State Fair Moments

If you know me personally, you’ll be surprised to learn that I went to the Great Minnesota Get-Together more than once this year! I don’t like crowds, I don’t eat fair food and I’m definitely a minimalist photographer. And yet, I loved the challenge of isolating stories in a sea of people!

A few stats about the Minnesota State Fair: It happens once a year and lasts 12 days, always ending on Labor Day. It covers 320 acres. It is the largest fair in the US by average daily attendance. It’s not rare to see 250K people enter its gates in a single day!

Here are the few moments I captured this year while roaming miles and miles of fairgrounds with my camera, mostly at dusk and at night.

I would love to hear from you! Please leave a comment below. Merci! 🙂

©Valérie Jardin - curiosity-1

©Valérie Jardin - State Fair moment-6

©Valérie Jardin - State Fair moment-7

©Valérie Jardin - State Fair moment-2

©Valérie Jardin - State Fair moment-3

©Valérie Jardin - State Fair moment-9

©Valérie Jardin - State Fair moment-8

©Valérie Jardin - State Fair moment-10

©Valérie Jardin - State Fair moment-5

©Valérie Jardin - State Fair moment-16

©Valérie Jardin - State Fair moment-11

©Valérie Jardin - State Fair moment-4

©Valérie Jardin - State Fair moment-17

©Valérie Jardin - State Fair moment-13

©Valérie Jardin - State Fair moment-14

©Valérie Jardin - State Fair moment-12

©Valérie Jardin - State Fair moment-15

©Valérie Jardin - State Fair moment-1

©Valérie Jardin - State Fair moment-8

 

Tags: , , , ,

8 thoughts on “State Fair Moments”

  3. Hi Valerie, I went to the fair as well and feel much the same way you do. It’s super crowded but it’s also such a unique event that it’s hard to stay away. Isolating subjects was hard for me. You always do a great job of that. I’d love to read a more detailed blog post about your fair experience or at least get more info on the shots you posted above.

    My burning question: how are you able to get so close to your subjects? Do they not notice you or is that just not a factor? I admit to being a little shy about getting up front and personal with my street photos. Maybe I need to just set my inhibitions aside and just do it.

    Thanks for this post. I loved following your Fair photos on Instagram.

    The MN state fair would also be a great subject for your podcast.

    Like

    Reply ↓

  4. I too prefer to shoot as a minimalist, avoiding crowds and take away fair food. You really captured the excitement of a fair through a child’s eye. These are great photos.

    Currently I am on a six week trip through Europe (in Amsterdam as I write this) attempting to use the lessons you have given through your blog and book but perhaps not doing them justice. Nonetheless the challenge makes it worth while!

    Cheers.

    Like

    Reply ↓

Leave a comment