MOPD Reviews: Ryder Collins: Fair Season

MOPD Reviews: Ryder Collins: Fair Season by Aline SmithsonJuly 4, 2025

©Ryder Collins, High Dive, from Fair Season

What better way to celebrate our nation’s birthday than to share Ryder Collins’ wonderful project, Fair Season, seen at the Month of Photography Portfolio Reviews. Based in Seattle, Washington, Collins traverses the state, documenting the long standing traditions of state fairs, yearly events that speak to our country’s beginnings of farming, our reverence for animals, and long time traditions of cooking and domestic activities. Adding to traditions are the rides, races and fair foods. Collins has witnessed the evolution of the country fair, now leaning now towards an amusement park culture as the agricultural focus diminishes year by year.

©Ryder Collins, Before the Auction, from Fair Season

©Ryder Collins, Carnival, from Fair Season

Fair Season

Each year, more than 60 fairs take place across the state of Washington, a tradition that dates back to 1866 when the first fair was held in the southeast region of the state. Originally, these gatherings were rooted in agriculture—venues to showcase livestock, crops, and the latest farming techniques. Over time, however, the role of the fair has evolved. As small-scale farming continues to decline in Washington, pushed aside by larger corporate operations, the agricultural pathway for many individuals has become increasingly inaccessible.

To stay financially viable, many fairs have leaned more heavily into commercial carnival attractions, gradually shifting away from their rural origins. Today, it’s not uncommon to see empty livestock barns, a quiet testament to how few people have the time, resources, or desire to raise animals as they once did. And yet, fairs remain a powerful cultural meeting point—a place where rural and urban life intersect. Part of what continues to draw me to these events is witnessing people’s desire to hold onto tradition, even as the world around them changes.

Fair Season is my attempt to capture the enduring spirit of the fair. From rickety carnival rides to livestock competitions, rodeos, and demolition derbies, there’s something undeniably refreshing about these moments. In contrast to the isolating pace of modern technology, fairs offer a tactile, grounding experience—one that reminds me of the value of community, tradition, and connection.

©Ryder Collins, Chicken Show, from Fair Season

Ryder Collins has always been drawn to observing people. From the moment they first picked up a camera, their instinct was to document the human experience. Working as an operating room nurse, Ryder is regularly confronted with the fragility and absurdity of life—perspectives that deeply inform their photographic approach. For Ryder, photography is both a meditative practice and a vital form of self-expression, a way to translate emotion into image.

Their process centers on patience and presence. Creating intimate photographs requires time, and perhaps it’s this challenge that fuels Ryder’s ongoing search for meaningful moments. Long-term photographic projects are especially compelling to them, as they reveal the layered, often unseen forces beneath human behavior. Engaging with these projects is not only a creative pursuit but also a profound journey of self-discovery.

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