60 years and counting...

I received an assignment the other day to meet and photograph the original founders of VA's largest county fair, the Prince William County Fair. All five were WWII veterans in 1949 when they decided that they wanted to create a competitive event for local farming families to get together and socialize. 59 years later, they are all still going strong. Each one has worked every year at the fair in one capacity or another.












The unfortunate part of the assignment was that before we took pictures (I was collecting audio as well), the fifth founder up and left. I asked the woman who was organizing this, "is he coming back?". Nope. He just left. Well, it is nice that people take your job seriously. And I don't blame the guy who left. They had been there for a few hours talking about the fair, and signing books. He was probably tired, and if people don't tell you that you have to stay for pictures, then I can't exactly blame you for wanting to go home.

I couldn't get there until a little before the event ended, and having spoken to the organizer the day before I thought I was clear about needing them all for about an hour to interview and take pictures. Sometimes what I think are clear requests, aren't clear at all. Not sure what part of "I need to take a portrait of them for the paper" means that someone can leave. Especially if it's a story about the "Original Five". Not "the original five minus one because he left and we didn't tell the photographer he was leaving...".

Ok, rant over.

Naturally, the Fair has changed over the years. Things aren't the same anymore in Prince William County. Years ago, the fair had dairy cows, cattle, sheep, and all sorts of livestock. Most of that has disappeared, these days. And those that do bring in their livestock are all from Fauquier county. It's mostly about the demolition derby, wrestling, rides and corn dogs these days, I guess. But since 1949, these men have brought families out to participate and learn about the agricultural world, and maybe enoy a funnel cake or two.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Monacan Powwow

Image
This has been a long time coming. I finally have a refurbished website. And with the new galleries I can show off some of the stuff I've been working on over the past year. I haven't had the opportunity to share many of it until now. Please check it out: http://www.johnboalphotography.com Much of it has been shown in various posts regarding athletes of the year, fairs...etc. On the other hand, one of my favorite "assignments" I did this year was back in May. I went down to the Monacan Nation Powwow, near Lynchburg, VA. I have a little Native American heritage ( Nez Perce´ ) in my blood, and it's always something that interested me. I read about Chief Joseph , and ever since I saw my first Ed Curtis prints, I've been fascinated by the idea of documenting indigenous people, and learning more about who they are. Kenneth Branham, Chief, Monacan Nation Robert Narcomey, Navajo/Seminole descent I think it's important to distinguish what I mean by saying "
Read more

White Elephant

Image
White Elephant Antiques as seen on insidenova.com (smaller) click this to see a full screen version on Vimeo Daughter and Father, Cynthia and Dan Beard on the front steps of the White Elephant. A couple years ago, when I first started working at the News & Messenger (it was The Potomac News at that time) I would sometimes drive around looking for inspiration and something to sink my teeth into. At this point I have such a backlog of ideas to get to and work to do on them, I don't get to wander and look around much these days. But in those days I wandered and sometimes I found interesting things. I came across the White Elephant antique store and literally did a double take when I passed the store on Bristow Rd. I had somewhere else to be but was sure to jot down a note on the location so I could come back another time. When I finally made the trip I found more antiques and books than I could believe could fit into a house. Cynthia on the back porch. I first met Cynthia Bea
Read more

stu-, stu-, studio!

Image
I'm excited to be writing this after working in a studio I only learned about from a real estate agent I worked with in the DC area.   He offered me the opportunity to check it out, and pass the word on to others that might be in need of such studio space.   Imagehouse is the place.   So the other night, with the needed help of a complete ham, my friend Keith stood in front of the lights and camera.  Presto!  We made some images.  A few of which I'm happy with.  Maybe they aren't perfectly polished.  But I liked the thought process and being able to really see what I wanted to do and make it happen (mostly).  I need to get back in there to work on some stuff, re-shoot some ideas...generally get better at studio work.   But I would be remiss if I didn't thank my other friend named Keith.   Keith Barraclough .  He let me show up at his studio a few weeks back and showed me his basic setup for all those "Making It" pictures in the Wash Post Magazine.  He also sh
Read more