Fine Photographs Preserve a Little Bit of History
Rodeo Girl is a spectacular and refreshing collection of photographs that will surely appeal to anyone interested in photography, the rodeo, or both. As an age of technology engulfs our world like a whirlwind, Lisa Eisner's lens takes the viewer through frames of the rodeo as though it were a ballad to an endangered species, a slow, lasting glimpse before it disappears forever into the sunset. Eisner finds in the rodeo what most photographers only dream of -- an opportunity to craft deliberate compositions of the spontaneous. And she takes advantage of that opportunity brilliantly. While many of the photographs are indeed of rodeo girls, the palette of subjects depicted is actually much broader. Personally, I like Eisner's sense of photographic artistry, and the high print quality helps do it justice. Among other things, with photographs in colour as well as black & white, warm tones seem to be preferred throughout which makes for a classic appearance and suits the rodeo theme well. To truly enjoy this book, set aside any preconceived notions you might have, take it one page at a time, and turn each one slowly. Otherwise, you might easily miss barrel racer Katie McCoin at Cheyenne taking time out to write a note to someone, hopeful yet easygoing Candice Fernets at the national high school finals in Gillette beaming a winsome smile wide as the West, champion steer wrestler Denver Gilbert spending a quiet moment in the truck, an ever-patient cowboy on the fence with the sun setting in the background, and many, many more memorable scenes of the rodeo that this wonderful collection of photographs will never let us forget. We are left anxiously awaiting the next rodeo, hopefully with Eisner close behind rounding up another volume of luminous photographs.

DISAPPOINTED!!
I'm really disappointed. As a current title holder and someone who has competed for national titles I don't think this book is really accurate. It is billed as a rodeo queen pictorial, but the pictures are so limited. It's about rodeo culture. Not rodeo queens.

There are so many pictures of random rodeo scenes. In fact, I think it gives the layperson a really negative view of the rodeo culture. The pictures are over exposed and the way they are printed make them seem so dated. It's almost embarrasing. The few pictures that she had of queens weren't great, nothing to write home about. If they were of myself, I probably wouldn't buy the book.

To me it was a disappointing waste of money. But if she got THIS published, I know I could put my personal photos together, not rake the time to title them and be a hit!

Rodeo Girl...a book of pictures
I was disappointed in this book. I have met and spent time with Miss Rodeo America 1999 and 2000, and the Miss Rodeo California's from 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 as well as held rodeo queen titles of my own.

I purchased this book as a resource for rodeo and queen competitions. I expected a book about the life of a rodeo queen and some of the challenges and triumphs that are experienced by the first ladies of rodeo. This book is unfortunately of little to no use for current or potential rodeo queen competitors.

Much to my surprise, this book is a compilation of untitled photos that depict candid images of rodeo queens, children, and cowboys in a variety of rodeo-ish settings. As a coffee table book, this would be great, if all I wanted was a book of pictures.

Nothing could be better
If you have the slightest interest in this book, GET IT! It has the best photos of exactly "Rodeo Girl". Lots of sequins, lots of hair. It looks great on a coffee table too.

My Review: RODEO GIRL
I am an avid rodeo fan and have been involved with rodeo queens for many years. The pictures in this book are quality pictures that I could relate to and understand.

However, to the lay person, without captions or stories, these pictures don't tell their "story". There are several pictures of "rodeo girls", but the title doesn't accurately represent what is inside the book. There is an index in the back of the book that gives a brief description of who is in the picture, but it is difficult to tie to the pictures because they are not numbered.

A good book, terrific pictures that tell a story, but not a book that would appeal to a broad group of people.