Kit Kat and I went to the Pride Parade this year, and boy, was she ready for it.
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 18 mm · 1/90 s · f/4.5 · ISO 800
Left: what everything looked like after heavy Tungsten colour-correcting (in-camera and in Lightroom).
Right: what everything actually looked like. A scary amount of fires around BC brought the haze and ash to Victoria.
L: Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 18 mm · 1/500 s · f/3.5 · ISO 1000
R: Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 18 mm · 1/6000 s · f/3.5 · ISO 500
Before the parade, there was laughter, hugs, friends, and smiles.
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 · 175 mm · 1/350 s · f/3.5 · ISO 1000
But when the parade kicked off with the thrum of motorcycles, the cheers, applause, and shouting began, and pretty much kept going throughout.
Oh, and the bubbles, too. Oh, the bubbles.
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · top: 26 mm / bot: 18 mm · 1/500 s · f/3.5 · ISO 1000
Here’s how Pride has kicked off for many years, with friend Allie atop The Zone’s Xterra, this year as King Triton, leading a pack of VIATeC orcas. Naturally.
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 18 mm · 1/500 s · f/3.5 · ISO 1000
It was fascinating to see similar organizations — which might otherwise be in competition with each other — grouped together: political parties one after another, community service organizations all in a row, many different entertainers entertaining, unions in unison, and church after church after church . . . it was so cool to see.
Here are some NDP dancers (there’s a phrase you don’t hear every day).
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 35 mm · 1/500 s · f/3.5 · ISO 1000
This guy was my absolute favourite. I sure hope he was able to keep that up the entire parade route.
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · L: 18 mm / R: 28 mm · L: 1/350 s / R: 1/750 s · f/3.5 · ISO 500
Some random moments of love and puppies in between floats.
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · L: 35 mm / R: 18mm · 1/750 s · f/3.5 · ISO 500
Of the over 100 groups in the parade, this was Kitara’s pick for favourite display: the Lure (GET IT??!?) boat w/ squid bait off the back, attracting scores of rainbow-coloured anthropomorphic anemones.
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · top: 19 mm / bot: 18mm · 1/500 s · f/3.5 · ISO 500
There were a few groups with oversized pride flags. The First Unitarian Church had a long rainbow flag which was probably the length of three cars. The Green Party had a flag in different shades of green which was probably as wide as two cars.
But The Flag Shop won the day with a 20′ pole in the bed of their truck holding the end of a flag which took about ten people to hold. It was as long as three trucks and as wide as three trucks, at least.
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 18 mm · 1/750 s · f/3.5 · ISO 500
A great pride was had by all, mostly my little girl. We shared a waffle afterward and talked about what a great parade it was; a parade filled with happy sounds and happy people, lots to see and wave at, free candies by the score, and all to celebrate love of every kind.
Canon EOS 70D · Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM · 24 mm · 1/1500 s · f/3.5 · ISO 500
=)