Calgary Stampede Parade, 2013 Edition

[mbrager]

A parade is a photographer's dream for the sheer number of opportunities it presents, and a nightmare for the exposure problems presented by backgrounds, lighting and motion. Viveza 2 performs miracles with over and under exposed areas in most of these. They were all shot with my 70-200 between 10 and 11:30 in the morning under a partially cloudy sky. There are always lots of horses in the parade, and street sweepers are a regular part of the parade. This year the biggest applause was for a large group of first responders who dealt with the problems created by the flood. This year's theme for Stampede 101 (hundred and first year) is Hell or High Water.

1. Horse acting like a human
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7442/9230533181_075bbd665b_c.jpg

2. Human acting like a horse
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7353/9230318139_162ca953fe_c.jpg

3. Hard workers
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5535/9233190386_bbb353f193_c.jpg

4.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3726/9230746343_2198738276_c.jpg

5. Iron Horse
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3817/9230391267_ff8f530d11_c.jpg

6. Small and determined
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3827/9233262934_65ba9bfa3a_c.jpg

[Mad Aussie]

Gotta love the character a horse can show when it wants!

[mbrager]

1.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2830/9234739352_26fd0f1ea4_c.jpg

2. What Bull
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5447/9230604463_ef09209e1e_c.jpg

3. American Friends
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2839/9230459389_d96c5aff46_c.jpg

4. Pipes and Drums
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7412/9230366609_cf9b935733_c.jpg

5. Chris Hadfield, retired astronaut and parade marshall
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3781/9233113614_8e25427cc1_c.jpg

[mbrager]

1. Tattoo on Horse
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5481/9230300693_03532cd613_c.jpg

2. Tattoo on Human
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7330/9233216644_8cb408a732_c.jpg

3. Tattoo (military entertainment)
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5507/9230509139_2626907808_c.jpg

4. Chinese band
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7447/9233454174_1acf130d38_c.jpg

5. Mariachi band
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3833/9230721327_415062e132_c.jpg

6. Gratuitous pretty girl
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3757/9233365200_c8fe9ae302_c.jpg

[mbrager]

1. Nikon and Canon
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2839/9230641545_24c4932ab9_c.jpg

2. Real Canon shooter
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2833/9230564951_deddd46b5a_c.jpg

3. Canon 6D
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3699/9233475052_c78d602265_c.jpg

4. Not everyone loves the parade
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2868/9230622575_0a6fa7e22d_c.jpg

5. Silver
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5541/9231928067_ec26e6229d_c.jpg

6. And finally, a big Stampede Ya....
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2837/9234758436_d69f1d0d56_c.jpg

Thanks for taking a look.

[Runmonty]

Great set with heaps of variety and it is obvious a great deal of thought went into the shots (eg the relection of the boy).

Most of us at the bottom half of the world would immediately associate Calgary with the stampede, and I would venture to say many would not know anything beyond that. So thanks for sharing this iconic event.

[Marko]

nice variety in the set! - American friends is my fave.

[Realist]

Lots of good shots, and I agree with everyone else that you've got a nice variety.

[Jim Scrimger]

A really great series - love the horses, especially the gray one.

[asnow]

Great variety of shots showing off the parade. Makes me feel like I was there.

[Hillbillygirl]

Awesome shots MBrager. Excellent variety, and love the thought you have put into the comps, which is very hard at a moving event such as this. Very well done on all.