Ox pull, NS Fair

Any fair is a photographer's delight, but the North Stonington edition, which kicks off the state's fair season, may be the best of them all. To be sure, it's small, but all the parts are in place, and the diminutive size means that you can always get close to the action—no supertelephoto lens required (a good thing, since, alas, I had to return the Sigma to its owner). This is just perfect when it comes to the ox pull, a signature event that pits teams of these behemoths against other duos for bragging rights and cash over whose oxen can pull the most weight. I was no more than 15 feet away for this shot of the heavyweights and their drover at work. At a big State Fair, I probably couldn't have gotten closer than 15 miles... well, a seat in the stands more than 100 feet from the animals. This is better. Way better.