Our second day of Dallas vacation was all about the nutmeats of our trip there — the State Fair of Texas. When we visited two years ago Patty was all, “Oh, and while you’re here we can go to the state fair!” and we were all, “Whatevs. We’re not fair people,” and then we got there and we were all, “WHY DIDN’T ANYONE TELL US ABOUT THIS SOONER???” The State Fair of Texas is the awesomest place on earth, and is a photo hobbyist’s greatest dream come true. Last time around we had but one camera and had only been using it for about six weeks. This time? We came armed with two cameras (upgraded ones!), many lenses, and at least a vague notion of how to use them. (Emphasis there on “vague”. Seriously, we don’t have a clue.) And we timed our trip to get a sunset ride on the Texas Star (except Schnookie’s tendency to worry about missing shit and getting places way early meant we… didn’t see the sunset on the Texas Star), and an evening spent taking pictures of bright lights on the midway. Oh, and somewhere in there, we ate fried food. Oh, and before we went to the fair? We went to Stars practice. Yeah, we know how to live. Here’s a sampling of our pictures.
Practice through the fisheye, by Schnookie
Deep fried beer, with Big Tex bokeh. It’s a preztel-dough ravioli, essentially, filled with warm beer. It was worth being able to say we tried it, but probably not worth ever eating again.
Deep fried latte and deep fried frozen margarita. Both are truly excellent foodstuffs. Seriously. Try them as soon as you can.
The swing ride thing lit up, by Schnookie
The swing ride thing, bokeh-style, by Pookie
The swing ride thing, in the gloaming, by Schnookie
Ride lights and the Texas Star, by Schnookie
You’re a star, by Pookie
Love Bugs, by Schnookie
The swing ride thing, with Lensbaby bokeh, by Pookie
Pookie, by Schnookie
The Texas Star is made of bokeh, by Pookie
The swing ride thing lights in motion again, by Schnookie
Love on the Texas Star, by Pookie
Fisheye Big Tex, by Pookie
So, if a certain set of sister photographers happened to make a cd of their pictures from a certain city and sent them to a certain person who will be having to move away from that certain city so she can make a shrine grouping of said pictures in her new home showing new neighbors how spectacular that certain city was in comparison, well, that sad said person would be much less sad.
**hint**
**hint**
Awwwww, Myra, that’s so sad! Shoot us an email with your address and we’ll see what a certain set of sister photographers can do! (I’ll warn you that all our pictures are State Fair or Arboretum. :D)
Done! Thank you!
So pretty! You Ookies are gloriously talented.
Come to Tampa with me and take pictures of Matty and cabs :D
You two take the most gorgeous photographs.
Aw, thanks, everybody! ::blushes:: alix, I think Matty and cabs would be a great photography subject — when’s our trip? :D
I love love love your pictures. If that’s “not having a clue” on how to use your lenses, I can’t wait to see what you’ll do once you do have a clue! ;p
And I fully expect the Sabres to win against Montreal tonight. Honestly I’d be shocked if they don’t. Montreal isn’t playing all that great lately, and the Sabres badly need a win. I’m not saying the Sabres will completely turn their season around tonight, but I feel they’re gonna win this one. Just like the Devils did when they blanked Montreal 3-0.
Thanks, Grrrreg! I think we’re so apologetic about our relative grasp on photography technique because, as with most fields of knowledge, the more we learn, the more aware we become of how much we don’t know. :D
I’m not saying the Sabres will completely turn their season around tonight, but I feel they’re gonna win this one. Just like the Devils did when they blanked Montreal 3-0.
Hm, that seems like a sound prediction. Especially considering the way the hockey gods like to torture us when they pit us against each other. That 3-0 Devils/Habs game was one of those awful games where Habs fans are miserable because they just lost 3-0 to a terrible team, and Devils fans aren’t necessarily much happier, because they strongly suspect their team just lucked into it. The hockey gods are devious and cruel, aren’t they?
Thanks for the compliments, guys!
The hockey gods are devious and cruel, aren’t they?
They really, really, really are. I can only imagine what’s it store for us with the Devils playing the Rangers with Stephen Gionta on the roster. ::shudder::
Only GOOD things can happen against the Rangers with Stephen Gionta on the roster, right? Right? Guys?
except Schnookie’s tendency to worry about missing shit and getting places way early meant we… didn’t see the sunset on the Texas Star
I’m glad to know that Schnookie shares my crazy neurotic obsession with getting to places hella early.
