Monthly Archive

Being from Minnesota, I miss the grand scale extravaganza known as the Minnesota State Fair.  Up until last year I was not aware that there is an annual county fair in Logandale, which is roughly a hour north of Las Vegas.  The scale isn’t terribly grand, but the concept is the same.  There are juried competitions for growing food and flowers, knitting and quilting, science projects and art and photography.  I entered four images to the photography contest (one in this post) – I received two blue ribbons and two red.  Besides the competitions, there are; exhibits and shows, a midway with games and rides, small animals and livestock and PLENTY of food.  The Clark County Fair also has a rodeo, which someday we hope to make it long enough to be able to stay and attend.

The shows this year included pig racing, dogs and frisbees and a lumberjack show.  I didn’t lug around a lot of equipment with me this time around – next year….likely to be a different story.  My focus of the day was spending time with family and having a good time.  The biggest mistake was not bringing sunscreen (yes, I live in the desert and totally forgot this one important item).

The first image here is one of the ones I got a blue ribbon for.  I had it printed on metallic paper, so it had a really cool shine.

©320photography Nikon D300 ISO200 f/5.6 60mm macro 1/250th sec

In the food competition area were these prize winning beets, I couldn’t resist the bright color.

©320photography Canon G10 ISO250 f/2.8 6.1mm macro mode 1/4 sec

The ‘dog catchin frisbee’ show was really fun. It was really bright out there and really windy, the dogs and trainer had quite a workout.   I have never seen dogs jump so high so fast…..  But the one that really catches everyone’s eye is a dog that acts like a cat (kinda looks like one too).  She slinks up, low to the ground as if she is hunting like a leopard.  I was in the right spot at the right time to capture how focused she is.

©320photography Canon G10 ISO 80 f/4 10.8mm 1/800 sec

©320photography Canon G10 ISO80 f/4.5 30mm 1/500th sec

The lumberjack show was new this year and was certainly entertaining.   The two lumberjacks are well versed in the lumberjack competition world.  The one on the left is a Junior champion from Oregon.  The one on the right has been world champion three times and currently resides in China – where lumberjacks shows are all the rage right now.

©320photography Canon G10 ISO80 f/4 21mm 1/640th sec

By the end of the afternoon animals and humans can have something in common…..

©320photography Canon G10 ISO200 f/2.8 6.1mm 1/30th sec

Sweet dreams.