Roll up, Roll up...
I love to shoot the fair whenever I get the chance to these days.
My interest in fair photography is something that started back in High school, with a casual encounter with the works of some other budding photographers. Being a loner in school, I often had the time to look at the displays that the staff would hang on the walls to brighten the place up... and one display that I always looked forward to seeing in Fall was the "Fairground display". It was essentially a collection of black and white pictures of fairground attractions at various stages of construction and sometimes operation.
Even at the age of 11, I'd decided what one of my GCSE subjects would be and there was nothing more that I wanted than to take photography to GCSE level. Unfortunately, that idea didn't come to fruition for me since I was told by my teacher (who also taught pottery) not to bother applying for the subject since I would be rejected for the course based on my behaviour during a bad day in my pottery class. It was determined that I couldn't be trusted to go out of the school by myself and get my work done without the watchful eye of a teacher looking over my shoulder. Though I maintain that the pot would have lived to go in the kiln if the teacher had helped me when I asked for help.
Ever since my declining health made it impossible for me to be admitted on many of the rides that I used to enjoy riding on, I found that I wasn't yet ready to give up on my enjoyment of our annual fair - so these days, I go up, not as a rider, but as a spectator who is charged with the annual responsibility of locating a "good coconut".
Coconut location in itself is a sport and a half because the only stall that sells them isn't there every year - and they no longer have the coconut shys of old... I guess that too many coconuts cracked when they fell off the stand that they eventually became a relic of a distant day.
Having been big chief coconut locater for a number of years now, oddly enough, I only found out last year what a "good coconut" is since mum had always located and bought her own coconuts until her health declined to the point where she can no longer manage that walk any more.
These days, the dog and I carry on the family tradition of the fair - though I fancy that he is something of a traitor who enjoys tagging along more for the snacks that people have dropped rather than a good night out!
My interest in fair photography is something that started back in High school, with a casual encounter with the works of some other budding photographers. Being a loner in school, I often had the time to look at the displays that the staff would hang on the walls to brighten the place up... and one display that I always looked forward to seeing in Fall was the "Fairground display". It was essentially a collection of black and white pictures of fairground attractions at various stages of construction and sometimes operation.
Even at the age of 11, I'd decided what one of my GCSE subjects would be and there was nothing more that I wanted than to take photography to GCSE level. Unfortunately, that idea didn't come to fruition for me since I was told by my teacher (who also taught pottery) not to bother applying for the subject since I would be rejected for the course based on my behaviour during a bad day in my pottery class. It was determined that I couldn't be trusted to go out of the school by myself and get my work done without the watchful eye of a teacher looking over my shoulder. Though I maintain that the pot would have lived to go in the kiln if the teacher had helped me when I asked for help.
Ever since my declining health made it impossible for me to be admitted on many of the rides that I used to enjoy riding on, I found that I wasn't yet ready to give up on my enjoyment of our annual fair - so these days, I go up, not as a rider, but as a spectator who is charged with the annual responsibility of locating a "good coconut".
Coconut location in itself is a sport and a half because the only stall that sells them isn't there every year - and they no longer have the coconut shys of old... I guess that too many coconuts cracked when they fell off the stand that they eventually became a relic of a distant day.
Having been big chief coconut locater for a number of years now, oddly enough, I only found out last year what a "good coconut" is since mum had always located and bought her own coconuts until her health declined to the point where she can no longer manage that walk any more.
These days, the dog and I carry on the family tradition of the fair - though I fancy that he is something of a traitor who enjoys tagging along more for the snacks that people have dropped rather than a good night out!
Get an early start!
While I dislike daytime funfair photography for the obvious reason being that the colours of the lights don't stand out as much as they do after dark, in this case, I have little other choice than to start early because the fair is so big that it's a challenge to get round it all in one night!
This picture wasn't taken for the ride in the background... though the ride is pretty impossible to miss - I actually took the picture for the signage on the front of the ride because I thought that it would go well in a theme of "advertising" that the photography group that I am a member of were running a couple of years ago.
This picture wasn't taken for the ride in the background... though the ride is pretty impossible to miss - I actually took the picture for the signage on the front of the ride because I thought that it would go well in a theme of "advertising" that the photography group that I am a member of were running a couple of years ago.
Give me another sign...
This shot initially started out as another attempt to capture a sign - but having looked at it more at home, I decided that I liked the angling on the diamond at the top, too.
And... action!
,This is a shot that I spent ages shooting, deleting and re shooting
Why? I hear you ask... well, the answer is that I could tell that it was blurred - even on the small screen of my camera.
Eventually, I gave up trying, deciding to hold on to this shot and see if I could photoshop it better when I got home. Upon getting home and taking the pictures off my camera, I realised that the blurring in this case was a result of the ride moving and not a poor shot at all.
