Edinburgh May Day Parade
A Photographer’s Perspective
On 3rd May, 2025, the heart of Edinburgh pulsed with colour, movement, and collective purpose, as the city marked its International Workers’ Day with their annual May Day Parade. Set against the historic backdrop of the Royal Mile, the event unfolded like a living mural — a dynamic blend of tradition, protest, and performance.
As a Street Photographer, being present for this year’s Parade offered a compelling opportunity to document the visual language of solidarity. From the swirl of banners catching the wind to the rhythmic cadence of Scottish Bagpipe bands leading the march, every moment inviting intense observation. I moved through the crowds, camera in hand, drawn to the candid expressions, the homemade placards, the layered textures of tartan, denim, and protest artefacts – all out to capture those decisive moments.
The Parade gathered outside the City Chambers late in the morning and set off soon after noon, making its way through The Old Town towards The Pleasance. Along the route, I focused on capturing contrasts — the interplay between tradition and activism, stillness and movement, individuals and the collectiveness. Children on parent’s shoulders, raised fists, laughter between chants — all woven together into a narrative that resonated deep feelings, both on a local and global level.
This wasn’t just a march — it was a street stage. Music threaded through the procession, as did movement and colour. One moment I was framing the soft concentration of a drummer’s face, the next, the fierce determination of a housing activist holding up a hand-painted sign demonstrating his/her beliefs or concerns. Light filtered through changing skies, at times diffused, then suddenly bright — a gift and quite a challenge for photography.
Shooting The Edinburgh May Day Parade wasn’t just about capturing protest — it was about documenting people in motion, voices visualised, community made visible. There’s a particular kind of beauty in moments like these where public space becomes a simultaneous canvas of resistance and celebration. This year’s Parade gave me many of these captivating scenes, which I was able to document, my way.
