Saturday, October 16, 2010

The State Fair














A few weeks ago it was State Fair time. I always count down the minutes until my annual corn dog and mullet sightings. It was our 7th State Fair together. The years are flying by.
This year I pet an emu, ate chocolate covered bacon, and watched MC Hammer perform. He was just as terrible as I remembered, and it was still amazing.

I wish I could tell you that Michael didn't eat a donut burger. But that would be a lie. To make matters worse, it was a bacon cheeseburger on a donut. Uck.

31 comments:

Kalei's Best Friend said...

omg, how did u get that effect w/the last 2 images??? the top one has that 60's look to it...

Aura said...

They're gifs. You have to take a series of photos, then put them together in gif animating software.

Melissa Blake said...

Looks so much fun!! Great photos!! :)

amber lynn said...

These photos are great!! I especially like the ones in motion. I miss my hometown's state fair, I always looked forward to my annual elephant ear. haha

Heather said...

Great photos Aura! How did you get the 60s look to the first two photos? Do you have specific software you use? I love the vivid colors, but washed out look in photos and can't seem to find something that achieves that effect without adding too much yellow coloration. Also, the pictures of the donkeys, are you able to get the photos so clear with your SLR or does it take more tweaking to get those deep colors and that clarity?

Aura said...

Heather- I use photoshop for my pictures. I turned the highlights yellow in the first two images, and added texture to them.
The donkeys I didn't edit! I was in a fluorescent barn, and the colors just came out that way.

bex said...

Oh, don't you just love the fair?! I'm a big fan of the state fair, we made a trip to ours this past week too.
I have a love hate relationship with fair food ;-)... that cheeseburger on a donut makes my belly hurt just thinking about it! Hope your hubby made it out ok after that ;-)

much luv, bex

Heather said...

Thank you so much! Can I ask one more? The picture with the ferris wheel, how do you transition between the two shades of blue in the sky? I love that! It adds to the vintage effect :) Your photography is amazing! Have you taken alot of classes or is it mostly trial and error? I'm going to Auburn for Human Development, but would love to have the funds to take a class on photography!

siniann said...

I love fairs! It would be so great to visit one in usa, as it seems that they always have so great stuff there :) MC Hammer, haha that would be awesome to see. great pictures again!

The Panic Room said...

Oh My. You have no idea how much fair food I can eat. It's disgusting. Now I need a fair.

vintage girl at heart said...

How was the bacon??
Did you ever do the gardening series??
When I saw how tall your 'maters were on that last post or the one before..I thought I have got to find out what she does...I need some Okie gardening tips.
Hope you are enjoying this fab weather!!
Blessings li'l Mama..

Aura said...

Heather- I didn't do anything special to the sky! I just adjusted the colors and it came out that way. We have some beautiful skies in Oklahoma :) They don't take too much editing.

I took a photography class in high school, over 10 years ago, but back then it was all film and all we did was work in a dark room developing our pictures.
I picked up a camera at 17 and never put it down. I've taken pictures almost every single day since then, and I've just taught myself everything along the way. I started using Photoshop about 8 years ago, and it has helped me a lot. I actually learned most of what I needed to know about shooting with an SLR from messing around in Photoshop, because I saw what I needed to work more towards to have to edit less. Just practice, practice, practice! It is one of those hobbies that you just get better with over time.


Vintage Girl- Kind of :) I never quiteee finished it but all I had left was landscaping and cooking from the garden. I am so terrible at making blog promises.
If you click backyard-farming at the top of my blog, it will tell you everything I did with the tomatoes this year. I didn't do anything special! A little bit of luck, a green thumb, favorable weather conditions, and something to climb are all tomatoes require to be happy. I have all the little tips inside of that link at that top.

Taylor said...

Dream pictures, but ugh ... a donut burger sounds awful! :)

Jacki said...

I don't think I can eat a chocolate covered bacon but would love to eat them separately HAHA

kelly ann said...

when i was young, i used to have dance recitals at the fair every summer and we would put on little shows and skits for everyone... it was pretty magical, especially for a youngster like me. such fond memories. i love the fair.

these photos totally capture the fair so well. and i think i got heartburn just thinking about a donut bacon cheeseburger! ;) yikes.

Christine--RHP said...

omg--chocolate covered bacon is soooooo good!!!

I love the fair. Soon enough you'll be pushing a stroller eating that corn dog...

I always have to have curly fries, and kettle corn...mmmm.

elizabeth said...

How utterly decadent....but yummy. Great pics!

Heather A. said...

Do not fear the donut burgers. They are SO much better than they sound. My husband ate one at a fair. It looked so gross, but I tasted it... and I had to go get one too. Actually you should fear them a little bit, because they are a once in a lifetime sort of food. It was worth it though! Nom!

Anonymous said...

do you and michael ever ride any of the rides? : )

ellemvee said...

The state fair is going on in NC now too. The krispy kreme burger is supposed to be the big highlight. Me, personally, I go for the cows and the NC state homemade chocolate peanut butter ice cream!

Johanna said...

Our fair featured the famous doughnut burger too. Missed out on that one. ;)

I am a fan of bacon + chocolate, however. The men in my life swoon over dark chocolate bacon brittle, which is basically just a homemade toffee I've concocted for Christmas gifts. What's not to like?

yours truly, melissa said...

Beautiful colors!!! I actually just got my first SLR camera this weekend. I'm super excited and can't wait to get better at it...it's such a fun hobby. :)
I've never actually been to the OKC state fair, but have been to the Texas state fair quite a few times, kind of strange... We ate lots of gross food and I feel gross just thinking about it. It's such a fun experience though.

cb said...

what fair isn't complete without a corn dog! oh and don't forget funnel cake either, that is also a must! love your photos!

xo,
cb

Kelly @ turned UP to ELEVEN! said...

I hate to say that I sort of drooled a little at the thought of a donut burger... it sounds sinful and I'd probably only want to try one bite but I doubt I would pass it up if I was given one to try. I love fair food.

Jodi said...

fair sounds fun...food sounds yuck! am loving these images aura...you captured the magic

angelarenai said...

Love these pics!

Lil Muse Lily said...

Hi Aura.
I was leaving a comment on oh dear drea and saw what you had written above.

i too was mostly a vegetarian when i was pregnant. my midwife always suggested a lot of peanut butter, beans and dark greens for protein.
one of my favorite shakes was, peanut butter, almonds, banana and yogurt.

congrats on the pregnancy and good luck!

Anonymous said...

I just want to say, congratulations on your pregnancy! My little girl, Luna, is just over a year now and the last year together has been such a beautiful life experience! It is like nothing else, so precious and rewarding.

Your photos are beautiful and like life itself.

xoxoxo

Juliana

Unknown said...

These are awesome pics and it sounds like you had a fantastic time! Bacon cheeseburger donut burger? Aiii yai yai!

Monica said...

Bacon cheeseburger donut? Say what?! Haha State Fairs always have the most ludicrous things, but you can't help but get them just for the novelty of the whole thing!

Nicole said...

i love your pictures!
and the state fair :) we only looked at the donut burger though - im glad to hear that someone dared to try it!