I lived in London for nearly three decades, so the images that I captured at the Notting Hill Carnival over the years are from a Londoner’s perspective.
The carnival is one of the most anticipated summer events in London that usually happens on the last summer Bank Holiday in August. So, it’s a good opportunity to catch up with friends and sample delicious, curried goat. During my younger years, it was an opportunity to join house parties and the excitable sound system concerts.
As I got more mature and taught photography, my images became more focussed on documenting culture and beautiful portraits of the revellers. I was educated about the early struggles of the Caribbean community in the UK, black history and their influences on British pop music from the 20th century onwards.
A protest the became a celebration
The Notting Hill Carnival began in 1966 as a protest organised by the local community against the racial tensions that happened in the 50s and 60s. Soon after, the event evolved into a street festival with a great mixture of West Indies, African, Latin and British food, exciting sound system parties, street dancing and the most spectacular costumes parade.
I would take the tube or cycle a short distance from home to the carnival. I’d politely ask the performers for portrait photos, and they’d obliged with warm smiles. As a photographer, it’s important to establish trust with my subjects like this.
I was educated about the early struggles of the Caribbean community in the UK, black history and their influences on British pop music from the 20th century onwards.
I don’t have special equipment to photograph the carnival, but I tried experimenting with different lenses every year. Sometimes the “wrong” lens created amazing results, like portrait images that were selected for Nissan Design Europe exhibition at London Design Festival.
Carnival of the flesh
The word carnival comes from the Latin word “carne” which means “flesh.” The cultural context of the carnival is associated with a celebration before Lent in early spring, where the Christians would use up luxurious food like fat, meat and sweets before fasting.
The Notting Hill Carnival takes place in summer because it’s too cold to have an outdoor parade in the UK in February.
Travel Tips
How to get there: Take the London Underground to Notting Hill Gate or Westbourne Park.
Be prepared: Please wear comfortable shoes, bring water and small change for the toilet entrance fee. The queue for the toilet is usually pretty long.
Heed the law: It’s a relaxed atmosphere street party, with the Met Police everywhere minding the scene for safety.
If you’re photographing: It’s easier to put your camera mode on A, P or Auto. Unless you prefer Manual action, like me. Also, asking nicely gets you far.
The Notting Hill Carnival Series was featured at the Nissan Design Europe’s “East Meets West” exhibition at London Design Festival 2009, as a part of the Sojournposse collective project. Zarina Holmes continued to document the carnival up till the Covid-19 pandemic.
Zarina Holmes 