Photography: Beltane

On the last day of April every year the Beltane festival takes place here in Edinburgh.   It's a pagan festival of fore and fertility and marks the beginning of summer.   It's quite a big thing.   Every year people paint themselves with body paint, wear odd costumes, dance, frolic, set fire to things and act out the battle between summer and winter.   It's all a great spectacle and a great chance to take pictures.   Here is their website.   I used an external flash for these.   I suppose the biggest challenge for this shoot was the sheer number of people about.   It was hard to get to the front of the crowd and get a clear shot.   I've found a good technique is not to follow the procession, but to keep ahead of it.   Sadly others have worked out this trick too.   Here are a few of my favorite Beltane photos.   Warning: may contain breasts!