On Fair Photography

"You're in a different category, Marianne," my sister Barbara told me.  "We won't be competing against each other."  

That announcement graduated to an all-out encouragement for me to enter some photos in this year's Bonner County Fair.

Since that day, Barbara has reminded me of the photography competition in little ways----sharing this year's general rules such as only black or white mattes, etc. or suggesting to me that with my time opening up after a busy summer,  I could get some photos ready for the fair.

Coming from such a talented photographer, this encouragement got me to thinking:  maybe there are some photos among the thousands I've taken this year that might be "fair" competition quality.

Today is the first full free day I've had in some time, so this morning I decided to check out the photography rules in my fairbook. They all seemed easy enough to follow.

Then, I looked at the competitor categories, which did include a "special" division for folks with disabilities.  

"Didn't Barbara mention the name of the category I could enter?" I got to thinking.  "Hmm, seems like she may have used the word 'special' in one of those conversations.

Maybe, maybe not. 

Anywho, she did get one fact really wrong.  The only other category I could enter other than "special" was "senior."  

To enter the "senior" category, one must be 65.  

Thanks, Barbara! I'll have to wait a year, even if you do think I'm an older coot than I really am.

As we stood around the kitchen island and I continued looking over the photography info.,  I announced to Bill that I had my excuse.

"I'm not 65 yet," I said. "Besides,  it's pretty expensive and time-consuming to get all those photos ready."  No way I could compete with Barbara in any category.

Bill wasn't letting me off the hook.

"What about that photo you took of the people on the bridge?" he asked. "Oh yeah, I suppose I could enter that one (a silhouette of a family crossing the Kootenai Falls swinging bridge)," I responded, heading upstairs with my latte.

I'm surrounded by phenomenal photographers---in my family---and among my friends. Just met another gifted shutterbug last weekend when Kelli Keough's husband came to the Lovestead and kept his camera in seemingly constant use.

I look at photography competitions much the way I do horse shows.  

I'd much rather observe and behold the eye of those gifted people who see the images and capture them at unique, stunning moments.   

As for horse shows, I'd much rather watch beautiful horses performing with beautiful riders than go through the agony of participating myself. 

Call me the cheerleader, but there's so much talent in this world that some of us folks need to sit on the sidelines, spectate, clap our hands and yell "Yay!"

That's what competitors live for.  Granted,  they chase after the challenges because of the journey involved getting there, but they also love the acknowledgement.

I'm glad this morning not to be 65 but still may pick out a few photos to enter, just so Barbara, Laurie and I can do what we did in the fair horse show---- participate as three sisters with a common passion. 

More than likely, though, I'll be just as happy to yell "Yay" whenever I see pretty ribbons on my sisters' photos.

Next year----when I'm 65 and truly a senior---I'll get really serious about picking out photos for the fair. 

Special Note:  If you haven't checked out Barbara's latest shots, you can visit her Flickr website at http://www.flickr.com/photos/misstshs/    And, do click on that "powwow" category.  Pretty neat stuff.