Notting Hill Carnival
Did you enjoy the festivities and summer tidings that London had to offer this summer?
Now that we are returning to ‘normal’ it feels like the need and reason to celebrate all things human, community and summer are out in full force.
WHOOOP!
It’s been so good to see so many happy faces, celebrating life and enjoying the moment.
None so much as Notting Hill Carnival!
Shamefully, after many years living in London, I have been only a few times, usually to celebrate with friends and a good excuse to have a wild weekend on my home turf as well as celebrate, what I feel is one of the beautiful qualities of this city - its depth in diversity and culture.
2022 feels a little different to me! So its only logical that my approach to NHC would be different too.
After all we have been through, I wanted to celebrate it all from a different (personal) perspective and brave taking my camera out to photograph it. In all the years I have been, I have never actually seen the Parade! (I know) So that was the goal - to see and enjoy all the beautiful colours, the hours of hard work and creativity, all of these friendship groups, community circle and voices come together to display their own version of Carnival weekend.
It was amazing!
One area full of life, colour and joy. Music on every corner, smells of amazing taste food wafting through the air from as early as 8am, and the glitter of laughter and chatter filling the atmosphere from every angle.
This also marked a big jump out of my comfort zone photographically. For me, not everyone likes having their photograph taken, and coming from a career steeped in NDA’s taking photos of people without their permission is a huge NOPE! Don’t Go there!
So to photograph people as they are, in a space where I am pretty sure they are ok with cameras being around (as they are in droves) felt like it might be a safer place for me to be brave with breaking down this barrier of my own creativity.
Amazingly, even asking people, they would agree, still felt as if I was talking something, asking for something without giving first or even in return, it feels undeniably rude and selfish!
(chuckles to herself) … I know so many photographers who would be stunned by this block - totally confused and decide that the only logical explanation is that I am mad!
But we all have our blocks and out ‘things’ to get over in order to be better today that we were yesterday!
So her is what I have - a celebration, in my own way, of one of the most beautiful, creative, love filled carnivals London has to offer:
