Tag Archives: rigging

Photographs: Architecture, Photographs: Music & Musicians, Photographs: Night, Photographs: Structures and Objects

Fly Space Rigging

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Fly Space Rigging
Fly Space Rigging

Fly Space Rigging. San Jose, California. March 23, 2014. © Copyright 2014 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Looking straight up into the fly space of the California Theater, San Jose

As I work on my three-year project photographic classical musicians, I spend a lot of time around their rehearsal and performance spaces. In addition to photographing the people, I have also photographed the environment within which they work, and not always the obvious parts that are visible to those who attend concerts and see the formal appearance of the stage.

A lot of interesting things exist in the backstage world. In contrast to the stage itself, at least as viewed from the perspective of the audience, this is a world seems as much industrial as artistic, but even that “industrial” aspect is an interesting combination of some very modern technology (such as lighting and sound systems) and some very old technology (the equipment for hoisting sets and other equipment on and off the stage). This photograph looks straight up into that equipment and the catwalk near the highest point in the backstage fly space.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist whose subjects include the Pacific coast, redwood forests, central California oak/grasslands, the Sierra Nevada, California deserts, urban landscapes, night photography, and more.
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Text, photographs, and other media are © Copyright G Dan Mitchell (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Abstract, Photographs: Music & Musicians, Photographs: Structures and Objects, Photographs: Textures

Theatrical Landscape #1

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Theatrical Landscape #1
Theatrical Landscape #1

Theatrical Landscape #1. San Jose, California. January 11, 2013. © Copyright 2013 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Abstract photograph based on stage rigging and theatrical lighting.

I know what I’m looking at in this photograph, but I wonder how apparent the subject is to other viewers, or if it appears completely abstract? The photograph was made backstage in the wings of a theater where I have recently been photographing a very different sort of subject. The “stuff” of the theatrical world intrigues me, and the stuff here is the rigging that is mounted high in the fly space above the stage: catwalks, lights, cables of various sorts, and much more. Intense lights were mounted very high above this backstage area, shining down through much of this other material, so I simply pointed the camera up, composed a shot that included the source of the light, and made a rather long handheld exposure, during which I intentionally moved the camera a bit.

The project that brought me to this theater is a long-term one to photograph professional musicians in situations other than just their concerts. I’m initially working with classical groups, but I may consider expanding the scope to include other sorts of music later on. While working on this project I attend a lot of concerts and rehearsals. Besides having an opportunity to photographically explore this other artistic world, I get to watch and talk with musical artists and hear a ton of wonderful music. This project is not yet at the point where I’m ready to share much of the photography, but stay tuned…

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist whose subjects include the Pacific coast, redwood forests, central California oak/grasslands, the Sierra Nevada, California deserts, urban landscapes, night photography, and more.
Blog | About | Flickr | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | 500px.com | LinkedIn | Email

Text, photographs, and other media are © Copyright G Dan Mitchell (or others when indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Northern California, Photographs: San Francisco

Morning, South Beach Harbor, Clearing Fog

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South Beach Harbor, Clearing Morning Fog

Morning, South Beach Harbor, Clearing Fog. San Francisco, California. September 16, 2009. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Moored boats float in calm water under morning high fog on San Francisco Bay at South Beach Harbor.

The South Beach Harbor is a favorite subject of mine when I take the train to San Francisco to do photography on foot. I often walk from the Caltrain station past AT&T Park towards the Embarcadero, which takes me right to this spot. If the combination of still water, fog, and/or early morning light is right I usually stop and shoot here a bit before moving on.

On this morning the water was just about as smooth as I’ve ever seen on this part of the San Francisco Bay. Although there was fog, it ws the higher variety that still permits long views across the water, and it was already clearing when I arrived.

This photograph is not in the public domain. It may not be used on websites, blogs, or in any other media without explicit advance permission from G Dan Mitchell.

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keywords: san francisco, california, usa, travel, tourist, scenic, city, urban, downtown, fog, high, clouds, reflection, sky, morning, boat, sail, yacht, moor, dock, south, beach, harbor, oakland, east, bay, waterfront, mast, rigging, hull, travel, scenic, embarcadero, smooth, still, calm, stock, maritime, break, water

Photographs: Central California, Photographs: Structures and Objects, Photographs: Urban/Street

Shipyard Structure, Dusk

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Shipyard Structure, Dusk
Shipyard Structure, Dusk. Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California. © Copyright G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

Old shipyard industrial structure at dusk with water, evening sky, and city of Vallejo, California in the background. Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Photographed on a night photography trip to Mare Island with in late March. Although we were there primarily to shoot at night under the full moon, I had a chance to do a bit of photography during dusk.

keywords: mare island, naval, shipyard, vallejo, california, crane, rigging, structure, industrial, equipment, dusk, sunset, sky, water, bay, steel, rust, usa, navy, historic, stock, building, dry dock, scaffold