Photo Hugh Ardoin
The Bacchanal is the debauch of colors Where participants are generously daubed At an initiation ritual on the heights of Chepstow The devils are then let loose down the Notting Hill Spreading the fear of the underworld rule among the gentry Photo Hugh Ardoin The Notting Hill 2017 Carnival Gallery
As the three graces and the three musketeers were four Young black beauties daubed in molasses strike the pose Tradition dating back to the dark times of the slave trade Emancipated slaves celebrated with the masquerade Thanking the devil rather than the god who had failed them And warning the masters of their impending doom […]
Colorful ballet of Caribbean flags and skins of every shade The girls proudly flaunt their colors in a hectic parade The razzle-dazzle of the all glamorous in skimpy outfits Beauty inside out in all its shapes, the fireworks of life In a dull and duller world, a life-saving injection of joy Photo Hugh Ardoin The […]
Photography is the record of an instant photographer’s mind snap And the subjects’ action or presence at the very same instant Without caption and narrative of the capture It is both a captive and a free falling image with an aesthetic message Floating into the viewer’s imagination to become a selfie of his thoughts With […]
From the powder room to the powder keg The battle of the colors rages on Wondering how the white bystanders always stay white Probably a twist of history or the short DNA… Photo Hugh Ardoin The Notting Hill 2017 Carnival Gallery
A bright smile will make you walk the line Like an aircraft coming to roost on a faraway airport Will eagerly pursue the bright lights of the ‘follow-me’ van Next steps, the bridge and the lounge, then the jet-lag Photo Hugh Ardoin The Notting Hill 2019 Carnival Gallery
Almost one year ago and the memories will not fade But the threat of cancellation is still announced Let’s just hope for some spontaneous happening That Chepstow will live again even if we have to run Chased by the zealots and the baton-wielding fun police Black lives matter, they survived against all odds Thanks to […]
Escaping the Inferno of Chepstow Just to return later after looking back No black Orpheus or any other dago Could hold back Eurydice and her sister soul The choice of the dancing flames and eternal youth Respect of the rule of the living was not worth the sacrifice Photo Hugh Ardoin The Notting Hill 2017 […]
Young black beauty on her best dress Rhinestones like diamonds decorating her face Assorted shades and slacks all of pink hue Carry on the diva’s duties bring the booze to the men And they will chant and dance all night till the rum runs dry Photo Hugh Ardoin The Notting Hill 2018 Carnival Gallery
Pirates, privateers or buccaneers are part of the Caribbean history Two Trinidad and Tobago belles have a glass of blood red enhanced juice The ambiance is for a boarding party and you better go overboard Before the fun seeking hordes make you walk the plank Photo Hugh Ardoin The Notting Hill 2018 Carnival Gallery