I always know there is a Rainbow Parade happening every year during Pride Month. 17/2 was my first time to see the parade, and let my photos do the talking perhaps:) Thank you for viewing!
It’s such a festival I must say - the whole of Ponsonby was filled with dressed-to-impress people. No matter what your ethnicity is: European, Asian, Polynesian, everyone was dressed with outrageous colours. Some even have costumes and wigs. It’s just more than meets the eyes.
We celebrate Rainbow, celebrate diversity and most of all, we celebrate our freedom. There are still many places in the world, people can’t express their beliefs and sexual orientation freely. While in New Zealand, we are a liberal society with tolerance. New Zealand became the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to legalise same-sex marriage 11 years ago. According to Wikipedia, the country protects LGBT rights extensively. I myself had the chance to photograph a few same sex weddings in the past.
This is such an amazing opportunity for me as a street photographer to be able to capture the spirits of the day. I see so many happy faces, old and young, from all over the world in all sorts of accents.
The parade was participated by various corporations and community groups and NGOs. You can see quite a few big companies here, such as Microsoft etc. The political parties are here too.
Lots kids came to this ultimate block party. And they are so gorgeously photogenic!
Ponsonby and “K” Road that is in the vicinity are the hippest suburb in Auckland. It’s like a smaller version of Haight-Ashbury from San Francisco.
The photos are mainly taken with a Canon 5D3 + 70-200 F2.8 IS2, plus a Sony A7RV + 24-70 F2.8 GM2. Edited in Lightroom.