At this point, no matter what their names are, I’m tired of AHLers on the team. They suck.
PS – sold the tix for tonight’s game via ticketexchange… w00t!
At this point, no matter what their names are, I’m tired of AHLers on the team. They suck.
That’s so funny — I feel that way about the NHLers, too! Heh.
And WOOOOOOOOOOOO! for selling your tickets. Man, life is WAY too short for that shit.
(Oh, and yeah, I am a COMPLETE freak about getting places early. Pookie is extremely patient with me.)
And I fully expect the Sabres to win against Montreal tonight. Honestly I’d be shocked if they don’t.
The only thing I fully expect tonight is that Lindy Ruff will come up with some crazy decision that he will justify by saying we need to stir things up and make some changes to get this team winning again. The crazy decision will be to make them wear rollerblades.
The crazy decision will be to make them wear rollerblades.
:^::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: I am SO tuning in for that!!
Add me to the “yay, awesome photos” chorus.
I am a COMPLETE freak about getting places early
Same here. Meetings especially. I can understand if people are late once in a while because things happen, but when you make it a habit, it just grinds my gears. I mean, if I make the effort to show up on time, why can’t you?
The crazy decision will be to make them wear rollerblades.
That may just top the Cruiser/Bruiser/Loser line from the other night.
I mean, if I make the effort to show up on time, why can’t you?
For reals! Although I would never expect anyone other than my immediate traveling companions to be as early for flights and trains and whatnot as I insist on being. Heh. (And thanks about the pictures! :D)
Although I would never expect anyone other than my immediate traveling companions to be as early for flights and trains and whatnot as I insist on being.
My dad’s a TSA officer, so I can pretty much recite the book on getting to the airport in plenty of time, LOL.
That’s reassuring to think the TSA thinks I’m doing it right! :D
Only GOOD things can happen against the Rangers with Stephen Gionta on the roster, right? Right? Guys?
You’re channeling Chico, you know. Is there something you can take for this?
Anyone want to speculate on how many minutes before Clarkson will wind up in the box for attempting to maul Avery while Avery stands there and laughs?
You’re channeling Chico, you know. Is there something you can take for this?
AAAAHHH! You’re right! I can only hope the first step to recovery is admitting I have a problem.
Anyone want to speculate on how many minutes before Clarkson will wind up in the box for attempting to maul Avery while Avery stands there and laughs?
Oooh, put me down for “less than five”.
Put me down for less than two.
BTW, no Marty tonight. No White, either.
I’m not one for shmoopy, but “love on the Texas ride” is a beautiful, candid capture. I just LOVE it! Also, all the bokeh is so. dreamy. Yay Oookies! Love your shots.
And in other news, Luongo hasn’t shit the bed in a week! The city is back on the Luongo bandwagon! I’m even thinking about it now, too.
I am a two-faced rotten hockey fan. That’s what I am.
Thanks, Carol! I’d never think of taking pictures of strangers if it weren’t for your fearless pictures of people. You’re such a good influence on me! :D
I’m almost getting comfortable with the idea of the Devils being the worst team in hockey this year. But I will never be comfortable with losing to the Rangers.
I’ve figured it out. I’m a Man United, Devils and Raiders fan. Only two of these teams can succeed at any one time. Man U will never not succeed, so thanks to the Raiders figuring out how to play football, the Devils must suffer. I heartily apologize.
Go Chiefs, then?
I like how the Devils think simply putting a Gionta in a 14 jersey will solve everything.
Thanks, Carol! I’d never think of taking pictures of strangers if it weren’t for your fearless pictures of people. You’re such a good influence on me! :D
LOLS! It’s true! I don’t respect anyone’s privacy! It’s a good idea to keep the bathroom door locked if I’m in the vicinity.
Actually, I just really like to capture a candid moment and I smile a lot, so people don’t get too upset – if they even notice. I get really nervous sometimes, but hope for the best anyway. I can only recall one person asking me not to take pictures of his stuff – and that was at a flea market. And his stuff was crappy anyway…oh, and at a bakery, too. I’ve had more sneaky success stories than not, I must admit!