Carnies in Stitches
posted by jkirlin at 11:09 PM
3 comments
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Friday, September 08, 2006
Convoy Race
This kiddie ride consists of a few little trucks that move around a track with a little hill built in..
REAL trucks hurtling over mountain passes and cliffs to certain fiery death do not elicit the screams that this ride does.
And this is Susan. Her job? She said she tries to keep the hysteria to just below the boiling point. She stops the ride if it's too much for a kid or tries to keep the panic from moving from car to car. She has this very nice gentle nature and a southen accent that even calmed me down a little.
posted by jkirlin at 11:12 PM
1 comments
Monday, September 04, 2006
Rest After Working That 16 Hour Day?
Hell, no! It's time to break out the swords for a little swordplay. It's always fun until someone loses and eye!(Note: no carnies were hurt in the photographing of this series)
posted by jkirlin at 11:35 AM
2 comments
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Carnie Barber
This is Matty getting the haircut. He runs the Skymaster and travels with his wife and kids with the show. The Clipper Dude's name is Martin. He's originally from Trinidad and has the cool accent and now living in Massachusetts.
Look, you are on the road, you don't know the town, you work 16 hours a day. Where are you going to get your hair cut? MasterCuts? They closed HOURS ago and they don't let you light up.
Martin did a decent job. I just got my Back to School haircut and it's got nothing on Matty's.
posted by jkirlin at 9:04 PM
3 comments
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Carnie Profile: Joe
Say Hi to Joe. Joe nearly nipped this little project in the bud when during one of my very first attempts at pointing my camera at living subjects he immediately came over and told me "No cameras" and wanted to know what I was doing. I later found out he felt he was protecting his crews. Most of my images of him after that came at the end of a long telephoto lens.
He has yella eyes like a rabid dog, the strength of 10 men (Although I'm told it's kept deeply in reserve, very deep), he is quick to judge and fiercely loyal. He's also got a smile that STUNS you with it's brightness and quick display.
When I told him I was going to do a little post about him, I said "And guess what photo I'm going to use." and he immediately said "The hose." So he is also quite astute with all things 'art'.
The safest people on the Midway? Joe's little charges seen behind him. The second safest? You, once he decides he's got your back.
posted by jkirlin at 10:15 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Sir? Your Truck is Ready.
Can someone tell the guy who from the joints who claims to be Sadie's step dad that his truck is ready? Or rather the photos. He slipped me some money for them and between having it sandwiched between other trucks, constantly forgetting, then not seeing him, THEN missing a phone message, I never got them to him. But if one of you Gentle Carnies could let him know then have him email me I will send them out post haste because I don't want him coming after me. :)
posted by jkirlin at 9:45 AM
0 comments
And This is Mister Large Format Eight by Ten Glass Slide Photographer
He's a local photographer, Michael Something or Other, and he was taking large format black and white images of some of the most colorful sights I had ever seen. I'm sure it takes stunning photographs but you know that scene in one of the Indiana Jones movies when Harrison Ford encounters the swordsman skillfully weidling a scimitar and he just shoots him? It sorta felt like that.
He said he was doing a book on the fair. Oh? Reeeeeaaallly now? Well he better hurry.
I didn't see him at set up or tear down when the good stuff happens so to fill the void I thusly present below....
posted by jkirlin at 12:05 AM
0 comments
Monday, August 07, 2006
The 2006 Tear Down Crews - The Portraits
2006 Tear Down Crews - Thunder Bolt Crew.
Special Thanks go to Torekimi and LuminousLens for pointing out that while I was home feeling sorry for myself because I didn't feel well that there were REAL men out there busting their asses and waiting for their annual tear down portraits and that Mr 8 by 10 Large Format Glass Side Camera wasn't going to be out there taking them.
posted by jkirlin at 1:40 AM
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2006 Tear Down Crews - Sword Guy, Mark Allan (I know so few last names), Enrico and Friend.
