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Wyoming Tribune Eagle photo editor Michael Smith, managing editor Brian Martin and assistant managing editor of production Kiah Staley speak about the daunting task of choosing photos for the Frontier Edition, which is published daily during Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Among their many daily tasks, this trio must edit from among thousands of photos to pick the appropriate pieces of art for each story that runs during the two weeks of CFD.

For a larger version of this SoundSlide, please click here: EDITORS

Finally, it is finished and most of us still have our teeth.

The Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo kicked our collective butts for the past week and a half. This year, unlike any other year to date, was rife with obstacles. The week before CFD began, staff legend Larry Brinlee retired. We replaced him with Jerret Raffety of the Rawlins Daily times. While home in Milwaukee, Raffy blew his knee out and had to undergo surgery before his arrival in Cheyenne.

We called in the services of local photographers Rocky Pace and Matt “Moose” Young to fill the void, and Outdoors Editor Shauna Stephson. Without them, we would’ve aged like a snowcone in Phoenix during the past two weeks.

We worked hard, and in our opinions (which are worth a piece of penny candy), we shot the hell out of the rodeo. It was a great experience, as always, and we look forward to doing it again next year.

Thanks for looking.

-WTE photo staff

For a larger version of this SoundSlide, click here: RODEO

When Kevin Bacon grooved and boogied his way through a small midwest town in the film “Footloose” he faced a combative adult populous who loathed dancing enough to enforce a ban of such activity. Oddly, dancing is seen in parts of our culture as sinful or taboo.

But for the Little Sun Drum and Dance group of Wyoming’s Wind River Reservation, dancing is a sign of culture and pride. It is a way to pass along stories and tradition from one generation to the next. Their movements are elegant. Each step is a representation of something greater than the simple motions we see. They are the joy of a kill or a move to a new location or an appreciation of earth and life.

It was a great experience to spend time with the Little Sun Drum and Dance group. After all, the Native American populous has lost their much of their identity since the arrival of Europeans in North America. Yet, this group continues to dance on in an attempt to retain their languages, cultures and ways of life.

To view a larger version of this SoundSlide, click here: LIVING LEGACY

Michael Smith, photo editor, shot the pancake breakfast yesterday (Monday) morning at the Depot Plaza. It’s was an odd pairing. Michael Smith and pancakes that is. He loves them nearly as much as life itself… But he went, and surprisingly, shot well despite eating a record 987 pancakes while shooting. Hey, that’s 984 more than I ate while collecting sound and I salute him for his feat of gastronomic excellence.

Thanks for looking.

To see a larger version of this SoundSlide, click here: PANCAKES