The Grand Wheel Photo

Photographer’s Note

Location:
Los Angeles County Fair 2006

Fairplex is home to the annual L.A. County Fair. It is originated in 1922. It is the largest county fair in North America and annually ranks in the top 10 among all North American fairs and exhibitions. The annual average attendance for the Fair is approximately 1.3 million.

The last time I attended the L.A. county fair was 10 years ago. This year, I went there on a Sunday but it was still jam packed. I saw many amazing farris wheel photos on TrekEarth and decided to try myself. Apart from long exposure, I wanted to experiment with lights so I used a 4x starburst filter. At first, I felt it was too messy. Now it's growing on me and I think it captures the essence of the fair.

If you want to know what the wheel looks like when it spins faster, take a look at the other photo I posted in the workshop.

evanrizo, joworawat, feather, amstel, euryan, Tezic, gramma, bakes888 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

RPoole5552 (1639) 2006-09-13 9:50

Hi Nap. I went to this fair over twenty years ago. Your photo brings back memories. Thanks for sharing.

Best regards,

Rob

icehole (183) 2006-09-13 10:04

Excellent Nap...I like it

Paul

catalina (821) 2006-09-13 10:27

Hi Nap,
Very nice colors in perfect combination.
So many lights...it must have been very difficult to get such a good photo...
But you did it.
Congratulation!
Cati

evanrizo (456) 2006-09-13 11:43

Very good done Nap, it looks really great and very effective.

kermit350 (8988) 2006-09-13 13:46

Hello Nap, it is a subject which lends itself to much graphic interpretation, I like this a little unreal image, this iconography formed by the lights confers on the image a brightness which forms a super graphics, I am subjugated by l`énergie which emanates from this photograph, it is harshly well made, in a friendly way

prumod (8258) 2006-09-13 14:28

it is very beautiful nap...
nice colors and good light and shadows...
take care
prtmaod

joworawat (0) 2006-09-13 14:44

Hi Nap,
Nice shot with starburst filter.

gigi (2668) 2006-09-13 14:45

hello Nap
WONDERFULL !!!!
une tres bonne compo
avec de superbe couleurs et un super cadrage
great job
jean louis

feather (49848) 2006-09-13 17:20

Most night shots are subtle and more dark than light. Here you have captured all the fun of the fair. "Messy" it may be but it has so much energy, colour and impact it hits you between the eyes. I love it!
Kath

nicole80 (2162) 2006-09-14 1:58

Hello Nap,
You captured very well all the lights of this fair !
Good composition with the bridge(?) leading to th big wheel !
Congratulations,
Nicole

amstel (2229) 2006-09-14 4:08

Wow Nap,

Very good sharpness, and composition as well. Really great job!

Cheers!

euryan (8345) 2006-09-14 12:55

I really like what you've done here with the starburst filter. I also like the amount of blur on the Farris wheel. The compo is great. I didn't mind the warmer color balance until I saw the workshop photo you posted with the correct color balance. I must say I like that one better, but this one isn't bad. The photo with the wheel completely blurred isn't as interesting as the other two in my opinion. Good work Nap. You have inspired me to visit our State Fair here in Utah and try for some nice shots of my own.
Thanks,
Ryan

baba_flies (7933) 2006-09-14 15:10

Hello Nap ! This is such good work. Fairs are fun and I just went to one myself but not as spectacular as the L.A. one (mine was just in some "lost" village). I love the color-light thing, the turning wheel and its speed you can feel. Excellent. All the best from Zurich, Barbara.

Tezic (16927) 2006-09-15 7:51

Hi Nap,
Very nice colors in perfect combination.
Like a postcard quality..
rgds-Coskun

ktanska (16393) 2006-09-15 8:36

Hi Nap,
The wheel is just amazing. Excellent choice of exposure time. Star filter works well on such a scene. Good action feeling although people are hardly recognizable.
Kari

stewils (481) 2006-09-16 8:30

A good night shot, you've got the colours really well. I can almost smell the candy floss.

a_i_ren (1315) 2006-09-16 12:02

Great shot, Nap! Perfect composition, well balanced light and dark regions of the photo!
Regards.
Inna

pitai (3925) 2006-09-24 9:22

wow. Another fantastic shot. your notes are really very informative. It is incredible too see how different settings and filters gets so different results of the same subject. Once againg, you succeded capturing the essence of the fair. I am only missing the music. lol. TFS, Gabriel

gramma (3519) 2006-09-24 16:00

Hello Nap,

Wondeful colors for this picture. Very good work, particularly for the time exposure. Well done !
Cordially,

Christophe

bakes888 (18055) 2006-09-25 0:29

Hi Nap. Excellent spectacle of light and shape. Well captured and thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

vincz (19039) 2006-09-25 4:14

A true light festival. Amazing! Great choice of aperture. Thanks for sharing.

Stepan (27167) 2007-01-03 15:26

This kind of subject can really be impressive and effective. And it is... Beautiful dazzling light, in a good pov/frame. Good realization.
Wish you all the best for 2007.
Stéphane

donluicu (23877) 2007-01-23 13:16

Nap

this is a very good image , very good colors and management of the difficult lights

regards

ps: is this the "glossy" cokin filter

darrasin (2860) 2007-05-04 21:40

Hello Nap,

Ah, this one is very well executed. It captures the mood and excitement of the fair nicely. The colors are well seen.

Well done!
Doug

marietom (31768) 2008-02-10 3:04

Hi Nap,

Une image graphique et colorée, aux superbes lumières, j'aime beaucoup.
Marie

Photo Information

Copyright: Nap Niyomtham (napdsp) (732)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-09-10
Categories: Festivals
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM, RAW @ ISO 100, B+W 77mm 4x Cross Screen
Exposure: f/22, 6 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2006-09-13 8:59