The Annual Fair
by Joanne van Dalen
Each year in October I visit the Annual Fair in Leiden, the place where I live.
I don't go for the fair itself, I don't care much about the fairground attractions. The families who visit, these are the interesting subjects.
The whole year round they save up for this event and spend their money in less than an hour.
The Ferris Wheel... the Carousel... and the Haunted House...
Adults don't care for these attractions anymore, they mostly think of their empty wallet at the end of the day.
But the children, the look on the faces of the children with their balloons is priceless. So that for me is the most important thing in street photography, catching the emotions, that one moment that makes it all worthwhile.
I tried to catch the mood of the day, the atmosphere, the anticipation, the patience of the grandparents, and most of all the fun the children have.
And the mood of the day after, when everything disappears again…
This special occasion is wonderful for me because it gives me a chance to shoot and be around the people of my city.
