The Burlesque Ball
By Adam Piggott
31 Dec 2008
Local alternative modelling agency the Drop Dead Dolls have twice organised a Burlesque Ball in my home town of Hastings. Both times I've been lucky enough to go along and take backstage portraits of the artists both before and after the show.
There's something about backstage portraits I love. It's the bridge between the street and the stage, the private and the public, that middle ground where ordinariness becomes transformed. They're all dressed up and ready to go and you're there to capture that, the performance aspect as well as the anticipation, adrenaline and expectation.
Burlesque is definitely good time stuff and the performers have alot of fun and the atmosphere backstage is full of good feeling, support and comraderie. As a photographer you also have plenty of willing models, most of whom are very comfortable in front of the camera and happy to collaborate to get the best shots.
Many times I've photographed the performers on the stairs and been an obstacle to everyone moving about backstage but having a camera and a backstage pass makes it seem official so people actually apologise to me for interupting!
Burlesque nights are late nights. Not because I'm partying but because I can't wait to see the pictures so I'm usually up until the early hours sorting through and editing them all.
2 responses
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David Adler gave props (31 Dec 2008):
Very interesting subject seen in a fresh way from a unique perspective. Bravoi!
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Terry Russell said (4 Jan 2009):
great essay adam...would love to have seen this published!
