Parades

Funny how this image seems like almost yesterday. Well, not really, but I do remember taking this shot. The date is a bit fuzzy but it was around 1992 plus or minus a year or so. The image is from a scene at the Battle of Flowers Parade during Fiesta Week in San Antonio, Texas. Fiesta Week, held the of last week of April, celebrates San Antonio's history and culture with fairs, parades, live concerts, and dances. Its all topped off with healthy doses of great food and copious amounts of alcohol.

Fiesta was a big part of my life as a kid and young adult as we'd try to go to all the events as they were the biggest social parties of the year. I actually saw one of Stevie Ray Vaughn's last live concerts at Fiesta back in 1990 before he died a few months later. He played a rocking show over at La Semana. My policeman brother was actually working on the stage that night and actually shook his hand. What memories.

For more on the event, see here.

I never really liked parades and I still don't. I didn't like being in those big crowds, the phony waving and the likes. It just bored me mostly but they were fun to explore with a camera and a few rolls of film. I am not sure why I was even taking photos back in 1992 of that above shot but I was exploring and learning what photography was about. In many ways, I still don't as photography and the art of seeing is a life long journey.

This past weekend in Honolulu, the Honolulu Festival was held and it celebrates the diversity of Hawaii and Pacific Rim nations. The weekend event is topped by a parade down Kalakaua Ave in Waikiki and I figured I'd go out and search out for an interesting photo or so. And as much as I don't care for parades, I had a bit of fun.


A group of Japanese hula dancers from Japan were preparing for their march down the street.


Two dancers await their cue while sitting on a marker of some sorts.


The blur of the camera along with the viewpoint, well, either love it or hate it.

I spent a majority of my time behind the scene as that is where my eyes pulled me. I am evolving and seeing slightly beyond the usual.


Enjoy.