Contest winner: Helmut Westerdorf

^®claryl: Which festive event do you associate with your picture?

HW: The "Carnival of Cultures", which is always celebrated over the Whit Weekend, has been held in Berlin for many years. The event came about as a result of the increasing levels of immigration of people from all corners of the world. Today there are around 450,000 foreign nationals living in Berlin.
Dance troupes, folklore groups, musicians and carnival performers from all over the world graced the many stages, while countless stands offered a range of culinary delicacies and arts and crafts. The street procession took place on Whit Sunday. This year, approximately 4,500 people, making up around 100 groups, sang and danced through the streets of Kreuzberg, with several thousand spectators lining the roadsides to join in the celebrations.

^®claryl: How did you come to take this shot?

HW: The shot you picked was one that I put together from several different photos which I'd taken during the street processions over the last few years. I chose this montage because I wanted to be able to portray the diversity of the Carnival of Cultures; you can't do that with just one photo.

^®claryl: Why does the carnival appeal to you so much?

HW: What I find fascinating about this kind of carnival are the bright colors of the hustle and bustle and the incredible atmosphere. Another advantage is that unlike the Rhenish Carnival, the "Carnival of Cultures" takes place at a warm time of year. This means that I don't have to worry that my fingers are going to freeze when I'm taking photos.

^®claryl: Why did you decide to send in a picture?

HW: I've been entering photography competitions for years now whenever the topic appeals to me, and I've taken a lot of great photos at the "Carnival of Cultures" in recent years.

^®claryl: What is it about photography that you like so much?

HW: I especially like being able to document moments in time, scenes and moods. Digital image processing technology now also gives you the opportunity to create your own image library.

^®claryl: Which picture will you be having framed?

HW: The photo I've chosen is another photo from the Carnival of Cultures. After I'd taken the picture I used my PC to give the image a zoomed-in effect.