Highs and Los

Digression: This post features Cheng Yung Tsang, go follow them on instagram or out there in the world!

The diabolo clatters to the ground. Again. All eyes watch it roll away, but for two. After a moment, Cheng Yung Tsang turns to the fella keeping time and confirms he has one last chance...

It's often hard to know which performances make good photos. People spinning props can sometimes look flat and lifeless in a still frame. I had no expectations for the photos of the diabolo performer that I caught on the Royal Mile but I love how they came out in the edit.

It was also somehow a treat to see things go wrong, particularly in street shows where every apparently off-the-cuff moment has really been meticulously drilled. Made the performance a bit more specific. Don't get me wrong, a lot of his show worked beautifully.

The diabolo also seems to present the opportunity (or maybe demands you) to experiment with different compositions. Any performer who throws things into the sky invites some deliciously tall crops but here I loved the wide aspect ratios

After fun crowd interactions and many perfectly executed impressive displays of dexterity, the performance aimed to culminate in dizzying flurries of string and prop. But - it just wasn't quite working, to the frustration of crowd and performer and twice the trick missed, the catch gone wrong. On the third try, the applause built back up with a slightly uncomfortable dollop of tension. Will it work out this time? Every move a new opportunity for things to go wrong.

Finally, the relief flows and is shared with the audience. Success hard-won - we can leave "clean" for another day.

Find more photos here or go see him on the streets of Edinburgh! You can also see his masterful diabolo on his instagram! This video floored me.