Working the parade more than an hour before it began definitely paid off!
Photographers agree that parades can be one of the worst assignments. And I too was loathing it when I saw my name on the budget.
To handle the chaos with unclean backgrounds, Barry told me that the best parade photos are before or after the main event. The same can be true of most assignments.
When I first wondered Main Street, I was a bit too early as many floats weren't even half decorated for photos to make sense. Then, unforeseen 40 degree rain poured. It played quite a toll on my concentration since I was improperly dressed, but I worked hard to refocus especially since the paper wanted to run a large package tomorrow and in a special neighborhoods section. Double the work made, and I'm glad I spent double the time.
Here are a few of my favorites. Merry early Christmas!
Annie, a one-eyed American Saddlebred with Dream Horse Stables in Mt. Pleasant, makes her way down Main Street during the City of Greensburg Holiday Parade on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014.
Ty Thompson (right) and Aydin Pennington, both 7 with PKSA Karate wait with their flags before the City of Greensburg Holiday Parade on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014.
Sasha Hoffman, 7, of Hempfield with Dancers by Design (middle) huddles with her fellow dancers to keep warm before the City of Greensburg Holiday Parade on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014.
Kaylee Overdorff, 15, and Carly Pokorski, 14, with the Hempfield marching band try to warm their fingers against their toes before the City of Greensburg Holiday Parade on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014.
Maizey Hume, 3, of Boise, Idaho eats one of the many lollipops around her on Main Street during the City of Greensburg Holiday Parade on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014.
Conner Grant, 5, of Hempfield looks toward the floats inside Joseph Thomas Flower Shop during the City of Greensburg Holiday Parade on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014.
Amanda Smith of Jeannette watches the floats along Main Street during the City of Greensburg Holiday Parade on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014.
William James, 4, of Greensburg with PSKA Karate looks toward his droopy antlers during the City of Greensburg Holiday Parade on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014.
A woman riding in the Hayden's Pharmacy of Youngwood SUV waves to the crowd during the City of Greensburg Holiday Parade on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014.