UNMASKED

Anderson "THE SPIDER" Silva

February 11, 2011 - Hermosa Beach, CA

I came up with this photo idea to help the new or casual fan understand MMA by using a pop culture icon to bridge the gap between Anderson’s fighting style and their favorite comic book hero.

Spider-Man is arguably one of the greatest comic book hero’s of all time so this image had to be perfect. It took me 6 months to find the perfect mask, with the right cloth texture and the webbed eyes, so it was a shame that I had to cut it open.

As a photographer I find that if you tell the subject every idea you have, it gives them time to think about it and decide if they want to do it or not and that can kill a shot before you even execute it.  Had I told Anderson, I’m going to put you in a Spider-Man mask and I want you to pull it open to reveal that Spider Man is really Anderson Silva.

The significance of the shot would not have translated in a text or conversation and it definitely wouldn’t have happened.

Anderson was going on a trip with his family, so I convinced him to do some cool, styled family portraits before he left and as soon as they were finished, I pulled the mask out and he busted out with a laugh and the biggest smile on his face as I handed it to him. He gladly put it on and for those 6 minutes, he became Spider Man.

Even if you didn’t know who Anderson Silva was, from this image, you get the impression that he’s a little bit more than human.

This is a Limited Edition Giclée on cotton fiber paper. /  Edition Size is limited to 72 pieces.

The image Size is "16x20" / Approximate framed size “24 x 28”

Artwork will be signed by photographer Eric Williams.