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.

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.

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.