The Arlington County fair rolls into town next week for five days of corndog-eating, pony-riding, ring-tossing,Tillt-A-Whirl fun from August 18-22. Take advantage of this once-a-year summer standard to photograph people doing what they do best: having fun.
During the day, photograph competitors at the game booths as they attempt to throw that ring around the milk bottle or toss a coin into a jug. Watch them walk away with the gigantic bear that won’t fit on any of the rides or exasperated as they miss and leave empty-handed. Photograph fearful faces as they spin around and around on the Zipper and walk away wobbly trying to regain their balance. Zoom lenses and medium format would be ideal for these scenes, as well as pretty much anything you have in your bag.
Visit the animal exhibits for cute little bunnies and look for the racing piglets! What could possibly be cuter than racing piglets? Don’t forget to scan the on-lookers for prime people-watching opportunities.
At night, practice long exposure shots to capture the light trails from the rides. Maybe bring a small, collapsible tripod to help steady the camera or use a table or other sturdy object as a base. Use the low light to your advantage and capture movement in the shadows or the soft glow reflecting off faces, hot from the summer night. For these shots, pack the fastest lens you have (50mm/f1.4, for example) and open up that aperture for maximum light. If shooting film, stick with ISO 1600 or higher, or, if feeling adventurous, shoot a roll of ISO 400 and push to ISO 1600 (but, only if you’re comfortable that some photos may not turn out as expected).
The Arlington County Fair is located at 3501 South Second Street from Wednesday, August 18 through Sunday, August 22. Opening hours vary by day and the fair stays open until 10 p.m. each day.
Can’t make it to Arlington? There are plenty of other fairs in Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., all serving cotton candy. Racing piglets, however, are not guaranteed.
Comments
I learned that the fair will not have pony rides, but the racing piglets are still on!
Be sure to check their official Facebook page for information on a photo contest, too! (I am unable to attach a link in the comments, however).
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!