The Cuckoo fair stands tall. Photo

Photographer’s Note

This photo was taken in the little village of Downton in Wiltshire. There are some odd customs still going on in Wiltshire villages but none so odd as Downton's celebrations to herald the arrival of Spring, the fair is held on the first Saturday in May.

The Downton Cuckoo Fair is the ideal one day family event, held on the greens in the picturesque village of Downton, six miles south of Salisbury, there is a lot going on during the day with over 250 craft and other interesting stalls (some in marquees); rural craft demonstrations; maypole; morris dancing; street entertainment; music; there is also Punch and Judy, clowns, bouncy castle and roundabouts. Each year they crown a new fair Queen.

Traditionally the arrival of the cuckoo was seen as the onset of good weather and the Downton tradition of "opening the gate" to let the cuckoo through is the basis of the fair.
I can only find this below about the fairs hostory,
Factually the Downton fairs are first recorded in 1249 and in 1289 a fair was claimed on the eve, day and morrow of St. Laurence (9th-11th April). Early fairs died out and in 1676 two annual fairs were granted on 12th April and 21st September. When the term Cuckoo Fair came to be used seems to be unknown, as is any possible links with pagan festivities. The Cuckoo Princess only dates from the revival of the fair in 1980 but there may have been an earlier Cuckoo King.
There is no record of a fair being held since the Great War 1914-1918 until revived in 1980.

Vasa, ymrk, rodgerg, emilbo, maglex, Tue, Photo65Net, UlfE, fulvio52, berek, Philippe, danyy, pierrefonds, siolaw, gracious, Cricri, JCG, stego, danos, patdeph, macondo, pablominto, Charo, MLINES has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ymrk (8761) 2009-05-17 5:27

Hahahah! :D
Tot(!) is what a lovely smiling to us! :D
I think,You've could been local desaturation,most greater than this version...:=)
But,going a this photo.Have a good week end,

Yağmur

rodgerg (24123) 2009-05-17 5:44

Hello Wilson,

An image full of various colours well collected and full of life. A good reportage shot to these traditions. The POV is very well selected and the framing too with a good use of vertical format.
Best regards,
Roger

maglex (1582) 2009-05-17 6:04

Hi Wilson, very nice colors on this shot of the stilt walkers, I am sure Aveddon wouldve envied this shot, his from Palermo 1945 was black and white. Thanks for sharing...Alex

emilbo (9399) 2009-05-17 6:11

Allô Wilson,
Une magnifique photo pleine de vie et de superbes couleurs. Bonne composition et le bel éclairage met bien en valeur cette scène de rue. Beau travail et intéressante note.
Félicitations!... et bonne semaine,
Emilius

Tue (25608) 2009-05-17 6:28

Hey Wilson,
A great impression of this festival, accompanied with an interesting note. A very colourful photo and of course a good vertical composition. Thanks for sharing!
Regards,
Lars

Silvio1953 (41803) 2009-05-17 6:50

Ciao Wilson, great view full of people and colors, splendid composition, very well done, ciao Silvio

Photo65Net (43084) 2009-05-17 7:31

Hello Wilson,
Nice colors and very pleasant party atmosphere in this one.
I like too your vertical choice format.
Have a nice day,
JB.

UlfE (8990) 2009-05-17 10:50

Hi Wilson,

Wow, what a fantastic shot. I guess you have very good reasons for saying thata vertical picture is perfect here. I really enjoy this amusing, vivid and colourful shot. TFS and have a nice Sunday evening!

Cheers,

Ulf

fulvio52 (8314) 2009-05-17 13:57

Hi, Wilson.
Original, well framed, and featuring a truly wonderful array of colors. It's always a good thing to see traditions are being kept alive in an era most unfortunately ruled by globalism... Good shot, buddy. Have a nice evening, I'll be seeing you.
Fulvio.

emka (21506) 2009-05-17 15:25

Hi Wilson, Very colourful photo. I suppose it must be difficult to go like this. Interesting custom.

