Prof. Boerner's Explorations

Edited by Gerald Boerner

Commentary:

The high point of the New Orleans’ social calendar is Mardi Gras which is held on the last day before the start of Lent each year. This is an excuse to stroll along the streets of the French Quarter, especially down Bourbon Street. Ones joins other revelers who wear special masks and dress outrageously. And then there are the floats sponsored by the various Krewe social clubs. Special beads are tossed to the crowd, often after the flashing of female “assets”!

This Mardi Gras celebration evolved as part of the religious observation of the Catholic Church leading up to Holy Week. This celebration is found around the world with the most notable ones located in Nice, France, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and New Orleans, Louisiana. This celebration may be called Carnival instead of Mardi Gras and the first celebration in the United States was held in 1703 in Mobile, Alabama; New Orleans first observed this in 1827.

While I have not been in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, I was there on Halloween night several years ago. Halloween evening is the second biggest celebration compared to Mardi Gras. I can tell you that it is wild, really wild. The attire, behaviors, and general level of carefreeness I have not seen before. Given this experience, I can only imagine the level of “debauchery” on Mardi Gras! Whether the participants in this celebration observe the abstinences of Lent or not cannot be readily determined, but celebrate they do.

So let’s jump into the exploration of this event without any further delay…  GLB

These Introductory Comments are copyrighted:
Copyright©2011 — Gerald Boerner — All Rights Reserved

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Quotations Related to MARDI GRAS:

“Even if they had it in the streets, I wouldn’t go.” [On Mardi Gras] 
— Samuel Goldwyn

“This is good. It brings back the Mardi Gras spirit.”
— David Spears

“Just wait ’til we get the Mardi Gras music going.”
— Annie Lewis

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Edited by Gerald Boerner

Commentary:

On this last day of the year we want to offer some suggestions for taking digital (or film) pictures of significant events on New Year’s morning, such as taking in a parade, like the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. Since these are a one time opportunity for photographing the parade, you need to be prepared, both mentally and equipment-wise. We present both general tips and some specific tips for your convenience. Have a great day watching history go by with each float, band, equestrian group, or other participant.

Even though you may not be a professional photographer, you, too, can obtain memorable images at any parades that will be viewed tomorrow. Some of the key things to remember include: You will get one (and only one) chance to get shots of any float, equestrian unit, or band unless there is a halt to the parade’s progress and you will be surrounded by a crowd. So you need to be ready to shot for each unit and you need to select a location that will not be blocked.

This necessitates planning to pick a good position, selecting the correct lenses, and know the order that the floats, bands and equestrian groups ahead of time. Street corners are usually good, especially if the parade must turn around that corner. Get there early; this may mean the afternoon before to get in front. If you are using a camera with an interchangeable lens, don’t plan on changing lenses! Use multiple camera bodies if you want more than one lens will be needed (one for a telephoto lens & another for a wide angle lens). Extra batteries and empty storage cards (digital cameras) or extra film.

Finally, shot a lot! Remember, only a few images out of every 100. By being well-prepared and shooting a lot should will yield rich results. Good luck!

So, let’s look at some of these techniques…  GLB

These Introductory Comments are copyrighted:
Copyright©2010 — Gerald Boerner — All Rights Reserved

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Quotations Related to PARADE

“Leadership involves finding a parade and getting in front of it.”
— John Naisbitt

“And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow.”
— G. K. Chesterton

“Campaign behavior for wives: Always be on time. Do as little talking as humanly possible. Lean back in the parade car so everybody can see the president.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt

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Edited by Gerald Boerner

Commentary

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY to all.

We take a look today at one of the most cherished holiday traditions — the holiday parade. These parades have been an opportunity for numerous high school and college bands, color guard corps, and flag squads to perform before a national audience, In addition, the giant balloons provide an advertising opportunity for businesses. It has become a marketing bonanza for “kicking off” the Christmas season.

The oldest of these debuted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1920. The Gimbal Department Store sponsored it for many years. Over the years, sponsorship has changed, with the IKEA stores now serving in that role.

Four years later, in 1924, Macy’s Department stores sponsored the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It has continues to the present. It has become the premiere parade today. It is noted for its variety of balloons, starting from 1927 when Felix the Cat first made his way down the parade route along with its bands and floats.

So let’s get started wih our exploration. Enjoy yourself and we hope that you learn some things about the parades that will enhance your enjoyment of the parades themselves…  GLB

These Introductory Comments are copyrighted:
Copyright©2010 — Gerald Boerner — All Rights Reserved

[ 3075 Words ]

Quotations Related to PARADES

“I rode on a float in one of the parades in Mississippi. It’s an experience.”
— Elliott Smith

“I rode on a float in one of the parades in Mississippi. It’s an experience.”
— Laura Kightlinger

“I’m one of those old-fashioned homosexuals, not one of the newfangled ones who are born joining parades.”
— Nathan Lane

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