Louise Serpa :: Sweetheart of the Rodeo

Louise Serpa, rodeo, range and ranch life photographer died this month at age 86. Her photos…well, you just have to see them yourself.

“I was told I could get in the ring, but not to get in the way. If you get run over, that’s too bad. So I learned pretty quickly not to get in the way. If you do, you get run over.”
– louise serpa on being the first woman ever permitted inside the rodeo arena.

By Emily Wilkins:

Louise Serpa grew up as a New York debutante, but her heart belonged to the West. By day, she studied at Vassar, but some nights, she became a cowgirl, sneaking out of her dorm room to watch visiting rodeos in Manhattan. Her transformation was complete by her 30s, when she moved to Tucson, and pursued her passion for the sport.