Regards

Malgorzata

Graal (57995) 2009-05-17 23:19

Hi Wilson,
amazing costumes and figures. Good reportage. Unusual parade in village. I like it. Well quality of photo.
Gr., Aleksander

maltese (21535) 2009-05-18 0:11

Hello Wilson
De belles couleurs pour donner une bonne dynamique à cette photo de fête. Ces vêtments si colorés font un bon contraste devant le mur blanc des façades.
Beau travail!!
Amicalement
Hervé

Vasa (5584) 2009-05-18 0:54

It seems vertical picture is only way to present this lovely subject, dear friend Wilson. Your photographic logic here is similar to mine. Nice presentation of cool life in Downton. Il like it and so glad to see you again. Friendly

Branko

John_F_Kennedy (31427) 2009-05-18 1:18

Wonderful shot. Good photo! I love such festivals!
Best wishes,
Achim

berek (28909) 2009-05-18 20:43

Hi Wilson,
should be a hard work this kind of walking. nice interesting and colourful view . thanks for this happy moment.
Best wishes.
Burak

bracasha75 (22125) 2009-05-19 12:44

Hey Wilson
The spring is back in town and nice ritual dreses on this "clowns"
Excellent shot
TFS
Cheers,Braca

Philippe (11775) 2009-05-20 12:39

Hi, Wilson. The vertical format is well chosen here to show us those people walking on stills. Their colourful clothes stand well out against the white house fronts. An interesting note about an event I'd never heard of.
Have a nice evening,
Philippe

peppe59 (1961) 2009-05-20 15:38

Ciao Wilson,
I find your photo rich of color and fantasy, great release. It compliments.
Giuseppe

zeca (20026) 2009-05-20 21:11

Hi Wilson!
The colours blowing up from this scene are enough, but the happy mood is really its top appeal. Good work!
Regards,
Zeca

danyy (68802) 2009-05-20 22:59

Bonjour Wilson,
image festive et richement colorée dans des lumières bien maitrisées. Une scène très sympathique qui met de suite de bonne humeur. Format vertical bien netendu approprié.
Regards.
Daniel.

Nicou (44867) 2009-05-21 1:10

Hello,

Quelle iamge, quel cadrage, fantastique, es personnage sur échasses sont superbe, avec de très belles couleurs, de mangigiques costumes, superbe.

Bravoe t amitié

Nicou

pierrefonds (26309) 2009-05-21 18:11

Hi Wilson,

You have captured well the expression of the persons standing tall. The presence of the spectators has an effect of scale. The point of view is showing the details and colors of the entertainors. The light has a good effect on the colors. Have a nice day.

Pierre

siolaw (25736) 2009-05-21 22:56

Hi Wilson,
The vertical framing was compulsory here! ;D Bright light and colors to convey the atmosphere of the event, which seems to be a fun one!
Greetings
Laurent

axiotea (16111) 2009-05-21 23:26

Hello Wilson
An suitable vertical format for which these 2 people walking on stilts are fitting in perfectly ;)
You've handled quite well the morning light which seemed to be strong.
Colors are well rendered...
Cheers
Marilyn

papagolf21 (56421) 2009-05-22 11:24

Bonsoir, cher Wilson,
Une image verticale s'imposait (de plus, avec la nouvelle présentation, les images verticales ressortent à merveille) !
Excellent sujet parfaitement traité, il est bon de mettre à l'honneur les us et coutumes des pays.
Excellente définition.
Amitiés.
Philippe

gracious (20017) 2009-05-22 18:18

Hello Wilson,
Thank you for sharing the wonderful event on the Downton Cuckoo Fair!
so beautiful with colourful costumns and the lovely crowds!
also thanks for the informative notes regarding the event!
take care and sincere regards
Tony

tabora (13638) 2009-05-23 9:04

hello Wilson,
Que de couleurs,il faut du recul avec leur grandeur,une belle mise en valeur de ces echassiers,dans une belle lumière.
A+ Joseph

syd1946 (17913) 2009-05-23 11:34

Hello Wilson,
Beautiful image and well captured scenery with splendid vivid colors and happy atmosphere.I enjoy it very much!
Have a nice weekend,
Thomas

Cricri (43100) 2009-05-24 12:14

Hi Wilson
Une belle ambiance, c'est colorées et des personnes bien agréable a regarder dans un format bien adapter
Friendship
cricri

TopGeo (21811) 2009-05-24 14:11

Hi, Wilson.
Original shot, well framed,A interesting picture and note Beautiful colours and impressive reportage Good moment
Regards.
Georgios

Bluejeans (32335) 2009-05-25 11:05

Ola Wilson ,
Bonita foto desta festa com estas pessoas bem divertidas e alegres, tem cores bem vivas , lindos detalhes capturados, parabéns!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

jemaflor (39385) 2009-05-25 11:38

Hi Wilson,
Perfect the vertical format for this subject, impressive these people, good colors, well taken at the good moment.

