A personal visit to Notting Hill Carnival 2012. Photos!
Samba Dancer at the Notting Hill Carnival 2012 in London. Photo Frank J - Famefad.com
Not strictly speaking a celebrity red carpet event but for those who took part in the 2012 Notting Hill Carnival in London over the Bank Holiday Weekend, these people were stars for a day and that in my book warrants an appearance on this website. They certainly put on a show like nothing else.
Colurful, vibrant, energetic, vibing, spectacular and not forgetting LOUD are just some of the words that spring to mind! This is not red carpet this is Street Carpet and the carpet is urban tarmac.
Last time I was there was 1998 and was totally out of it (as in plastered) but do remember dancing like a mad thing actually in the parade at some stage. For some reason could only hear whistles and nothing else for a week afterwards. Had no camera with me at the time (seem to remember shooting with Nikon Film Cameras back then) and don’t really remember much else about Notting Hill Carnival 1998?. It was that good…….. but do remember vowing “NEVER AGAIN” and here I am back 14 years later and SOBER.
Back to the 2012 Notting Hill Carnival in London. Some shots below. Click for full size and further details
2012 Details:
Crowd: Est 500,000according to media.
Weather: Grey and drizzly rain which started making way to something resembling sunshine as the day progressed. A typical London day.
Procession: started to arrive about 11am just as I arrived at the Westbourne Park judging area where yours truly was watching. I wasn’t judging by the way.
Float Count: Highest float number I think was 168 according to the compere who was running the shoe around that area but definetly there was around 100 or so floats.
Event Size. Second largest street carnival in the world second only to Rio….apparently?
Decibel Level: Say What? No idea but the police and other officials were wearing ear plugs.
Camera Gear. Old Trusty. A clapped out Fuji S602 3mp x 2 Bridge Camera Circa 2002 that I use for premieres. When it dies it will get replaced with the latest gizmo. Still waiting for it to die!
DSLR: No! Not the place for an expensive and heavy DSLR Rig unless with a media pass mingling with the floats and other photogs under old bill surveillance. This was a personal visit
Media Pass: No, didn’t bother just shot from the crowds, but as can be seen from the photos you didn’t really need one, doubt if the press boys got any better shots than these.
Trouble: Media had 3 stabbings reported by police but none fatal. Left: About 5pm. Didn’t head to the inner core and tour the sound systems and other carnival stuff and eats. Been there done that, this was a focused procession shoot only
Alcohol Consumption. London Spring water Only
Duration: In Shoot then Out. Total about 6 hours then Adios.
Results: Below and above. All photos Creative Commons. Free to use just mention this site and link back to Fame Fad or this article.
Best Bit: The Samba Schools at the beginning were in my opinion sizzling and the biz and the best on the day.
Who Won? Haven’t got a clue?
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