6th Annual St Georges Day Celebration Ollerton, Newark, Notts
This is an annual local event supported by the Sherwood Forest Trust and the Lottery Fund with local businesses and community groups. The Angel of Ollerton is created by local children as a symbol of unity and hope, inspired by the Angel of Mons story from the First World War.
I arrived early so that I could have a look at vantage points because I knew there was a parade. I was given a programme of events which had the route marked on it. I was able to plan to stand in the shade and shoot with the sun behind me. This is the first time I have attempted an exercise like this so I was a little apprehensive. (I had found an Italian Market happening in Mansfield on Good Friday, but there was no-one interested at all in the produce and the stall holders looked bored. I abandoned it and went home.)
The procession
St George 1/1000 F5.6 ISO 200
1/1250 F5.5 ISO 200
1/1000 F5.6 ISO 200
1/1000 F5.6 ISO 200
1/800 F5.6 ISO 200
1/500 F5.6 ISO 200
I was fortunate that the procession stopped for a minute with a colourful jester to focus on.
The procession started again, and a huge mechanical dragon passed by on a trailer. At the end of the dragon were children acting with great expressions.
1/1600 F5.6 ISO 200
1/500 F5.6 ISO 200
1/640 F5.6 ISO 200
This time the procession carried on moving, but I had been able to zoom in to see more of the children.
I have not shown the rest of the procession because by the end of the day I had to carefully select my photos.
After the welcoming announcement, the Morris Dancers danced. I have never taken photos of dancers so this was a challenge to me. The street was crowded with a circle around the Morris Dancers. I was pleased with my results, although when looking critically at them, the Morris dancers appear straight an the houses are not.
1/1250 F5.6 ISO 200
1/1600 F5.6 ISO 200
1/1000 F5.6 ISO 200
1/500 F5.6 ISO 200
This colourful character had been with the Morris Dancers at the beginning of the day, and from my vantage point I thought he may make an interesting subject.
By the end of these photo's I realised I needed a break and to review my photos as I had found it difficult to be pushy and get the photos I wanted. There were a couple of official looking photographers at the event and I did not want to look like I was an official photographer.
I came back and focused on looking at the large items that had been made for the parade.
Angel of Ollerton, made by local school children 1/1600 F5.6 ISO 400
1/800 F5.6 ISO 200
Both of these were taken from the same viewpoint. I had taken some of the dress, but did not select them as I had too many.
I sat on the floor to play with composing the best picture of the dragon's head without the clutter.
1/250 F5.6 ISO 200
1/320 F5.6 ISO 200
1/250 F5.6 ISO 200
1/200 F5.6 ISO 200
1/250 F5.6 ISO 200
I think the tightly cropped picture works the best because there is less clutter. As there were no eyeballs in the eye sockets, I had to find an interesting part of the face. I liked the way the knobbly bits cane to a point on the nose - a V shape. I think that added to the composition.
The armour had been left behind the dragon. I felt it showed what the day was about.
1/640 F5.6 ISO 200
1/800 F5.6 ISO 200
Less window
1/800 F5.6 ISO200
Picture looks more 3D Some movement as the flag is blowing slightly.
1/800 F5.6 ISO200
Different viewpoint for the same subject. Chosen shot because it the armour looks like it has just been left. Not too much clutter in the picture.
The playgroup had made their own bunting. I thought this captured the essence of the day. The flags were painted on paper with stiff paint, making them inflexible when blowing.
1/400 F5.6 ISO200
Shows construction and depth of field. Needs to be cropped to remove people.
1/640 F5.6 ISO 200
Flags flying in the breeze. Not the perfect shot yet.
1/250 F5.6 ISO 200
Portrait shot instead?
1/500 F5.6 ISO 200
And back to landscape!
This was my best picture. It shows a shallow depth of field, close up of the flags and movement.
Learning points from the day
- More difficult than I had expected it to be because I was a visitor. I was not an organiser,had no family in the parade and was not the official photographer. However, once I had 5 minutes out, I was back into it and enjoyed it more.
- Leave children with husband and just get on with it!
- When approached by a professional photographer, engage in conversation and do not be shy about what I'm doing.
- Tip from professional photographer - if composition is spoilt by something on display, ask the exhibitor if they would mind moving it whilst I take the picture.
