Fun Learning Experience

Hi thair, hon. What kin I gitch ya? Do ya wanna sammich, hon?

You might think I forgot to check my spelling, but that is not the case. Native Baltimoreans often speak this dialect where hon is short for honey. The phrasing was perfectly normal, but the encounter was a little wacky. The waitress wore a mile-high pink hairdo and a pound of blue eye shadow. I thought I had stumbled onto the stage for the latest production of Hairspray by John Waters. Actually, I was in the Hampden neighborhood of Baltimore where the annual HonFest (www.honfest.com) takes place in honor of the city’s working women.

While I ate my sammich I got to thinking about the article David Middleton wrote here on PAW. It’s entitled Going Local. He suggests you photograph “life around you be it natural, cultural, or historical”. Now, I wholeheartedly agree with him, but I recommend you add a fourth category of photo opportunities to your indigenous photography… hilarious events. You will have an uproarious time, create some truly unique images, and learn to use your camera intuitively.

No matter where you live, there are sure to be carnivals, county fairs, festivals, fiestas, pageants, parades, rodeos, traveling circuses, or other gala events for you to photograph … the zanier the better. New Orleans has Mardi Gras. San Francisco has the Bay to Breakers Race. West Virginia sponsors a RoadKill Cook-Off. Delaware has Punkin’ Chunkin’ Championships. The Frozen Dead Guy Days in Colorado sure sound intriguing. Mark Twain fans will be glad to hear Calaveras County in California does indeed have a Jumping Frog Jamboree. And, Idaho celebrates Spud Day.

I trust you see where I am going with this. Find out what wild and crazy events your area has to offer and then photograph them. While it is unlikely that photos from such events as cow chip throwing contests, rattlesnake round-ups (yikes) or watermelon seed-spitting contests will ever grace the front cover of National Geographic Magazine, fret not because that is not your objective during these photo shoots. Your purpose is to have fun learning (or reinforcing) how to use the various features and settings on your camera.

These events will help you to become a click thinker, that is, help you to develop an instinct or intuition for how best to use your gear under fast-changing circumstances. Generally, it’s best to carry just one lens (because you will have a funnel cake or a hotdog in your other hand) … say in the 28-70mm range. You will be busy switching shooting modes back and forth to properly catch the action of the moment, using fill flash, trying for a unique angle to your compositions, watching your backgrounds, looking for truly wacky and hilarious subjects, and asking folks for permission to shoot their picture. Take a little time to look for any patterns or trends. For example, at HonFest 2009, dogs with ‘dos were quite stylish; the spandex was especially colorful; both the young and young-at-heart took part; and, footwear was intriguing.

So, hon, whutch ya waitin’ fer? Git out thar and learn to have some fun shootin'.