e
Brand

The curtain rises

The lights go dim, the curtain rises, a group of actors on stage, no script to follow, no one to suggest the lines, no scenery with the exception of 2 wooden cubes.

Did the spectators pay a ticket to see nothing? Fear not, the spectator is about to go on stage, this is improvisational theater.

Improv became part of my life three years ago when I joined the Vicolo Chekhov Academy of improvisational theater in Civitavecchia.

“Improvisation means – in a generic sense – the act of creating something as it is being performed, in a spontaneous and casual manner.” And it is the main characteristic of this type of theater where the actors don’t follow any specific plot. Rather, the script is improvised on the spot by the spectators’ input such as a place, a color, a relationship or an object.

On stage you strip off your clothes and become a character with a new voice, a new posture,

a new facial expression and a story to tell. A story that evolves as you write it straight off with your fellow actors on stage.

bag (2)

 

Once I became part of this world I had the opportunity to dedicate my time to stage photography.

When taking photographs in a theater you no longer have the sunlight or the soft box lighting to rely on. Instead you find yourself in an ambient where the artificial light follows an improvised rhythm.

There are times when the light covers the entire stage, there are times when the light beam is on a single person and there are times when the lighting colors generate dominant blues, reds, yellows and greens.

The actors on stage are rarely standing still so not only does a photographer have to adapt to the lighting but there is also the need to follow the actors’ movements.

Rather than drawing with light in the theater, you need to chase it to avoid overexposure or underexposure.

bag (3)

When I take photos I try to find the right compromise between ISO, aperture and timing, adapting myself to changes in light. The ISO is never lower than 800 and the shooting times are never lower than 1/50 of a second, unless I want to create micro-movement effects. I alternate the one shot autofocus mode with the Ai-Servo depending on whether or not the actors are standing still or moving on stage.

In photography the shooting angle is fundamental. In some theaters it is possible to move from the right to the left of the stage, along the side corridors, without creating any visual obstacles for the spectators. In others, I have to decide in advance where to position myself.

Keeping track of the entire show with a single camera body is an impossible task because you risk losing parts of the scenes if you dismantle and reassemble the lens. The gear I take with me at each performance is a Canon 60d and a Canon 550d, a luminous lens (a Sigma 24-70 DG DF f2.8), a wide angle lens (a Mir 20 mm f3.5) and a zoom lens (70-200 f4) for close-ups.

The backpack that holds my equipment is the Manfrotto Gear Backpack L.

 bag (4)

It’s a light and compact backpack and its space is subdivided into various compartments: the lower part is for the camera equipment, and the upper one is for the accessories (memory cards, remote controls, batteries, flashes, filters).

The frontal opening from above, via robust hinges, allows me to easily access and remove camera bodies and lenses. The internal separators can be positioned to suit your needs. The backpack can hold far more than I usually bring with me to the theater; in addition to the two camera bodies and three lenses that I usually use there is also room for a flash unit, another short focus lens and the Manfrotto Pixi tripod.

There are also two pockets on the inside that come with a zipper and a honeycomb canvas cover for small accessories.

bag (5)

5-2

In addition to the space that extends throughout the entire length of the backpack, there are two small padded pockets in the upper compartment for personal items and a pocket with a zip closure. The backpack’s build quality is well protected and provides excellent security against possible impact shocks.

Despite being robust the Manfrotto Gear Backpack L is really comfortable, it only weighs 700 g.

8

The adjustable shoulder straps and the backrest, padded with high quality materials, distribute the weight evenly over both shoulders, thus reducing fatigue should the theater be far away.

bag (7)

The Manfrotto Gear Backpack L has a handle at the top, which enables you to grab it and carry it around like a briefcase. You can attach a tripod to the strap on the right side, while the external side pocket can hold a note pad or a bottle of water.

The external front pocket is ideal for holding a smartphone. And of course the Manfrotto Gear Backpack L comes with a rain cover.

bag (6)

If I need to take video recordings I mount my canon 60d with a Sigma 24-70 DG DF f2.8 on my Manfrotto Pixi mini tripod. It’s lightweight and sturdy (made of steel and Adepto) to the point that it can hold an SLR, and it comes with a rotating head (vertically or laterally) at the click of a little button on the front. I place the camera on the side of the stage to take fixed position shots, whereas when it comes to taking mobile shots I close the tripod’s three legs and I hold it so as to ensure greater camera stability.

9

Photographing in a theater doesn’t simply mean to stop a moment; it is mainly telling the performance through the actors’ close-ups, their gestures, their proxemics and leaving the viewer the ability to filter an ongoing scene through their own eyes.

Thanks, and I’ll catch you on my next adventure.

My photos:

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

Our Brands