During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ryan Jae, a software engineer and Stanford alumnus, sought a new outdoor athletic challenge and discovered bull riding through horseback riding lessons. Fascinated by the sport, he quickly transitioned from photographing rodeos to competing in them, despite the inherent dangers. Jae has since participated in about 30 rodeos, enduring serious injuries but remaining undeterred, driven by his passion for the thrill and challenge of bull riding.

In addition to competing, Jae has become a prominent rodeo photographer, capturing the intense action from unique, close-up perspectives that highlight the larger-than-life presence of the bulls. His work has been published in major rodeo publications, including ProRodeo Sports News, and he served as the official photographer for the 2024 National Finals rodeo Open and National Finals Steer Roping events.