How to view a Carnival, a photo from Scania, Gotaland

Photographer's Note

Re-posted with a slightly different post process softening the contrast to avoid the partial overexposure. I used a simpler method of sharpening and a slight burn of edges facing the sky.

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In the month of May every 4th year the students at the University of Lund arrange a Carnival, which literally is turning the city upside down. This has been done since 1849 with a variation of intervals, but after WW2 (1946) and until this day it's every four years.

For three days on a weekend they close off Lundagård - the park situated in the city center which is surrounded by prominent buildings like the Cathedral, the University main building and the Student's union building – turning it into an area of scenes, enjoyments and academic jokes.

But the main attraction is the Carnival procession passing through the city on both the Saturday and the Sunday. For a couple of hours the 750 dressed up students on the 26 carriages make fun of different topicalities - such as the upcoming Swedish election, the bird flue or different reality shows.

Together with 450 members of 14 brass bands – more or less organized – they entertain the 200.000 spectators lining the streets each day. And the abundance of imaginative solutions to be able to see the processions has no limits – especially not among those just a little bit too old to participate.

Being much older, I enjoyed watching the viewers!

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Image rotated 0.18°CW, cropped, ran autolevels, increased brightness +5 and contrast +5, increased saturation +10 and reduced in red –10, NeatImage 30%, resized for TE, slight burn of edges facing the sky, sharpened, framed and saved for Web.

IvarsU, orme, digi-mom, jiherka, pamastro has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

avigur_11 (21954) 2006-05-22 18:57

Hi Kaj, what a fun shot.
I'm glad that you weren't interested in the festival..
Well seen and composed.

orme (7205) 2006-05-23 1:41

Brilliant shot, Kaj. Very funny and with a great note too.
When I first saw the thumbnail I thought that you had attended the TE meeting in Rotterdam (I was scanning the crowd for Norbert before I read your note.) I agree with what you said about "watching the viewers". Last night in my English tutorial, I read an article about the Louvre. The woman who wrote it said that watching the crowds trying to catch a glimpse of the Mona Lisa was more interesting than seeing the painting itself.
Back to your photo ... I like the clarity of this capture and the way you have the ladders sitting on the bottom of the frame, but I wonder way you cut some of the ladder on the left. Was there someone/something on the left that you wanted to remove?
Very well seen.

IvarsU (2499) 2006-05-23 7:31

Hi, Kaj!
Ha-Ha-Ha!
Looks like carnival is going on bouth sides. Excelent Idea! Very funny picture...
Ivars,

jiherka (4528) 2006-06-22 15:33

Hello Kaj,
Nice view... Every body show a carnival with masks, special clothes, or other things like this. You are quite special. showing the people showing the carnival. But I understand that if there are 200'000 people there is not a place for every body. The scale is a good mean to be over the other.
Well done
Salutations
Jacques

kent_s (1911) 2006-07-05 6:37

Hej Kaj
What brilliant shot of the crowd waiting. It looks like you got the funniest biew of them all :)

Well done
Hälsningar
Kent

lestans (16770) 2006-10-13 3:14

Fantastic composition!!
I like people mood, everyone is interesting, but... what I like most is the ladders composition regarding all the picture. Nice that ladders are different and under the tallest there is a lady over a chair..funny!!

Bravo!!

Livia

pamastro (7218) 2006-10-15 14:25

I think watching the viewers is definitely as fun as anything else. It's comedic how they're set up on the step ladders. The way they are situated could cause a comedic collapse like in some silly comedy movie. It certainly doesn't look all that safe but it gets it done. And if I were in their situations would probably do the same, knowing it could all come down at any moment. :) I could have used a step ladder in Rome at the parade for the Festa della Repubblica. It's a nice catch Kaj. I hope all is well with you.

Clochette (8076) 2006-11-19 19:40

Haha, very funny, Kaj ! :-)
The show is not always where it is supposed to be...
Well seen, and thank you to share this smile with us !

maphoto (8082) 2006-12-25 16:26

Hi Kaj, I thought I had already post something on this pictures....anyway interesting view...probably a few photograpres in there !!
A wish you a very beautiful Christmas day, hope to keep contact in 2007, thanks for sharing, I'm always glad to hear from you, looking forward to see more pictures :-) See You !

MmK (75) 2007-04-23 11:11