3 Tries for $5.00

One of the things I enjoy most about visiting the Toronto Ribfest isn't just the food—it's the people who make the midway come alive.

Walking past the rides and barbecue smoke, I found myself stopping at the game booths instead. A simple sign caught my eye:

"3 Tries for $5.00."

To most people, it's just another carnival game. To me, it was a chance to photograph the people behind the counter.

Every game operator had a different personality.

One young lady was explaining the basketball game with a smile, holding the ball while waiting for the next player. She had probably said the same instructions hundreds of times that day, yet every customer got the same cheerful welcome.

Another fellow working the fishing game gave me a thumbs-up as I walked by with my camera. He knew I wasn't there to win a stuffed animal—I was there to capture the atmosphere. Those little moments of interaction often become my favourite photographs.

Further down the midway, another operator called out through the microphone, encouraging everyone to give the game a try. His voice became part of the soundtrack of Ribfest, mixing with the music, laughter, and the smell of barbecue drifting through the air.

Then there was the operator standing in front of the "Knock Over Three Cups" game. Between customers, he patiently reset the cups and waited for the next challenger. It's easy to overlook the quiet moments between the excitement, but those are often the moments that tell the real story.

The colourful walls of oversized frogs, aliens, bears, chickens, and every stuffed animal imaginable created the perfect backdrop. The prizes weren't really the subject of my photos—the people running the games were.

Street photography isn't always about busy downtown intersections. Sometimes it's about documenting the people who help create an experience that thousands of visitors enjoy every summer.

For just 3 tries for $5.00, families were laughing, kids were testing their skills, and carnival workers kept the games moving all day long.

I never spent the five dollars.

Instead, I spent my time collecting something much more valuable—a series of photographs that captured the friendly faces, colourful booths, and the hardworking people who make Toronto Ribfest more than just a place to eat ribs.

Sometimes the best prize isn't hanging from the wall.

Sometimes it's the photo you take before you walk away.