posted by jkirlin at 1:14 AM
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2006 Tear Down Crews - Cliffhanger. (Clockwise) Bob, Unknown, Quentin and Joe
posted by jkirlin at 1:10 AM
1 comments
2006 Tear Down Crews - Zipper Crew. Peter, Emily, Andrew, Gerard. Gerard is the most frequently photographed carnie who never got a photo because he was INSIDE his game so I never saw them when I browsed looking for images to print. And he was always very nice about it.
posted by jkirlin at 1:03 AM
1 comments
2006 Tear Down Crews - Enrico, Garfield (As Emperor Palpatine) and the guy with the name that I can never recall but will fix as soon as I'm emailed. BUGSY! It's Bugsy! Thanks, Harmony. :)
posted by jkirlin at 1:00 AM
1 comments
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Egress I
This is Shawn (Sean?), one of the South African carnies and Zipper Operator opening the door to basket number 4. I always used to trip getting off this ride so wanted to see how it was done.
There's the trip...
posted by jkirlin at 9:37 PM
0 comments
Egress II
Awww...lookit her face
Nice Chucks
With the grace of Fred and Ginger
"Why are you taking our picture?" Why, indeed. I explained how it was Zapruder Film Quality Luck and that I was taking the photo of whoever got out of basket number 4 and it happened to be them. However, since I had them in my sights, would they mind posing for a portrait?
posted by jkirlin at 9:27 PM
0 comments
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Tubbs
This is Tubbs. He's one of the South African carnies with the show this year. He wrote and performs this frequently and many of the other carnies have a very stong association and fondness for this and insisted that if possible, we record and and post it here. They all know the words. In the middle of the song you can hear one mildly inebriated back up singer who stumbled upon us singing along. I think it makes it although I think Tubbs was less than impressed. We have another higher quality version and an MP3 that is being tacked onto the season's photo disks. If you were with the show email me for a copy.
This is Tubbs. He's one of the South African carnies with the show this year. He wrote and performs this frequently and many of the other carnies have a very stong association and fondness for this and insisted that if possible, we record and and post it here. They all know the words. In the middle of the song you can hear one mildly inebriated back up singer who stumbled upon us singing along. I think it makes it although I think Tubbs was less than impressed. We have another higher quality version and an MP3 that is being tacked onto the season's photo disks. If you were with the show email me for a copy.
posted by jkirlin at 3:31 PM
4 comments
Friday, August 04, 2006
Fried Dough
"GentleWasps Start your Engines." These were all over the powdered sugar outside the booth. I asked the girl seen below if it was ok and she said, "They don't bother me" Yeah, she wasn't going for the sugar.
Most of the fried dough process in one easy to understand photo.
posted by jkirlin at 10:08 PM
1 comments
Thursday, August 03, 2006
More Photographers Who I Am Not
The most patient and photographed smoothie drinking youth I've ever met. They were still there 10 mins after I took this
I used to do this, too, until I 1) Learned that it's actually more important for the CAMERA to be low then yourself (Hence my affinity for the Canon little flip out window) and 2) Sitting on the ground at the fair is not a habit one wants to start.
I wonder if I invited her to my haircut if she'd go.
I was delighted to see the Canon Powershot S2 hanging on her back. (If you are expecting a comment about Virgil "Boss Hog" Randall you can forget it. At least until he is out of town. :)
posted by jkirlin at 1:08 PM
0 comments
Not me...
This is John Clark Russ or something, one of the very fine photographers of the Bangor Daily News (There are about 3 Heh heh)
posted by jkirlin at 12:55 PM
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Tuesday, August 01, 2006
The Duck Game
She says these are the most photographed ducks in the world.
posted by jkirlin at 10:24 AM
0 comments
Monday, July 31, 2006
Amanda Blowing Bubbles
I was on the back side of this 2 sided game and saw all these bubbles blowing down the Midway. It was Amanda just sitting quietly enjoying a short break between customers.
posted by jkirlin at 9:56 PM
1 comments
Quinten
Got...to...remember....card.He was a little embarrassed to have his photo taken at the carousel and not one of the thrill rides he normally works on. My telling him how much I like the carousel, I think, only reinforced how stupid he thinks it is.
