I ran out of space to mention a few things in the previous post so here is a little more. From an equipment standpoint, I’d highly recommend grabbing a neutral density filter to help bring down some of the harsh sunlight. What I mean is that parades usually take place midday, which is a tricky time to shoot because of the harsh sunlight. A neutral density filter can help with that. Just be sure to practice with it ahead of time using it in sunny areas and in shadowed areas to get a feel for what it does exactly.
Getting away from gear advice, understand the politics involved. Politicians are to parades like moths are to light – they just can’t resist them. If you know the local political people, you can know who is walking past your camera and work from there. Also, since these usually take place in political parts of town, take the opportunity to snap shots of buildings from locations you can’t normally be at. For example, I snapped a few shots in the middle of a road you’d be insane to try and stand in during a normal day.
Also, don’t forget to keep an eye out for wild animals or strange graffiti. You never know what you will find and just go for what you can find.
Finally, consider that there are usually events after the parade. Seek them out and see what you can grab photos of. There will be crowds but if you were photographing during the parade then you already have some practice photographing around crowds. Just make sure you put away that ND filter if you go indoors.
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