Creating Images with Emotion

Creating Images with Emotion

Author: Steve Brazill August 16, 2018 Duration: 31:22

Kirk Marsh is a unique photographer, and his images tell a story as good as, if not better than, almost any photographer out there. Kirk is an internationally exhibited fine art photographer and digital artist specializing in portraiture and self portraiture. He shoots for advertising and editorial clients too. Yup, a great working photographer, but that only describes a part of him. There is another side to Kirk that I think is a key part of his art, he is a clown. I don’t mean to say he has a sense of humor, although he surely does. Kirk is an actual clown, and that background seems to come through every shot he creates.

Halfway through college he found an old program book for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus his grandparents had taken him to when he was 12.  Inside that book was a short bit about their Clown College.  Being 20, lost, and not knowing what to do with his life, he decided to apply.  Fortunately he got into their program and started a 20+ year career in performance and clowning.  Since then he has toured the world with his work and has performed his silent comedy show in 53 countries. Think about that. He toured with the Greatest Show on Earth.

Kirk’s most recent work is focused on community, mental health and loneliness.  Subjects contemplating situations alone in solitude is the theme currently most intriguing to him.  Some of his work is his take on the current state of humanity in general. With a style influenced heavily by magical realism and the fictions of our own minds, Kirk Marsh creates images with impact, images with a story, images with emotion.

The 365 Self Portrait Project he completed in 2014 is a great collection of work that focused mainly on storytelling and lighting.  His love of light and story continues in his work today.

Join creative photographer Kirk Marsh & me on this episode of Behind the Shot as we discuss his image Choosing Emotions, which won him the Photoshop World Best of Show Guru Award of 2018.

Connect with Kirk

Portfolio: kirkmarshphotography.com
Clown Website: kirkmarsh.com
Facebook: @kirkmarshphoto
Instagram: @kirkmarshphotography
Twitter: @kirkmarshphoto


Steve Brazill hosts Behind the Shot-Video, a series that goes far beyond gear lists and camera settings. Each conversation is a deep exploration of the creative and technical journey behind compelling images. You’ll hear working photographers unpack the entire process-from the initial spark of an idea and the challenges of the location to the critical decisions made in post-production. This podcast sits at the unique intersection of art and practical technology, offering tangible lessons for anyone looking to improve their visual storytelling. Rather than abstract theory, these discussions provide a real-world look at problem-solving under pressure and the artistic choices that define a signature style. Tune in for honest, detailed breakdowns that reveal how memorable shots are truly built, layer by layer. It’s an essential resource for visual artists seeking both inspiration and actionable knowledge, all grounded in the lived experience of accomplished creators.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 200

Behind the Shot - Video
Podcast Episodes
Remote Cameras at Weddings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
I’ve always been fascinated by the use of Remote Cameras, but it’s not something I’ve had the chance to try, unfortunately. The last time I cover it on the show was on the episode Using Remote Cameras with Canon Explorer…
Elevating Your Photojournalism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
There have been so many times that I’ve made a mental note that I need to include more photojournalism on the show, only to have a mental dog eat my homework. Finally, today, I am checking that off the list. Still, if I’…
Music & Tour Photography [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
To say I’m excited for today’s show is a huge understatement. I first met today’s guest 6 years ago, when our mutual friend Adam Elmakias asked us both to help him with his Live Music Photography Workshop. I’m sure you k…
Light Up Your Adventure Photos [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:16
Over the last few years I have been lucky enough to have the agency Wonderful Machine suggest a few photographers for the show, and every single time I’ve been blown away by the level of artists that they represent. Toda…
Light Painting Abandoned Places [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:30
For this show, we have a returning guest, night photographer Ken Lee. I’ve known Ken for awhile, and the way he ended up as a guest for the show Capturing the Slowing of Time is one of my fave Behind the Shot stories. Ke…
Bird Photography Tips & Tricks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:53
I sometimes wonder, while writing these guest photographer posts, how many listeners or viewers actually read them. The truth is it doesn’t matter to me, I write them for myself more than anyone else, and I find that try…
Canon Auto-Focus Explained – 2025 Update [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 3:10:53
NOTE: This is not an official Canon USA show. This is a podcast first and foremost, available in both audio-only or video, and the video is also placed on YouTube. My hope is that by going through all of the AF options o…
Growing Through Personal Photography Projects [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:59
LA based photographer Ian Spanier has been on the show a few times, with the first being back in 2019 for a conversation about Classic Portraits & Classic Lighting, discussing a portrait of actor Jeff bridges. Next up wa…
Backstage Portraits [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:56
Social media today can be so draining, but almost daily I am reminded of the wonderful connections I’ve made there, and today’s guest is a perfect example. Jenn Devereaux is a New Orleans area concert and event photograp…
Using the New Canon R1 & R5 Mark II [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:29:36
I’m a Canon shooter… I shoot an R6 and an R5. So, I have been curious about the new Canon R1, and a little less so about the R5 Mark II. Still, I had written off watching the announcement, because it was at something lik…