JPG Magazine: Photos: "Mr. Torchy" by Marshall

Mr. Torchy

By Marshall

On 20 April 2008

Favorited 44 Times

This photo is hot! Share it!

lighting the way is the leader of OPOSITO (cirque-du-solei-meets-mad-max street parade) that opened up ZAPOPUM, a month long cultural fair in zapopan, jalisco, mexico.

the opening night event included over 150 artists, dressed exotically (kinda like those that work as human statues, except in this case they actually moved!).

it was super cool shooting the event - just imagine 150 artists in the street, at night, surrounded by thousands of locals, many of whom (as is often the case here) weren't following the rules... chaos, chaos, chaos - which made it more challenging and stimulating, requiring an athletic aproach. and, as you can guess, you've got one shot at the photo and it's gone!

i shot this using available light; like many people, i'm not really a fan of flash.

to be honest, i tried to get more of the parade itself, the artists and their machines, but this photo turned out best, so it's what i'm entering.

i think it fits STREET FASHION, bc (as the description says), it's "candid street photography", and it's not "staged photography", as we were told not to do. but, more than anything, i just wanted to share the photo bc i think it's cool.

canon 30d, 16-35mm 2.8 lens, iso 3200, 1/100 sec. i love this lens, but as many of you already know, you have to get SO CLOSE to the subject matter to make it work! i was about 1/2 meter from that torch!

