A roller coaster carriage carries several people as it climbs a steep white track. Tall, thin trees with sparse leaves stand against a pale blue sky in the background.

Funny photos of crazy theme parks by Paul Hiller? Sure thing

Words: Liv Siddall
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Date: 2 April 2013; Work
Photography

It’s that glorious time of year again when the theme parks across the world creak open their rainbow-coloured gates to the unbridled joy of the screaming, puking, mild-thrill seeking public. Whether it’s the rides, the faux woodland, the greasy food or the money-munching sideshows, something about theme parks reminds us that human beings are weird — and that’s never a bad thing.

Photographer Paul Hiller is here to remind us of just that, with his pastel-toned photographs of some of the world’s most weird and wonderful theme parks. With a touch of Martin Parr about them, these park portraits are a fantastic way of recording the strange and funny ways we human beings enjoy a spot of leisure – on fast machines surrounded by fibreglass dinosaurs.

A theme park with colourful rides and a Ferris wheel featuring gondolas shaped like cakes. In the distance, the Tokyo Skytree rises above the city skyline. — Above
Paul Hiller: untitled

Three dinosaur sculptures stand in a wooded area. Two figures are locked in a struggle, with one leaning over the other, while a third stands nearby watching. — Above
Paul Hiller: Saurierpark

People gather by a turquoise pool at the base of a large, artificial rock waterfall. Several pink and green inflatable rollers float in the water while one person cheers with their arms raised. — Above
Paul Hiller: worldpark beijing

A large, artificial rocky mountain rises from a body of water. A dark tunnel opening reveals a ride track leading into the structure. — Above
Paul Hiller: vulkan

A weathered entrance gate to a children's ride attraction stands before a backdrop of modern glass skyscrapers. A sign above the gate reads “のりもの”, while a smaller sign to the left reads “入口”. — Above
Paul Hiller: osaka rooftop

A model of a Dimetrodon with a large, striped sail on its back stands on a rocky outcrop. It is set within a prehistoric landscape of tall, thin trees and a distant lake. — Above
Paul Hiller: dino

Two large, inflatable plastic spheres float in a turquoise pool. One is pink and the other is green, both featuring a textured, honeycomb surface. Behind them, a waterfall cascades down a rugged, light grey rock face. — Above
Paul Hiller: worldpark beijing

A teal Ferris wheel with striped red, yellow and blue gondolas stands against a pale blue sky. In the foreground, a few people sit at a picnic table beside a small wooden building. — Above
Paul Hiller: ferris wheel

A fairground ride with several colourful hot-air balloon gondolas swings in a circle. Two people stand in the foreground, looking towards the ride and a nearby blue kiosk. — Above
Paul Hiller: balloons

Further Info

www.paulmunich.de
www.flickr.com/photos/paulhiller

About the Author

Liv Siddall

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Liv joined It’s Nice That as an intern in 2011 and worked across online, print and events, and was latterly Features Editor before leaving in May 2015.

Funny photos of crazy theme parks by Paul Hiller? Sure thing

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