Haiti - Carnival 2017 - Les Cayes

Haitian Carnival is a celebration held over several weeks each year leading up to Mardi Gras. Haiti national carnival was held in Les Cayes in 2017. Since I was in town , I couldn’t let this opportunity pass by. Unfortunately, I didn't have much equipment with me. A camera, a “Speedlight" flash and a folding reflector! I bought some black fabric and teamed up with my dear Haitian buddy Francky! I wanted to stage pictures on a black backdrop with characters getting ready for the parade. We got to a school yard where the parade was heading up. I found wall to hang my black fabric. The sun from behind, acting as a rim light on the subject. I used the reflector as a main light bouncing back on the subject. I add a fill light with the flash on my camera. Francky would bring characters on the set and I would do my best to shoot. Things were chaotic and very fast. Hundreds of people surrounding us! People walking between me and the subject. I was there in the crowd, enjoying this incredible moment, shooting and feeling the frenetic. The music was loud and all around. Drums! Trumpets! Singing! I would ask the subject to behave like in the parade! Some of them really surprised me! This "green kid" falling on his knees looking high above or this other "shiny sticky black" kid standing very straight bringing his hands together forming a triangle... I apologize for the technical imperfections of this shoot but the result gives memories of a magical moment. Isolating these characters on a black backdrop gives surreal mood to the pictures. I had a great time and sharing it is my reward.