In Eastern Idaho, the final big event of the summer is the State Fair. It opens each year over Labor Day weekend and runs through the first week of September - which means it's going on right now!

(There are actually three State Fairs in Idaho: Boise and Coeur d'Alene host the other two.)

Because the Eastern Idaho Fairgrounds in Blackfoot are only about 35 minutes from my house, my camera and I have been heading down there for the past few years. Early September is typically a quiet window for me in terms of landscape photography, and the fair is fun to shoot. It's also "off topic," which always gives me a little creative push. Perfect timing since foliage season, the high point of the photographic year, is right around the corner.

Hands down my two favorite things to shoot are the Gem State Classic Pro Rodeo and the rides on the midway.

Nobody has been more surprised about my affinity for rodeo than me; I'd never been to one prior to last year. I'll admit I haven't warmed up to all of the events and probably never will, but do greatly enjoy bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, and barrel racing. Twice named the PRCC Small Market Rodeo of the Year, the three-night show is great fun and always draws packed houses.

 It was kids' night when I attended, so they kicked things off with this sweet little cowgirl singing the national anthem:

 And of course what's a rodeo without the rodeo clown?

 If you're not a rodeo regular you may not know that the clown is on hand not only to entertain the crowd, but also to protect the bull riders during that event. The clown shtick is actually a side-duty of sorts; his primary function is to distract the bulls from riders who have either been thrown or dismounted. It can be a dangerous job.

The horse riding events are what I envision when I think about "rodeo."

Then there's the midway, where it's quite easy for me to completely lose track of time. Making abstracts of the rides is the polar opposite of photographing fast-action sports, so if you're going directly from one to the other it can take a few minutes to get your head in the game.

I can't help but think of my very first experiments with light painting whenever I'm creating images like these on the midway. We certainly weren't doing this kind of stuff when there was film loaded in the camera...

There's a fair amount of trial and error involved. The color temperature tends to change quickly; the rides are constantly tilting and shifting; and you must be aware of potentially distracting static elements as you're framing the shot.

Even with a lot of people milling about, I'm almost always able to find a spot tucked away from traffic where I can set up the tripod and work without worrying about being in the way. This inevitably means I can't get to every angle I'd like, but there's enough opportunity that it generally works out.

If you're looking for a change of pace in terms of subject matter and just want to have some fun, I cannot recommend carnival rides enough. You don't need a state fair; towns often host rides in conjunction with festivals or county fairs. Keep an eye on the local news.

Start shooting as the sun goes down and you can incorporate the sky as a creative element. Once it goes completely dark it'll be all about the shapes and colors of the rides themselves.

As mentioned previously, you'll need to experiment with shutter speeds and will more than likely be adjusting often based on how quickly the rides are moving and to account for frequently shifting color temperatures.

There's plenty of room on the memory card. Fiddle until it works.