salem fair: tractor pull

Posted by Chris (South Jersey, United States) on 8 August 2009 in Lifestyle & Culture.

This past week was the Salem County Fair, and I spent a couple nights there taking some pictures of all the activities. Here is the tractor pull - and these guys are serious (notice his front wheels off the ground!!)....

I hope that I can become a better photographer with the examples here on Am3 and by getting your feedback on my images.

I may not be able to reply to each of your comments - but they mean a lot to me and I thank you!

Please visit my wife's blog - The Noble Wife

vfxy Photoblogs

Comments (8)

ishm from dubai, United Arab Emirates

Awesome machine! those front wheels are so tiny compared to the rear ones..Great shot!

8 Aug 2009 8:54am

Betty from New Jersey, United States

Flashback! The tractor pulls are huge at our fair, also. Although since I have to work there I usually don't stay to see these events. This is an excellent shot!

8 Aug 2009 11:50am

Judy from Brooksville, Florida, United States

Front wheels off the ground and a helmet on his head; I surely hope he stayed upright!
Excellent capture, Chris.

8 Aug 2009 12:30pm

Viewfinder from Bradenton, FL, United States

It's good this is not a Transformer getting ready to transform. Heh.

8 Aug 2009 4:47pm

Roman from Thunder Bay, Canada

Love the color of the tractor, must've taken hours to clean the tractor before such an important competition. I really like the very low angle here but I would've tighten the frame a bit more concentrating on the machine and the driver or look for some expressive detail, especially having such a nice long lens. BTW, like your whole series from the fair.

cheers
Roman

10 Aug 2009 11:52am

@Roman: Thanks for your comment Roman - there are two schools of thought on the tractors used in these pulls - some (like this one) are clean, freshly painted, and "tricked out" for the event, and others look like they just came in from working the field for 40 years!! Thanks for your thoughts on the picture - I wasn't fully satisfied with it either but it was already cropped a lot (I couldn't get too close to the tractor). I have a lot more of the fair coming up....

Anita from West Nottingham, United States

I'm glad you pointed out the front wheels, I hadn't noticed them. Now I know why they were helmets!

12 Aug 2009 1:23am

Mobius Faith from Akron, Ohio,, United States

Ha! no fair would be complete without the tractor pull. Always a big draw. Quite noisy to if I remember correctly. Looks like the weights on the rear wheels should've been put on the front wheels also. Hahaha. I don't remember any of the drivers wearing helmets when I was at the fair - of course that was years ago - Back when helmets only meant you had a motorcycle. :-)

17 Aug 2009 1:25am

@Mobius Faith: you remember right about the noise - it is very loud (and we can actually hear the tractors from my house about a mile away!). And he does have a weight on the front wheel, but at the end of the run (if they have enough power) almost all of them lift up the front.....

Lambspun from Madison, Maine, United States

This is like the ultimate event at the fair for my husband. He will love this shot when I show him. The noise, the smell, the heat of it, the dirt....no kidding! Determined look.....Great capture....

23 Aug 2009 2:59pm

Add your comment ...

next day →

Nikon D90
1/320 second
F/5.6
ISO 400
157 mm (35mm equiv.)