Imbolc Fire Fight, Marsden 2012 (Mike Tharme fighting Neil Stout)
I had a fantastic evening at the Marsden Imbolc festival tonight. Some photographers may hate me for saying this, but I got lucky with this shot. I know you make your own luck, as they say, but I think these two got caught in the light of a flare or someone else's flash, and I happened to catch the exposure just so. I mean, they're even standing in a pool of fire light. Looks like a beautiful vignette!
I got really excited taking some of these shots, and then started wondering why my fingers weren't working. Cold fingers! I couldn't operate the shutter release, and I had to think about why. Just couldn't feel the ends of my fingers.
I very nearly didn't go or get to Imbolc this evening. I've recently had a cold, so wondered whether going out in the cold and wet was a good idea. And then the roads almost got snowed under. But it was massively worth it. I met Gary and some of the other photographers, and it was just an incredible evening in the snow.
P.S. If you are Mike Tharme or Neil Stout, and you'd like a copy of this photo, please feel welcome to contact me. I can email you a full size image. My email is on my profile page, and/or Penny Clarkson has my contact details.
Comments and faves
nondesigner59 (4 months ago | reply)
Excellent image.. Well captured.
nondesigner59 and Pen and Vogue added this photo to their favorites.
Michele Frederick (4 months ago | reply)
I really get the feeling of the people "fighting"
GaryJS ™ (4 months ago | reply)
Nicely done! Lucky lighting with someone else's flash? Nice to have met finally!
MollyMad★ and hobbithermit added this photo to their favorites.
BennK2010 (4 months ago | reply)
nice shot i have some up from last night aswell now
patchouli_owl (4 months ago | reply)
This is Mike Tharme with the fire sword fighting Neil Stout :)
fashional86 and mltharme added this photo to their favorites.
mltharme (4 months ago | reply)
you have no idea how hard it was to actually fight in the snow, but im glad people enjoyed the result, even if it was a tad hard to stand up straight lol
womble_lancs (4 months ago | reply)
That's a lovely shot. I wish I could have got there, but I just wasn't prepared to risk the drive over the moors.
richard.heeks (4 months ago | reply)
Thanks for commenting here Mike. You two were great to photograph. I wouldn't have guessed it was difficult for you in the snow. You made it look pretty easy! :-)
@womble_lancs. Yep, I almost didn't make it either. I got the bus in from Huddersfield, and the snow was settling on the road the whole way. The bus didn't do the Dirker bit - didn't go into Marsden. I was impressed that Imbolc went ahead. It was fantastic in the snow, especially for a photographer.
Misty Fire (4 months ago | reply)
Great pic, I recently got a pair of fire swords myself, but have not lit them get as I want to get use to handling them first. Mike Tharme if you'd be willing to meet up, as your the first other fire sword owner I've come across and I wouldn't mind talking to you about care/use etc. My name is Misty Fire, I don't have a flicker account, a friend posted this pic to me on Facebook, but my e-mail is mistyfirebb@aol.com hope to hear from you.
Simon Vogt (3 months ago | reply)
Cool capture there :) looks really dramatic with the light, snow and their pose - some movement in the legs too adds to it :)