To reach this conclusion, I had to really study the background on a bigger screen and I realised that if it was a result of a poor shot, then the stationary parts of the ride in the background would also be blurred - which isn't the case here.
Why? I hear you ask... well, the answer is that I could tell that it was blurred - even on the small screen of my camera.
Eventually, I gave up trying, deciding to hold on to this shot and see if I could photoshop it better when I got home. Upon getting home and taking the pictures off my camera, I realised that the blurring in this case was a result of the ride moving and not a poor shot at all.
To reach this conclusion, I had to really study the background on a bigger screen and I realised that if it was a result of a poor shot, then the stationary parts of the ride in the background would also be blurred - which isn't the case here.
Tea, anyone?
This is another picture that fit into 2 possible choices for me at the time I took it... predictably, I went with the (at the time) obvious choice of "advertising" because of the references to Tetley's Tea.
Having looked at it at a later date, though, I can see at least 2 other possible themes that it would have fit into just as comfortably.
Having looked at it at a later date, though, I can see at least 2 other possible themes that it would have fit into just as comfortably.
There's a lesson to be learned from every experience
... And in this case, the lesson was to ensure that I had enough battery life to see me through whatever location I want to shoot!
As you can see, the picture is a little dark, this was the result of my flash finally giving out because I didn't have enough battery life to power it any more.
As you can see, the picture is a little dark, this was the result of my flash finally giving out because I didn't have enough battery life to power it any more.
My Pet peeve!
For me, there's nothing worse than people who insist on getting themselves "in on the action". I understand that sometimes, it's unavoidable - but at other times, it can be a simple case of waiting for just a couple of seconds while I shoot the shot.
Funfairs can be one of the worst places for this, too. I often fantasise about a time when they will open fairground ride expeditions for photographers and potential purchasers to view and shoot the rides to their heart's content.
Not many people understand the frustrations of not being able to get the right angle/lighting/freedom from outside influence in quite the same way as a photographer.
Funfairs can be one of the worst places for this, too. I often fantasise about a time when they will open fairground ride expeditions for photographers and potential purchasers to view and shoot the rides to their heart's content.
Not many people understand the frustrations of not being able to get the right angle/lighting/freedom from outside influence in quite the same way as a photographer.
Down the road
One thing that I love about this angle is the way that the rides and stalls seem to stretch on forever - of course, I know in reality that they cut out just beyond the furthest point that you can see in this picture because the road narrows off to a point where you can't get any articulated units any further down the road.
Sleigh bells ring...
One thing that always grabs my attention with this ride is the fact that it blows fake snow over it's riders as you go around on it. Given that the funfair happens in late fall, it just feels so appropriate to have this early reference to Christmas there for the children.
All shook up!
This was once my all time favourite ride of the fair. The only reason for dragging my butt up there was so that I could ride this... often several times!
Of course, as my luck would have it, I often find that sometimes, it's there in several different locations... and other times, it's not there at all. Unfortunately, my health these days makes me inadmissible to ride it anymore, so I spend a few minutes watching others enjoy it and being on there in spirit with them. There's always a part of me that secretly hopes that I'll see someone take a tumble across the floor as I watch - but that's always been a rare event in my presence. I recall it happening twice to others as I rode... and on one occasion, a young lady had a wardrobe malfunction. Fortunately, she was able to straighten herself out as soon as the ride ended.
Of course, as my luck would have it, I often find that sometimes, it's there in several different locations... and other times, it's not there at all. Unfortunately, my health these days makes me inadmissible to ride it anymore, so I spend a few minutes watching others enjoy it and being on there in spirit with them. There's always a part of me that secretly hopes that I'll see someone take a tumble across the floor as I watch - but that's always been a rare event in my presence. I recall it happening twice to others as I rode... and on one occasion, a young lady had a wardrobe malfunction. Fortunately, she was able to straighten herself out as soon as the ride ended.
Arms out in front of you!
A familiar shout that I've often heard over the tannoy of this ride over the years!
In truth, I have to wonder if the practice of walking around the maze with your arms outstretched is really any safer for you because of the risk of broken fingers?
This maze is one of the more trickier mazes to navigate though because we have the addition of dry ice to contend with the fact that the walls are made from glass. I can recall one such maze that I saw as a child that had a broken sheet of glass in it. For me, it doesn't bear thinking about how the sheet of glass came to be broken - even though that maze wasn't as tricky as this one was to navigate through (I navigated it myself, though mazes aren't something that I'll navigate by myself anymore since I get claustrophobic and panic in the close confines of this type of maze).
In truth, I have to wonder if the practice of walking around the maze with your arms outstretched is really any safer for you because of the risk of broken fingers?
