Photography art

A photographer captured the art of bloodless bullfighting in Texas for over a decade

Considering the fact that 2008, photographer Katie Hayes Luke traveled to south Texas to doc bloodless bullfighting at a ranch termed La Querencia. It is unlawful to kill the bull in the United States so the bullfighters conclude the struggle by grabbing a flower from the again of the bull to symbolize a clean destroy. The proprietor of the bullring, Fred Renk, an 83-calendar year-previous previous amateur bullfighter, recruited young aspiring bullfighters from Mexico. Each and every year the youthful girls novilleras stole the present on their quest to develop into a single of the few matadoras. Just one of whom is Karla Santoyo from Aguascalientes, Mexico who adopted her father’s footsteps in getting to be a bullfighter at the age of 19. Fred retired in 2020 and his grandson planned to take more than but there have not been any functions for the duration of the pandemic. &#13

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see extra, take a look at https://www.npr.org.

David Renk attaches flowers to the back of the bulls before a fight February 13, 2011. To be considered a successful fight, the matador(a) must pull the flower from the back of the bull to symbolize a clean kill.

/ Katie Hayes Luke

David Renk attaches bouquets to the again of the bulls ahead of a struggle February 13, 2011. To be considered a effective struggle, the matador(a) need to pull the flower from the again of the bull to symbolize a thoroughly clean eliminate.

Lupita Lopez's jacket hangs on the line outside Renk's house at La Querencia ranch in south Texas January 23, 2011.

/ Katie Hayes Luke

Lupita Lopez’s jacket hangs on the line outside Renk’s home at La Querencia ranch in south Texas January 23, 2011.

Karla Santoyo, a headliner at Santa Maria Bullring says that bullfighting is 'a little bit complicated for a woman because it's a world of men.'

/ Katie Hayes Luke

Karla Santoyo, a headliner at Santa Maria Bullring says that bullfighting is ‘a little little bit intricate for a girl due to the fact it can be a planet of adult males.’

Fred Renk, not pictured, a former amateur bullfighter, recruits young, aspiring bullfighters from Mexico to perform at exhibition bullfights on his ranch in south Texas called La Querencia.

/ Katie Hayes Luke

Fred Renk, not pictured, a previous novice bullfighter, recruits youthful, aspiring bullfighters from Mexico to perform at exhibition bullfights on his ranch in south Texas named La Querencia.

Fred Renk, a 81-year-old former amateur bullfighter, recruits young, aspiring bullfighters from Mexico to perform at exhibition bullfights on his ranch in south Texas called La Querencia.

/ Katie Hayes Luke

Fred Renk, a 81-yr-outdated previous novice bullfighter, recruits younger, aspiring bullfighters from Mexico to perform at exhibition bullfights on his ranch in south Texas called La Querencia.

For Karla Santoyo's debut as a novillero when she was 19-years-old at the Santa Maria Bullring, her father, Paco Santoyo, handed down his traje de luces, the "suit of lights" bullfighters wear. She now has 7 years of experience.

/ Katie Hayes Luke

For Karla Santoyo’s debut as a novillero when she was 19-several years-old at the Santa Maria Bullring, her father, Paco Santoyo, handed down his traje de luces, the “fit of lights” bullfighters use. She now has 7 years of knowledge.

Karla Santoyo faces a bull in the Santa Maria Bullring July 2, 2016.

/ Katie Hayes Luke

Karla Santoyo faces a bull in the Santa Maria Bullring July 2, 2016.

Spectators watch as the matadors walk into the bullring January 12, 2020.

/ Katie Hayes Luke

Spectators view as the matadors walk into the bullring January 12, 2020.

Many matadors travel from Mexico to gain exposure and experience.

/ Katie Hayes Luke

Numerous matadors travel from Mexico to obtain exposure and working experience.

David Renk, Fred Renk's son, holds the ears and tail from a cow that are awarded to the matador(a) after a successful fight on February 13, 2011.

/ Katie Hayes Luke

David Renk, Fred Renk’s son, retains the ears and tail from a cow that are awarded to the matador(a) soon after a effective struggle on February 13, 2011.

The crowd, a mix of locals and Winter Texans, the snowbirds who migrate south in the colder months, flock to the Santa Maria Bullring to see the young aspiring bullfighters on February 16, 2016.

/ Katie Hayes Luke

The crowd, a blend of locals and Winter season Texans, the snowbirds who migrate south in the colder months, flock to the Santa Maria Bullring to see the young aspiring bullfighters on February 16, 2016.

Matador Cayetano Delgado touches between the shoulders on the back of the bull to symbolize the end of the bullfight with a "kill" on January 12, 2020.

/ Katie Hayes Luke

Matador Cayetano Delgado touches amongst the shoulders on the back again of the bull to symbolize the conclude of the bullfight with a “eliminate” on January 12, 2020.

Related Articles