Brighton is a small beachside community in Dunedin, near the bottom of the South Island of New Zealand, which playfully describes itself as the “Riviera of the South.” On Sunday, January 19, I attended the annual Brighton Gala Day and brought my camera, hoping to capture some interesting scenes.
Despite the many people, craft stalls, community groups, live music, food caravans, and children’s rides, I didn’t have much luck. My success rate with photography often seems inversely proportional to my expectations. Places and events that should provide ample opportunities for good photos can sometimes feel predictable and uninteresting. It’s when I’m not expecting anything special that the extraordinary seems to present itself.
Determined to capture a few images that recorded the enjoyable time so many people were having at this well-organised, well-attended event, I kept looking for a suitable subject. Things brightened up when the forecast dark clouds lifted, bathing us all in bright, warm sunshine.
Eventually, I decided to photograph people on one of the rides. I don’t know what it’s called, but it’s a classic fairground attraction: the seats are suspended by chains, and as the central pole spins, the centrifugal force swings the riders outward in a circular motion. The faster it spins, the higher the riders go. The main challenge was focusing on the riders as they zoomed past. Judging by their facial expressions, this simple, old-fashioned ride still delivers a good time.



What’s next?
No matter how often you walk down the same, familiar streets, you can always find something worth noting.
What do you think?
I invite you to leave a comment below.
I have that experience too. High expectations often equals low photographic satisfaction.
Nice images of a fun ride.
Chairoplane I think