Off The Top: Photo Tips: How to Shoot a Parade

Blog: Photo Tips
How to photograph a parade I recently shot the Famous Preston Rodeo parade . I would like to expound on tips so basically so I can share photo examples. Like the drama department, most photographers love to show off their wares

If Tiffany Alisha can give decorating tips, Kristen, cooking recipes, and Amber domestic tips, I've decided that I'm going to wax eloquent and spout forth knowledge from my photography experience

It's been a long time since I taught my 4-H prepared , photography class at BYU-Idaho Homemaking Days. Lora Dawn, my best student ( & Hertha's best student) still quotes me when she says,"Fill the frame" That is, fill the frame with the subject of your interest. This Big J's entry is too far away and I pick up a pole in the back ground.

This is a little better, a little closer. This is one of my favorite commercial floats with the colorful balloons. It's hard to get a serpentine shot.

I liked the composition but still feel like it's far away, so I cropped it on photo shop

Here's a shot from another year which is clearer. More sun, sharper colors

If you don't get it the first time shoot the back side.

Rule number one after fill the frame is:

1. get rid of all spectators and crowd then you can find perfect shooting spots and move around without blocking anyone's view. ( Just kidding)

2. Shoot with your back to the sun

3. Pick a good background to shoot parade entries against.

Too many poles in this pic

Just wait for the band to come to you. The trees make a nice background

From 06 notice how the sun makes a better shot. Also the band is bigger.

lots of light, lousy background

I have tried different locations. Intersections have too many poles and wires

much better

Most the time I've shot in residential where's there's trees for a back ground. Down town is more crowded and hard to jocky a position.

In the past I've shot the trees in front of the two homes between the hospital and the mortuary.

See what happens when I shoot in front of the hospital,.

ex. the building is sort of ugly. Notice how I took out the pole and boy in the next shot

I shot this in front of the library, a more cluttered background than trees.

4. Try shooting from different levels.

Stand in the back of a pickup, Kneel on the ground. One year I got permission to shoot from second story of town building.( 1992 shot with film)

5. Scramble for the parade candy when things get boring. Don't let the kids take all of the candy.

6. leave space in front of entry . Ex. a person riding a bike or horse, leave space in front instead of cropping too close. This is cropped very close

Lousy pictures on several accounts. all the space is behind her, I hate poles, although it could be PS out.

Still not enough space in front of pickup.

This is better, more space in front of tractor

There's space for these guys to walk into. Over cast pic from this year, not quite in focus

7. Don't complain about the heat and bright sun. I welcomed cloud cover this year and discovered my pictures weren't as sharp as sun illuminated objects from previous years. Most the parade entries are moving so more sun light helps to stop the action for a clear shot.

8. Add a variety of closeups to keep pics interesting

even closer

another interesting shot

Yes we mustn't forget Natures Call

9. Shoot people,(assuming you didn't get rid of them) on the side lines

The smith family enjoying the parade from their yard.

10. Shoot from an angle not straight across subject.

Isn't this a little more pleasing at an angle, except I didnt' get all the horse in. But that' ok.

My friend Chris, who is on the rodeo committee catches me unaware every year and I shot her straight across again this year. If I knew in advance she was coming, I would shoot sooner.