posted by jkirlin at 9:24 PM
0 comments
Arthur
I used the 3 by 5 card trick again with the explanation that my memory is, well, my memory. The only problem is sometimes I forget to carry the 3 by 5 cards or the Sharpies. Through these carnie posts you will see where they commented and told me what their names REALLY are.
posted by jkirlin at 8:58 PM
0 comments
The Game I Always Lose
This is Arthur. He's cool. He's also the Devil. See the flames behind him? Yeah, that is how you can tell someone is the Devil. Well, that and talking to him for a little while. He showed me the deal with the cans. And damn it, they weren't rigged like I was hoping. I'd tell you the deal but you'd be as disappointed as I was. However, we'd be like the Masons.
posted by jkirlin at 8:54 PM
0 comments
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Bear Act
I was watching with one of the South African carnies when he turned and said he'd never seen a real live bear before.I said, "Wow! Really?" before I remembered that I hadn't either.
Bear's muzzle and fake cage effect Photoshopped in to give the illusion that I was completely safe at all times
posted by jkirlin at 10:18 AM
3 comments
Thursday, July 27, 2006
The Bingo Tent
Overheard by me: "What's he doing out there""He's taking night pictures?"
"What? Why?"
"I dunno, he's been here all day. Tell him to come over and we will turn on the lights so he can take picture of our tent"
Bob
I found this later so if you have I-22 you are screwed and ain't winning no lamp. I'm kidding, of course, I'm sure it was added or replaced or whatever.
posted by jkirlin at 10:09 PM
0 comments
Randalls High Diving Racers
This is Virgil 'Boss Hog" Randall. He and his camera shy wife, Velma, own the pig races. And... pig dives. They dive. They are diving and racing pigs.
Stay behind the rope lest ye be injured by a wildly careening piglet. Please, no wagering.
posted by jkirlin at 8:59 PM
2 comments
Agricultural Exhibits
The Next Generation Beef Club
A boy and his cow...calf? Maybe they called it something else. I think they did actually. Nice fair host I am, huh?
That's the sawdust you gotta have in your blood. I think it was cedar. It smelled great. This is a scratch and sniff photo. Scratch your monitor. Go ahead.
4H Kids. All the Hs must stand for Ham because they screamed for me to take their photo. I wished I had MY crocs on.The Bangor Fair is traditionally an agricultural fair although the agriculture is a ways from the Midway. A gully between the Midway and Agricultural Exhibit makes it even less inviting. I was embarrassed to admit that I had never actually been to the agricultural exhibits myself. But Gentle Viewers, this year you will be gifted the photos of cows, or calf? Steer? Whatever they were.
posted by jkirlin at 8:50 PM
0 comments
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Orient Express
Snidely Whiplash was here
Oh..him? OSHA. Me? Not OSHA
I thought he'd be stuck with this wife beater shadow for the season but he had a nice all over burn by the end of the day.
posted by jkirlin at 12:14 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Curtis and Kellie
Curtis took one in the eye defending Kellie. He was delighted to hear that I sold a photo of him from last season for 3 bucks!
They were married in the off-season...
and tattooed...and now photographed and blogged. What a Year!
posted by jkirlin at 11:35 PM
0 comments
Monday, July 24, 2006
The Zamps!
The Zamps are sweet kiddie rides. Girls are allowed to help assemble these.
posted by jkirlin at 7:02 PM
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Zamp Crew - Why is the Zamp Crew bigger than the Giant Wheel Crew?
posted by jkirlin at 7:01 PM
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Giant Wheel Assembly
Some blue bloods enjoying the show.
Now here is the deal Gentle Viewer, The assembly of some of these rides is such a HUGE event that I have only partially documented it over a number of seasons. They will eventually be drawn into one photo display showing all aspects of the rides and operators but for now, here is Giant Wheel Assembly 2006 because every story deserves to be told, or shown.
posted by jkirlin at 12:22 AM
0 comments
Yeah, I see ya 40 feet up there buddy and I got your photo NOW HANG ON!
