World Pride 2019: Parade Photography
Hey everyone! Hope June has been an amazing month for you all; going out taking pics, being active or all around enjoying the nice weather. This past weekend was the finale of LGBT+ Pride here in NYC and I decided to head out to the parade and try my hand at event/ parade photography. This year marked the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riot (1969) which prompted the civil right movement towards LGBT+ rights here in the USA (and probably worldwide). All that being said, you could imagine how big of an event this year was! The theme for this year was "World Pride" and featured LGBT & allies from around the world marching together.
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My Day: The Alt Parade
So I arrived in the city around 9:30AM since I drove and wanted to make sure I found a parking. As luck would have it, I rolled right up to a parking spot just 2 blocks away from the parade route! (Actually, I've been having quite the best luck finding parking in the city this year, thank God!)
Being there so early, My main goal was to get sunscreen (cause the sun isn't playing games these days) and to get an iced coffee before the main parade. To my surprise, there was actually a separate parade taking place that morning. It's called the "Alt Parade" and was created as a non corporate alternative to the main parade. A lot of folks felt that the mass sponsorship’s didn't align with the "original purpose of the movement" and created a parade "for the people, by the people". Here are a few photos of that moment:
My Day: The Main Event
After escaping the heat to the nearest Starbucks, I finally got my iced coffee and prepared to find "My Spot" for taking photos. I'm not new to parades since I live around the corner from the "West Indian Labor Day Parade" route so I knew I had to secure it early enough that it wouldn't be crowded. There I am on 7th and Perry St, and I find an opening, not behind a person but right by the fence that blocks spectators from entering the street! It turned out to be a pretty great spot, even if it was towards the end of the route. (I think next time I'll be by 6th ave instead because it would be shadier and closer to the start of the parade). Well, don't want to bore you with too many details haha, here are some of the best shots from the parade!
My Day: Conclusion
Overall, I had a pretty good time. There was good music, confetti, and colorful costumes to photograph. It was pretty harsh sun, which took some getting used to, it was a learnign experience photography wise. Next event I hope to have a 24-70 so I can have a wider array of photographs and focal lengths but for now my Trusty Nifty Fifty definitely gets the job done. Let me know what you think of the photos down below! Also, if you happened to be there or know anyone in the photos I took, please let me know, I'd love to hear from you.