atomicphoto

I had the opportunity to visit the Hartford Fair (The Biggest Little Fair in the World) in Croton, Ohio this afternoon. I’ve heard good things from other photographers about this fair, but this was the first time I got to experience it myself. It definitely didn’t disappoint.

The fair, which is about half an hour northeast of Columbus, was a blast from the past. It wasn’t overly commercial like other county fairs and the state fair have become. To get to the main concourse, you have to walk through a field of antique tractors. There is a bigger focus on animals and competitions than on neon lights and amusements.

I was free to roam wherever I wanted most of the day, but my only requirement was to shoot the frog jumping competition. Some kids brought their own frog, but most picked their jumper from a dozen or so that were on hand. The competition was held under one of the covered, open-air pavilions. This worked out in my favor since the sun was beating down from directly overhead. Kids went four at a time, and had a minute to do anything they could to get the frog to jump, except for touch it. Parents and fellow competitors watched from outside the black walled-off circle.

I got a lot of pictures of kids clapping, blowing, and pounding their fists, but not many of actual frogs jumping. This frame came together perfectly. The sunlight coming in from outside the pavilion gave the girl a nice rim light. The rest is just ambient exposure. A lucky jump and clean background completed the frame.

CAPTION: A strong breath was all it took to entice 5-year-old Dylan Cunningham’s frog to leap 29 inches during the frog jumping competition at the Hartford Fair on Aug. 4. Cunningham, from Thornville, was one of more than 60 competitors between the ages of 2 and 15 to enter the contest.