Black and White Photography Blog, Vol. I

Sure, I should have gone to the U.N. and shot the machine guns pointed at the crowd of protesters. Or the black draped coffins; or the anit-Bush demonstrators; or the anti-Iranian President protesters; or the other clash of civilizations; or the buzzing helicopters; or the signs of the times; and a few years ago I would have jumped on it.

Instead, I went to Bethesda Fountain for the third day in a row. And every day has been a surprise. The sun was beaming. And today a wedding scene for SVU New York. I had seen them yesterday photographing a corpse on the steps of the met. But today it was an extravaganza. A cast of thousands, or at least hundreds. It took me almost two hours to worm my way over to the overlook spot where I usually shoot from - there were that many spectators.

Fake conflict by the fountain was choreographed beautifully. They did the wide shot with three cameras, one on a dolly, one steadycam, and one static; and a fight breaks out; wedding cake scrunched in the grooms face; two pretty girls fighting and one rips the other’s top off; (guy next to me says, I’ll watch that episode); a string quartet playing on the steps. PA’s everywhere telling you to move. And even a sequence that looked like a bar room brawl. All in that sacred plaza.

Sometimes I think I could do a short book just on the Bethesda Fountain area. There was even an HMI light for backlighting on the stairs which I tried to incorporate into my own shots.

I’ve never seen the show or even heard of it. Shows how out of it I am. I don’t know if I would watch it because it was easy to see how it would be cut together. A slow dolly beauty shot from the lake towards the fountain; and then something happening in the distance on the plaza… You can imagine it pretty well.

They did the wide establishing shot of the fighting three times. It’s simply amazing how many people and how much equipment was involved. The lens for the panavision camera could barely be carried by one person. Maybe this is the result of shooting in HD. They never used to be that size.

The one thing that hasn’t changed since I was in the business - at the end of each shot - there’s a guy that swings the lens back and looks to see if there’s any dust in the gate of the camera. He radios someone on the other side of the scene - “gates clean.”

The assistant director yells to everyone: 8 minutes ’til next setup. The extras look for shade or something to drink. Some put suntan lotion on.

Eventually the A.D. yells - background people - take your places. Position ONE!!!!

They mingle around using all their acting skills although they’ll be out of focus. But who knows - maybe this is the day they’ll be discovered.

Boring and exciting at the same time. The assistant camera man looks up at us onlookers peering down and says, “Hey! Who wouldn’t want to go to a wedding like this!”

As each scene finishes, the spectators clap their approval. Theater with 10 minute intervals between each scene. No one famous since this is the opening and the guys and gals with the white plastic gloves haven’t arrived yet. But they will… Maybe tomorrow!  Then we’ll know who done it and flip to something else.