National Polka Festival Ennis Texas: I was so looking forward to shooting at this Polka festival. We go every year and have a blast. This year I was taking my DSLR camera that I have...

kenievans Loc: Dallas

I was so looking forward to shooting at this Polka festival. We go every year and have a blast. This year I was taking my DSLR camera that I have been learning to use with such diligence and I had plans for some great street and people photography. Well, my first boneheaded move and probably not the last. I forgot to put my SD card back in my camera. At least Canon warns you if you try and take a photo without a card. As they say, the best camera is the one you have with you so cell phone it was. We still had a great time and I did come away with a few photos. I hope you enjoy!

First Dance
First Dance...

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Happy to be here!
Happy to be here!...

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The incredible Mollie B
The incredible Mollie B...

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In Heaven There Is No Beer
In Heaven There Is No Beer...

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Goodnight folks!
Goodnight folks!...

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UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Fun tour, Keni! Of course, none of us has EVER forgotten an SD card (LOL).

Bob Mevis Loc: Plymouth, Indiana

I forgot to take the battery out of my charger for a Granddaughters birthday once.
Nice pics Ken.
Bob

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

A great sense of the festivities! Very enjoyable compositions and moments, Keni. Given the joy of the first three in particular, I would think color pics, so I am interested in your decision to go b&w.

kenievans Loc: Dallas

UTMike wrote:

Fun tour, Keni! Of course, none of us has EVER forgotten an SD card (LOL).

Thanks Mike. There is always next year!

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Bob Mevis wrote:

I forgot to take the battery out of my charger for a Granddaughters birthday once.
Nice pics Ken.
Bob

Thank you Bob. I have left batteries at home too but I have 6 of them and there is always a charged one in my bag. I learned that lesson well.

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Bob Mevis wrote:

I forgot to take the battery out of my charger for a Granddaughters birthday once.
Nice pics Ken.
Bob

Thank you Bob. I learned that lesson as well. I now have 6 batteries and a car charger. I am stockibg up on cards too!

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Linda From Maine wrote:

A great sense of the festivities! Very enjoyable compositions and moments, Keni. Given the joy of the first three in particular, I would think color pics, so I am interested in your decision to go b&w.

Linda you would think it would be very colorful but the inside shots were bad lighting situations, high ceilings and florescent lights and beige everywhere. They looked better in b&w with the contrast pushed. The dancers were under a tent in shadows with a very bright sun. Again it just looked better in b&w. The accordion player was actually good in color because of the stage spotlights but I decided to stay with the theme. I'm glad you enjoyed them.

Stephan G

kenievans wrote:

Thank you Bob. I have left batteries at home too but I have 6 of them and there is always a charged one in my bag. I learned that lesson well.

One suggestion: Always leave a card or two in the bag you take with you. (Rubber-banded to battery, maybe.)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

kenievans wrote:

Linda you would think it would be very colorful but the inside shots were bad lighting situations, high ceilings and florescent lights and beige everywhere. They looked better in b&w with the contrast pushed. The dancers were under a tent in shadows with a very bright sun. Again it just looked better in b&w. The accordion player was actually good in color because of the stage spotlights but I decided to stay with the theme. I'm glad you enjoyed them.

Thanks so much, Keni.

Guyserman Loc: Benton, AR

Some excellent captures in black & white. All very well done. I bet you had a lot of fun. I'll be trying to pick you out on the Mollie B Polka Party.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

kenievans wrote:

I was so looking forward to shooting at this Polka... (show quote)

Good job! Looks like fun! (I'm not a Polka guy, but love watching folks have fun.... Mollie B, have seen her show on RFD TV).

Note: When you take the SD card out of your DSLR, leave the door open to remind you to put one back in, swap out (so there is always one in there) or put a sticky note on the camera (sticking out of the card door works). None of us ever make that mistake, so use some sort of reminder!!

My exposure to Polka was as a young kid in Nebraska/Kansas/Iowa (Dad was on assignment there for a couple year stretch) and we would go to those family style Beer Gardens on Friday/Saturday night, and they would have a Polka Band, or mixed musical style bands and I was always taken by the farm folks love of Polka bands/dancing. And you know what they say - In Heaven there is no beer!!!!!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

olemikey wrote:

SD cards...swap out so there is always one in there...

That is what I do

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Stephan G wrote:

One suggestion: Always leave a card or two in the bag you take with you. (Rubber-banded to battery, maybe.)

Thanks Stephan. I have slot on my bag specifically for cards. I am putting two cards in there. I would love to say this will never happen again but that's probably not true. I am just lowering the odds.

kenievans Loc: Dallas

Guyserman wrote:

Some excellent captures in black & white. All very well done. I bet you had a lot of fun. I'll be trying to pick you out on the Mollie B Polka Party.

Thank you so much! I don't do much b&w but I do like it. Mollie B is really an incredible musician. I think she played 10 different instruments during that show. I first saw her playing on the Big Joe Polka Show on RFD. Sadly Big Joe is no longer with us but Mollie is carrying on the tradition.