Last-minute preparation She's playing a 1934 Martin O-18T tenor guitar Not all fiddlers tuck the instruments under their… But for the microphone, this could have been 100 y… Waiting in the wings Chicken The town square was filled with competitors This hat has a bill -- and a snout Spectators sampled the goods Preparing pulled pork for judging Apparently these ribs are very tender Little Abigail, 2, loves barbecue It can be messy to eat, though not everyone cares It was all about smoke -- and of course meat Pork ribs packaged for the judges It's a family affair Delivering meat for judging Earnie made this elaborate rig himself No jokes about hot dogs . . . Through a puddle, darkly Snow Hungry young deer on a very cold morning Are pine needles good to eat? Morning Glory Spring shower Ryan Davis, artist Side of an abandoned building Visible only from the train . . . An alluring theme The abandoned building is decorated all over This image is kind of puzzling Vines and thorn bushes have grown over the picture… A typical Real Detective picture Inside, in the dark, was this Deep inside the building Inside, in the dark, there were more pictures A corner of the building away from the highway J. D. Hutchison J.D. Hutchison and Mimi Hart Mimi Hart Mimi Hart Brian Blauser, photographer of musicians A little hailstorm toddled through this afternoon Two on a twig, in infrared Not necessarily a permanent choice, however Thursday: Meredith Jensen sets up the henna tattoo… Thursday: A hoop artist Thursday: The newly decorated festival sign Thursday was hot and some dressed appropriately Thursday: Michael Hurley is first artist on new Bo… Thursday: Saintseneca on the main stage Thursday: A caring parent Thursday: Angela Perley's saw is seen. Thursday: A determined traveler Thursday: It's a festival! The crowd is big, especially for a Thursday Chelsea and son Jonah Joan Shelley Dana plays on the Porch Stage early Saturday after… John Moreland A longtime fiddler and multi-championship winner In the green room, ad-hoc bands were formed The winner of the largest category The contest was in Stuart's Opera House, Nelsonvil… Hereabouts, pretty much everybody plays an instrum… My favorite picture of the event The youngest contestant was 4 years old The contestants were dwarfed by the stage A lifetime of fiddling alters your shape Cicada emerging (electronic flash) Cicada emerging Cicada emerging Paper Wasp, infrared macro Paper Wasp, infrared macro Paper Wasp, infrared macro Paper Wasp, infrared macro Paper Wasp, infrared macro Paper Wasp, infrared macro Paper Wasp, infrared macro Same place as yesterday, same fisheye, horizon kep… Backyard fisheye experiment, next day Into the woods with the fisheye in IR Back yard infrared fisheye experiment Drywall screw head Ant on leaf 2:1 magnification infrared Katydid nymph 3:1 magnification infrared Japanese beetle 3:1-magnification infrared Part of tiny flower at about 3:1 Some things, only a mother will do Hungry The Challenge Puzzled Portrait of an Assassin Bug in IR A dinky fly in IR, better than 1:1 Japanese beetles having a good time Bugs just wanna have fun Sunset, Independence Day Independence Day in infrared Independence Day in infrared Independence Day in infrared Independence Day in infrared Independence Day in infrared Independence Day in infrared Independence Day in infrared Preparing to make a shot for the movie "Campout" The actress Stephanie Grote, in costume as the pol… Mavis Staples Michael Hurley My Bubba Brandi Carlile Brandi Carlile Merle Haggard at work Merle Haggard Merle Haggard Brandi Carlile Mavis Staples Mavis Staples Wayne Coyne, "Flaming Lips" Wayne Coyne, "Flaming Lips" St. Vincent a/k/a Annie Clark, musician Tiny spider devours tinier leaf hopper nymph (IR) Nasty stinging infrared caterpillar