Role-Playing

In 2000, shortly after inheriting camera equipment from my mentor’s estate, I made use of one particular gift item called an extension tube (useful for close-up, or “macro,” photography). This intriguing little accessory became more than a welcomed offering and, since then, has been responsible for many of the photo compositions I’ve produced.

In this series, each photograph is a theatrical act in itself, presented by objects in a miniature stage setting. The first to perform in a principal role was a ceramic guitar player. The supporting cast included plant leaves and a white box. Carefully art directed, the ensemble was photographed under available light with the help of a simple desk lamp. Upon review, the small clay figure appeared surprisingly relevant and imposing — effectively dramatised by the magnifying powers of the extension tube.

As the playful study evolved, it triggered new ideas. For example, some objects were given multiple roles, as is the case with performers of a repertory theatre. I imagine the great Russian actor and director Konstantin Stanislavski would have approved of this role-playing. He once declared, “There are no small parts, only small actors.”

In life, we, too, should pay attention to his message: no role is so small that it can be ignored, including the role of objects.