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Photography ...A technical workout,Networking and a disappointmentThis weekend was our towns 121st annual Old Settlers Celebration.It kicked off Friday evening with homemade pie and ice cream at the lions hall park.There were antique kiddie rides,balloon slides and jump houses,and other kids games.The cattlemen were grilling up chops,steak and lion burgers as well as hotdogs and walking tacos.There were booths with funnel cakes,pop,and the girl scouts also had loaded walking tacos.From what I could tell the girl scouts tacos were the best,wit all the goodies being applied per your order.That explained the extra 50c cost,LOL
The stage was set for a Mardi Gras party,as that was our theme this year.Beads were everywhere,and you could get yours by saying mardi gras at the committees main tent.Families hung out while their kiddies played at a cake(toy) walk.There was fun for every one.
Saturday dawned with a nice subtle sunrise behind the bridge,and the antique car show started at 8 am.The star of the show in my opinion was an old packard.With suicide doors ,and art deco styled hood ornament it was one classy car.The older gent that owned it showed us all around te car and told us that the grill on these old packards would open when the engine got warm,and slowly close again as she cooled down.The windshield still sported its gas ration sticker in the passenger corner from WWII.On the back of the sticker were tips on how to conserve gas. There were several Chevy Impala convertables,including my neighbors red convertable he has repainted since retiring.It looks much hotter in a candy apple red instead of the marroon it was.Along with them were some fprds,one chevy pickup and the only forein car there was a triumph spitfire.We had to tease him for bringing a brittish car to the show.A newer firebird showed up,and was a sweet muscle car,but not at all antique IMO.He def3ended his car by saying "they don't make them anymore" The cars are parked facing west in the lot behind a neighboring church,so I had to deal with the morning sun.It did cause a few flares,but for the most part I tried to shoot at angles from it,and did get some cool point of light rays off the chrome.
After the show my niece and I went fr biscuits and gravy at the church fellowship hall,and then set up our table.The traffic to our table was slow,and would have been a dissappointment except for once the weather was beautiful and it was nice to just hang out under the shade tree and watch the goings on.I took a few photos of the tractor pulls,but soon got tired of that.They seem to go so slowly,with set up between each tractors attempt.I shot photos of the ladies div.
By evening we were trying to decide how long we would stay,given the lack of many buyers.I got a chance to talk with a few ladies that are on the committee.One is setting up the towns web site,and would be interested in a Imes bridge image.I will sign it and put copywrite symbol and give them one for the site.They are also putting images of the celebration on there with the photographers info so ppl can contact for prints.I am waiting for emails to contact them about how they want them submitted.The woman doing the website is also on the 6 area counties website,and is interested in my WHO tractor ride images.This should at least get my name out.I decided to saty as there was quite a turnout for the parade and the Greater Iowa mens chorus and barbershop quartets.While the opportunity was there I did a few attemps at a panorama of the town gathered in front of the stage.
The parade had been held at 6 pm this year,making it a real challenge to shoot the action.The parade rus west to east up main street,No shade in sight and the sun glaring directly behind the floats.I was using manual exposure,and the conditions changed rapidly with different angles.On reflection I should have set a shutter priority and let the camera choose exposure.After alot of photoshopping the results are decent anyway.
Before taking the table down I was asked if I was coming to the street dance.I was not considering it,but she said it was a first for us this year and pix would be nice.I went home and got the flash and changed to my 50mm macro since it is a fast lens.I knew the batteries in the flash were the same as when I got it,so they were not fresh.I started the day out with a fairly fresh battery in the camera.I put 4 spare AAA's in my pocket and walked up to the street dance.I shot a few test shots of the kiddy rides as it got dark.I was already having trouble focusing,so I would focus on a general area and then turn top manual.
There was a live band,and as it got dark I made my way to the action.Lots of ppl hanging around the lions hall tables and sitting listening,but mainly kids and a few parents were dancing. I was surprised how close I had to be to subjects to get the exposure I wanted,but I could tell I was getting some cool night shots.I got fairly cose to the band since they were along the front of the old school,and when the camera came out they put themselves into the groove for me.They were playing classic rock,and sounded real good.I suppose I was there an hour or so when my batteries died.In the camera.The flash was still going strong,LOL By then my batteries were dead too,so I started home.
When I got home the mail had the postcard from the fair in it.Earlier than I had expected.None of my photos were selected for display this year.I was immediately bummed,but upon consideration,with over 700 phoographers last year each with 4 possible entries,thousands had to be gone through.Each judge had to pick so many they liked and so it is really a matter of what judges like personally.I decided it is not a judge of the actual merits of my particular photos.MAybe next year.
