Shot an amusement park today, not the usual kind with bright lights, cotton candy and whirling noises — no, this one had been dead for some thirty years.
It’s not often that you get the chance to photograph the remains of what used to be a thriving family activity spot. Closed because of declining attendance, Chippewa park has been largely untouched except for the ravages of Mother Nature. A total tear down complete with bulldozers was scheduled for next month.
A rusted out Ferris wheel, several decaying shacks, and scattered metal carnage that used to form roller coaster tracks filled the twenty acre property. Some things never change though — there was an entrance fee of $10.
| Rollercoaster rides and a rusted rail | Inside the fun house |
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First stop was the Ferris wheel. The only reason this still stood upright was that a healthy vibrant tree grew embedded through the center.
But what angle to position the camera?
Always a tough call to find that view that 10 other photographers haven’t taken. Tried the bull’s-eye shot — a big blob in the center of the print, but these pics always strike me as boring and unimaginative. The judges in my photo club call these ‘record shots’ to be nice, meaning for my records only and not to be shared or seen by anyone else.
| Ferris Wheel | Side View | Unhappy Clown |
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However, I’ve found a simple strategy when I’m stuck for ideas called ‘move your feet.’ Precious nuggets of advice like these are doled out at photographic workshops costing $5000 and for good reason — it works!
Problem is this rule is always tough to remember once you’re settled with a tripod and ready to take shots for the rest of the day from your own private spot of earth.
I managed to unglue myself and circled the wheel while avoiding broken beer bottles and sharp corroded metal wires from some of the amusement rides.
Not exactly pleased with the result but then I used another proven strategy called ‘turn around,’ and found this gem of a broken down gatehouse on a hill.
| House on the Hill | |
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[Excerpted from Photography Insights, Volume 1, by Scott Ober, MD, Copyright © 2010 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED]