Pride NYC 2023
Pride March (NYC) is hands down one of my favorite events to shoot, and I always look forward to it on my calendar. I didn’t make it out to Dance Africa (B.A.M. Africa) so this is the first major event I’m covering this year and wanted to push myself to create those immersive photos I was known for back when I did event photography.
The Pride March (NYC) is hands down one of my favorite events to shoot, and I always look forward to it on my calendar. I didn’t make it out to Dance Africa (B.A.M. Africa) so this is the first major event I’m covering this year and wanted to push myself to create those immersive photos I was known for back when I did event photography.
I attended my first Pride this year in New York City. I didn’t get the full experience being the official Pride march was a “virtual” event, however, i did get to cover several events over the weekend. Protests and gatherings in the city that i feel very much the true spirit of Pride as the community still fights for rights and respect throughout the world.
To achieve this i decide to bring out my trusty Canon 7D Mark II with my OG 24-105mm L lens. (You see below in the shots from the Washington Square Park Fountain shots where i really put this set up to use) as well as my daily setup of the Canon EOS R with the RF 85mm F/2 IS STM lens. With the 7D being almost 10 years old and the 24-105 even older i wanted to create a cohesive photoset that didn’t have a drop off in quality between the cameras. I would to see if yall can tell which camera is which in some of the telephoto shots.
I like to get my beauty sleep after staying til 3 am so naturally I made it out to the Pride March around the start time, ( which if you cover events like this you know its a ridiculous idea lol.) and with my luck, they started the march 30 mins early lmao. So I spend 15 minutes running around in hopes of finding a cool police officer that let me through the barricades of course this would never happen without those coveted press credentials I mentioned in a previous post. I eventually made it through and began to capture these beautiful moments you see below.
After maybe an hour of walking down 5th Ave I began to get bored so i decided to break off a little earlier than normal since I wasn’t on assignment, said fuck it, and found my way to Washington Square to setup up for the fountain shots. Now the fountain gets crazy once those who have indulged in some “fire water” show up, but I was there so early that there were a few parents and their kids swimming in the shallow waters of the fountain. This gave me some time to get out the 7D and my lens cloths. As you can see from the show there water splashing every where so the lens cloths were mandatory! (I brought two lens larges lens cloths knowing what I was getting into and it still wasn’t enough.)
I might have to share my key to getting water out of my camera body and lenses in a future post.
To check out the full Pride 2023 Photoset Click here.
The goal was to outdo my last year's photos and capture the love and joy the community has for each other and I hope I did that with this photoset. I have some ideas to step up my documentation for next year’s coverage cause I brought my GoPro along and didn’t even use it. My next event on the calendar is Afropunk 2023 but i might hit Curlfest and i believe Essencefest might be back in NYC. Follow me on Twitter to keep up with photography and where you might catch me next.
til next time…
Press credentials, why every photographer should have them, and how to get them.
A press pass and a media pass are both credentials that allow photographers to access certain events or locations that may otherwise be off-limits to the general public. However, there are some key differences between these two types of passes that photographers should be aware of.
Photo of Press Press ( Press Credentials) which include the Journalist's affiliation and expiration date of Press passes
A press pass and a media pass are both credentials that allow photographers to access certain events or locations that may otherwise be off-limits to the general public. However, there are some key differences between these two types of passes that photographers should be aware of.
Press passes are typically issued by a government agency, such as a city or state press office, and allow the holder to cover news events, such as press conferences or political rallies, as a representative of a specific news organization. Press passes are typically only issued to journalists who work for established news organizations, and they may require the photographer to show proof of employment, such as a business card or letter from their editor, to obtain the pass. Media passes, on the other hand, are typically issued by private organizations, such as concert venues or sports teams, and allow the holder to cover events or access certain areas within those organizations. Media passes are often given to freelance photographers or those who work for smaller, independent news outlets, and they may not require the same level of proof of employment as a press pass.
One of the key benefits of having a press pass or media pass is that it allows the photographer to gain access to events or locations that may not be open to the general public. This can be especially important for photographers who are covering breaking news events, as it allows them to get up close and personal with the action, and capture images that may not be possible from the sidelines. Press passes and media passes also often come with additional perks, such as reserved seating at events or access to special areas within a venue. This can be especially useful for photographers who need to be in a specific location to get the best shots, or who want to avoid the crowds to focus on their work. In addition to the practical benefits of having a press pass or media pass, these credentials can also help to establish a photographer's credibility and professionalism. By showing a press pass or media pass, a photographer can demonstrate to event organizers or security personnel that they are there to cover the event in an official capacity, and are not just an average member of the public. This can help to open doors and facilitate access to events and locations that may be off-limits to the general public.
Okay, so now that you have a general understanding of what Press passes are and an understanding of their function, I should tell you how to get your hands on one, so you can start your journey into visual journalism.
I currently hold two pairs of freelancer passes. The first pass I carry is from the United States Press Agency. (I have been with USPA since 2014.) The second pass is from the National Press Photographers Association. Of the two, the USPA pass is much cheaper, costing less than $200 USDA for new members and a $48 annual fee to renew membership. The NPPA Press Pass is more expensive, (not included in the NPPA membership) but comes with several benefits including discounts from Apple and Canon, health Programs, insurance, and more.
Overall, press passes and media passes can be valuable tools for photographers who want to cover news events or gain access to exclusive locations. These credentials can help photographers get closer to the action, secure reserved seating access to special areas, and establish their credibility as professional photographers.
