Fair Photography

Red Bull

The San Diego County Fair is now open and so I asked about their camera and tripod policy. I got a response back that says:

Steven,

Thanks for asking about the camera and tripod policy. You will find it in our Guest Services section of the website on a page called “Can I Bring.” Here is the link:

http://www.sdfair.com/fair/index.php?fuseaction=services.bring

Tripods are not allowed in our Fun Zone area at night, mainly because with the crowds, it’s a trip hazard. Being a photographer myself (and I also started when I was about your age), I know how beautiful the rides are in a photo, and how much fun it is when the photo turns out well. Please use good judgment as you shoot, and if a staff member asks you to move, please do.

Hope you have a good time, and if you get a great shot, enter it in our Photo Exhibit!

I also saw this in the link:

All professional photographers must have a credential from the Media Office, located at the east end of the Flower and Garden Show. If you are a serious amateur photographer using professional-style equipment, please stop by the Media Office for a photographer's credential.

So I guess I will be needing to get one of those credentail things since I'm pretty sure a 20D with L glass would be considered "porfessional-syle" equipment.

One thing that I am pretty upset about is the tripod rule. I just bought a new Gitzo 2220 and a ball head and one of the main reasons I bought a new tripod is because I wanted one to take to the fair to get night photos. So I was thinking that since I would be allowed to actually bring the tripod in (it says just not in the fun zone or crowded areas) I might just go and try and get a few photos in the fun zone and if anyone says something I can just say "I'm sorry, I didn't know" and put it away.

Or a different solution I was thinking would be to buy a few bean bags and just set the camera on a trash can and use the bean bag to keep it still. (Now I wish I had bought one of those bean bag pod things with the mount on it!)

Any other suggestions? Thoughts about this? Has anyone else been in my situation? Getting these fair photos is very important to me. I'm going to really be bummed out if I can't get some good night photos of the rides.:cry

ian408

Sounds like they at least offered you some options. That's not too bad.

Regarding the tripod. Bean bags would be workable as would one of those
little REI jobs (as long as you don't have big glass stuck on it). I carry one
of the REI mini tripods on the motorcycle. It comes with a piece of velcro
that you can use to attach it to some things.

Good luck! And I'm looking forward to your shots.

Ian

Red Bull

Thanks for the tip, Ian. I might stop by REI and pick one of those up, the price certainly is right!. They look pretty good for a mini tripod and would do the job if I set it up on a trashcan.

It's this one, right?

http://www.rei.com/product/894.htm

ian408

That's the one! It's definitely not something for big kit but in a pinch, it
works well.

Don't forget to stuff your other tripod in your backpack

Red Bull

Awesome. Do you think it will hold a 20D with a 17-40, or should I slap on the 18-55 because it's much lighter? REI has 2 versions, the regular one which is smaller, and the II one which is a bit bigger. I'm guessing go for the bigger one? (the link I have in my previous post)

ian408

The way the head works, go as light as you can. Basically, friction is
what keeps it steady.

Hey, we just had an earthquake! Little temblor around a 4...

Bodwick

Turn up in daylight and get your credentials. Find locations well out of the way from crowds to shoot from. Once it's dark you can find your area's and not be in anyones way. Don't extend your tripod to max try to be as compact as possible. Don't set up in the middle of a busy area or you'll be out in two mins flat.
If asked to leave or move on you will have to do what they say.

If you are told on obtaining your credentials specificly not to shoot rides at night on pain of death then you better not even try the above or be ready to be thrown out.

claudermilk

I wonder what they would think of using a monopod?

I think I might go check out the policy for the OC Fair since it's next month. Didn't have any troubles using my 20D with the 50/1.8 last year though. I wasn't alone either, saw a Nikon shooter wandering around the midway after dark obviously with the same intent...our wives shared knowing looks as we passed.

photodoug

Red Bull wrote:

Thanks for the tip, Ian. I might stop by REI and pick one of those up, the price certainly is right!. They look pretty good for a mini tripod and would do the job if I set it up on a trashcan.

It's this one, right?

http://www.rei.com/product/894.htm

you might even get creative with the attached velcro...quite long. I'm thinking you could wrap that around part of the long lense...act as a bipod of sorts. Another to be the camera's tripod. I always carry one.

audi

If all goes wrong you could just get creative and have some fun utilizing the surroundings. Im sure you could find something to keep it still.

good luck

Red Bull

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll let you know how it goes whenever I go. Maybe if I'm lucky I can make it this weekend.

