The conductor of the Russian Circus, Igor
Ever since I was a little boy, I’ve always loved the circus. Especially the clowns. Even though most people think they’re “silly”, I’ve always found them fascinating. I had heard that the circus performers were much different in Europe, especially Russia. The Russians take the circus to a different level. Since the reign of Catherine the Great, the circus has played an important role in the rich cultural traditions of Russia. In Russia, the circus is regarded as an art form on par with the ballet or opera. A real showcase for highly skilled and creative artists. The Russian Circus was founded in 1880, and quickly became hugely popular. Most performers start training at a very young age, and are multi-generational. I had an interest in photographing the Russian Circus, but had no idea what a hill I would climb to get clearance. I spent weeks calling Moscow getting “nowhere”. Finally, after hiring a translator, I got cleared. It took almost 3 months. I spent two wonderful weeks on the road with the circus. First problem I encountered was NOBODY spoke english. I learned quickly how to say “can I take your photo”, or “please smile”, “look serious”, in Russian. You get the idea. I think I made some very timeless images and some great friends as well. Of course the clowns were amazing. But it was the conductor, Igor, who gave me the best images. He was SO charismatic and expressive. I photographed him several times thru-out the week. He only had ONE rule. I had to drink Vodka with him after we finished each sitting. How could I turn him down? He was giving me some of the best photographs of my career. All in all, I took thousands of images. All in black & white. It just seemed like the right thing to do. When I thought about the history of that circus, I wanted the photographs to be timeless. Black & white always gives you that. I think about all the places this crazy career has taken me. Photographing the Russians is right near the top! Next time you’re looking for something to do, go to the circus. It’s really fun. Here’s some of my favorites from the shoot.
Russian Acrobats
Russian Clown
Father & Son
Russian Clown
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