This evening I'm heading over to a small theater to photograph the dress rehearsal of a modern opera. I have no idea about the content or the extended storyline but I'm thrilled to be back shooting live theater. The space is smaller than the main stage at Zach Theatre....by a factor of 4. I won't need much in the way of really long telephotos but I did pack judiciously.
I'm stuffing two cameras and three lenses into that Gitzo photo backpack I got earlier in the Summer. And it seems like a good idea since we're forecasted to have rain this afternoon/evening for the first time since June. Really. June. (Finally, the forecast actually came true. Good rain this afternoon and more on the way!!!).
So, what am I packing? I decided to take the two Leica SL camera bodies, set up identically. Raw on one card and Jpeg on the other. The camera does good high ISO and I've gotten a lot of experience using them on every kind of project. I've packed four extra batteries --- because you never know.
The wide angle lens I packed is the Leica 24-90mm f2.8-4.0. It's sharp wide open. I'll use it there. The second lens is the big (but not too big) Panasonic 70-200mm f4.0 S-Pro. The reach might be overkill for the smaller space but it's better to have it and not use it than to want it/not have it and be disappointed because it got left at home. The third lens I packed is the Sigma 65mm f2.0 lens. Just because.
For an opera this one is going to be short. About 90 minutes. Straight through with no intermission. Just the way I like it.
After a long hiatus it seems like the arts groups are getting back into action and ramping up their shows. I think I'll take along a face mask. Just in case...
6 comments:
Must be nice to be back in the arts saddle again! Good idea taking a mask.
I hope you are wearing footwear appropriate for jumping in rain puddles after the shoot ;)
Eric
Got my waterproof hiking boots on. Ready for action!
Wow. Two years! Looking forward to seeing the results. Your live theatre shots are always fun.
Mark
I have always envied your work with theatre groups. I wonder how one gets into it.
Hi Jon,
Find a small theater group that is a non-profit and does good work and approach them with the offer to photograph a few shows for them gratis. Treat it like a big job and shoot for perfect. Put together a nice portfolio of images and approach bigger theater companies. They all need photos and video to market themselves. Some have budgets and some don't. If it's something I really love and it's a project of passion on which no one is getting rich but everyone is having fun I'll do it for free. For a while, when Zach Theater was having profound financial problems I volunteered for free for many earlier shows. They could barely afford the film and processing! But by the time their budgets recovered and they could pay I had a well stocked portfolio and a good client for the next 20 years.
Also, in many towns the non-profit theaters are a tightly knit community. Everyone knows every one else. Referrals are rampant. Be nice. Do a good job and you'll likely keep getting referred to new clients.
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