How can I make parade photos more interesting and story-driven?
Asked 8/8/2010
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2 answers
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I photographed a parade and later realized I stayed in one spot for most of it. The images feel repetitive and don't really tell a story or show much personality. What techniques, lenses, or shooting approaches help create more interesting, storytelling parade photos?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
16y ago
2 Answers
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I think it depends on the kind of parade.
For instance, for a few New Years' parades, I've been in Philadelphia and shot the Mummer's Parade. Everyone wears such bright and varied costumes, and walks really close to the edge of the road. Shooting with a wider lens (35mm f/2.0, or 17-55mm f/2.8 for me) still let me get pretty good portrait shots. When people are within five feet of the lens, more telephoto means less keeper shots, or at least, shots that show I was at a parade.
I'm not sure that staying in the same place prevents you from telling a story. I can't remember the name of the movie, but one that particularly sticks in my mind had a store keeper in it who shot from the same location, every day, at the same time of day, for twenty years. The resulting photos told the story of how the neighborhood changed, of how some people are always on the same schedule (always passing by his store at the same time), of those strange days when everything's completely out of whack. Just because things are passing you and you stand still doesn't mean you can't tell the story of what's passing you.
Originally by user266. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user266
16y ago
0
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You can still tell a story even if you shoot from one location, but the key is to make intentional choices about perspective and subject.
A good approach is to get closer and use a wider lens, such as around 35mm. At parade distances, especially when people pass close to the curb, a wide lens can help you capture portraits that still clearly feel like they were made at a parade. It also gives a more personal, immersive look, and a bit of wide-angle distortion can add energy.
It also helps to plan a few shooting positions ahead of time so you can choose backgrounds that support the image rather than distract from it.
For storytelling, focus less on broad record shots of the whole procession and more on individuals or small groups. Look for expressive faces, distinctive costumes, gestures, and interactions. A series built around a few people or moments will usually feel more personal and coherent than many distant shots of the overall structure.
In short: get close, use a moderately wide lens, choose your backgrounds deliberately, and concentrate on people and character rather than only the parade as a whole.
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