Picture This

Picture This!
Festival! Parades, Cook-Offs, Ballooning, And More

Shutterbug Staff | Jun 1, 2008

Our Picture This! assignment this month was festivals and parades, and we asked readers to submit images from gathering spots and events where people dress up, fly in hot air balloons, and generally experience things that are quite out of the ordinary. We received images from festivals all around the country that delved into all sorts of cultures and holidays, all of which always hold great picture potential.

Clowning Around

David Hopps photographed these parade clowns at the four-day Carnaval (Mexican Mardi Gras) in Ensenada, Mexico. He used a Canon Digital Rebel XTi and a Canon 17-85mm IS lens; exposure was f/6.3 at 1/200 sec at ISO 200.
© 2008, David Hopps, All Rights Reserved

Pre-Game Ceremony

The hoopla around football often approaches a carnival-like atmosphere, caught here by William Blackstone at Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He worked with a Nikon D100 and a Nikkor 70-200mm lens with a Nikon tele-converter. Exposure was f/8 at 1/1000 sec.
© 2008, William Blackstone, All Rights Reserved

Dragon Dance

Gary W. Potts added some effects that enhanced the motion of the dancers in Singapore during the celebration of Chinese New Year. He shot with a Nikon D200 and a Sigma 18-200mm lens; exposure was f/8 at 1/125 sec at ISO 400.
© 2008, Gary W. Potts, All Rights Reserved

Kilts On Parade

We thought this photo by Jan Wolyniak posed an interesting point of view of these "kilted Detroit police" at the Michigan State Fair. Exposure with an Olympus SP-310 was f/3.7 at 1/160 sec.
© 2008, Jan Wolyniak, All Rights Reserved

Graduation

Entitled "Finally," Paul Ortiz caught the moment of celebration for the graduation class, which included his son, at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Colonel Ortiz (USMC, Retired) photographed with a Canon EOS 5D and a 24-105mm lens.
© 2008, Paul Ortiz, All Rights Reserved

Masquerade

Made at Carnival in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, Cindy Hunt caught this colorful close-up with a Canon EOS 20D and a Canon 28-135mm IS USM lens; exposure was f/5.6 at 1/1600 sec.
© 2008, Cindy Hunt, All Rights Reserved

Awaiting The Parade

Jane J. Coates caught this delightful photo of child and friend all dressed up for the 4th of July parade. She worked with a Nikon Nikkormat 35mm SLR and exposed at f/8 at 1/250 sec on Kodacolor film.
© 2008, Jane J. Coates, All Rights Reserved

Albuquerque Balloon Festival

One of the major balloon festivals in the country is in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Christine Wood caught all the color and excitement of the ascent with a Canon Digital Rebel XT and a Canon 75-300mm USM lens; exposure was f/8 at 1/320 sec at ISO 400.
© 2008, Christine Wood, All Rights Reserved

Big Rig Parade

Held each Christmas in Waimea, Big Island Hawaii, these trucks wire lights all over their rigs. Jock Goodman zoomed during exposure to enhance the effect using a Nikon D70s and a Sigma 17-70mm lens. Exposure was f/4.5 at 1/15 sec at ISO 800. He noted: "Some cloning (was done of) discourteous parade watchers who kept going in the street and getting in front of me to shoot with their camera phones."
© 2008, Jock Goodman, All Rights Reserved

Bud Billiken Day Parade

According to photographer Bimshire T. Davis, this parade, held the second Saturday in August, is considered one of the largest in the country. This shot of Chicago's South Shore Drill Team was made with a Nikon D70 and a Nikkor 70-200mm lens; exposure was f/4 at 1/250 sec.
© 2008, Bimshire T. Davis, All Rights Reserved

Evening Glow

The evening "glow" at balloon festivals is not to be missed. Ray Baker made this shot at the Foley, Alabama, Balloon Festival with a Nikon D2X and a Nikkor 18-200mm VR lens. Exposure at ISO 200 was f/11 at 1.5 seconds with the camera mounted on a Gitzo G320 tripod and a Bogen 3047 head.
© 2008, Ray Baker, All Rights Reserved