A.D. Drumm Images, LLC – Landscape, Portrait, and Fine Art Photography in Rochester MN Photography

As RCT’s production of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe grows closer, it was time to shoot some promotional shots for ads. When I arrived, Mari was working on the lion’s make-up. It’s fun to watch. Last August for the volunteer party, I donned Charlie Chaplin’s tramp attire, and Lynne did some eye make-up on me. I have to say, it was strange having that make-up applied. I guess folks must get used to it!

The promo shots need to happen well before opening, but this usually means costumes and sets are still being created. We need enough costumes for the principal actors to have at least one available. Sets – well, those are generally starting to come together, but just. I try to be extra vigilant about what is behind the actors and adjust my shooting angles to work with what we have.

These shots worked out nicely in that the background was mostly much darker than the subjects. A little touching up in Lightroom also helps.

Greg wanted individual shots of the White Witch and Aslan, the lion. Lisa’s expression and pose is priceless!

I went in pretty tight on Ted. This shows off the great job Mari did on his make-up. I was pleased to see the great costumes and all the color. I’m looking forward to shooting the show photos.

You can purchase tickets now. It should be a terrific show!

Rochester Civic Theatre’s next production, well into rehearsals now, is The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. This is the C.S. Lewis tale about a mythical land called Narnia. While I’m certainly familiar with the name, and I knew there is a Lion in it (yes, it’s right there in the title), I’ve never read the book. Lynne and I just saw the movie recently after recording it on our DVR. I’m looking forward to seeing how it plays on the stage.

I was down to the theatre a week ago to shoot head shots. There’s a fairly large cast. Word was that the auditions brought out tons of actors which is great. The head shot shoot went well, and everyone who needed a new head shot was there! The young man above has a name I can easily remember – Tony! His pose was all him, and I think it turned out great.

Some folks love having their photos taken. Others are more reluctant. I can understand that. I’m a whole lot more comfortable on my regular side of the camera, although I’m getting better at just letting go and relaxing when someone takes my photo. I think maybe it’s because of my own shooting. Who knows?

Anyway, Carl wasn’t jumping up and down to have his photo shot, but as soon as I took it, I knew it was going to be just fine. I think his face shows lots of character.

There are others whom the camera loves. I’ve shot Ellie a few times and I don’t think I have a less than great photo of her. Her eyes really shine, really draw you in.

Eyes are important in these head shots and are often the first thing you see, where the viewers eyes go. But sometimes it’s a smile like Mackenzie’s. A great smile and hair that wraps around and frames her face.

That’s the thing about shooting people, and why, more and more, I love it. Every face is different, every shot is different. Personalities and emotion, life, age, all those things can come out on a little two dimensional photograph.

White Christmas is one of those big musicals from the era when the American musical was an event more than just a story set to music. There are big song and dance numbers and a plot of sorts to hold it all together. You really attend a show like this, I think, to enjoy the musical performances. Not for the poignancy of Home Games, for instance.

As a Christmas show, it works really well. Folks are looking for good family entertainment in December as the Minnesota winter sets in. Last year, it was accompanied by tons of snow. This year for the reprise, not so much!

The lights and costumes provide lots of color to work with when photographing the show. But, the scale of the numbers means there are lots of shots you want to make really wide. Try to gather it all in. But that’s hard to do effectively. I’m torn – I want to show the scope of the numbers, but I also want to zoom in and focus on the main players. I want to show sisters Betty and Judy in their nightclub setting, and also show them up close and personal.

I just end up shooting them both ways. I think it works. See what I mean about the color? Hard to take a bad photo here.

There are plenty of fun moments, too. Can’t go wrong with having the guys do the Sisters number!

Some of the numbers are intimate which makes for interesting photos. I love the glance over the shoulder. A shot like this doesn’t need the context of the show. It works on its own telling its own story. If I can find one or two photos like this in a show shoot, I’m happy. You can see this moment still happens in a “club” with patrons, yet it’s still about these two people. It’s intimate in spite of the setting. The stage lighting helps for sure.

Yes, the two lovers get together in the end. Did I spoil it for you? I don’t think so. I regard shots like this as classic for this sort of story. Still, you need to make sure it looks right and meets the expectations. I think it’s a good photo and kind of nice. But the one above is the more interesting photo to me.

There are a couple huge numbers at the conclusion of the show. Back to the problem of capturing the size and scope of it. The costumes and all that red help. It gives some visual interest that pulls you in a bit. Trying to shoot it with drab costumes would be tougher.

As RCT prepares for the final weekend of the show, I hear it’s sold out for all four performances (counting the one happening as I write this). That’s incredible! It’s terrific for the theatre, it’s great for the cast and crew and orchestra who love performing in front of big crowds. And it’s great for the audiences. Big audiences are fun to be a part of, and live theatre is a treat. The calibre of our local performers really shines in a show like this.

Me? I’m just a photographer doing what I love and sharing it with whoever happens upon this modest blog!

Last Saturday, I took photos for Home Games, RCT’s latest production. This is a fast-paced play yet sort of intimate with a cast of only three actors. Those three have their work cut out for them, carrying the whole show. They do a wonderful job. When I saw the show on opening night, I was amazed at how quickly the first act was over.

RCT has the big production, well-known musicals like the upcoming encore of White Christmas. They also produce non-musicals that are widely known like those of Tennessee Williams.

Fortunately, they don’t rely only on those famous (and, now, somewhat aging) shows to fill their schedule. They also bring us some fabulous shows that we haven’t all heard of. And that’s good for theatre-goers. There’s a world of theatre and drama out there to be enjoyed and to broaden our vision and ourselves.

Shooting a show like Home Games with a box set and pretty minimal lighting effects is a bit straightforward. We still need to find good angles, especially as the director, Greg, likes to use the full stage for his blocking. It’s often brilliant blocking, but can challenge me in trying to tell a story with a still image.

Depth of field can be a friend helping to pull the main characters out from the background while still letting the person standing in the background, whose presence in the moment is in many ways no less important, exist in the shot. Visually, still present yet the relationship is evident.

Congratulations to the cast and crew (and Lynne who is stage managing the show)! It runs for one more weekend – there are still four opportunities to see it.

I’m happy again to be able to meld my art with theatre. Very fun!