Bob Crum

I enjoy the Ventura County Fair. I usually visit at least four times during the run, including the rodeo. Not this year. Excruciating migraines hindered my ability to attend as usual.

I did go to shoot our FFA & 4-H champions/reserve grand champions at the Jr. Livestock auction. I have photographed the Jr. livestock auction for a long time, yet it doesn't get any easier. Photoing speedy jets at an air show is a walk in the park compared to photoing animals in an auction ring.

Photojournalism is about telling a story with a photo. Into the auction ring comes an FFA kid with her champion steer. Hmm. I rush to there to capture the shot and the animal moves. I quickly move. Now the kid moved! I move again. Good grief, the steer moves again. This dance continues unmercifully. I persevere, continually moving, until AHA!, got it by golly-the steer, kid and auctioneer in the composition-the story!

Oh-oh, here comes a pig! Pigs NEVER cooperate! Pigs in the auction ring are like sharks on the prowl, continually moving. A pig standing still for three seconds is like an eternity! Remember: Composition is key. Get the kid, pig and auctioneer lined up in the photo: The story! However, after decades of photoing pigs in the auction ring, I've concluded that the critters love to create pigdamonium. When pigs see a photographer, they refuse to stand still. Here's how a pig thinks: “OK, my handler is there, I'll move over here and destroy the photographers shot. When my handler is here, I'll move over there and continue to ruin the photographer's chances of getting the money shot! OK, pigs like trash, right? Good! Next year, I'm going to wear camouflage and hide my camera in, of course, a trash bag. HA! That'll fool the porkers. Or not!

After securing my obligatory photos, on to the All Alaskan Racing pig races. You see, me and pigs are a thing! Standard shooting procedure: Lock aperture at f/11 (for depth-of-field), increase the shutter speed to 1/640th second and ISO on auto and pan the piggies as they dash down the track jumping hurdles on the way. Must say: FUN!

In between races, I looked around the audience and saw a sea of phonetographers like never before! A haunting sight! If I had only $1 for every phonetographer at the Fair, I bet I could buy a yacht and sail the Mediterranean with a bevy of mermaids!

Then it was on to the racing dogs next door. These terriers, pugs and whatnot surprised me. They tear around the track faster than the piggies! On the first race, all I got was a blur of fur! Hmm. Time to switch to burst mode. The gate opened for the second race and brrrrrrrrrrt went the camera. The final count was 12 shots – nailed two. I did not lead the dogs enough. Did I say they run fast? I did better on the third and final race.

Late afternoon, I mosied around the midway, looking for, ahem, irresistible sunstar opportunities. Found a couple. The rest of the time was spent in a relaxing creative mode, playing with various compositions using various camera settings. I was not feeling well enough to go back and shoot the rodeo.

Photo of the week is one of the race dogs leaping. Check it's majestic form! Trust me; when the critter jumped the hurdle, it was flying.

I couldn't look at a bright computer monitor for very long due to continuing headaches so general photos of the Fair next week. Happy photoing!

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