A photographer is encouraging individuals to view Notting Hill Carnival “differently” from how she perceives it’s typically “awfully” portrayed within the media.

Rio Blake is an fanatic of the largely Caribbean event, and has been snapping carnival-goers and the celebrations since she obtained her first digicam greater than eight years in the past.

Her images goal to reframe the competition in a optimistic mild.

Ms Blake, who specialises in documentary and portrait pictures stated: “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 typically 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 stated.

“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 a few of her favorite moments she captured, the 27-year-old stated: “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 really like taking images of the kids that go – it actually reveals the celebration that it’s.

“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 stated she “always” takes a digicam to the carnival including that “it’s a moment you don’t really want to miss”.

Her assortment is increasing with a whole archive of images and he or she stated she doesn’t “plan on stopping anytime soon”.

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Trouble on the carnival

While the vast majority of the 2 million individuals who attended this 12 months’s carnival went to benefit from the meals, parades and music, the celebrations had been sullied by arrests and a spate of stabbings.

Across the primary two days of the competition there have been 275 arrests for a spread of offences together with possession of offensive weapons, sexual assault, assaults on police and drug possession.

Eight individuals had been stabbed leading to two males needing remedy in hospital.

Deputy Assistant Met Commissioner Ade Adelekan, who oversaw the policing operation, stated 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 mom, showcased her work in 2021 to lift cash for the Grenfell Foundation – a charity for the households of 72 victims who died within the 2017 tower block hearth.

Her photos had been a part of a bunch exhibit known as An Ode To Notting Hill Carnival, whereas the occasion was moved on-line through 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 stated.

“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 participate in an exhibit known as Here & Now: Black History Month Exhibition at Brady Arts Centre, in east London, the place she’s going to unveil the never-before-seen photos of the carnival.

It will start on 6 October working till 29 October.