Sydney Mardi Gras

On 5th March 2011, I didn’t drive but rather took an unusual way from Meadowbank to the city of Sydney. I double checked my gears on the ferry, I brought one film camera, two 50mm lenses (aperture F2 and F1.0) and few rolls of black and white film and met up with Franky to document this event in Oxford street. I had no prior experience on doing any kind of documentary but mostly portraits of acquaintance.

Soon after walking to Oxford street all the way from China town. I quickly found myself in such a vibrant and energetic show. Everyone was dressed up, well preparing themselves for an event that I have never been and it is the first time for me to experience in such a close distance and chat with different individuals all asking for same sex marriage. I took few rolls of black and white film mostly portraits, since this event I started to focus more on doing portraits and got more comfortable in asking people for their photo taken.

So after 9 years today, same sex marriage in Australia has been legal since 9 December 2017 but this carnival is still continuing. I would love to go back one day and document this event again and these images that I took are so valuable and memorable to me in the rest of my life.