Along the Mardi Gras Parade Route

From our outpost along St. Charles Street, we had full access to the frenzy and tumult of some of the New Orleans mardi gras parades.  Although I spent most of my time shooting from a fourth floor balcony, I realized after viewing my images that the best shots were on ground level.

A small sampling of my mardi gras images continues with this posting.  Click directly on each image to enlarge it.

People would select and reserve their chosen positions along the parade route by placing tarps, chairs and ladders hours before the parade would begin.  Ladders would allow spectators an unobstructed view of the event.  Canon 5D, 50mm prime lens, f/4.0, 1/320 sec., ISO 200.

At times the parade would come to a dead stop, perhaps because of equipment breakdown of one of the tractors pulling a float or because of a flat tire.  This would give people in the parade who weren't lucky enough to be riding on a float a few minutes to rest.  Canon 40D, 85mm prime lens, f/5.0, 1/160 sec., ISO 200.

Canon 40D, 85mm prime lens, f/8.0, 1/160 sec., ISO 200.

 Canon 40D, 85mm prime lens, f/8.0, 1/160 sec., ISO 400.

This was among the longest floats that traveled down St. Charles Street.  Pulled by a tractor, the three-section riverboat seemed to have hundreds of people on board throwing beads, doubloons, and Nerf foot balls.  There was a real calliope on the top deck playing melodies.  The elaborate lighting on this float made it particularly appropriate for a night shot. Canon 5D, 24mm prime lens, f/2.5, 1/40 sec., ISO 1600.

 Some floats are built on carriages that date back to the Civil War.   Canon 40D, 85mm prime lens, f/2.8, 1/160 sec., ISO 1600.

This might be the smallest marcher I saw.    Canon 40D, 85mm prime lens, f/1.6, 1/160 sec., ISO 1600.

  Canon 40D, 85mm prime lens, f/2.5, 1/160 sec., ISO 1600.

A tradition dating back well before electric lights, these torch bearers carry devices fueled by kerosene.  Canon 40D, 85mm prime lens, f/2.8, 1/160 sec., ISO 1600.