I returned to the Larimer County Fair for its final night but this time I changed from a short telephoto lens to my longer 60-600mm lens. The options using a long telephoto are well worth the hassle of a heavier rig. The super zoom allowed me to step back from the action and become mostly incognito to the fair goers. The versatility of the lens also let me capture normal scenes, then zoom in for tight details. Click HERE to view the gallery of photos I captured two days earlier using a 35-150mm lens. The extra 450mm came in handy for some of the detail shots on this page.
The photos on this page were taken with a Sony A1 camera and a Sigma 60-600mm lens over a sturdy tripod.
Posted August 6, 2025
Dusk at the Midway
I made it to the fair about 30 minutes before sunset. The sun was an intense orange ball as its light filtered through the smoke from regional wildfires. My “early bird” outing allowed me to take a few shots that don’t work as well in the dark of night. The Cliff Hanger ride, for example, has ten paragliders that swing below the brightly lit frame, but the paraglider units were not lit at all. As a result, they more or less disapper in the night shots. These photos have a rose or amber feel caused by the unique light.
Sink a Ping-Pong Ball!
This popular midway booth attracted young and old alike! I was able to set up on the opposite side and shoot through the booth. The idea was to toss a ping pong ball into one of the many small jars. A successful toss resulted in a ticket for a goldfish. Multiple tickets could be combined to bring home a hermit crab or additional goldfish. Unfortunately, the booth had only one overworked attendant. Some of the kids had to patiently wait for their rewards! Skill, and a lot of luck, paid off with a real live new pet for the winners.
Unlimited Fun on the Midway
The midway consists of a variety of fast action rides and food options, but its the visitors and employees that actually make a fair “happen”. These split second captures would be almost impossible to recreate.
