I live in the beautiful city of Sarasota, FL, also known as Circus City.

It was the summer home to the Ringling Barnum and Bailey circus, and to John and Mable Ringling’s summer home Ca’ d’Zan. Ringling commissioned architect Dwight James Baum to build the summer home Ca’ d’Zan, and modeled it after the Doge’s Palace in Venice. It is a beautiful Italianate architectural style, that sits on the grounds of the States Museum of Art as well as the Barnum collection of everything circus related.

My new hometown is one that is abundant in all forms of art: ballet, opera, theatre, photography, painting and all kinds of performing arts. We also have a strong education base that is filled with art, as seen in such schools such as Ringling College of Art and Design.

John and Mable Ringling left their fortune and stunning art collections to be seen by all. While building a business and a home, they created a clown school, that was renowned all over the world. They built a city to flourish with their wealth, and funded everything artistic a city would want. It is a rich environment for any artist, completed with the most beautiful beaches and views.

I have wanted to do this photo shoot for quite some time, and living here proved to be the perfect time to implement the idea. I wanted to pay homage to the past, give praise to those still performing under the big top in winter, as well as say thank you for the gifts I get to enjoy everyday while living in this beautiful city.

Ashley Marie sits on barbed wire. Why? Because life of a circus performer was difficult and still is. The bluebird is a gift of happiness from me to you and the mysterious lion in the image is a thank you for the dreams created by the circuses of my childhood past. I hope you can find him.

What do you think are the TWO most impactful features that make your image a good photograph? Don’t be shy!

I always create a plan, an art board. I like to treat a project like I am writing a book. Know what you want to shoot before you start. Know the idea you want to convey. Figure out the lighting – you will change it, of course, but know what you want to see and the mood you want to convey. With the light come textures and colors. I want the models to have a voice, to see what I am looking for as they are the vision, I am asking to portray to the viewer. Ashley does this for me time and time again. There is a lion somewhere tucked into the photo that is reminiscent of the past.

If you would be able to make this photo once again, what would be the ONE thing you would like to do better or different?

I did this in a studio at night… I think different lighting, maybe outdoors, might have imparted different color or texture. I think a different option may have given me choice but I go in with a limited time and a plan… so this was it. I tried to redo an idea. It never has the passion of the first try for me. Correcting an idea doesn’t work. It needs to be done in the moment when it fills you with joy. How can you fix that! A photograph shares that moment!

Lori Whalen shared her photograph in the FRAMES Facebook Group.

Photographer

Lori Whalen, U.S.
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Equipment and Settings

Canon 5D Mark IV + EF 24-70mm f/4 L
My studio is very small. I used the Profoto B1 500 Air TTL Battery Powered Flash lights as well. I love, love, love, them.