The Altamont Fair’s photography competition is hella tough. You get four entries, and you’re competing against everybody else’s four entries. And you have to hope that whatever you come up with is creative enough to wow the judges and wow the audience.
I dropped off my four photos (and one latch hook rug to the Arts and Crafts building) over the weekend. Now it’s time to see how everything played out. And the only way to do that for me is to schlep to the Fairgrounds and see for myself.
Now the normal procedure and tradition for me involves visiting Josie’s Grill on the Fairgrounds and getting dinner before I enter the Fine Arts building. Well, I need to change my routine. I just do.
So as I entered the Fairgrounds, I decided to pit stop at the sheep and goat barn, and maybe give a few good-luck head rubs to some cute little goats.
Because, yeah, I did.
Aw, I think I made a friend.
Okay. Now I’ll go to Josie’s Grill and get some food, and …
No. I need to update my traditions. Especially since there’s a Ted’s Fish Fry food truck on the Fairgrounds. Wait, what’s a Ted’s Fish Fry food truck doing on the Fairgrounds?
One fish fry sandwich later, I’m off to the Arts and Crafts building. I want to at least see how my covered bridge latch hook rug did.
And … among the hundreds of entries in the Arts and Crafts building …
Looky looky.
Yep, that is a blue ribbon for first place in its category. Which makes me very happy. And this rug has a chance for a second blue when I bring it to the Big E later this year. So there’s that.
Okay. So now it’s time for the photography competition in the Fine Arts Building. And in I go.
Now mind you, I haven’t even sniffed a ribbon in the Fine Arts Building in the past two years. So I’d kinda like to break THAT tradition.
And after searching and searching … just around a corner … I found this.
That is my master print of A CO Railfan’s Dream, right up on the wall – with a second place yellow ribbon dangling below.
That’s right. A big fat second place ribbon, my first silk in the Fine Arts building in three years.
Aces. Now THIS is what I’m talking about. A CO Railfan’s Dream has now claimed two silks (including a blue at Saratoga), and has three more exhibitions lined up this year (the NYS Fair and hte Big E, along with the Capital District Photo Regionals). This is the kind of good news that makes me smile.
Yeah. This totally works for me. And I’m happy for it.
Yes, this is turning out to be a better Competition Season 2026. And I’m all for it.
Chuck The Writer 