Back Among the Carnies

Carnival Copyright 2005 Jeff Wignall

After writing a recent blog entry about my dedication to using tripods and monopods, I feel almost guilty writing this entry, but I guess this is the exception that proves the rule. I was coming home one night on the Fourth of July weekend and I spotted a carnival (how could you miss it with a 100' Ferris Wheel?) in a local strip mall parking lot. It was almost 11 p.m. (closing time according to the signs) and the only camera I had with me was my trusty Olympus C5050 camera and there was only room for about 20 frames left on the memory card (again, the only one I had with me). I wasn't even going to bother shooting photos but a friend (gently) nagged me into wandering through the carnival as it was closing up for the night so I grabbed the Olympus and waded in among the carnies. I had neither tripod nor monopod--and I wouldn't have lugged one around anyway probably. I wanted just to be there, to slip into the scene and maybe to take a few snapshots.

As I wandered around the carnival grounds I had this rush of flashbacks to my childhood. There was a man in my neighborhood when I was a kid that had some connection to the Clyde Beatty & Cole Brothers Circus and he used to give all the kids in the neighborhood free passes. That was in the early 1960's and in those days the circus and the carnivals that came to town still had wild side shows: the bearded lady was my favorite. I remember my best friend Donny and I being terrified to enter her little exhibit trailer, but we did. And with that experience under our belts (but not enough quarters to pay our way) we snuck into several other tents and trailers and gawked at what we imagined to be the great mysteries of the carnival world.

Ten years old and the wild wonders of the world had come to our town in the person of a bearded woman. I'm certain my mother thought I was going to be kidnapped by carnies and never seen again. I was kind of hoping I'd be asked to join them, too, but I never was. Donny and I just wandered and gawked and ate a lot of wonderul food--and we kept a weather eye on the carnies around us. How wild, we thought, would it be to hit the high road in a carnival caravan and live among the sideshow freaks! It was heady stuff for two boys from the 'burbs.

The local carnival I was walking through this summer night, snapping away, was a lot more modern (in theme and attractions) than the old Clyde Beatty Circus (and a lot cleaner, it seemed!), but it was still fun to wander the somewhat tiny grounds and feel the rush of childhood memories flooding back.

And I have to admit it was fun to walk the grounds without tripod or monopod, just me and my wonderful Olympus C5050 (with its fantastic f/1.8 lens) taking snaps. I used railings and fences to steady the camera, but mostly I just snapped and remembered and enjoyed the summer evening. The carnies are a lot less threatening looking and they travel in beautiful modern motor homes, but they still look as mysterious as ever. And their booths, with all the twinkling lights and colorful signs are just as enticing to me now as they were when I was ten years old. I was kind of hoping I'd run into Donny that night, come to think of it. And I guess in a way, I did.

I've been looking for a new book idea and that night I decided I might run away wih the carnies after all--but this time I'll bring my cameras and travel in my own motor home. And if I see that bearded lady, I'll surely take her photo--tripod or not.

Comments

[Carol Marsh]

Hi Jeff,

I am still looking for Stonington, Maine and I came across your carnival pictures. We just had our annual fiesta at church and I sold tickets for rides for 20 hours that weekend. It brought back memories of many past fiesta. Thanks.

Carol

[Jeff Wignall]

Hi Carol,

Wow, 20 hours of selling tickets--that's devotion :) Maybe you can run away with the carnival now!

jeff

[Kelly]

Hi Jeff,
I like your story. We should all take the time just to take snaps because it is fun and relaxing... I find the Carnie book idea iteresting. I bet you will have a blast!
Kelly

[Jeff Wignall]

Hi Kelly,

Thanks and yes, I totally agree, sometimes it's fun just to wander around (even around the house) and take snapshots for the fun of it. Not every photo has to be a work of art--some of my favorite photos (by myself and others) are just snapshots made without a thought of technique. Those carival shots are purely point-and-shoot photos.

Jeff

[betty]

Hi Jeff
I must have just missed you, I left before 10pm, This was at the Trumbull Mall right?
I actually listened to you in class and brought my tripod. :)
Betty

[Jeff Wignall]

Hi Betty,

No, not Trumbull--did they have one too? I was at the Dock in Stratford. You actually brought a tripod? Wow, I'm impressed :)

jeff