Let’s Go To The Fair!

About a month ago, I realized that I had a problem in my photographic life. I began “being serious” about photography in the mid-1970s. It’s been a wonderful serious hobby for me all those years. In the last couple years, I’ve been dragging. There was no energy to grab the camera and go explore the world through the viewfinder. I began to wonder if I was falling out of love with this creative outlet.

But one day I visited the Commercial Photography class. As always, being around young people who are passionate about what they’re doing inspired me. Using cameras waaaaaaay newer and more sophisticated than any camera I’ve ever owned. It gave me a look at what was possible with modern equipment.

That’s when the realization hit me:

I wasn’t falling out of love with photography. I’d fallen out of love with my camera.

I talked with my Chief Financial Officer (otherwise known at the Lady in My Life, i.e. my wife), and she gave me approval to find a newer camera. The features I wanted were clear in my head. It didn’t take long until I found what I wanted.

Meet my new friend!

Wow. I mean…wow.

This camera is two miles beyond my old Fujifilm Finepix. There are so many options, better, interchangeable lenses, and so much more. I couldn’t wait to get out and try it. I did get one photo “safari”, but it spent so much time experimenting with the toy factor that I didn’t get much in the way of decent images. Then life and the weather got in the way. Finally, this past weekend, I got some serious time to wander around and take pictures. I played with a LOT of the possibilities that the camera gives me. Not all of those images were worth much. Some were truly awesomely awful. Don’t believe me? Here we go:

Told ya so!

I spent two days at the Virginia State Fair with the camera. My challenge was to make some interesting images of this annual event. Tell me how I did.