It is all about the light

Again, I cannot say that I am sorry that Summer is close to ending. It’s hot, and it is a crappy season for photography.

This year again I visited the summer fairs. And yes, I took my camera. My tiny Nikon Z50 with the kit lens. No, the kit lens is not a fast lens, but photography at 1200 ISO is now made possible by noise-cleaning powered by AI.

Here is something wonderfully chaotic about a summer fair. One minute you’re watching a child win a stuffed animal, the next you’re surrounded by prize-winning cattle, spinning rides, food vendors, and people dressed in their Sunday best. From small community fairs to the California State Fair, these events bring together an unlikely mix of agriculture, entertainment, tradition, and everyday life.

For photographers, a fair is almost like having several assignments in one location. You can photograph people, animals, architecture, performances, details, motion, and food, then stay until sunset and experiment with the lights of the midway. Few places offer such a variety of subjects without requiring you to drive somewhere else.

But fairs are also a good reminder that photography doesn’t always have to be serious. You don’t need a carefully planned shot list or a bag full of equipment. In fact, leaving most of your gear at home can make the experience more enjoyable.

If you still have a fair on your summer calendar, here are a few things I like to do:

1. Take one camera and one lens. Give yourself limitations and see what you can do with them.
2. Get there early, but stay until dark. The atmosphere changes dramatically as the day progresses, and the midway comes alive after sunset.
3. Stop photographing for a while. Find a bench, sit down, and simply observe. People are often more interesting when you aren’t actively looking for a photograph.
4. Visit the livestock areas. They’re quieter than the midway and offer a completely different side of the fair.
5. Try the food. It may not be good for you, but it is part of the visual and cultural experience.
6. Forget about making a masterpiece. Photograph the weird, ordinary, funny, colorful, and unexpected moments. A fair is a place to experiment, wander, and enjoy yourself.

Soon enough, the rides will disappear, the barns will empty, and the fairgrounds will become quiet again. That’s when the photographs become the souvenirs—not just of what the fair looked like, but of what it felt like to be there.

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