You know, I could scan a book ... and this scanner would be big enough to stun an ox!

(with apologies to Laurie Anderson)

Interesting how these have a curious similarity ...

Book scanner

Cole Shows ride

The top image is a book scanner I saw at the recent IFLA WLIC 2016 in Columbus, Ohio. The bottom image is the "Rock Star" ride at the Arlington County Fair!

2015 Arlington County Fair competitive photography entries

A the Arlington County Fair this year, I had a very successful set of entries in the photography competitive exhibits. This year was the first where there was not an analog category which was interesting.

I, for the first time, won reserve ribbons (2 in fact!).

---

"Allies" (2015)
2015 Pride Day Parade, San Francisco
Reserve (Purple Ribbon) & First Premium (Blue Ribbon)
Arlington County Fair Photography Entries

This was a series of shots at the 2015 Pride Day Parade in San Francisco. I was there for the ALA conference and everyone took a break to watch the parade. I liked the way that this stern looking cop suddenly started high-fiving marchers in the parade.

---

"Makola Market, Accra, Ghana" (2015)
Reserve Chamption (Pink Ribbon) & First Premium (Blue Ribbon)
Arlington County Fair Photography Entries

While on a visit to Accra, Ghana in May, I went to the famed Makola Market. An amazing place of sights, smells, and sounds. This picture, on one of the main streets of the market area provided some interesting juxtaposition of people and vehicles, the matching blues and purples caught my eye.

---

"Cutting Coconuts, Ghana" (2015)
Second Premium (Red Ribbon)
Arlington County Fair Photography Entries

On my trip to Ghana in May, I went to the Cape Coast area. After a visit to the Kakum National Park, my guide and I stopped for fresh coconuts. This young man did some nifty machete work before handing over the coconut.

---

"Red" (2015)
Honorable Mention (Green Ribbon)
Arlington County Fair Photography Entries

The lobby of the Art Gallery Hotel in Amsterdam provided a nice backdrop for Grace after a long day of tramping around a dreary and rainy Amsterdam.

Results of the Arlington County Fair competitive exhibitions, photography

So, for 2013, I had six entries in the photo competition for the Arlington County Fair. I thought I had some sure winners, but was surprised by what the judges thought. Here's the rundown:


Collage or Photo Essay: All My Instagrams (2012-13). RESULT: FIRST PREMIUM (Blue Ribbon).

This was a surprise Blue Ribbon to me; it's a collage made from about 2,000 Instagram photos. Just a novelty shot.

---

ENHANCED OR ALTERED PHOTOS (COLOR): People or Animals Arlington Girls Go K-Pop. RESULT: THIRD PREMIUM (White Ribbon).

Another novelty shot. This time, winner of the White Ribbon.

---

Landscape or Other Scenery. Sunset: Rhode Island State House (2013.07.26-IMG_4994). RESULT: HONORABLE MENTION (Green Ribbon)

This was an OK photo, so I'm happy with a Green Ribbon.

---

Exhibitor’s Choice: Blue Silouette: Grace (2013.01.19-IMG_7533). RESULT: HONORABLE MENTION (Green Ribbon)

Another Green Ribbon, which was good for this picture.  

---

Architecture, Structure or Sculpture: Street Corner, Panama City, Panama (2013.01.07-IMG_7164). RESULT: NO RIBBON

Very disappointed in this picture since I selected it over a strong other contender in the category, this picture from Morocco.

---

People (single or group, formal or informal): Seoul Selfies (2013.03.31-IMG_1422). RESULT: NO RIBBON

This was my biggest disappointment since I really thought this was my big winner! My second and third choices to enter in this category was this picture from Morocco:

Arlington County Fair, Midway and Competitive Exhibits

At this year's Arlington County Fair, we entered photographs (me), baked goods and produce (Mary) and a collage (Grace). It was just an ok year ribbon-wise:

There was some weird stuff going on around the post-judging also; the produce was almost all taken down (and dumped in a trash can by about 4:15 pm, even though you had til 5 pm to pick up your entries. The helpful person there was very apologetic for the mess - and some people were very annoyed!

The photos were also regrouped into their ribbon categories, so you couldn't compare things in your own categories.

So, here's the results:

Mary

• Blondies: Second Premium (Honorable Mention, Green Ribbon)
• Okra: Second Premium (Second Premium, Red Ribbon)

Grace

• Cats' Eyes Collage (Third Premium, White Ribbon)

Martin

• Transvaal Museum, Pretoria (Second Premium, Red Ribbon)
• Taos Pueblo (Second Premium, Red Ribbon)
• Instagramatic New Mexico (Honorable Mention, Green Ribbon)
• A Giraffe on a Mission: South Africa (no place)
• African Crescent Moon (no place)
• Mariachi Band (no place - but my favorite)

Meanwhile, back on the midway, here's a shot from the top of the Ferris Wheel:

Baking, Arlington County Fair

Blondies, first prize (Mary)

Artwork, Arlington County Fair

Honorable mention and third prize (Grace)

Photography, Arlington County Fair

2 honorable mention and nothing (Martin)

Exhibits, Arlington County Fair

Food at Arlington County Fair

2009 Arlington County Fair: Photography Competition

The 2009 Arlington County Fair competition this year was pretty tough!

I thought that I had a a couple of blue ribbon winners this year, but no luck, out of the five entrants this year I had:

- 1 third place (white ribbon)
- 2 honorable mentions (green ribbon)
- 2 no place

Here's the rundown:

Insect/Flower (3rd premium)


Taipei Fish Market (honorable mention), I thought this was a winner!


Taipei 101 / New York New York (honorable mention)


Taiwan Fishing Boats (no place)


In the Wasatch (no place) - really thought this was a winner!


Meanwhile, my eight year old, in her first competition, pulled in a first premium (blue ribbon!) for this photo:

Wild Utah Grass