I did a lot of shooting yesterday, making for a great day, of course! Photographing live dance is challenging, but great fun when things click and you get the shot. That was the afternoon shoot, and I have many photos still to cull through. Probably one of my workflow weaknesses is that I can’t leave the photos alone as I cull through them. I should really be just deciding which to keep and which to toss, but then I hit one that says, “spend some time here, you’ll be glad you did.” And I do. And I usually am. But it does slow me down.
Then last night, I shot Rochester Civic Theatre’s latest production, Kill Me Deadly. It’s a spoof of the old film noir genre. The writing is spot on – fast paced and filled with clichés and references. The cast is wonderful with great timing and they play it up very seriously – making it all the funnier – yet with just a little wink of the eye. I seriously haven’t laughed out loud at a show like I did opening night for a long time.
Usually, when I’m thinking about the photography for a show, musicals are the shows that tend to consistently provide great photo opportunities. They often have moody lighting, wonderful costumes, and action that works on camera. Serious, especially dark, dramas are similar. Think A Streetcar Named Desire or even Dracula. Comedies – well, not so much.
But this comedy is way different. I was thrilled watching it Friday evening – low lights, moody gels, colorful – yet muted – costumes. I knew it would be fun to shoot. Indeed it was.
Of course, it makes sense. Film noir was shot dark and moody. Usually black and white, so we have great color, but it’s all a shade lower so to speak. Lots of blue-gelled lights since much of the action seems to happen at night.
The hobos provided the nicely composed group shot I enjoy taking. And again we have these warm earth colors working against the blues. I love it, and I love the photos this light and these colors and this composition can produce.
The show is running one more weekend. Both times I saw it, the house was full or nearly full. It’s well worth your time if you want to spend an enjoyable evening laughing. Lots of talent on stage and behind the scenes, an amazingly well written story, well acted, and well directed. You might guess I loved this show. You’d be right!