This maze is one of the more trickier mazes to navigate though because we have the addition of dry ice to contend with the fact that the walls are made from glass. I can recall one such maze that I saw as a child that had a broken sheet of glass in it. For me, it doesn't bear thinking about how the sheet of glass came to be broken - even though that maze wasn't as tricky as this one was to navigate through (I navigated it myself, though mazes aren't something that I'll navigate by myself anymore since I get claustrophobic and panic in the close confines of this type of maze).
Who wants to ride the "host train"?
This has to be my favourite Ghost Train on the fair because of the fact that they usually dress a man up in a gorilla costume and have him stand on the upper level to "get you" as you ride through - though he has been known to hide inside of the ride from time to time to add in a little extra scare factor. It doesn't look like he was there that night, though...
The lettering on this ride also has an amusing story behind it, because, more often than not, every time it rolls into town there is always one letter that doesn't work... and it's usually the "G" or the "H" (This year, it was the "G" that didn't work), which gives me great amusement trying to think of it by it's "new" name.
The lettering on this ride also has an amusing story behind it, because, more often than not, every time it rolls into town there is always one letter that doesn't work... and it's usually the "G" or the "H" (This year, it was the "G" that didn't work), which gives me great amusement trying to think of it by it's "new" name.
Vague memories
Just looking at this teacup ride bought back some memories of a trip to Drayton Manor Theme park as a young girl.
This wasn't because they had a teacup ride just like this one... but because the cups reminded me of a different, track based, ride that I enjoyed at Drayton Manor. The memory was so strong for me that I could even smell the scent of something that I had locked in my mind from that particular day.
This wasn't because they had a teacup ride just like this one... but because the cups reminded me of a different, track based, ride that I enjoyed at Drayton Manor. The memory was so strong for me that I could even smell the scent of something that I had locked in my mind from that particular day.
half a view
This would have been a great shot if it hadn't been for this guy who was feeling rather left out of the action! To be fair to the guy, though, it was to be expected that someone was going to do that in this area of the fair since we are now in one of the busier areas of the fair and this area is used for most of the bigger rides for the teenagers and thrill seekers.
Take Two...
Sometimes, a second attempt can make all the difference.
While I'm not as happy with this shot as I would have been if the first one had worked out as I had planned for it to, I still feel that it is a good shot that captures a good mix of stationary and action objects - which was what I intended to capture with it.
While I'm not as happy with this shot as I would have been if the first one had worked out as I had planned for it to, I still feel that it is a good shot that captures a good mix of stationary and action objects - which was what I intended to capture with it.
Long distance viewing
This is the only shot that I deliberately went out of my way to get that night.
The reason why I wanted it so badly is because the ride to the right of the picture is visible from 2-3 miles away over on the other side of town.
My mother hadn't been able to go to the fair for a few years now because of problems with her disabilities and having to nurse my stepfather through his death, however, she could see this ride on the skyline as she went about her daily business and wondered what it was and the scale of it from up close so I took this picture of it to show her.
The reason why I wanted it so badly is because the ride to the right of the picture is visible from 2-3 miles away over on the other side of town.
My mother hadn't been able to go to the fair for a few years now because of problems with her disabilities and having to nurse my stepfather through his death, however, she could see this ride on the skyline as she went about her daily business and wondered what it was and the scale of it from up close so I took this picture of it to show her.
Cake Walk
The Cake Walk is probably one of the oldest and simply lit of all the rides on the fairground - thinking about it logically, I think that it would be one of the easiest rides to overlook because of it's simplicity.
Oddly enough, it's simplicity is the one thing that attracted me to it in the way that I was on the night.
It's also one of the works that I shot that I'd love to have a chance to play with in Photoshop because I can't wait to see what differences I can get out of the original image.
Oddly enough, it's simplicity is the one thing that attracted me to it in the way that I was on the night.
It's also one of the works that I shot that I'd love to have a chance to play with in Photoshop because I can't wait to see what differences I can get out of the original image.
The ghost train that does what no other i've seen can do!
No, I'm not a Ghost Train fanatic... but this one made the cut for me because the exterior is just as entertaining as the interior is.
There are many moving parts that attract the eye of the passer by as the riders zip around the track enjoying their ride.
Unfortunately, it is one of those rides that is better being captured on video as opposed to photograph. One of these years, I will do just that so that we can all enjoy the exterior of it.
There are many moving parts that attract the eye of the passer by as the riders zip around the track enjoying their ride.
Unfortunately, it is one of those rides that is better being captured on video as opposed to photograph. One of these years, I will do just that so that we can all enjoy the exterior of it.
Oops... my battery is still flat!
This is yet another shot of a buffalo ride - taken without flash.
The reason that it remains in my collection is because I like the effect of the reflection of the light playing off the high visibility jackets of the emergency services personnel in the foreground.
The reason that it remains in my collection is because I like the effect of the reflection of the light playing off the high visibility jackets of the emergency services personnel in the foreground.