Tickertape 2012

I had my third opportunity to observe a tickertape parade up the Canyon of Heroes winding its way up Broadway (which is by the way counter to the way cars travel).  The New York Giant Super Bowl heroes (who play in New Jersey) were once again honored for their victory (last time had been 2008, one of the other times I saw the tickertape).  I also saw the Yankees in 2009.  

The crowd was fully assembled along the parade route as early as 8:30am in preparation for the 11am start to the event.  I made the mistake of trying to get some of the early setup shots up near City Hall, the eventual site of the ceremony.  It took me about 15 minutes to travel only one block amongst the blue and white jerseys and turned back to a side street.  Barriers were up since the night before and people began aligning themselves against the obstructions, even in those spots that were back from the street.

Giant Shadows

As the parade came, the battle for prime viewing positions began.  This mob was on the roof of this car (which looked like an unmarked police car, as there was a police sticker in the window).  The roof start denting, and they all ran off.  Realizing that they couldn't see anything from the ground, and the roof was already dented, they all climbed back on.  

Dented Car

I was able to work my way into a building that had a sunken glass lobby.  It was below street level, but they eventually opened up the doors to let people move into a secondary area not far from the street.

Below the Crowd

The people were everywhere, as people waited for the players, as the video from my iPhone shows.

As a photographer, one of the first subjects that caught my eye was a girl hanging on a bus stop sign raising a "we are number one" finger.  

Number One

There heroes began passing, I couldn't really see much but did grab some photos of the players as they passed between bodies as they were elevated.  Here is the obligatory shot of quarterback hero Eli Manning.  Also on the truck is Mayor Bloomberg, the team owner, and the Lombardi Trophy.

Eli the Hero

Then the crowd began to disperse.  The layers upon layers of shredded paper was everywhere.  And, the people were everywhere.  Happy crowds of Giant fans clad in Giants uniforms with not much room to go anywhere, but they slowly started to make their way away.  I focused on the people and went into Street Photographer mode, capturing what I saw.  

Dorothy in Tickertape LandTickertapeThe Party's OverGiving the ThumbSunburnTalk to the HandPizza FanThe Manning Brothers

And, in the end there was only the tickertape and the swirling wind.  I got this video from my iPhone of the wind whirling the paper into the air.

Comments

[sue ingram]

thank you for sharing this - I have never seen a ticker tape parade and was always under the impression it was for something VERY important!! ha ha. It's truly amasing just how much tape is used. I couldn't help wondering who gets the job of cleaning it all up afterwards? My recycling, keep the environment clean hat is on here.
The photo I like the best from an ascetic photograph point of view is the shiny red shoes stepping down amongst all that mess of tape. Love the contrast it projects.