Loud Music Festival ✨ Lincoln Durham created this dynamic sizzle reel showcasing some of the 2D and 3D animations he developed for the Rolling Loud Music Festival across various cities, in collaboration with Zellus. These animations were primarily used for social media promotions and as NFTs to further engage festival fans. The original artwork, provided by an undisclosed artist, served as still illustrations that Lincoln brought to life by adding motion and sound. For the 3D scenes, he sculpted and rigged characters inspired by the 2D illustrations, using them as a foundation to build out a story line based on direction from Zellus. Lincoln’s ability to seamlessly blend 2D and 3D animation, along with his expertise in motion and sound design, brings energy and depth to every project. His work for Rolling Loud is just one example of how he transforms static illustrations into immersive, high-impact visuals. Looking to elevate your next project with dynamic animation? Consider Lincoln for your upcoming creative needs!