Interesting Things: Long Ma and Kumo - La Machine comes to Ottawa

Earlier this summer, street theatre came to Montreal, in the form of giant puppets that walked the streets. They were the brainchild of a company called Royal de Luxe from Nantes, France.

Impressive, although I didn't get to photograph them. The deep-sea diver walked right in front of my car, as I headed towards the Old Port to photograph a family session and I caught only a quick video. On the tail end of media coverage, someone posted an article about La Machine coming to Ottawa with their giant dragon and spider and I was immediately intrigued.

Not wanting to miss another opportunity to photograph big, creepy things, I packed up the family for an overnight trip to Ottawa. Notably, La Machine is also from France. They put on a spectacular show (there is an extensive back story found here), and even though rationally you know and see these machines being controlled, they still have a sense of being living, breathing things. We didn't stay in town long enough to witness the grand finale when the 2 fought a wicked battle, but it was fully worth the drive.

This spider statue looms over tourists at the National Gallery, where Kumo, the giant spider sits atop the cathedral nearby.

Kumo lays dormant and will awaken at dusk.

Long Ma awakens and makes her way towards where Kumo is resting.

This looks like a vending machine for dragon snacks.

The dude in the green cap looks like a free-range snack.

Kumo lays in wait for Long Ma at the National Gallery.

Crouching tiger, hidden dragon.

Long Ma arrives at the cathedral where she will eventually take on Kumo to get her wings and temple back.