Paul Van Der Stap: Carnival Days

For an outsider, the low-lands version of Carnival a collection of, from origin Catholic celebrations, held in the Southern part of the Netherlands and Flemish Belgium at the beginning of Spring - is a strange affair. Normally restrained and sober inhabitants embrace with passion and direct urgency otherwise normally held taboos, outrageous costume designs and wild festivities. Paul van der Stap has been photographing parades and carnival for years and this collection of duotone images, produced between 1996 and 2008, captures some of the notable moments.