As part of my desire to explore all types of photography I experimented with street and urban photography, and I soon discovered a strong interest in these genres. Yet despite this interest I continued to shy away from photographing at big events such as carnivals, festivals or street parades.

My belief was that it would be difficult to single out interesting images during the confusion of such events. But I was wrong in my thinking, and as I took tentative steps towards photographing at large events I realised that they provide a wealth of photographic opportunities, and that if you apply some of the normal tips for getting good photographs you can get some decent results as well as having a very enjoyable experience.

Here are my 7 tips for creating better images at street events.

1. TRY TO CAPTURE THE REAL ESSENCE OF THE EVENT 

Consider the type of event that is taking place by asking yourself:

What is the purpose of the event and how is that portrayed by the participants?

Is it a fun event or a serious protest?

Is it a formal parade or a community gathering?

How is the purpose of the event conveyed to the audience?

Try to convey that same sense of purpose through your photographs. While a protest event may not have many light-hearted moments, a community event will usually have many examples of people having fun, enjoying the entertainment and sampling the variety of events on offer.

2. LOOK OUT FOR THINGS THAT CATCH YOUR EYE AMONG ALL THE ACTIVITY

You won’t be able to capture every moment of a big event. They often last for hours and consist of many diverse activities. However, you can look for moments that speak to you and try to create your own set of images that represent the event for you.

3. LOOK FOR EMOTION 

Whatever type of event it may be, there will be a range of emotion on display on the faces of the people attending. There may be awe and appreciation for what they see, expressions of solidarity at a serious event or joy at a fun event. Try to capture a range of these emotions in your images - a smile, a look passing between two people, a gesture, interaction between people, and so on. These fleeting moments may not be captured in quite the same way by anyone else so you will have your own unique images of the day.

4. CAPTURE SOME STREET PORTRAITS

Street portraits, that is photographs that are posed rather than candid, are easy to capture at street events, particularly if the event has a carnival atmosphere. Most of the participants will be happy to pose for photographs and they will often provide you with wonderful colourful subjects.

Unfortunately, sometimes many cameras compete for attention!

5. GET AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN

As I mentioned in the last point, participants at street events expect to have their photographs taken so these events are an ideal opportunity to get closer to your subjects than you might normally do.

Why not seize the opportunity to get great close-up images!

6. SCAN THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE EVENT FOR INTEREST

Big events are often surrounded by peripheral activities which can provide extra opportunities for catching a unique moment. There might be a food market, children’s activities and other ‘fringe’ events worth exploring. Sometimes preparations before, or the aftermath of the main event, can be worth observing to see if anything of interest emerges.

And finally...

7. TELL THE STORY OF THE EVENT THROUGH THE MOMENTS YOU CHOOSE TO DOCUMENT

Stories are everywhere at big events, all you have to do is be observant and alert to all that is unfolding around you. Capture small, fleeting moments that no-one else notices. Capture people immersed in what they are doing; capture their costumes, activities and interactions. Capture interesting movements, gestures or expressions that won’t be repeated. These things are what tell the story of the event. They show involvement and emotion and are completely candid and unrehearsed.

By carefully choosing to capture a mix of formal and informal moments you can build a complete picture of an event as well as immersing yourself in the diversity of activities, sampling the excellent food and enjoying a day of photography.

***

I took the images above at the annual celebration of the founding of the city of Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Portugal.

Vila Real de Santo Antonio was a new settlement commissioned by Joseph 1 of Portugal in 1776 following the great earthquake of 1755. Residents are preparing to celebrate the 250th anniversary of their city in 2026!

This year marked 248 years since the building of the city. A parade of local people in period costume opened a week long historical festival comprising of music, dance, drama, street games, roasting pig, street vendors and artists.

The city produced a week of culture, colour and celebration as the streets came alive with re-enactments of life in 1776.

It was a special holiday bonus to be a visitor for this wonderful celebration.