Passport to the World's Celebration
Cuong
Registered Users Posts: 1,508 Major grins
On the first day of 2008, my son Dylan and I braved the predawn, bone-chilling, Southern-Cal weather of +55 degrees to attend the 119th Rose Parade in Pasadena. We got there a bit late. The streets were closed off, so we had to walk a mile around to get to the float staging area along Orange Grove Blvd. Before the parade started, we walked down Orange Grove Blvd to take a closer look at the floats. The rule specifies that every square inch of the float's surface must be covered with flower or other natural materials. Such detailed work is not evident till you see it up close. Most floats nowadays include animation in their design and we don't see it till the floats are on their way. Here's what we saw.
Can't have a parade without the marching bands,
and award-winning floats.
Floats come in all shapes and sizes. From average,
to huge structure. This Indian Chief (Native American) is 55-ft tall. (front view)
(back view)
Every surface on the float is covered with flowers or natural materials; from the smallest details,
to the larger elements.
The designs are extremely colorful, fantastic, life-like, and most often whimsical.
However, the floats are not the same without the wonderful riders and performers in authentic and elaborate costumes.
Here's one that shows my feeble excuse of braving the cold in the morning. Look at the spectator on the left
in hat, jacket and gloves, while these girls are in good spirit without enough covering from the cool temperature.
Equestrian is also a large element in any parade.
Check out the modern cowboy.
Can't forget about the support people.
For more of these pictures try this album: http://picasaweb.google.com/CuongMNguyen/RoseParade2008?authkey=OdzZa18kepU
Watch the parade online or find out more info here:
http://ktla.trb.com/extras/ktla/roseparade2008/video.html
Happy New Year to everyone.
Cuong
Can't have a parade without the marching bands,
and award-winning floats.
Floats come in all shapes and sizes. From average,
to huge structure. This Indian Chief (Native American) is 55-ft tall. (front view)
(back view)
Every surface on the float is covered with flowers or natural materials; from the smallest details,
to the larger elements.
The designs are extremely colorful, fantastic, life-like, and most often whimsical.
However, the floats are not the same without the wonderful riders and performers in authentic and elaborate costumes.
Here's one that shows my feeble excuse of braving the cold in the morning. Look at the spectator on the left
in hat, jacket and gloves, while these girls are in good spirit without enough covering from the cool temperature.
Equestrian is also a large element in any parade.
Check out the modern cowboy.
Can't forget about the support people.
For more of these pictures try this album: http://picasaweb.google.com/CuongMNguyen/RoseParade2008?authkey=OdzZa18kepU
Watch the parade online or find out more info here:
http://ktla.trb.com/extras/ktla/roseparade2008/video.html
Happy New Year to everyone.
Cuong
"She Was a Little Taste of Heaven – And a One-Way Ticket to Hell!" - Max Phillips
0
Comments
Great series, and I love the detail. What an interesting series of photos. I've never been to the Rose Parade and never watched it on TV either :-( -- but I enjoyed your photos!
http://www.twitter.com/deegolden
Cuong
But your leaves/grass are still green, heh!
I've never really seen the Rose Parade before. That is quite a large variety of cultures and subjects. Very cool!
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
It usually doesn't get lower than the 40s at night, so most plants, except the deciduous ones, remain green throughout the year.
The Rose Parade is a real photo galore for those who can get up early enough. Once the parade is over, they charge admissions for those who want to come see the floats. By then, the flowers are wilted or fallen off and no riders/performers that add character to the floats.
Cuong