As you read this I will be preparing to go to my local agricultural show; it’s a two day event, and I’m looking forward to lots of fun. I love agricultural shows; my mum and dad used to take me to them as a young child.
The sights the smells, the bull that tries it’s best to pull the handlers arm off as they are standing in the ring being judged. The elegant dogs in the dog show, the rare breeds; sheep and the smelly pigs, for me along with the cows my main love is the horses.
So much goes into getting the animals ready for the show ring, you see huge bulls being washed down, brushed and combed, pampered and fussed over like all good dogs are at Crufts. There’s a vast difference between the mucky cows I take photos of in fields and the pristine nice smelling cows that are exhibited at the shows, it must be like living in a parallel universe for them.
An agricultural show offers the everyday person the chance to get up close to these beautiful animals, wander around their stalls and observe the reality of a day at a show. For farmers and horse owners alike it can mean very early starts to get the animals ready for travel, and competitors can travel great distances, to enter their specimen with big prize money and pride at stake.
For me, I divide my time between the cattle and the horses. There aren’t many opportunities to see working horses being dressed for the ring. Like the cows their day starts early and getting them turned out for the ring is a big responsibility. The shire horses that pull the dray, (the old style wagons that used to deliver a companies wares, mainly breweries enter these competitions now), have their manes dressed with little flowers their tack rubbed, brass polished and shoes washed. When it comes to the show jumpers, some of the horses will have had their manes plaited before they go into the ring. At these shows, no animal enters a ring unless it is looking it’s best.
I’m sure you’re beginning to wonder why I’m writing about all this. Well it’s because an agricultural show offers such wonderful photographic opportunities, chances to get up close and personal with some impressive animals and some beautiful people with wonderful stories to tell. If you are an animal lover or a people lover then there are some wonderful things to capture. The people who attend go right across the spectrum; my favourite images from these kinds of shows are the gentlemen who wander round wearing a panama hat, shooting stick in hand and members ribbon fluttering gently in the breeze.
For sure, you might not get images that you can immediately use or sell, but the cross section of people and animals make it a great location to get some unusual images.
Now if you were reading my article about the trade show earlier this year you’ll know the effect espresso has on me; so for this event as I’ll be around some highly strung animals I think it’s best if I stick to some peppermint tea rather than me walking around supercharged too. Now have I mentioned yet about the best secret at the show? The Women’s Institute tent with the pork pies and chocolate cakes. No, oh make sure you check that out too, between you and me, I think it’s the best part of the show!
*The Current Photographer website contains links to our affiliate partners. Purchasing products and services through these links helps support our efforts to bring you the quality information you love and there’s no additional cost to you.
Living in the beautiful rural county of Yorkshire it was perhaps natural for Ruth to have an affinity with the countryside and its wildlife. Creativity is Ruth’s driving force finding an outlet in television & radio she worked for many years as producer for BBC & ITV.
However a love of photography and for being surrounded by nature called her to go back to her photography training and bring pleasure and joy to people through her connection with our planet.
Staying in the moment when taking her images allows her to experience the natural magnificence unfolding before her eyes. It is this moment of mediation, of gratitude, that she evocatively conveys through her images.