Shooting the pride parade was a lot different from shooting the dyke march! The pride parade is much bigger and by necessity much more tightly controlled. I was able to walk alongside the women in the dyke march but the streets were barricaded and non-participants kept off the route for the pride parade.
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looking west on Bloor towards Yonge.
I walked the first part of the route, along Bloor Street, just before the parade started. Lots of crowds were behind the metal bars; a few police were watching/ignoring me. When I turned the corner at Yonge St., I realized just how controlled the crowds were! I chose not to continue walking south on Yonge. A policeman opened the barricade enough to let me out. After that I walked amongst the crowds….. and saw nothing of the parade! Too many people! But they were interesting people and I enjoyed walking amongst them. …. until Dundas when there were so many people and no one could move. That’s was my cue to exit stage right.
So here’s a salute to all those who joined the fun. A little raunchy and a little over the top at times but all good.
Kudos to these two ladies who showed up in banana costumes! I asked them if they were part of a group, but no, they’re just fruity they said. I hope they joined the parade had fun (and didn’t get too hot!… unless they peeled…. )
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timeless
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pink, with smiles, waiting for the parade to begin
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Before the parade started – They were actually posing for someone else… but I suggested that they look a little livelier, wave their hands or something…. thanks for obliging!
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viewable, & captured, from all angles
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boys just wanna have fun
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keeping the sun away. These umbrellas were great – very photogenic!
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big grins! The one in blue was more game than his partner…. you could almost say that one in grey is grimacing more than grinning. Thanks guys!
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He had such a wonderful smile and he seemed so happy that I couldn’t resist taking his picture.
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ninjas, mostly unmasked
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a better view!
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The crowds at Yonge and Wellesley just as the parade reached that part of the route.
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How does one even start to calculate how many people were there?
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A quick shot – he saw my camera, turned and quickly posed, and I got the shot. It wasn’t until I downloaded the photos that I saw the marvellous juxtaposition!
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almost their own little parade!
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stopping the parade to let the College/Carlton streetcar through
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She doesn’t seem to be having fun – standing in the window of Starbucks at College & Yonge.
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I walked the parade route at about the same speed that the parade went. An hour and a half later, I reached Yonge & Dundas where the crowds were so thick no one could move.
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At the corner of Yonge & Dundas – by the time I made it to this intersection, I was beginning to agree with the boy in green!
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posing with the body painters – Body Art by Tania was the booth on Church St., near the start of the parade.
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*****
as I walk Toronto 