Well the Innocent Village Fete is now very much concluded (psst, like a week ago), but because I'm lazy I've only just got around to writing anything. The weather was, shall we say characteristically British. Still, in and equally British manner, the weather didn't at all detract from the event. In fact there was something rather amusing about I reflected while drinking Pimms in the rain outside the Pimms bus. Yes. There WAS a Pimms bus. Innocent did an excellent job organising the whole event, and it was excellent fun. Thanks Innocent :)

They did quite a few things right that were just little things, like the program - it was a little booklet thing, but it was handed out on a necklace...people didn't lose them as a result, which is oh so terribly green cos then they don't end up wasted on the floor or anything. The smoothies were of course, great, and the live music was a great choice. None of it was stuff I'd typically listen to at home, but Innocent made a great choice in picking the bands they did - it was stuff anyone could walk over to, listen to and enjoy, regardless of taste. The Ukulele band of Great Britain was also present, and they had some amazing talent.

I learnt some practical stuff that day, like handholding a lens at 200mm with 1/40th shutter speeds. Doable but bloody difficult. And the 50mm f/1.8 II...atrocious low-light AF. I should have guessed beforehand because its not a state secret that its AF is questionable anyway, but yeah. I think next time I'll either think about an 85mm F1/.8 (excellent autofocus and a brilliant lens all around), or a 430EX II/580 EX II flash that can emit an AF assist grid. Either or both should probably do the trick. I'm also very glad I bought my Lowepro Computrekker AW bag. The AW cover was a godsend. It works, wasn't a marketing gimmick and kept my gear, lenses and panda bone dry despite some very heavy downpours. Hat off to Lowepro :)

And the pictures, without further ado:

Photo Album - Innocent Village Fete 2008 - Pandasaur Gallery
Photo Album - Innocent Village Fete 2008 - Flickr