The above photos are from the New River Valley Fair in Dublin, VA. I went with Josh to shoot; we didn't get there until around 7, so the light wasn't very good. If the photos don't have enough punch, I'm blaming it on that. This evening was my first experience with the fair, and it was more bizarre than I would have imagined. One of the more bizarre aspects was a voice-over in a David Caruso like monotone that repeated something like this over and over--
...freaks, freaks, animal freaks...they are real, real, real...look inside the tent...they are inside right now...look at the miniature horse...he is only 20 inches high...that's right...20 inches...look at him...see the goat with 5 legs and the half girl/half fish...is she a girl or a fish?...she has hands just like you...smell the aroma...they are real animals...real, real, real...look behind the curtain...freaks, freaks, animal freaks...they are real, real, real...
The entire place was an overload to the senses, as it was designed to be. Lights swirling, children screaming, animals bleating, fake tommy guns tat, tat, tatting. I felt like I was in the middle of Conrad Rooks' Chappaqua, a classic beat generation film (allen ginsberg and william burroughs have cameos) relating rooks' experiences with LSD in the 60's (anyone interested in photography should check this film out; robert frank did the cinematography). Nevertheless, it was a good evening. I feel like I got some decent photos, and Josh and I had a fun time walking around saying things like--
...i'm not a digital recording...i'm real, just like you...real, real, real...i have hands and feet, just like you...come inside and look at me...i'm right inside the tent...i'm reading through a microphone right now...come inside and smell me...i'm not a digital recording...i'm real, just like you...
or
...come inside and see a groundhog read Kant...you may not have understood the categorical imperative before, but you will now...come inside, see the dancing bear...look at his feet...see how fast they are moving...faster, faster, faster...come inside...
That's enough, I guess. You would have needed to be there to get a real grasp of the absurdity of it all. Good stuff, though. If I get a chance, I may go back before it ends on Sunday.
4 comments:
You've done it, Mark. You've cracked it wide open.
I'm really glad you worked the groundhog reading Kant in there. I tell you, that last Cliff Hanger shot is really amazing. I think it ranks among your best in terms of composition, light, and disembodied bizarreness.
karen--i'm trying to think of a jackson pollock line to respond with, but none is coming to mind. i cringe to say fuck eggleston the way pollock supposedly said fuck picasso.
You don't have to say it, I will. I'm in a random enough mood that I don't mind it's cringe factor.
FUCK EGGLESTON!
(it seemed like it needed to be in all caps, as if I was shouting it)
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