rough rider sunrise _ 01 _ prescott, arizona
Presented are two images of a bronze statue at sunrise. The statue is the Rough Rider Monument that stands proudly in front of the Yavapai County Courthouse in Prescott, Arizona. Arizona Territory was established in 1863 with Yavapai and three other original counties. Prescott was quickly founded as the territorial capital. The courthouse, first built in 1878, stands in the center of a large public plaza. The current courthouse building seen here was built in 1916. Also known as the Captain William "Buckey" Owen O’Neill Memorial, the Rough Rider Monument in front of the courthouse has its own rich history which honors both of its namesakes. The man on horseback is Buckey O’Neill, a beloved local figure who served as both Prescott mayor and Yavapai County sheriff. His final service was to his country, in Cuba during the Spanish American War (1898), as captain in the First United States Volunteer Cavalry. That unit, commonly known as Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, was famous for its charge up San Juan Hill. Buckey O.Neill was killed in that campaign. In the following years, a Prescott committee planned a sculptural memorial to honor the man and the events. They choose as their artist Mr. Solon Borglum (1868-1922). Solon was the younger brother of Gutzon Borglum (1867-1941), the artist and sculptor of Mt. Rushmore. Solon had his own impressive credentials and a reputation in Europe and the United States as one of America's notable sculptors. Born in Utah and raised in the West, and eventually living in Paris and New York City, he became known as the “Sculptor of the Prairie”. His greatest acclaim was for realistic depictions of frontier life, cowboys, native Americans, and Western wildlife. When Solon was approached about the Bucky O’Neill memorial, he took a great personal interest in this project. He even visited Prescott to personally select, from the surrounding hills, a 28 ton boulder to serve as the pedestal for the statue. Commissioned in 1906, the bronze was cast in New York City, then shipped by rail to Prescott where it was unveiled on July 3, 1907, the ninth anniversary of the event it commemorated. The sculpture was acclaimed in its own day as America’s greatest equestrian statue, and Solon received a congratulatory letter from President Teddy Roosevelt.
This is indeed an inspiring statue, especially when viewed up close and from various angles which reveal the sense of motion, drama, and photographic realism that Solon Borglum so deftly captured. It is easy to find snapshot photos that show an overall view of this bronze statue on its granite pedestal. In contrast, the two photographs presented here were taken to show closeup details and drama, emphasizing the character of the rider and horse and their relationship to the courthouse building behind. These images were taken from the front, a south facing view, camera at eye level. Camera and tripod were set up well before sunrise, and various angles were tested. When the desired view was found, photos were then taken as sunrise and sunlight began to illuminate the courthouse building then the statue. Beginning farther away, as each picture was taken, the tripod was then walked a few feet closer, always maintaining a position in which the hour hand on the clock pointed between rider and horse.
rough rider sunrise _ 01 _ prescott, arizona _ (© 2015 megart)
Companion files:
rough rider sunrise _ 01 _ prescott, arizona _ (© 2015 megart)
rough rider sunrise _ 02 _ prescott, arizona _ (© 2015 megart)
rough rider sunrise _ 01 _ prescott, arizona
Presented are two images of a bronze statue at sunrise. The statue is the Rough Rider Monument that stands proudly in front of the Yavapai County Courthouse in Prescott, Arizona. Arizona Territory was established in 1863 with Yavapai and three other original counties. Prescott was quickly founded as the territorial capital. The courthouse, first built in 1878, stands in the center of a large public plaza. The current courthouse building seen here was built in 1916. Also known as the Captain William "Buckey" Owen O’Neill Memorial, the Rough Rider Monument in front of the courthouse has its own rich history which honors both of its namesakes. The man on horseback is Buckey O’Neill, a beloved local figure who served as both Prescott mayor and Yavapai County sheriff. His final service was to his country, in Cuba during the Spanish American War (1898), as captain in the First United States Volunteer Cavalry. That unit, commonly known as Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, was famous for its charge up San Juan Hill. Buckey O.Neill was killed in that campaign. In the following years, a Prescott committee planned a sculptural memorial to honor the man and the events. They choose as their artist Mr. Solon Borglum (1868-1922). Solon was the younger brother of Gutzon Borglum (1867-1941), the artist and sculptor of Mt. Rushmore. Solon had his own impressive credentials and a reputation in Europe and the United States as one of America's notable sculptors. Born in Utah and raised in the West, and eventually living in Paris and New York City, he became known as the “Sculptor of the Prairie”. His greatest acclaim was for realistic depictions of frontier life, cowboys, native Americans, and Western wildlife. When Solon was approached about the Bucky O’Neill memorial, he took a great personal interest in this project. He even visited Prescott to personally select, from the surrounding hills, a 28 ton boulder to serve as the pedestal for the statue. Commissioned in 1906, the bronze was cast in New York City, then shipped by rail to Prescott where it was unveiled on July 3, 1907, the ninth anniversary of the event it commemorated. The sculpture was acclaimed in its own day as America’s greatest equestrian statue, and Solon received a congratulatory letter from President Teddy Roosevelt.
This is indeed an inspiring statue, especially when viewed up close and from various angles which reveal the sense of motion, drama, and photographic realism that Solon Borglum so deftly captured. It is easy to find snapshot photos that show an overall view of this bronze statue on its granite pedestal. In contrast, the two photographs presented here were taken to show closeup details and drama, emphasizing the character of the rider and horse and their relationship to the courthouse building behind. These images were taken from the front, a south facing view, camera at eye level. Camera and tripod were set up well before sunrise, and various angles were tested. When the desired view was found, photos were then taken as sunrise and sunlight began to illuminate the courthouse building then the statue. Beginning farther away, as each picture was taken, the tripod was then walked a few feet closer, always maintaining a position in which the hour hand on the clock pointed between rider and horse.
rough rider sunrise _ 01 _ prescott, arizona _ (© 2015 megart)
Companion files:
rough rider sunrise _ 01 _ prescott, arizona _ (© 2015 megart)
rough rider sunrise _ 02 _ prescott, arizona _ (© 2015 megart)