Tiffany Brown Photojournalist

20080929 circo atayde

i so thoroughly enjoyed my time visiting with the latino circus artists of circo atayde usa recently. i visited them a number of times, to photograph different people at various times before and during the shows. it was easy to motivate to make the journey to the opposite side of the valley over and again – to one of the less glittery areas of town, to make pictures and speak combinations of english and spanish, all of us practicing the other’s language.

i have friends in various cirque du soleil shows here in vegas and yet I found that despite the vast difference in caliber of artists, I have an equal respect and admiration for these performers. i think it is the heart i saw them put into their acts – which paled in comparison to the highly polished strip shows, but which they take such pride in, that really moved me. it wasn’t the show i found as interesting to photograph as the individuals in their element just outside of the big tent, and the periphery of the traveling circus in general.

reporter joe brown wrote a great story that sums up the circus of mexican heritage.

ps….i need a slideshow feature on this blog. i’m gonna look into that…