Tag:Black and White Photos
Behind the Scenes of the Gigi Proietti Award: My Backstage Photo Story
Glances, smiles, and the pure emotion felt just before stepping on stage
There’s an indescribable magic that moves behind the scenes of a great theatrical event. As the hall fills up and the stage lights come on, backstage a parallel show unfolds — made of stolen glances, knowing smiles, and that pure adrenaline that only theatre can give.
On Monday 24 November 2025, on the occasion of the first edition of the Gigi Proietti Award at the Teatro Sala Umberto in Rome, I had the privilege of moving through the shadows with my camera around my neck, devoting myself entirely to backstage reportage. The goal wasn’t to document the official programme, but to capture the truth of stolen moments backstage before stepping into the spotlight.
The challenge of shooting in the shadows
Working in a theatre backstage means dealing with extreme, constantly changing lighting conditions. You go from the near-total darkness of the side corridors to the harsh shafts of light filtering from the stage spotlights, all the way to the warm, soft tones of the dressing rooms. For a photographer, managing these contrasts is a constant technical challenge.
For this visual story I chose to alternate between colour and black and white. Monochrome, in particular, allowed me to strip the scene of the colour cast from the stage lights, concentrating all the attention on facial expressions, the details of gestures, and the psychological depth of the protagonists before they stepped into the spotlight.
Capturing the emotion before the stage
The parade of great artists who paid tribute to Proietti’s memory revealed itself unfiltered in front of the lens. Moving without being noticed, respecting the silence and concentration of the actors and musicians, is the first rule of a good stage photographer.
It’s in this invisibility that the most honest shots are born:
- Absolute concentration: Moments captured in the dark, where the artist withdraws mentally for an instant before reaching the microphone, silently going over lines or notes.
- Stolen smiles: The freeing hug or the shared laugh with colleagues right after leaving the stage, when the tension melts away and gives way to satisfaction.
- Interaction with the stage: Shooting from the side, using the wings as natural frames for the shot, makes it possible to show the unique, deep connection that forms between the performer at the piano and the audience listening in the darkness of the hall.
See you backstage
Work like this is a reminder of how essential the synergy is between those on stage and those behind the lens: when there’s respect for each other’s work and you immerse yourself discreetly in the atmosphere of the theatre, the emotion shows in every single sharp frame.
A special thanks goes to the Proietti family – in particular to Sagitta, Carlotta and Susanna – for allowing me to document up close, with complete creative freedom, the backstage of such an important evening. The files from this incredible event are ready. For any information about theatrical photography services, event reportage, or collaborations on future projects, you can contact me directly through the site. See you next time!
