Profiles: Marcela Diaz, Trapeze Artist, Acrobat

Capturing Dynamic Movement

I was really looking forward to this shoot, as it offered the chance to capture action shots—a welcome change from the usual portrait work. I’ve been developing a style that focuses on working with people in dynamic, athletic situations, and this shoot was the perfect opportunity to experiment.

Marcela Diaz, an Argentine trapeze artist, was both a joy to work with and a great subject. She’s from Buenos Aires, where I lived for over four years, so I felt an instant connection. The shoot allowed me to play around with lighting while trying to capture her dynamic movement in mid-air.

Lighting and Space Challenges

The space where Marcela teaches and lives was huge and very cool, though a bit cold that day. Poblenou is full of these large industrial spaces, and while I’ve done many portraits in the area, I would love to have a similar studio of my own.

Lighting her high-flying moves was a challenge, but the dramatic angles added a unique element to the photos. In hindsight, there are definitely other ways I could approach these kinds of shots for even better results.