Shoot-a-Week #5: Educating Rita
For the past few years, I've been taking the lobby portraits for Albany Civic Theater's productions. They're really just basic head shots. I've tried to change up my vocabulary in the past year, to make them a little more interesting. Still, when you're taking photos of up to 40 people at a time, and actors (who are the most self-conscious subjects I've ever had) to boot, there's not really that much you can do.
So, when kightp asked me to shoot some portraits for her production of Educating Rita, but not in the usual style, I couldn't resist. She was looking for something perhaps a little more dramatic, something that says "theater" more than it does "mug shot." Plus, with just two actors and the director, all people I know well, I knew I could take a little time and get it right.
I set up a few different locations in the Majestic: along their fly rail, in the stairwell from the stage, and out in the auditorium. The fly ropes gave a really interesting backdrop, with lines and shadows. The repeating motif of the auditorium seats made for a nicely graphic look. The stairwell didn't work out quite as well; it was a bit of an experiment with using a single light in a close, white-painted space, and it turned out to be lower-contrast lighting than I expected.
All in all, I'm pleased.
(Several more photos on flickr)
So, when kightp asked me to shoot some portraits for her production of Educating Rita, but not in the usual style, I couldn't resist. She was looking for something perhaps a little more dramatic, something that says "theater" more than it does "mug shot." Plus, with just two actors and the director, all people I know well, I knew I could take a little time and get it right.
I set up a few different locations in the Majestic: along their fly rail, in the stairwell from the stage, and out in the auditorium. The fly ropes gave a really interesting backdrop, with lines and shadows. The repeating motif of the auditorium seats made for a nicely graphic look. The stairwell didn't work out quite as well; it was a bit of an experiment with using a single light in a close, white-painted space, and it turned out to be lower-contrast lighting than I expected.
All in all, I'm pleased.
(Several more photos on flickr)