I went to the State Fair for the first time since before the pandemic. As always, I loved the bright lights, colors, and motion on the midway.
Quirky
Colorful Furniture Trailer
We now take a break from our regularly scheduled, dull, brown winter colors to feast our eyes on a trailer full of bright, colorful furniture. I spotted it many years ago in southern New Mexico.
Recycled Roadrunner at Sunset
A very large recycled roadrunner (with wings made of crutches!) overlooks the Organ Mountains at sunset. You can read more about it here (I think it’s brilliant!).
Marigold Parade Side-Eye
Today was the first time in 13 years that I didn’t spend the first Sunday in November at the Marigold Parade in the South Valley. I didn’t go because it didn’t happen — the organizers are taking a break this year to regroup and possibly find another direction.
The Marigold Parade has been one of my favorite days of the year for over a decade. It’s always happened very close to my birthday (some years on my birthday itself) and I must say, I felt slightly depressed all day. It seemed like a very special day that fell completely flat this year.
In honor of the many years of joy that parade has brought me (and countless others, no doubt), here’s one of my all-time favorite shots. I took it 5 years ago, on an uncharacteristically cloudy and rainy day. This little girl was standing close to me with her Halloween bag, collecting all the candy parade participants were throwing to the crowds. I took several photos of her when she wasn’t looking — but in this one she saw me. I thought her side-eye was incredibly impressive — and adorable.
State Fair Midway
Taking pictures of the rides on the midway at the State Fair is one of my absolute most favorite kinds of photography. There are bright colors! bright lights! and lots of motion! And, for some inexplicable reason, dozens of folks jumping in front of my camera virtually begging me to take a photo of them. I could maybe understand it if photographers were a rare breed, or cameras were hard to come by — but these days, when everyone who doesn’t live in a cave has a phone camera in their pocket? I don’t get it.