Capturing festivals on film

Dragon boat race team, Stanley, Hong Kong, China 35mm SLR, 24-70mm lens, 1/125 f 8, Ektachrome E100VS (Richard I'Anson)

- By Richard I’Anson

The spectacle, colour and crowds that are the hallmarks of festivals around the world make them a great subject for travel photography. They offer the chance to see a completely different side to the people of the place you’re visiting. Many people dress up for the event, either in their best clothes, traditional dress or just for fun in whacky gear and you’ll find they’re relaxed, in high spirits and very happy to be photographed.

Participants in the Brunswick Street Festival, Melbourne, Australia 35mm SLR, 24mm lens, 1/125 f5.6, Ektachrome E100VS (Richard I'Anson).

Take advantage of the crowds and festive atmosphere to mingle with the locals and get in close to the action. At seated events, getting close to the action can be difficult and a telephoto or long zoom lens is essential. If you’re stuck in one place or the participants are moving around a stage, wait for the action to come to you. Infuse variety into your shots by varying focal lengths and framing horizontally and vertically. Remember to turn your lens on the spectators who also make great subjects as they watch and react to the proceedings.

Devotees crowding around chariot during Seto Machhendranath Rath Jatra festival; 35mm SLR, 50mm lens, 1/15 f11, Kodachrome 64, tripod (Richard I'Anson).

Fancy costumes and traditional dress is a feature of most festivals. Interesting images can be made by getting in close and filling the frame with the colours, patterns and unique features of the participants’ clothing. These shots can be done quite unobtrusively and successfully with lenses in the 150–200mm focal length range. If you’re going to use a shorter lens and get close, you’d better get permission before you start focusing in on parts of someone’s anatomy, even if it is clothed.

Novice monks, Kopan, Nepal Don’t forget to pay some attention to the crowd at special events. Often they’re so engrossed in proceedings (or should be) that you’ll capture great expressions as they react to what they’re witnessing. 35mm SLR, 70-200mm lens, 1/250 f8, Ektachrome E100VS (Richard I'Anson).

Dealing with crowds

The bigger festivals can be particularly intense as they attract large crowds into finite spaces, hemmed in by buildings, roads, barricades and ropes. Crowd control is obviously an issue for the organisers and getting close to the action can’t be guaranteed. Arrive in the vicinity early for the chance to get your bearings of the area, check out possible vantage points and confirm basic facts with organisers or knowledgeable locals, such as start and finish times and the timing of scheduled events, and secure a seat if necessary. Remember also that festivals in urban areas can cause traffic chaos and that crowd-control measures may close roads around the focus of activity.

It’s better to be in position a little early than too late, so allow extra time to get to the event.

You really do need to step up your level of vigilance to ensure your gear is safe when you’re in crowded situations. When you’re caught up in a large throng, wear your day pack in front or your shoulder bag across your body and swing it in front of you. Make sure it’s properly closed.

Assuming you’re wanting to take photos you’ll need your camera around your neck as well, but this is probably safer than continually having to open and close your bag to get it out and put it away.

Devotee at Thaipussam festival, Singapore If you’re into body piercing, Thaipussam is the festival for you. Singapore’s Indian Hindu community honour Lord Subramaniam by piecing their cheeks and tongues with metal skewers and carrying large metal and wooden frames, decorated with feathers, fruit and fl owers, attached to their body with metal hooks. 35mm SLR, 100mm lens, 1/125Pr

Prarades and processions

Parades and processions are often a feature of festivals and are particularly demanding subjects in their own right. By their very nature (they’re moving) you don’t get a lot of time to think, compose and shoot. Big, organised parades attract big crowds and routes are often roped off, making it difficult to move around quickly. You may also prefer to remain in one place if you’re with family or friends.

Procession at Khumb Mela, Allahabad, India The 2001 Khumb Mela was the biggest gathering of humanity ever. On the main day around 30 million people bathed in the holy waters at the junction of the Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers. It was the ultimate crowd and you either dealt with it or went home. 35mm SLR, 100mm lens, 1/125 f5.6, Ektachrome E100VS

If so, choose the position carefully. Consider the direction of the sun and the background possibilities in relation to the direction of light. You don’t want to find yourself looking into the sun or at a jumble of power lines, unable to move. If you do have the freedom to move, try walking with the parade. This will give you the opportunity to concentrate on the elements you fi nd most interesting and to try various viewpoints.

For more informal shots and great opportunities to get really close, seek out meeting places where the participants gather before and after the parade. This is a great time to take portraits of people in costume, which is difficult while the parade is moving.

Independence Day Parade, Washington DC, USA The guns were fi red several times during the colonial military demonstration, which gave me the chance to improve my point of view as I was able to predict the sequence of events that led to the discharge. The aim was to get a decent amount of smoke and suitable expressions on the faces of the men. 35mm SLR, 100mm lens, 1/1/25 f8, Ektachrome E100VS (Richard I'Anson).

- Compiled by Kylie McLaughlin