Bob Crum

Confession: I have a conflicting relationship with the Ventura County Fair. As a photographer, love the unlimited photo ops. Conversely, I can't just spend eight hours and go home!

Arrived at the 11 a.m. Fair opening last Sunday and stayed 'til 10 p.m. to capture the fireworks. One might think that spending all day at the Fair is excessive. HA! Forgo the midway rides and games and there are still many fascinating events, interesting demonstrations and exhibits to enjoy. And yummy Fair food! I brought home an irresistible giant smoked turkey leg! Can't say what else I brought home!

Planning to spend the entire day, I packed accordingly. No camera bag. Just my Canon 7DMKII with Tamron lens mounted plus one little accessory bag with extra batteries, memory cards, sun screen & lip balm.

After a few routine photos upon arrival, I went straight to the All Alaskan Pig races. A jolly event that's also a challenging photo op because the lil porkers are speedy. Even with the camera in burst mode, capturing them jumping the hurdles isn't a pig walk... so to speak. But this is what makes photography so captivating. Mentally visualizing the image, recognizing the challenge, programming the camera accordingly and executing is stimulating! Seriously!

New this year: Fido 500 mini dog races. And new challenges! The dogs run faster than the porkers. Only got three furry blurs on the first two races. Didn't suppose they'd run that fast! That was at 250th second shutter speed. Increased to 800th of a second for the third race. Still stinky compositions. I was not prepared to pan as fast as the dogs ran. Take heart. On the next go around two hours later, I was better prepared. So I thought. Furry dog butts is not what I was trying to photograph. Eventually I got a few respectable photos. Practice proved valuable.

During the daylight hours, I was busy happily photoing everything from Koi fish in a pond to a horse & carriage show to everybody that crossed my path and smiled. Especially partial to ladies who winked at me. I digress.

Rides were full of people in all manner of fright. So much screaming! Perhaps frightened and consequently screaming is therapeutic? On other rides, participants were screaming with joy. I think. I photographed them too.

The golden hour, the period shortly before sunset presents interesting challenges. Oh joy! Followers know that I seek sunstar opportunities. But the new midway layout (ugh!) reduced such options. So depressing. As the sun was setting, I scrambled around looking for the magic place. The sunstar op remained elusive. Never quitting, eventually managed to capture a couple so-so sunstar photos as the sun set.

As night prevails, bright colored lights transform the midway. However, exposing for bright lights creates people silhouettes. Expose for the people overexposes the bright lights. What to do? Either go home or try exposure compensation (EC). Also try spot metering. I increased EC as needed. Boom! Success! Umm... sometimes.

Fireworks another issue. If the Ferris wheel was rotating while I held open the shutter for a multiple firework exposure, the Ferris wheel blurred. That's OK. Not OK were ignorant, inconsiderate people who walked right in front of my camera. That's when I scream!

Photo of the week is the Fair fireworks with the (finally) stationary Ferris wheel.

Jr. Livestock is Friday beginning 9 a.m. Rodeo Sat & Sun. Check venturacountyfair.org for details. Fair ends Sunday. So much greatness to see, do and eat you'll have a fabulous time. GO!

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