I was approached by Playhouse In The Park, a live theater venue in Cincinnati, to participate in what they have called their “Artist’s Project.” In the lobby of their venue, and a sitting area near the refreshment stand, Playhouse has built-glass frame which usually display photos from whatever play or musical is currently running. This year as part of their 50th anniversary season, they decided to ask local artists to produce work for the displays. I shot photos the night that they announced the line-up for the season and while I was there made an image with my pinhole camera of the building. That image is what prompted them to ask me to participate. So I decided to go back and shoot the inside of the building to create a square dipytch showing the inside and outside of venue. The frames are perfect squares measuring 15.75 inches. The following image is now on display (and for sale) at Playhouse In The Park in the sitting area. The top image took about 5 minutes to expose with my Holga Wide Pinhole camera on 120 film, the second image took over 15 minutes to expose. The camera produces negatives that are 6cm tall by 12cm wide, that 833% more area than a typical 35mm negative. I hope you enjoy it.

Some of the best photos I’ve seen in the “events coverage” category (meaning planned event like plays, speeches, ceremonies, etc…) are the behind-the-scene’s shots. Even the general public likes these kinds of shots, so much so they are now inviting photographers to shoot preparations for their weddings in dressing rooms and the like. Regardless, of your opinion on that, I shot a nice frame at a Cincinnati Ballet dance rehearsal a few weeks ago. The dancers were relaxing on stage during a “lighting rehearsal” which involves very little dancing and a lot of hanging out on stage while the choreographer and lighting person get the light schemes, cues and timing right. A nice moment, I think.

My niece is adventurous, unfearing and without a doubt tough. I think this shot pretty much sums that up. “Let’s see if Cadence can do it… then we’ll go.” And this is yet another example of the luck that film brings to photography. Scale focus, manual exposure with a non-ttl lightmeter,  not looking through the viewfinder; sometimes it all comes together. And you don’t even know it until a few days later, it’s like Christmas and your birthday TOGETHER.