The best place to shoot a parade is in the staging area, not out on the street during the march. People aren't moving around too much and spectators aren't sticking their hands and heads into your shot. As you can see, our participants don't have spectacular costumes like those in New Orleans but we make it up in enthusiasm and goofiness.
A CDP colleague and excellent photographer recently told me in an email that he finds it hard to photograph people. Everyone is anxious about it at first but once you crack out of your shell it's so easy. It can be taught. Engage the subject about something you notice in them. Talk about them, not you. Smile. Ask permission.
It occurs to me that I'm always the observer, never the participant, at such events. Somebody's gotta do it.
Oh, and by the way, there's a big and growing set of Mardi Gras parade photos on Flickr here.
A CDP colleague and excellent photographer recently told me in an email that he finds it hard to photograph people. Everyone is anxious about it at first but once you crack out of your shell it's so easy. It can be taught. Engage the subject about something you notice in them. Talk about them, not you. Smile. Ask permission.
It occurs to me that I'm always the observer, never the participant, at such events. Somebody's gotta do it.
Oh, and by the way, there's a big and growing set of Mardi Gras parade photos on Flickr here.
12 comments:
les premiers ils doivent chanter "la danse des canards" ;o). C'est la fete, et tes portraits sont superbes
I just stumbled across your blog and I'm loving it!
Oh those Vikings!
The funny thing is, nobody does mardi gras in France anymore. Or almost nobody, if you except the carnival in Nice and a few other places...
Aimee was looking for a 'statement' necklace last week Bob, I reckon this one in the second shot could be called that haha! Methinks the lady's hat is too big in the last picture!! Great fun is being had here I can tell!
Oh, long live silly people!
Fake Vikings and beer, another good combination. Skål.
A Viking drinking Bud Lite. That's funny.
Great portrait for a huge photo op. Thanks for the advice, I can really use it!
Paul Revere's great, great, great granddaddy many times over once rode through the streets of London shouting, "The Vikings are coming! The Vikings are coming!"
Great series B. Loved all of the revelers!
V
People who dress up like this WANT to be photographed. If no one pointed a lens at them, they would go home unhappy.
These people do look silly. But I'm all for them having a good time!
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