Giant Wheel Assembly
posted by jkirlin at 12:20 AM
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Giant Wheel Assembly - "I said, What's the name of your website?" Dude, you just keep hanging on there and I'll write it down for you.
posted by jkirlin at 12:03 AM
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Giant Wheel Assembly - I couldn't hold my hands over my head like that for as long as these guys do if I were HUNG by them. I don't know this guys name at the moment but his wife's name is Anna and she is a REAL GENTLE VIEWER! She found my blog via Susan Adcock's (Pitcherlady) Cliffhanger via CarnieTown. She mentioned other photos. I was as humbled and flattered as your lowly and humble photographic servant could be.
posted by jkirlin at 12:00 AM
2 comments
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Giant Wheel Assembly - This is Jason. I call him Steve because I'm a dumbass.
posted by jkirlin at 11:56 PM
0 comments
BOW DOWN BEFORE MY SUPERIOR IMAGES OF ELECTRICAL STUFF! BOW DOWN, I SAY!
posted by jkirlin at 10:31 PM
0 comments
Arctic Blast Details
ABC = Arctic Blast Crew. As far as I know the Arctic Blast Crew is the only crew to have their tag on a ride. Nice work.
The Arctic Blast is Old School. Rubber wheels on wooden floors. Take that you trailer mount rides.
posted by jkirlin at 10:24 PM
0 comments
Prizes
It looks like Santa's Workshop Threw Up. Well, if Santa's Workshop was full of cheap shit from China.
Eddie answering the stupid question of 'What's the best prize.' He didn't say if it was the best for HIM or for the lucky winner.
posted by jkirlin at 10:16 PM
0 comments
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Marking the Lot - This is...the....umm......... C H thing..I have no idea. (Update: Oops..Cliff Hanger. Sorry, Susan. :))
posted by jkirlin at 11:26 PM
0 comments
Marking the Lot - Here Alan is walking the lot of measuring off spaces for the rides. He carries no notebook or plan. He and the other guy have all the rides and their dimensions memorized.
posted by jkirlin at 11:24 PM
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Marking the Lot - This is Alan checking out an aerial photo of the previous year's layout.
posted by jkirlin at 11:21 PM
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More Pole Position Assembly - This is why you shouldn't stand under the rides. :)
posted by jkirlin at 10:57 PM
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Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Pole Position Assembly. They actually made use of me today. They asked me if I'd go to McDonald's and pick up 20 Cheeseburger meals for them. :)
posted by jkirlin at 4:12 PM
4 comments
Pole Position Assembly...HEY WTF??? This is MY gig! Actually he was just with another show and they also had a Pole Position.
posted by jkirlin at 4:03 PM
0 comments
Monday, July 17, 2006
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Giant Wheel Detail - These shots and many others are the equivelant of Abhi Jain's hated flower macros. He hates the flower macros because he knows all you do it set the macro setting and stick you hand in and hope for the best. Yeah, that's what these are, too. Heh heh
posted by jkirlin at 6:22 PM
0 comments
Friday, July 14, 2006
Victory Lane Detail, Blue. Those light covers, which are on EVERY ride are called Turbos. They get broken all the time but the fair has cases of these.
posted by jkirlin at 2:56 PM
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Victory Lane Detail. See? It's red detail. That is MUCH better detail. I knew you'd think so.
posted by jkirlin at 2:54 PM
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This crane,
although a cool ride it would make, is used for the set up on the Raging Rapids.
posted by jkirlin at 2:34 PM
0 comments
Several days before...
they start to set up the rides, they are brought in and left at the edge of the Bass Park Parking lot where they sit unnoticed, unless you are a fair geek. :)
posted by jkirlin at 2:32 PM
2 comments
Yay!
Yes, kids, it's true. Soon this empty parking lot will be jammed full of the things that summer dreams are made of. Cotton candy, doughboys, carnies and the roar of diesel. The past 2 Fair series of photos quickly overhwhelmed and in fact BECAME The Thing of the Moment, much to the chagrin of the subjects who while looking forthemselves were subjected to my photos of my snake carrying neighbors and my frequent entries in various photo memes. This year they get a blog of their own.