Circus is an exciting and challenging subject for the camera. While there is no shortage of amateur and professional videographers making circus trailers, teasers and films, the circus photographer is a somewhat more rare beast, mostly stumbled upon in darkened theater aisles and under tent bleachers. What attracts them to the field and what are their challenges and triumphs?

Circus photography is not far off from sports photography in the physical demands it can put on the photographer. Do you have the know-how and equipment to try your hand at this rather robust art form? What qualities and experience level should you look for in a circus photographer?  We met with Mark Turner, an Australian based performing arts photographer to answer those questions.  A lead photographer at 2017’s Australian Circus Festival as well as part of the imagery team for the most recent Mullum Circus Festival, Turner’s work with circuses from Europe and the US with both traditional and contemporary circus companies has provided...