Photographing Festivals

The vibrant colours, large crowds and sheer spectacle of a festival makes it a great subject for travel photography. Festivals offer a completely different view of the people and the area. People will be in high spirits, relaxed and happy to be photographed. Many people will be dress in their best cloths, traditional dress or fancy dress making them very photogenic and a fun subject. Make the most of the buzzing atmosphere and mingle with the crowds taking lots of photographs.

Here are 10 tips to help you get the most out of your camera and the festival your photographing.

1.Know whats going on

Its so important to do your research and find out when and where things are happening. Many large festivals print schedules giving you times and places of events. Ask local people and don’t just take one persons opinion as facts. Remember you will have to be flexible and prepared to wait around.

2.Research a good vantage point

Having a good vantage point will give you a instant head start with your photographs. I find its best to be up high above the crowds. Balconies and rooftops are perfect, remember to always make sure you are safe and steady and able to move around. Walls are also great to stand on. Get to the vantage point before others arrive to be sure you get a good spot.

3.Choose the best lens

I always find a long zoom lens is perfect for getting great close ups of people and details at festivals. A lens with a focal range of 150-200mm is perfect. If your going to be using a wide lens you can get great shots by moving quickly and getting in amongst the crowds.

4.Candid Photography

With people dressed up and in party mode festivals are a great opportunity to get some brilliant candid shots. Photograph people laughing and having fun to capture the spirt of the event. Your longer zoom lens will be great for getting those really natural candid shots.

5.Costumes and Fancy Dress

As people will most likely be dressed up, its important to get the details of these costumes. Zoom right in and fill the frame will the colourful details of there costumes. A zoom lens is best for this, if your using a wide lens make sure to ask the permission before getting close to people!

6.Tell a story with smaller details

Photograph the massive piles of rubbish left, the people sitting on the curbside at the end of the night, participants relaxing in there costumes. Many festival also have small side shows that go on around the main event, be sure to walk around and photograph what you see.

7.Get ahead

If your photographing a procession, get ahead and stop. You may be able to get right ahead of the procession to capture the event head on. Being one step ahead will enable you to put more thought into your shots.

8.Fight the crowds

Its really important to take as little gear as possible. Only take what you are really going to need and plan your lenses well. Taking a huge bag with loads of stuff will stop you from moving easily though the crowds. Its a good idea to try and get a pass from officials, you can sometimes buy these from councils or the local authorities. If you can’t get a pass act and dress like you do, people are more like to move out of your way.

9.Protect your gear

Many festivals and carnivals may involve water or flour throwing. Two things you don’t want any where near your camera. At Valencia’s La Tomatina festival huge amounts of tomatoes are thrown covering everything and anything. Make sure your camera is sealed and protected. Cling film, clear plastic bags and rubber bands work really well.

10.Be prepared

This is obvious but festivals often last fro dawn till dusk, make sure you have enough battery power and memory.

Lastly.......Have Fun!!

Relax and have fun. The more you get in to the party spirt the more atmospheric your photographs will become. Join in with the fun and participants will see you as one of them, this will allow you to get some great close shots. Remember your at a festival, have fun and fantastic photographs will flow.