Popular Photography | Pictures of 1997 Rio de Janeiro Carnival

Let chaos reign!
Carnivals are chaotic. Don't feel overwhelmed by the color, costumes, bodies, and activity, says Delpiano, who considers many of his Carnival pictures abstractions, not portraits. To flatten perspective and make photos seem more like abstract paintings, Delpiano sometimes uses a longer lens. Here, he waited until the movement stopped and shot with a 70-210mm f/4-5.6 AF Nikkor fitted with a 2X teleconverter.
(Exposure: 1/30 sec at f/8.)

dlp98_xs

A porta-bandeira do Estácio

If it's a keeper, shoot three:
Delpiano shoots multiples of scenes he feels will be keepers. "If a costume or dancer looks really good, I make at least three frames to increase my chances of getting one where the person isn't blinking or blurred." This celebrant was the flag bearer for a "banda" or school in Rio's Carnaval parade. Each banda leads off with a pretty girl - usually a professional dancer or performer. Delpiano tries to get a portrait of each, because their costumes are guaranteed to be fabuloso! Made with a 50mm f/1.4 lens for 1/60 sec at f/1.4. (All photos taken with Nikon F2 or F4; film for all is Fuji Provia 200, exposed at ISO 400.)