PRAY BEFORE ENTERING THE AMUSEMENT PARK, FEEL THE TERROR… NOW RE-LIVE THE EXPERIENCE IN BLACK & WHITE
A Nun Offering Her Prayers to All Who Dare to Enter
Sounds of Screams Amusement Park at the Tamiami Fair Grounds in Miami, Florida. Go enjoy the experience in person. When you return, you’ll re-live the terror, differently. In Black & White, where you can feel the textures, shadows, & highlights like no color photograph can. Monochrome Miami, see it differently!
📸 Bring the Terror Home: High-resolution digital downloads, fine art prints, and custom-framed wall art from the Sounds of Screams series are now available
Chasing Shadows: Covering the Grand Opening of Sounds of Screams with the Leica Q3 Monochrom
Miami, FL — There is a distinct moment when twilight fades, the neon flickers to life, and a city of color completely transforms. On media day at the Tamiami Fair Grounds, that transformation didn’t just reveal another side of Miami—it unmasked a living nightmare.
I had the privilege of covering the grand opening of the Sounds of Screams (SOS) amusement park with full press credentials. For a street photographer dedicated to the interplay of light and dark, a high-end haunted attraction is a masterclass in atmosphere.
My evening began early at 5:30 PM. I met up with David Villavicencio from Carnival Cruise Lines, who graciously secured my press credentials on behalf of Angie Courel, Account Manager with Chemistry Cultura. Angie had invited me out to capture this milestone launch, and the access they provided was unparalleled.
A Never-Before-Seen Photographic Journey
Armed with an all-access press pass, I was able to step directly into the environments of the haunted house performers before the chaotic crowds arrived.
This exclusive access allowed me to pull back the curtain entirely. I took my camera behind the scenes into the high-stress environment of the makeup rooms, costume shops, and wardrobe areas. Capturing this raw preparation allowed me to build a unique visual narrative—a photographic journey documenting the stunning "before and after" transformation of regular people turning into creatures of the night.
Harnessing the Leica Q3 Monochrom in the Dark
Shooting in ultra-low-light, high-contrast environments is precisely what the Leica Q3 Monochrom was built for.
Instead of fighting the dark, I used it. The all-access pass allowed me to collaborate directly with the scare actors, positioning each performer to take full advantage of the ambient, erratic lighting of the houses. My technical approach for the night was simple but deliberate:
Expose for the highlights: Catching the sharp glint of a blade, the texture of complex theatrical makeup, or the cold sweat on a performer’s brow.
Crush the blacks: Letting the deep, shadow-heavy backgrounds fall into pure, clean negative space, forcing the viewer to look exactly where I wanted them to.
The sensory details of this production are spectacular. The textures of the aging walls, the sharp geometric angles of the sets, and the fleeting, terrifying expressions of the actors created a playground for monochromatic storytelling. It was a wonderful experience shooting such a meticulously orchestrated event.
"Want to learn how to tame erratic shadows and master high-contrast street environments yourself? Check out my Private Photography Workshops."
See the Movement: Short-Form Video Dropping Now
While black-and-white stills freeze the terror in time, you have to see these performers move to truly appreciate the high-end production value.
To bring you directly inside the park with me, I am dropping exclusive behind-the-scenes shorts and reels across all four of my social media channels. Follow the links at the bottom of the page to watch the atmosphere come alive, see how I set up these low-light shots, and get a closer look at the raw energy of the night.
A Must-Visit South Florida Experience
If you live in South Florida, you no longer need to make the drive north to get a world-class scare. Sounds of Screams brings an Orlando, theme-park-grade production directly to the heart of Miami. Make this your definitive Halloween choice this year—you won't regret it.
Scroll down to view the full monochromatic gallery from the grand opening.
See Miami Differently.
📸 Bring the Terror Home: High-resolution digital downloads, fine art prints, and custom-framed wall art from the Sounds of Screams series are now available
