In March 2022, I volunteered as a photographer for the dance drama My Mulan. I was assigned to shoot video at both the dress rehearsal and the premiere. For the second performance, I was told that theatrical haze would be used. The haze would bring the lighting to life, so I set aside my video work and decided to take a series of stage photographs built around the light.
© Richard HuangHaving seen the premiere, I knew there would be a solo in front of the curtain. I chose a seat in the front row on the left side of the theatre and took this photograph from there. It was later published 1x.comon a website and also used in the organizers’ promotional material.
© Richard HuangBut once the main curtain opened, I had a problem. Two rows of dazzling lights stood on the right side of the stage, while a large floor-standing speaker blocked the left. Avoiding both obstacles left only a very narrow opening in the middle. My view from the side was already restricted, so capturing the full effect of the stage was nearly impossible.
© Richard HuangThe production also had a rule that photographers could not move around, so changing position was out of the question. I thought, That’s it—this will be the only photograph I get from the entire performance. I might as well put the camera down and enjoy the show.
© Richard HuangBut with a camera in my hands, I could not quite let it go. After studying the scene, I realized that by shooting vertically, I could keep both obstacles out of the frame.
© Richard HuangA vertical frame had its limitations. I could not photograph the ensemble dances or fit the stage’s grander scenes into the picture.
© Richard HuangSo I settled for the next best thing and concentrated on the solos.
© Richard HuangVertical framing had advantages of its own. It brought out each performer’s individual expression more clearly and made it easy to weave the stage lighting into the composition.
© Richard HuangDespite the unexpected problem, being confined to such a narrow opening forced me to abandon my usual landscape orientation. Even so, I more or less accomplished what I had set out to do: photograph the lighting.
© Richard HuangLife can be like that sometimes. When we are hemmed into a limited space, a change of approach—and a determined little squeeze—may carve out a small corner we can call our own…