I spent all day Sunday recovering physically fro all the activity,and editing all the pictures.This weekend proved to be a challenge and a learning experience.I got my name out there,and sold enough bracelets to at least make back 1/3 of my expense.There is always the covered bridge days in Oct. There is alot more craft oriented activities there,so ppl will be expecting to buy things. Whatever we have left may go like hotcakes then.
Having A Heat Wave...Well,it's not tropical,but it has been hot here lately.Temps are in the 90's and the humidity makes it hard to breathe.Really not unusual for this time of the year,since it is July,but makes it uncomfortable none the less.
I have been going swimming on average one day a week.My neice likes to go,and we have been planning to go on a regular basis to cool off and get some activity.I hve found the water truely is a good place to get some excercise.The first few times I went I can honestly say I was pain free,and was able to move like I was a kid again.Floating in the wter takes pressure off my back and feels good.
Tonight we went to the pool in neighboring Winterset.The Municipal pool there is a nice new facility,they have several water slides,a basketball hoop,and lots of splashing gadgets and smaller slides in the wading area for the kiddies.Pool sure have changed since I was a kid.Tonight I noticed life guard stands at multiple points of the pool,as well as a life guard standing at the top of the slide areas to tell youi when it was clear to go down.Safety is a priority.In my youth I remember maybe 2 life guards for an entire pool.They also had many nice resin deck lounges around for those who like to sunbathe and umbrellas to shade the sun.I swam laps,went down the twisty water slides 3 times,and the slide in the deep area that shot you through the air before you plunged down into the deep water at least 3 times.We played a bit of BBall,I floated bounced and splashed at my Neice.Not easy to get that one,she gets you back a thousand times harder.LOL (I seem to remember a time I was like that<wink>) Tonight was not pain free however,I think the extra action of climbing stairs,and plunging down slides caught up to me before we were done.We stayed a total of 2 hours,afterwhich we stopped at the ice cream shop for tenderloins and shakes.A fine way to end the evenings activities.By the time we got out from the pool it had cooled down significantly and was a beautiful night,so we atew at the tables outside the ice cream stand.
After coming home I took my medication for the evening,and now a nice nights sleep and I hope to feel refreshed in the morning.
The job search is going no where yet.I have reapplyed for a higher position at the company that said I was over qualified.It is not the position they said best suited my experience,but is a higher position than the first one,so I was hoping to break into the company and be able to work my way up.So far I have not heard from them on this position.I would really love to get into this as it utilizes my medical background yet gives me the opportunity to break into office oriented work.
I have about given up on trucking,it seems I am turned down from every company I apply to.I am looking at this as a needed change in my life style.Working locally will allow me to take advantage of arthritis pool excercise classes at the heated pool,and other therapy if I need.I am getting worried though,If I can't find something doing what I want to do soon,I will have to entertain going actively into nursing again.I do not really want,nor can I physically handle that.
This next weekend is the Old Settlers Day celebration here in our town,and my SIL and I have been busy making beaded bracelets and such for a craft sale.I have also printed out covered bridge shots I have taken of each of the bridges in Winter and Spring and hope to sell some of these.If these go over well I will bring some supply to the craft stores and maybe some consignment shops in Winterset and see where that will go.I even have a crazy idea that I may take photos of the parade and let ppl know that they can buy prints of their floats on request.Maybe a sign on the bullitin board letting them know they are available.
Hope all is well in your part/parts of the world.
~Tani~
State Fair CompititionToday I dropped off my entries for the Iowa State Fair Photography compitition.This will be a new experience as I have never exhibited anything in the fair in the past.
Winter Wonderland Plants
Places and faces Downtown Places in Iowa The Iowa State Fair is a huge one,Millions of ppl enjoy it eash year.Many of you who remember the movie State Fair might like to know that it was based on Iowas fair.The only one bigger I have ever attended is the Minnesota State Fair.
The photography compitition is huge,last year over 700 photographers entered,each is allowed 4 entries,and they must be seperate photos in seperate groups.My entries this year ar for color photographs in the catagories,plants,Winter wonderland,Iowa places and faces and places Downtown.The judging is goiung to be tough,and I will be lucky if any of mine even makes the final cut to be exhibited let alone win,but there are some big money prizes for best of catagory best of show and other honerable mentions.
I will be on pins and needles till August 1st or shen they will mail out results.The card will tell me how many are being shown and if any have won a prize,but not which ones won or what they won.The week before the fair opens it's gates for 2007 they hold a banquet where an awards ceramony will be held,winners announced then.
Even if I don't make the exhibit it will be a good experience.It will allow me to learn what catches the judges eyes for future compititions.Wish me luck. |
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