Looking at things a little differently...

I recently covered my 21st Colorado State Fair. I have seen a lot of things at the fair over the years but I can tell you that the number one challenge of photographing any event year after year, is how to get images that are fresh even if the event isn't.

One of the free attractions at the fair is a fountain in the middle of the fairgrounds where children of all ages go to cool off. I have photographed this fountain from every angle I can think of, or so it seems to me. (I am still trying to get the newspaper to spring for a helicopter allowing me to get an aerial angle.)


At one point during my time at the fair I was at a park near the fountain and noticed that a bench between me and the fountain was in the shade and offered an opportunity for an image I hadn't had the chance to try in relation to the fountain.

The first group of people who were sitting on the bench were not providing me with the image I was looking for for a fair and fountain silhouette. So I went to photograph something else in the park and then returned to find a family with a couple of grade-school aged kids. I thought this may work out and when the youngster on the left side of the bench used his fingers to take a bite of funnel cake I realized that I had found the image I was looking for.

It was a different way to look at the fountain. I was now using it as a background instead of the main subject of my photo. And for some reason I was also craving deep-fried batter covered with powdered sugar...