Exercise 14: An organised event

For this exercise I am requested to research, prepare in advance and look for an organised event at which there will be plenty of people and in which I can confidently expect to be able to photograph freely and with some variety.
An event at which spectators are in seats will not do; one in which people move around will be more useful.

The 23rd of June is the National Day in Luxembourg.
Being the most important organised event of the year, I decided to take advantage of it and use it as the subject for this exercise.
During the afternoon I shoot more than 600 photos and the followings are the ones I consider to be the most appropriate for the brief.
The last four images are my favourites.

Image 1.

f 5, 1/200 sec, ISO 100, 70 mm 

Here it is: Luxembourg and its formal and conformist look.

A small village elected to the status of a country by historical hazard.

I consider the narrative of the shot to be rather interesting, above all for a Luxembourgish resident who can appreciate the peculiar milieu of the photo.

I think it is a pity I did not have the time and the reflex to use a higher depth of field. 

Image 2.

  

f 5, 1/200 sec, ISO 100, 70 mm  

What I like the most in this rather elementary shot is the look of the green lady. 

Despite her extra-terrestrial appearance, I find her look very human.

Image 3.

f 3.5, 1/60 sec, ISO 100, 42 mm  

I have to admit that I have been taking several shots from this peculiar spot.

I adore the installation done in the main street of Luxembourg City which consists in a number of colourful umbrellas hanging in the sky.

Their reflection on the black background in a specific spot of the street, created a sort of dreamlike atmosphere that charmed me.

Unfortunately, I do not think that the narrative of the photo is as strong as it should be.

Image 4. 

f 6.3, 1/160 sec, ISO 100, 24 mm  

I know, very likely Image 4 can be considered out of the scope of exercise 14.

However, I like it a lot.

I like the image in itself for its simplicity, the frame, its four clear "points" (the slipper, the two cigarettes boxes and the paper), the line of cobblestone sidewalks ending where the slipper is.

I also like the narrative which well depicts a street after a national party and the questions it leaves unanswered.

Image 5.

f 5.6, 1/160 sec, ISO 100, 24 mm  

I find the red-green colours pair of the image very interesting. 

Their combination with the sky looks to me rather charming too.

However, the man coming out of the trash-bin with all "his" chaotic party of people seems to me the most relevant characteristic of the shot. 

Funny narrative indeed!

Image 6.

f 5, 1/200 sec, ISO 100, 63 mm 

What the hell is this kid doing?

I do not have the answer, but I like this kind of crazy, colourful, handmade installation that manages to attract all the attention of the young boy and harmoniously melts its colours with his in a unique blend of tints.

Image 7.

f 7.1, 1/400 sec, ISO 100, 70 mm 

The last image is supposed to close the National Day "reportage" with its long late afternoon shadows and the two last Luxemburgers going back home.

Besides the very "clean" background, I appreciate the way the couple walks away almost marching together, like they saw the soldiers doing earlier in the day.  

The man's hand expresses a sort of formal tension that recalls to me the look of the lady with the red hat in Image 1.