Red Bull

I picked up the tripod at REI today. Got the bigger of the two. With my 20D it's a bit wobbly, but I will be using MLU and the self timer so that any shaking or wobbling will mostly go away by the time the photo is taken. I thought it was made out of some sory of metal, but it's made of plastic. Oh well, only $15 so it's not too big of a deal. And if it continues to wobble from the weight of the 20D, I'm bringing along my Powershot A80 so I can hook that up to it since it is much lighter.

Red Bull

Just a little update. Went to the fair tonight and the mini tripod worked out really well! I ended up not even trying to use my normal tripod (but I did bring it with me) and just used the mini one. I set it on top of recycle bins and that held it pretty well. They have a ton of recycle bins so I got most of the rides photographed.

Nikolai

The Pods

Red Bull wrote:

(Now I wish I had bought one of those bean bag pod things with the mount on it!)

Steven,
don't be sad about those pods. I got one when they came out, the biggest one. It truned out it was *barely* OK for my - then - Sony 828. And once I got 20D it was nowhere near capable of holding the camera still. So I sold it to a lady with ultracompact Casio and we both were happy... :

Good luck with your night shooting. Getting credentials is actually a nice thing - it may help you to get your name out:-)

Cheers!

claudermilk

Glad to hear it's working out. The OC fair is opening next week, so I'll be making my first trip this year on Sunday--gotta catch the demolition derby this time ...we'll see what I can do with a 24-70 there.

BeachBill

Red Bull wrote:

The San Diego County Fair is now open and so I asked about their camera and tripod policy.

Sorry I saw this so late... I went to the SD Fair on the evening of June 17 to check out the photo exhibit and wander around a bit. It never dawned on me that they might not allow tripods... I probably started shooting around 11pm (after viewing the photo exhibit and going through the Wyland building). All shots in the Fun Zone were done with a tripod and nobody said anything to me. Perhaps I got away with it due to the late hour and sparse crowd.

Anyway I posted my favorites at http://picasaweb.google.com/beachbill/SanDiegoCountyFair2006

Next up is the OC Fair where I've got a couple entries in the photo exhibit...

Red Bull

Very cool, BeachBill! I did fine with my little mini tripod. I posted some of my results here in this thread. http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=37281

Looks like we got some similar photos! Have fun at the OC Fair. I can't wait to see more photos and good luck in the Photo competition.

claudermilk

Cool shots. I wasn't too happy with most of my attempts last year...except this one, made the whole trip worth it. http://claudermilk.smugmug.com/gallery/1425843/2/67704864

BeachBill

claudermilk wrote:

Cool shots. I wasn't too happy with most of my attempts last year...except this one, made the whole trip worth it. http://claudermilk.smugmug.com/gallery/1425843/2/67704864

Nice one.

wxwax

Red Bull wrote:

Just a little update. Went to the fair tonight and the mini tripod worked out really well! I ended up not even trying to use my normal tripod (but I did bring it with me) and just used the mini one. I set it on top of recycle bins and that held it pretty well. They have a ton of recycle bins so I got most of the rides photographed.

This has been a really useful thread.

landrum

Red Bull wrote:

I might just go and try and get a few photos in the fun zone and if anyone says something I can just say "I'm sorry, I didn't know" and put it away.

I find it easier to ask forgivness than permission!

(I sure hope my kids never read this!! )

Glad you got your shots..they turned out great!

BeachBill

Red Bull wrote:

Very cool, BeachBill! I did fine with my little mini tripod. I posted some of my results here in this thread. http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=37281

Looks like we got some similar photos!

Wow, deja vu. I also have some of the Zipper that I did not post...

Red Bull wrote:

Have fun at the OC Fair. I can't wait to see more photos and good luck in the Photo competition.

I feel I have already won by just getting the photos past the jury selection. A friend of mine inspired me to enter the fair this year after seeing the photos he entered in the small county fair where he lives. I had no clue that the OC Fair would be so difficult to get in to (i.e. I was unaware of the jury process).

I just started taking up photography seriously as a hobby last fall. I've had two adult ed classes since then and boy do I wish I had known all of the little composition secrets sooner. My pictures have improve greatly over the last 9 months.

I'm just excited to see all of the photos that made it into the fair, and to try to figure out why each of them made it and hopefully help me improve my technique for next year.