I am Jack Sorokin, a New York-based photographer with roots in Western North Carolina, where I embarked on a heartfelt project named "Rodeo Boys" from 2017 to 2022. The series portrays the journey of young rodeo performers in Madison County, exploring the rugged brotherhood nurtured amidst their unique subculture.
"Rodeo Boys" attempts to take a nuanced and empathetic eye towards the tenderness and concern these individuals exhibit for each other behind the bucking chutes, a stark contrast to the tough exterior portrayed in the arena. I aimed to challenge conventional definitions of masculinity, spotlighting the dichotomy of strength and vulnerability that these young performers navigate as they are bonded by a shared experience of risk, pain, and a longing for belonging.
