Photographer casts Notting Hill Carnival as ‘celebration’ in never-before-seen images
A photographer is encouraging people to view Notting Hill Carnival “differently” from how she perceives it is often “awfully” portrayed in the media.
Rio Blake is an enthusiast of the largely Caribbean event, and has been snapping carnival-goers and the celebrations since she received her first camera more than eight years ago.
Her photos aim to reframe the festival in a positive light.
Ms Blake, who specialises in documentary and portrait photography said: “I hope my photography encourages people to see the [carnival] differently and I’d like to think that the majority of people see it as a celebration.”
She believes the carnival can often be “portrayed awfully in the media”.
“I think, for me, it’s never really been about trying to prove the opposite, but I think my photos do just that, they speak for themselves,” she said.
“I’ve been every year and I’ve never personally been in trouble or had any altercations of anything like that, and I love bringing my camera and taking photos of everyone there as most people are happy and in a good mood.”
Reflecting on some of her favourite moments she captured, the 27-year-old said: “People on the steps really sums up west London and the carnival, and the way people chill and congregate [at the event] and make for really interesting portraits.
“I love taking photos of the children that go – it really shows the celebration that it is.
“I took a photo of a little girl at the window and she’s just smiling – she’s like a little ray of sunshine – and it was a really nostalgic moment.”
The Londoner said she “always” takes a camera to the carnival adding that “it’s a moment you don’t really want to miss”.
Her collection is expanding with an entire archive of photos and she said she does not “plan on stopping anytime soon”.
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Trouble at the carnival
While the majority of the two million people who attended this year’s carnival went to enjoy the food, parades and music, the celebrations were sullied by arrests and a spate of stabbings.
Across the main two days of the festival there were 275 arrests for a range of offences including possession of offensive weapons, sexual assault, assaults on police and drug possession.
Eight people were stabbed resulting in two men needing treatment in hospital.
Thousands of officers were on duty at the carnival
Deputy Assistant Met Commissioner Ade Adelekan, who oversaw the policing operation, said it was “regrettable that for a second year in a row Monday night at carnival [was] marred by serious violence”.
From Notting Hill to Grenfell
Ms Blake, who was born to a father from Trinidad and Tobago and an Irish mother, showcased her work in 2021 to raise money for the Grenfell Foundation – a charity for the families of 72 victims who died in the 2017 tower block fire.
Rio Blake
Her images were part of a group exhibit called An Ode To Notting Hill Carnival, while the event was moved online during the pandemic.
“That was myself and 13 other photographers, and we all donated the sale proceeds of the works to the Grenfell Foundation, which was amazing,” she said.
“It was to commemorate Notting Hill Carnival when it was cancelled and that was picked up and represented by [advertising agency] M&C Saatchi the next year, and it was great to be able to shout from the rooftops about other people’s work as well.”
Ms Blake is to take part in an exhibit called Here & Now: Black History Month Exhibition at Brady Arts Centre, in east London, where she will unveil the never-before-seen images of the carnival.
It will begin on 6 October running until 29 October.
Entertainment
‘I’m shocked at how fragile I am still’: Cumberbatch and Colman on protecting their sanity from perils of social media
Actor Benedict Cumberbatch says he’s shocked at how “fragile” he still is – despite years in the spotlight and success in the industry.
It might seem like the Doctor Strange star and The Crown actress Olivia Colman have it all when it comes to money and success – but they are also human like the rest of us.
The pair lead the cast of new satirical black comedy The Roses, which sees picture-perfect couple Ivy and Theo Rose – a rising star chef and ambitious architect – raise their two children in California, while chasing their own dreams.
‘I am shocked at how fragile I am’
But behind its dark humour and comic language, the film also looks at the realities of power imbalance, insecurity and wounded pride – in even the strongest of relationships.
And 49-year-old Cumberbatch – whose character faces a major setback in his career – tells Sky News that in real life the glare of social media only intensifies those type of situations.
“I am shocked at how fragile I am still.
“I don’t go anywhere near it [social media] because of that.
“It’s like walking into a place where people want to marry you or kill you. Those extremes.
“I think we will get to a stage, a corporate culture that’s now manifested around it where people are obliged to do that in order to sell their lives, and therefore their brand and what they do for a living.”
Co-star Colman – who’s long-shunned the online world – agrees.
Cumberbatch and Colman in The Roses. Pic: Jaap Buitendijk/ Searchlight Pictures
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“I’m afraid I am very thin-skinned.
“I don’t look at any of it. My husband will look at a review and if it’s nice he’ll show me – but if it’s anything mean he knows to just go ‘don’t look – don’t look.’
“You just have to learn to be thicker-skinned.
“But actually, I think we need people who are sensitive and kind.”
‘Don’t do it… delete it all’
Colman – now 51, and whose leading role in The Favourite bagged her an Academy Award in 2019 – says no amount of experience and success can shield her from criticism.
“My advice to a young’un – sort of dipping their toe into the world of social media for the first time is absolutely don’t do it.
“Delete it all. If you want a happy life, don’t have any of it. I’ve never had it.”
The movie – directed by Meet The Parents’ Jay Roach with The Favourite screenwriter Tony McNamara – also calls into question the notion of success – asking, is it really possible to have it all?
Or is sacrifice inevitable when it comes to spinning the plates of a high-flying career, marriage and parenthood?
Cumberbatch admits “you can’t do it all without there being a cost”.
“You just have to weigh up what those balances are,” he adds.
Colman says “there are I suppose little sacrifices along the way” – from both sides of a relationship.
The comedy drama offers a fresh take on Warren Adler’s novel The War Of The Roses – and the 1989 hit film adaptation- starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner.
Colman and Cumberbatch – both producers on the film – insist they weren’t daunted by that though.
“We wanted to find a project to do together, and we have utter respect for the iconic status of the film and book,” explains Cumberbatch.
“Hopefully this will have its own place in the culture – it’s very different, it’s not a remake – it’s a reimagined jumping-on point.”
“But beyond that, it’s very different,” adds Colman.
Former Doctor Who Ncuti Gatwa and Barbie’s Kate McKinnon also form the cast.
The Roses is out in UK cinemas now.
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