JCG (25343) 2009-05-25 13:01

Hello Wilson,

The choice of the format vertical was an obviousness here… Beautiful catch of sight on this festive event. A good light and beautiful colors in this composition. A successful photograph and a beautiful complicity of the man. Well done Wilson.

With all my friendships and a very good evening,

Jean-Charles

stego (22352) 2009-05-28 12:07

Hi Wilson,
A colourful and joyful festival, brilliantly present here by you. It's not easy to compose with those crowds, but you did a wonderful job here.
TFS, Regards,
José

danos (32512) 2009-05-30 1:48

Good morning Wilson,
nice this Spring's snapshot with the members of the Cuckoo fair to stands tall. Informative your note about this fair in Wiltshire with the people to watch and to enjoy the folkways of the region.Well done.

Have a nice weekend,Danos

patdeph (17854) 2009-05-30 4:17

hello Wilson
this is a funny and very colourful picture,very nice to look at!Of course,the vertical format was the best to show these people!I like the sunny light and the long shadows on the ground!Very well done!
Regards
Pascale

dumbo (4358) 2009-05-31 2:20

Hello Wilson,
Great composition and nice scene. I like those "tall" people with their colorful clothes.
Well done!

Regards,
Eino

macondo (13117) 2009-06-05 9:03

Hi Wilson.
From grey and drizzly Rickmansworth - off to France tomorrow.
Well timed and suitably composed/cropped/oriented for the 'tall' subject matter. Good exposure in the bright light, with the shadows playing a major part in the success of this one. Perhaps a pity about that protuberant stomach, but it's only a slight distraction. I think your note is very interesting.
Regards,
Andrew

gunbud (27891) 2009-06-11 18:22

Hi Wilson,
Wonderful festive capture of these brightly clad folks on the stilts.
The colors here are brilliant and true to go along with excellent sharpness of this quiet family festivel.
Regards, Tom

pablominto (40732) 2009-06-12 2:01

Hello Wilson,

And it is the high season for fairs and parades, in my impression every little village has at least one..!
And spring is as good as any excuse for a celebration, well even better than many hehehe...
The street scene is well recorded, resulting in a fine documentary!

Greetings,
Pablo -

batalay (20948) 2009-06-15 16:12

Hello Wilson,

I thought I knew the Wiltshire Plain fairly well, but Downton I am not familiar with. This is a wonderful shot, engaging, colorful and perfectly placed in a vertical frame. Your note, as always, is informative.

Warm regards, Wilson.

Bulent

mauro61 (15594) 2009-07-27 14:50

ciao Wilson,
saluto anche io come il tuo simpatico clown il tuo ritorno...
Foto dai bei colori che riporta una giornata di festa.
un caro saluto
maurizio

Charo (31671) 2009-07-28 13:56

Hello Wilson,
An image very festive and zappy. Impressive height of the stilts that are the characters. Excellent details and colors.
Best wishes,
Charo

toto (18709) 2009-07-29 3:00

Bonjours,
belle photo de ces échassier qui avec tant de facilité surmonte le monde.
Jolies couleurs, bon POV qui nous les montre de face et semble encore les grandirs.
Bonnes vacances a vous et votre famille.

Amitiés Thomas

PJE (19445) 2009-09-30 23:20

Hello Wilson. I must say the vertical stripes really add to the height factor here. Excellent details rendered and those tall characters look pretty confident striding through.

MLINES (10884) 2009-10-01 15:42

Hi Wilson, A good photograph and a tall story to let us know the history of the parade! The man''s face so clear and happy expression helps this photo. Both the man and the lady's face has clear backdrop so makes it better. As always in this sort of situation the other attendees are slightly distracting, but impossible to avoid. TFS. Murray.