47 Responses

On 21 April 2008 Carl W. Nunn gave props:
got my vote
On 21 April 2008 Angel Foice gave props:
well done. i love the natural lighting =]]
On 21 April 2008 *hector* Ortiz gave props:
you got it...
On 21 April 2008 Nicholas Freeman said:
neat composition, and fun effect- although a little blurry... but cant be helped in this situation.
On 21 April 2008 Ratko Nedovic said:
Nice capture, but what incommode to me is too strong light. Because that light disturb my attention on photography.
On 21 April 2008 Paco Jurgen Von Szkora gave props:
right on. candid. ie not posed or premeditated. the light on the subject's face is rather spectrel, and i like the composition. please post more shots of this event.
On 21 April 2008 Melissa Prosser gave props:
I like that most of the background is darkened out, cept for the slight blurring of figures. I enjoy the lighting and costume on Mr. Torchy. The composition and color are also great. The expression and mood are quite interesting. Great job, Marshall!
On 21 April 2008 Andrew Lorimer gave props:
Lighting Is perfect!! Dream like feel to this amazing capture
On 21 April 2008 Marshall said:
it's really cool to get all the feedback, both positive and with suggestions. i love learning and that feedback both inspires me to do better! many, many thanks!!!!
On 21 April 2008 Richard Bruns said:
Marshall
The photo is fairly solid, as some of the online comments indicate. You were smart not to crop out the vast black space to the left - it emphasises the semi-silhouetted figure. In addition, the face seems pretty sharply in focus, and that's the important part - everything else is sdecondary. I would have to see a high resolution version or a medium to large sized print before commenting much further. Had it been my photo I might have tinkered a little with shadows and highlights, and maybe color filters a little in Photoshop just to see what would happen. But only as an experiment. I like the photo and will return to vote for it.
On 21 April 2008 Fran Ott said:
I like the composition and lighting. The figure right behind your subject is a bit distracting.
On 21 April 2008 Paul G. Swanson gave props:
cool shot, love the lighting effects
On 21 April 2008 Simon Le gave props:
Excellent shot Marshall! Great capture. My vote.
On 22 April 2008 Alvarez Sal gave props:
Exellent!!!! job!...Love the natural lighting, it reminds me of Francis ford coppola's "DRACULA"
On 22 April 2008 Kiwi ana gave props:
This is great! It has drama. The light from the torch gives a fabulous uplighting on the main figure. It makes his already out there costume and make up come to life. Composing this shot with a balance of black space is eye-catching. I agree with others about the face being the important place to have in clear focus. Superb Photo Marshall! My vote!
On 22 April 2008 coree coppinger gave props:
My type of lighting, well done, I love using only ambient light.
On 22 April 2008 Tomas Aguilar gave props:
i love the lighting. i like how the people in the background are kinda blurry and that mr. torchy is in focus. the colors in it are great (i love dark colors), but most of all it really does a great job of capturing what appears to be an interesting event.
On 22 April 2008 Saltari Dario said:
The light is fantastic and the composition is amazing but i think that this photo isn't suitable for the theme..
On 22 April 2008 Lee Shelly gave props:
The light is interesting as is the expression on his face. I like the use of negative space.
On 22 April 2008 Adrian Rodriguez said:
I would love to see more of the subject in the frame, more in line with the rule of thirds. Maybe photoshop the background for a little more detail. I do like it, you asked for some feed back.
On 22 April 2008 Brian Starr said:
The reason I like this image is that it is different and interesting. I like the big negative space for the performer to be looking into and the effect is kind of spooky. I like photos that break some rules. This one does and it works.
On 22 April 2008 Marshall gave props:
it's been so cool reading the comments, props, and personal messages that you all have been sending!! the positivity, of course, keeps us inspired and moving forward. the honest (sometimes negative) feedback helps me to learn and that's help. thanks! more than anything, i'm amazed that people will actually sit down and take time out of their day to analyze my photos, then even more time and energy to send in intelligent comments! THANKS!!!!
On 22 April 2008 Mike gave props:
safety first! and foremost
On 23 April 2008 Cora D. Mitchell said:
I voted. this is awesome.. love the lighting.
On 23 April 2008 Alexander Valhouli said:
Awesome. Something raw and decisive, much like the Mexican Rocker pic. Nice work.
On 23 April 2008 "peggy.sue" Harrington said:
I like the glow achieved on the subject’s hat from the torch. I’m not sure what the yellow circular subject is just to his right, but it is a bit distracting to the shot. The torch also gives a mysterious, almost creepy appearance to the subjects face. I like that a lot, it adds to the entire frame, as the setting is nighttime. I like the use of negative space and the hint of audience blur in the background. I wish I could see a bit more of the main subject’s jacket, I feel his back was cropped a bit too tightly. Overall it’s a good capture. Shows motion, provokes thought and intrigue, and has mystery. Thanks for asking my opinion. I, too, love input!
On 23 April 2008 Robert H. said:
beautiful shot. i like the lighting. it's scary but interesting.
On 23 April 2008 Mandolin Davis gave props:
this is awesome! especially because you used the available lighting....this is now a fave!
On 26 April 2008 Christie [im]patient said:
ah yes, you wan me to tell you whats so cool about this shot? he looks fake. like a manequin puppet dressed in costume and make up being controlled from above by strings. the lighting and pose make it very unique and almost a little creepy. you can feel the noise and chaos.....very well captured.
On 27 April 2008 Nelson Campbell gave props:
perfect the way the torch lights up his facial features and expression.
On 28 April 2008 Melissa Olsen gave props:
I think Mr. Torchy is a little creepy... but in a good way.
On 29 April 2008 Richard Bruns said:
Came back to look at it again. Yep. Still a very solid photo. It will print very well if JPG decides to use it ... and I hope they do.
On 1 May 2008 M.S. White said:
Very nice - it looks like he is stalking his way into the photo. I like how the flare lights up his face and adds shadow in just the right spots.
On 5 May 2008 Portia Söderberg gave props:
really cool shot! You got my vote!
On 15 May 2008 Yasmina Baggili gave props:
Just fantastic. Got my vote
On 24 May 2008 Mario Scattoloni gave props:
Ditto to all the above... great stuff.
On 5 June 2008 sabrina helas gave props:
i love this image, i love the lighting, composition, use of negative space..you have my vote!
On 8 June 2008 Leanna Lomanski gave props:
is it actually he who has the torch or the white blurry figure beside him? His face does have that sort of "Chucky" horror movie look to it which is cool -- must have been quite a spectacle to witness in person. Kudos!
On 8 June 2008 Julie Burger said:
Great shot, Marshall! I love the composition and the way the light makes his face glow and come to life. I also like the way you used the combination and stark contrast between light and darkness: it makes me see him moving through the crown. I fell like I'm there. Got my vote - hop to see him in the next issue!
On 15 June 2008 Justin DiPierro gave props:
Absolutely gorgeous! Great shot!
On 16 June 2008 Karin Burton said:
Great comp! Sets great mood. Wonderful shot.
On 16 June 2008 Kriangkrai K. gave props:
Wow!!! I like this too.
On 21 June 2008 Stewart Bywater said:
I like the shot, but I would have gone with a lower ISO, for a longer shutter speed. Panning (following the movement of the subject with the camera) would have kept him relatively sharp, whilst adding light trails, and the lower ISO would have reduced the noise in the lower part of the shot. Still, it's really cool!
Welcome back!!
Stewart.
On 29 June 2008 John Linton gave props:
Very cool.
On 1 July 2008 Jeff Clark said:
I think cropping out the torch would add a lot of drama and mystery but it's still a cool shot!
On 3 July 2008 Virginie M said:
Excellent composition and light, goos use of the empty space....
On 7 July 2008 gio zizzo gave props:
don't change a thing! the highlight from the torch makes it, for...