I made the short trip from Herentals to Antwerp to photograph the Chinese New Year parade. As someone who loves street photography, an event like this is less about the scheduled performance and entirely about the unpredictable energy of the crowd and coping with changing light and weather.
Beating the Dull Weather
The weather was predictably dull and overcast. Because of the flat light, I decided to shoot mostly in black and white. Stripping away the color helps focus on the raw expressions, the contrast of the smoke from the firecrackers, and the overall mood of the street.
I did keep a few frames in color, but only when the composition absolutely demanded it. When the vibrant red of the lion dance popped perfectly against the neutral tones of the crowd, or when the complementary colors just worked better to tell the story, I left the color intact.
The parade doesn’t matter
If you look at this set of images, you will notice a clear theme. The parade itself is not my main focus. Honestly, shooting a straightforward procession is just not that interesting to me. I am much more drawn to the people experiencing the event.
The real story is always in the margins
The sensory overload: The firecrackers create incredibly thick smoke and intense noise. Catching the genuine discomfort of a guy tightly plugging his ears tells you exactly what it felt like to stand on that street.
The everyday interruptions: Life does not stop just because there is a dragon dancing down the street. Capturing a man taking a quiet smoke break, locals walking their dogs, or a confused bulldog adds a layer of humor and reality to the day.
The quiet observers: I love finding the people who are slightly removed from the chaos, simply watching the festivities unfold from the safety of their open doorways.
Context is Key
When I did point my lens at the actual parade, I made sure to pull back and include the environment. A tight crop of a dragon mask does not offer much value on its own. However, framing the lion dance behind a literal wall of raised smartphones, or showing the chaos in the street, grounds the performance in reality. It shows the modern spectator experience and gives the whole scene a definitive sense of place.
After a few hours of navigating the smoke and dense crowds, the chill of that dull weather finally started to set in. There is nothing quite like finding a quiet spot for a strong, warm coffee to wrap up a day of street shooting before packing up my gear and heading home.