Hello Friends and Family,
Link to this year's index by clicking here.
ASU Gammage, Part 4 |
My tour of Gammage moved inside the auditorium and, I must say, it is spectacular. No productions were being staged — thus the stage was empty so you can even see backstage. At the center back of the stage is a symphony wall which is now movable and removable. You might recall that outside the box office stands a wall displaying posters of upcoming shows. Well, that wall is actually the storage "closet" for this symphony wall. It is heavy and was not designed to be portable but with a little help from NASA (an organization known for moving large heavy objects), they figured out a way to wheel the wall to that "closet" whenever it would be in the way of a production. |
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Here is a panoramic image of what it looks like to be the star performer standing on the middle of the stage looking out into the audience. Since I do not have a performing talent, this is as close as I will ever get to that feeling. You might note my tour guide standing at the edge of the stage to the right — she was quite good and allowed me all the access and photos I wanted. Photography note: this image actually consists of five shots — handheld (no tripod) and stitched together in Photoshop. It turned out quite well considering the challenges. |
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I did find it interesting that they mixed fluorescent and incandescent light fixtures in an area where performers would be applying their makeup. The former tend to produce a greenish cast and the latter an amber cast — a nightmare for photographers and I would have thought the same for performers. Perhaps the fact that green and red are complementary colors make it work out somehow. |
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We re-entered the auditorium at the top level and I walked to the center to capture this shot. By the way, the barrier at the front of this balcony is quite low and no longer allowed by OSHA although Gammage has grandfathered permission to retain it. Any remodeling in this area would require a safer alternative. Suggestion: anyone who suffers from Acrophobia should probably select seats in the second row or even farther back. |
I hope you have enjoyed this multi-week venture into the world and works of Frank Lloyd Wright. Next week, something new. |
Life is good.
Aloha,
B. David
P. S., All photos and text © B. David Cathell Photography, Inc. — www.bdavidcathell.com