Photographer Lisa Fernandez shares two of her favourite traditional Carnival events — and four special images captured at those events
The traditional mas competition in Adam Smith Square is my never-miss event of the season, and I have been photographing it for over a decade. Over the years, I have formed relationships with those I photograph. I have watched kids grow up and join their parents on stage, and I have seen the decline in some characters and the re-emergence of others.
I chose these pictures from that event as they are women that have broken boundaries and led the way: Tracey Sankar Charleau, who comes from a Carnival family and whose local folklore portrayals always bring the crowd to a halt; and Stephanie Bailey, who is now a leading Blue Devil — much like Renella Alfred, the daughter of the first woman to be a Jab Jab, who is now the leading female Jab Jab.
This event is now the only place to see the range of Trinidad’s traditional Carnival characters, and it’s like being at home with my Carnival family. I work “backstage” mostly, and only photograph specific characters on stage. Otherwise, I feel like I am missing out, and don’t get to catch up with families and meet new babies or see kids grow.
Beyond that, the Dragon Festival on Carnival Friday is super important to me as it’s a category of mas that was fading — but last year had a re-emergence. It’s one of the few daylight events prior to the actual parade. It is edgy, mostly unknown, and a true downtown Port of Spain experience, as it is the corner of Prince and George Streets, and happens after the Kambule Riots Re-enactment. And these dragons can dance!