“Between the impulse and the action.”
Documenting a theatre/dance/music production is not only about being lucky and getting a great shot. It is a crafty process where the photographer translates the story into a set of images.
Each show has a different narrative, look and feel, lights, pace, sets, costumes and the actors. The theatre photographer should react quickly and, facing adverse technical situations (darkness, speed, timing), has to be able to capture not only all the previously mentioned elements, but also the soul of the drama. Without that, the photograph is only a pretty image of actors standing on a set!
I define my approach to theatre photography as “Between the impulse and the action“. Performing arts photography has to capture the drama, something urgent that is happening. But also has to ‘sell the show’. So, I prefer to capture the moments in between, when something is about to happen, but we don’t know what yet. Go and see the play to find out!
The dramatic intention, the suspense, the expectation of a drama to unfold, the calm before the storm: the instant between the impulse (a cause) and the action (a consequence).
