Posted 9/30/2014 9:47:28 PM by Don Covington
News from World Circus Federation viewed 810 times
Tuesday, September 30, 2014 - Monte Carlo, Monaco
The World Circus Federation has announced the winners of its 2014 circus photography contest.
press release:
Photographers Capture Circus Celebrations Around the World
Monte-Carlo, Monaco (30 September 2014 )
Dutch coach and choreographer Vincent Michels has been selected as
the winner of the Federation Mondiale du Cirque’s 2014 photography
contest for his black and white photograph of a young contortionist
attired in zebra stripes. A total of 115 images were submitted by
photographers from 19 countries for this year’s contest under the theme
of “World Circus Day”.
The subject of Mr. Michels’ winning
photograph is Li Ling, a student at the private acrobatics school Corpus
Acrobatics. The photograph was taken at the World Circus Day
celebration hosted by De Leeuw Circus Events in Amsterdam, The
Netherlands in April 2014. Mr. Michels chose black and white
photography to provide uniformity corresponding to the “black and white
zebra world.” The photograph is taken at the beginning of Li Ling’s
appearance, after which she moves, step-by-step, to the tabletop for the
contortion act. Mr. Michels will be invited to receive his cash
prize and to enjoy a two-night bed and breakfast stay during the 39th
Festival International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo in January 2014. His
winning photograph will be featured on the cover of the Federation’s
2015 wall calendar produced by Fazzini Productions of Italy. Mr
Michels’ photograph, as well as the eleven other photographs selected as
finalists in this year’s contest, captured the wide variety of World
Circus Day events that have taken place around the world in the five
years since its inception.
Previous photo contest winner Janeric Dahlin, Sweden, (winner of the 2010 black and white contest) and Giovanni Lagorio, Italy, both photographed professional circus artists performing with classical European circuses. Mr. Dahlin’s photograph features Emilia Donnert partnering with Richard Donnert in a pas de deux act
performed during Cirkus Brazil Jack’s World Circus Day celebrations.
Mr. Lagorio’s photograph of Victor Dupont’s diablo act was taken during
the World Circus Day celebration of Cirque Medrano in Nice, France.
Several
professional photographers participated in this year’s contest,
capturing the joy circus brings to children, whether as observers or
performers. Arul Horizon of India memorialized a special day for
disadvantaged children as part of World Circus Day celebrations by Rambo
Circus in Maharashtra, India in 2012. Fardin Waezi and Fraidoon Poya,
both of Afghanistan, photographed children and teens from Afghanistan
demonstrating their juggling skills at 2014 World Circus Day
celebrations hosted by the Mobile Mini Circus for Children and Afghan
Educational Children’s Circus in Kabul and Herat. The image of Carla
Thiele showcases the trust and bonds between the “Simunye” students of
the Zip Zap Circus School as they present their World Circus Day
“Pyramid of Happiness” in Cape Town, South Africa.
Hobbyist
Josef Chovanec, Czech Republic, photographed a circus clown marionette
as part of the week-long celebration of Prague’s circus arts and
culture, coinciding with World Circus Day. Julie Kycia, United States,
photographed a mini-circus performance put on by the members of Circus
Fans of America Tent 24 as part of their World Circus Day activities.
Amateur photographer and videographer, Omar Vargas Alvarez, Mexico,
snapped a shot of “perfect balance” by participants at Flow Fabric Art’s
World Circus Day workshops.
Artist Juan del Rio, Argentina,
photographed young artists trying their hand at creating 3D paper
circuses as part of World Circus Day celebrations by Circo del Papel.
Hobbyist Merilyn Barrett, United States, photographed clowns
representing 12 countries during the World Circus Day celebration of the
World Clown Association at their annual convention.
The
Fédération Mondiale du Cirque was founded in 2008 under the patronage of
H.S.H. Princess Stephanie of Monaco and is
headquartered in
Monte-Carlo. The Federation is a non-profit organization created to
promote Circus arts and culture worldwide, to serve as a voice for the Circus community, and to represent Circus interests at the international level.
Contact: Laura van der Meer, Executive Director, at laura@circusfederation.org
Fédération Mondiale du Cirque Animal
Interest Alliance, South Africa • Circus Federation of Australia •
European Circus Association Festival International du Cirque de
Monte-Carlo • Outdoor Amusement Business Association, U.S.A. Japanese Circus & Entertainment Association • Asociación Mexicana de Empresarios de Circo Unión Nacional de Empresarios y Artistas de Circos Mexicanos • Acrobatics Association of Korea Mobile Mini Circus for Children International, Afghanistan • China Acrobats Association
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