May 8, 2009
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Theater Photography
Wow, I thoroughly enjoy a technical challenge. In fact, there may be nothing more satisfying than "performing" in an absolutely abysmal condition.
Which is why I thoroughly enjoy shooting children's theater, and refuse to give it up as a "side job" as my career grows, changes shape, etc. All the greatest experts at being successful and making lots of money will tell you to to specialize in one thing only, and that being a "jack of all trades" will cap your potential success. But I also say that you gotta have FUN every now and then, even at work. Make time for the things you simply *WANT* to do. Also, you gotta keep yourself challenged, you gotta keep your skills sharp.
That's what children's theater is for me. I can challenge myself, while also shooting something I really love. A few times a year, I step into a pitch black theater, take off all the straps from my cameras, and set them to some of the craziest and dangerous settings / modes thinkable. It keeps me on my feet! It makes wedding photography seem like a walk in the park, from a technical standpoint. And most importantly, it keeps my ego in check, every time I drop the ball. And trust me, I drop the ball a lot. I have yet to come away from an event NOT thinking "I can totally do better next time!" (Wait is that a double negative? No I think it's okay. Ehh you get the point. There's always room for improvement.)
Alright I'm going to go to bed early now, it's only 3 AM! Normally I can't blog any of my children's theater work, for the privacy of the cast and a courtesy to parents, not to mention copyright laws. But this shot will be a full-page spread in a local performing arts magazine, so I begged and was given permission to share. Enjoy a frame from South Bay Conservatory's production of "The Mikado"!!!
Take care,
=Matt=
Nikon D300 - Sigma 50-150 - 50mm - f/2.8 - 1/350 sec. - ISO 640
Aperture priority, -2/3 comp, spot metering, auto-ISO, WB 3000K, JPG.
(Straight out of the camera, with a touch of black-point compensation.)
Comments (17)
This is awesome, Matt! I really do enjoy reading your blog entries!
That's gorgeous! Great job. Thanks for the inspiring words as well. I have heard that same thing about focus...it can be a difficult balance (which I have yet to find :>)
did you get a "press pass" to get close to the stage? how do you get one or get closer to the stage without one? i want to do theatre perfomances too.
nice shot.
@AnaBomber - Hi Ana, actually I contract privately with the group / production itself, so I start back-stage shooting portraits of all the cast, and then shot the rehearsal instead of the actual performance. So, with an empty theater, i'm free to roam back and forth right up front, to get all the best shots. This shot was taken, standing up (I'm 6'2") right at the edge of the stage. I NEVER shoot during the performance, because that incessant clicking noise is just totally annoying. I watched a play (out of town) once where the photographer DID shoot during the performance, and he was three rows back from me with a 300mm f/2.8, blazing away at 8 FPS; I wanted to jump back there and bludgeon him with that stupid thing.
Anyways, if you're LOCAL and would like to get into theater photography, I'm ALWAYS looking for skilled assistants with the right kind of gear and knowledge to shoot in pitch-black conditions! Let me know, I have another play to shoot in late July...
=Matt=
@MatthewSaville - i would like to be an assistant for you or any other photographer on anything, but i'm not skilled enough. i just recently purchased my first "real"/DSLR camera, so i'm still learning stuff beyond the basics on the camera.
@AnaBomber - Well, if you're around So Cal, you should come to our Facebook photo shoots! I can never remember where you live though. If it's close at all to the OC / IE, message me on Facebook...
=Matt=
YUMMY I love it! Such rich, bold color
@MatthewSaville - LOL over the image of you bludgeoning the photographer. I've felt that way about a few wedding photographers that distract the guests and I feel ruin a wedding by getting too up close and personal during the ceremony...very tacky
@MatthewSaville - i don't think i ever told you where i lived, but what a good guess! i live in diamond bar which is just north of brea. but that'd be awesome if i can join in on the facebook photoshoots!
lol...no kidding! I shoot a few times a year in very dark - pitchblack and hard lighted situations for performances, and makes other type of photography seem like a walk in the park, technique-wise. although i'm always amazed by what settings i'm willing to use and the results, i always feel like next time i'll do better! never satisfied, but maybe that's what keeps you improving each and every time!
@dimsom - Totally man. Challenging your limits is really healthy I believe. Some people (you know who you are!) really shy away from daunting technical situations, just out of fear. Call me a junkie, but I'm addicted to that RUSH I get when I conquer difficult light.
And really, the stage does NOT actually constitute low-light. I mean look at these settings; f/2.8 and ISO 640? That's hardly "abysmal". Try ISO 3200 and f/1.4, THEN you're talking DARKNESS. But theater still presents some insane exposure and metering etc. challenges. Of course if the light were perfectly even and constant, it would be easy enough to just shoot in manual and dial in a perfect exposure in less than 15 seconds. But the actors move up stage, down, and the light changes from scene to scene. Not to mention that sometimes the guy in the back working the spotlight does a sloppy job, hahaha...
Anyways. My whole point in this blog post is NOT, "look at me, I'm so skilled, this was a monumental feat and few others can do as good as I!" No, quite the opposite in fact, the accomplishment here is actually minuscule, it was simply my bravery and willingness to give it a shot that, well, got me the shot...
Mmk, next blog post!!!
=Matt=
Wow! Amazing! When you say Children's Theatre I always think paper mache costumes and little kids buzzing around stage. This is WAY better
@MatthewSaville - what's the name or link of the group on facebook?
Dope picture Matt!
looks great man!
i'd love to shoot w/ you at a theatre production...but my knowledge of the zone system is shoddy at best and i even feel less comfortable with spot metering!
Are you bracketing these exposures?
@mrayatpa - No, I'm just doing my darndest to nail it! No time (or memory card space) to bracket... Sometimes I totally blow it, of course...
=Matt=