These are the images I took as an accredited event photographer at Midsumma Festival’s Carnival Day - the opening event of Midsumma Sunday 21st January, 2024. This is an open event held across Alexandra Gardens in Naarm (so-called Melbourne). The day sees stall holders, activations, performances across multiple stages, sports events, and the famous dog show, amongst many others. Midsumma Festival is (so-called) Australia’s premier LGBTAIQ+SB arts and cultural festival.
A drag queen in orange wig and short dress plays a guitar and sings into the microphone.
A tattooed human blows bubbles in front of the City of Melbourne Carnival stall. A bubble distorts the front of their face.
Four humans stand hugging. They wear Victorian Pride Centre t-shirts with the slogan "Open hearts minds doors".
A human in a rainbow striped crop top is face painting a child.
A drag queen in white blazer and blue stripey dress speaks into a microphone at the Jetstar activation Carnival stand.
A drag queen in fitted pink suit skirt and rainbow wig talks into a microphone at the Adobe activation Carnival stand.
Black & white image of a DJ playing on stage with the large Midsumma Festival logo behind them.
Black and white image of a sporty human throwing a rugby ball between their hands.
Black and white image of humans sitting underneath a tree. Flags are attached to the branches, with one saying "Treat people with kindness".
Two humans stand smiling at the camera with cans of drink in their hands.
A drag queen in a blonde wig and Yarra Trams seat logo dress sits on a rainbow bench next to another human as they pose for a photo.
A drag king in blonde mullet wig and metallic gold suit waves at the camera.
Black and white image of a small dog staring at the camera.
A human wears three feathers in their hair, one each to represent the three colours of the Aboriginal flag.
A human sits on the grass filming wrestling in the background. A keffiyeh is draped over their shoulder.
Black and white image of a human in a furry outfit crouching down on the grass.
Black and white of a human wearing a flower headdress, smiling at the camera.
The Melbourne Rainbow Band sitting and performing amongst the trees. The image is taken from behind the band.
Close up of a few of the Melbourne Rainbow Band Members sitting and playing their instruments amongst the trees.
Black and white image of a human in recycled clothing on stage performing. An arm is outstretched to the sky. The Midsumma Festival logo is in the background.
A human in a recycled clothing outfit performs on stage.
A human in a recycled garment outfit performs on stage, they raise a hand to the sky.
Black and white image of a human on stage playing their guitar and smiling.
A human plays their guitar and sings into a microphone. The Midsumma Festival logo is behind them.
A human plays guitar and sings into a microphone.
A human turns their head to smile at the camera. An earing of rainbow coloured gummi bears hangs from their ear.
Black and white image of a human with a bubble gun. The bubbles are covering their face, along with two other humans standing with them.
A human with a hairy chest wears a bright orange frilly dress and speaks into a microphone.
Black and white image of a human speaking into a microphone and pointing at an offscreen audience member.
A human with long blonde hair wears a bright orange frilly dress and points to an offscreen audience member as they speak into a microphone.
A human, as seen from behind, in a black Midsumma Staff t-shirt dances, their right hand is stretched out towards the ground.
Black and white image of a circus performer juggling wooden blocks. They hold a block in each hand and one block is mid air, partially blocking their face.
A circus performer balances wooden blocks in their hand whilst they take from a stack of other wooden blocks from a blonde haired human wearing a bright orange dress.
A circus performer balances wooden blocks in their hand whilst they throw a wooden block to a blonde haired human wearing a bright orange dress.
A drag queen wears and long blonde wig with rainbow colours threaded throughout. They tilt their head to show of the wig and look at the camera.
On stage, a conductor stands in front of the Melbourne Rainbow Band as they get ready to perform.
Close up of members of the Melbourne Rainbow Band as they perform on stage.
The entire Melbourne Rainbow Band on stage, taken from a long distance so that the Midsumma Festival logo can be seen, as well as this years festival design.
Black and white image of a photographer wearing two cameras slung about their body. The image has been taken from behind.
A human on stage sings into a microphone as the Melbourne Rainbow Band play.
Black and white image of two humans walking along chatting and placing their hands on top of one another.
Black and white image taken from behind two humans sitting on the grass with their arms crossing over the other as they lean back.
Black and white image of a group of humans clapping and raising their arms as they cheer at the offscreen Melbourne Rainbow Band.
A human smiles as they speak into a microphone, another human in a rainbow jumpsuit and tie dye crop top also holds a microphone.
A human in a rainbow jumpsuit and tie dye crop top holds a microphone as they smile at another human offscreen.
Black and white image of a dog being paraded on stage. A large crowd can be seen blurred around the stage.
Black and white image of a dog being paraded on stage. In the background there is a human standing at a podium, whilst judges sit off to the left and offscreen.
Black and white image of a dog being paraded on stage. The dog leans in to kiss a human who is also leaning in for a kiss. The human is holding up a sign.
Black and white image of a dog being paraded on stage. A child is walking alongside the dog.
Black and white image of a dog being paraded on stage. The dog is looking up at its human.
Black and white image of a dog being paraded on stage.
Black and white image of a human holding a microphone on stage. The image has been taken from below, so the human looms large.
A small dog is being held to the sky.
A human in a rainbow jumpsuit and tie dye crop top holds a microphone as they point to humans offscreen.
A human in a rainbow jumpsuit and tie dye crop top speaks into a microphone.
A human in a rainbow jumpsuit and tie dye crop top holds a microphone as a (out of focus) human wearing a rainbow flag as a cape walks across the field.
Two humans hug each other as they look at a mobile phone. They are wearing sleeveless jackets and budgie smugglers.
A human with a keffiyah wrapped around their head and rainbow shorts sits on the ground with their back to the viewer. On the back of their white t-shirt they have hand written the words "Our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of Palestine". The words are in the colours of the Palestinian flag.
A human with a keffiyah wrapped around their head and wearing rainbow shorts kneels on the ground as they smile at the camera. Their white t-shirt has the Palestinian flag on it with the words "Palestine will be free" on it.
A group of four humans stand close smiling at the camera. One human has draped a keffiyeh over their head.
A human in a sparkly gold fringed jacket and blonde afro wig smiles at the camera.