Back in 2019 I joined a local photowalk gathering, lured by the promise of the eye-catching pageantry of the Winnipeg Pride Parade, and some free rolls of film.
I brought two cameras, one to load with black and white Ilford HP5, and my trusty Fuji x100F to capture the vibrant festivities. Walking through the crowd, watching for possible portraits, textural details and quiet moments, I found myself reaching more often for the film camera. It seems counter-intuitive, choosing black and white for a notoriously colourful event, but what resulted may be one of my favourite rolls of film that I’ve ever shot.
The mood at the pre-parade staging area was a mix of excitement and anticipation. The summer air was a little hazy and the trees in the park created an ideal soft-focus background. Groups gathered to prepare their costumes and floats, and I couldn’t resist asking for poses in the lovely, soft overcast light.
Photographing with film is always so freeing. I’m not checking a screen in between shots and I’m more present, going with the flow. I found this helped me engage more easily with people and document their smiles in moments of relaxed, beautiful human dignity.
The opportunities for compelling candid photos were nearly endless, and my favourites were of people watching the festivities with a sense of quiet calm.
It was a beautiful experience, and even without the motivation of some great photo-ops, being present to cheer and bear witness to this kind of community celebration is something I highly recommend. I love living in a city with so much vibrant diversity and passionate 2SLGBTQ+ culture, and it was an honour to collect a few photos to document this special occasion.
View the full set of photographs from my walk through Winnipeg Pride 2019, including more black and white film and lots of bright, colourful snapshots, here.
