By
Daily Mail Reporter
15:33, 25 August 2013
|
16:10, 25 August 2013
Yikes. Marriage proposal ends in disaster…
Could this mysterious wave be evidence of Loch Ness Monster?
Police dance off! Coppers join in the fun at Notting Hill…
Reporter goes topless during her interview with local mayor
Shocking video encouraging kids to bully litte girl
Newsreader’s daughter interrupts live TV report
Boy’s eyes gouged out after being ‘kidnapped by organ…
Bizarre Russian army choir sings Adele’s Skyfall on TV show
Little girl shares a kiss with baby gorilla
See inside Chernobyl as it is gradually reclaimed by nature
400 commuters stranded on railway track after train fire
Mystery caves in Nepal which are carved 155ft off the ground
‘It was really, really disturbing’: Parents’ fury at Miley…
Does THAT answer your question? Marriage proposal ends in…
Is that really appropriate? Parents dress their children up…
Vanishing Chernobyl: Aerial photos show how devastated town…
Parents’ horror as Chinese boy, 6, has his eyes GOUGED OUT…
Poor are wasting cash on ready meals, says Jamie Oliver:…
‘I’ve created my perfect wife’: Plastic surgeon gives…
From glam to grime at Notting Hill Carnival: Arrests, fights…
Driver of £100,000 Audi R8, 24, held over death of woman…
Are these two iPhone thieves pictured in their pants?…
Girl, ten, accused of raping boy, four, during game of…
As West debated air strikes on Syria, where was peace envoy…
Newest
Oldest
Best rated
Worst rated
44
View
comments
The great tradition of the U.S. county fair celebrates local agriculture and heritage with entertainment, competitions, bright lights, wild rides, food and fun.
But photographer Greg Miller is fascinated with the human interest angle at fairs across the country. Using a large format 8×10 camera, Miller documented the events, producing a series of intriguing shots commissioned by Life’s newspaper supplement.
He told Slate that he would wander round the fairs observing people until something grabbed his attention. ‘It’s a recurring theme in the pictures,’ Miller said. ‘People are either breaking up or they’re on the verge of a new relationship or you can’t tell which way they’re going.’
Doleful: An awkward interaction at the National Date Festival in 2005
On the spin: A scene from a ride at the Ventura County Fair in 2005
Greetings: A girl encounters a robot at the Schnecksville Community Fair, 2005
Company: A green swan overlooks a couple at the National Date Festival
Because of his large and unwieldy camera, Miller need to stop a chat to every potential photo subject. He admitted to Slate that he often had to work up the necessary bravery to talk to people.
‘The person you want to photograph
the most is the person that’s scaring you the most. You’re like, ‘Oh
God, I can’t photograph that person.’ For me, that’s the alarm going off
that I need to photograph this person,’ Miller explained.
By using a large format camera Miller is able to get huge resolution and incredible control of perspective and the depth of field in his photographs. But it doesn’t come cheap, financially at least.
Tenderness: A scene from Blue Hill Fair, 2005
Avoiding eye contact? Preparations at the National Date Festival
Teenage kicks: Behind the ride at Schnecksville Community Fair
When life gives you lemons… The lemonade stand at Brooklyn Fair in 2007
Miller explained to Petapixel that it costs $1,500 for hundred sheets of film, which lasts him about three months.
But he says he loves the 8×10 camera for the optical quality of the photographs – and other reasons.
‘When
I’m on the street shooting with this camera, it has this level of
importance because it’s a large wooden camera, and I just love the
experience everyone has with it, I love everything about it. I
understand that it makes me seem like I’m a luddite or something,’ Miller said.
The photographer told Petapixel that it has also taught him to ‘be more
communicative. I talk to everyone in my pictures. I am richer for it in
other more profound ways. Makes $1,500 look cheap.’
Eyes down: A trio play bingo at Wayne County Fair
Family: A day out at Wayne County Fair in 2005
Share or comment on this article
The comments below have not been moderated.
These photos are staged. These people were told to look serious and bored for a dramatic affect.
american badazz
,
k.c. usa,
26/8/2013 08:31
Report abuse
This is not what my county fair looks like. Every time I go, it’s full of excited people running around, laughing and having a good old time. It really is a blast and there is sooo much to do from riding rides, petting animals, watching performances, eating funnel cakes, competing in contests, you name it. That’s why I am almost positive these photographers asked these people to purposely look sad for a dramatic look.
Meredith731
,
Bloomington, United States,
26/8/2013 03:47
Report abuse
Smashing photos.
Dipole
,
Rotherham, United Kingdom,
26/8/2013 01:39
Report abuse
That’s the truth, Lindyevans. Memories of the fair are always of a very quiet, hot daytime. It’s at night that people perk up and cool off. That being said, those were uncommonly quiet, unpopulated pictures for a fair.
cynthia brennemann
,
Belleville,
26/8/2013 01:32
Report abuse
How did the photographer get people to look so grim? It’s hard to find so many depressed people at a fair. Not a very accurate portrayal.
Jenette
,
Palo Alto,
26/8/2013 01:32
Report abuse
They are not bored or sad. They are HOT. Just try walking around for miles in 100F with the humidity at 65% and see how happy you look. That is why fair vendors always hope there is a heat wave when they come to town. They can sell more lemon shakeups, ice cream, and soda that way. The beer tents can sell more beer. Our state fair was held in the middle of August and the vendors complained about the weather not being hot enough. The hottest day was only 85 degrees during the fair.
lindyevans
,
springfield-il,
26/8/2013 00:29
Report abuse
Where are the lights! Happy people! Fun! Games! Rides! Food! Balloons! Animals! Blue ribbons!
kbb
,
baltimore, United States,
26/8/2013 00:29
Report abuse
These are some sad looking county fairs. Our California county fairs are all pretty good. The one in Alameda Co. is a winner. Horse racing almost every day. Great rides and more kinds of fair food than you can think of. Four H farm animals and pig races, and all kinds of music.
Ricardoh
,
Walnut Creek CA USA,
25/8/2013 23:55
Report abuse
some rough looking folk in Wayne County
Denise
,
USA,
25/8/2013 23:52
Report abuse
Just moved to ventura the fair was a rip off starting with the $20 parking all over town, to surfers point beach closed off!
PPerkins
,
abq USA,
25/8/2013 23:33
Report abuse
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Stunning photographs tell the human interest tales at county fairs across the ...
No comments:
Post a Comment