Macbeth

This past week, we saw Shakespeare’s Macbeth. It receives a simplistic makeover in Director Declan Donnellan’s version of this classic. This play tells the story of a man who never seems to be satisfied with what he has; after hearing a prophesy about his eventual position as King, he resolves to do anything it takes to get him to that seat of power. He doesn’t accomplish this all on his own, however; Lady Macbeth does her part to ensure their status as the elite.

Johan Persson

The design and how it was executed was unlike anything I’ve seen before. It resembled more of a concert than anything else. The only set pieces involved were on either side of the stage, resembling an empty warehouse. With thick fog covering the stage, silhouettes emerged from the mist, which was an amazing lighting technique. The clever use of the dramatic lighting created a three dimensional “set” of sorts; the characters interacted within the boundaries of the lighted stage. The result filled the stage with interest, creating an ever-changing environment. I loved the design.

Johan Persson

In terms of sound, costume, and general interpretation, I thought that Donnellan’s presentation was unique. The styling of music with dance and choreography created interest; the actors weren’t just delivering their lines – they were using body language to portray what Shakespeare might have intended. The plain black uniforms shifted our attention off the actors and onto the lines they were delivering. I’d be interested in reading the design statements and seeing works in progress for this piece because it’ll give me an inside into Donnellan’s intensions.
All in all, Donnellan’s version of Macbeth was unique, but it seems that the actors were not able to live up to the design that their director may have envisioned. While the design was extremely well executed, a better casting call should have been taken to provide the audience with the whole package.

British Music Experience

Located in London’s O2 complex (which is a great place to hang out), The British Music Experience is an interactive and technologically advanced center that offers tons of information and entertainment from 1945 to 2010. My experience began with a brief video showing us how to use the SmartTicket and the benefits of the program. The SmartTicket allowed me to download information to the card and access saved data online. It’s a great way to get more out of my visit, so I’m glad that they offered this option, especially since we weren’t allowed to take photos. 

The central hub has rooms radiating out around the edges, each one exhibiting a different time period. The area is well designed because it moves the viewer smoothly through each era of music. 

My favorite showcase was probably 1993 to present because it definitely reminded me of my childhood. Many of Britain's hits made their way to the US, and we still listen to them this day (Bittersweet Symphony by the Verve was my graduation song in 2007). While there were several really amazing indie bands, a surge of girl and boy bands struck gold during the 90s. One of the most popular bands were the Spice Girls. I still rock out to them today, and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

Another amazing room in the British Music Experience was the Gibson Interactive Studio. With full drumsets, pianos, basses, and an array of electric and acoustic guitars, I was in heaven after being musically deprived for the past two months. I could sit there for hours with tutorial videos or just playing on my own. What an incredible idea; I approve.

All in all, the trip to the British Music Experience was extremely informative and a great way to spend an afternoon. I loved all of the technology throughout the exhibit; the interactive pieces certainly engaged me, and it was definitely not a normal museum visit.

 

Chocolate!

Saturday the 27th, we were surprised to hear about a CHOCOLATE festival at South Bank! Who can say "no" to chocolate! A bunch of us got together and headed down towards the Thames to get some free samples and great chocolate.

The Festival lasted from Saturday to Sunday and boasted over 30 vendors selling items ranging from the richest, purest cocoa to chili-flavored chocolate and more.

There were also many different demonstrations on cooking with chocolate, both in sweet and savory dishes, as well as instruction on chocolate sculpting. There was an exhibition of several chocolate sculptures, which was pretty awesome to see. I've only ever watched Food Network chocolate competitions, so it was cool to see the sculptures in real life.

Hampton Court Palace

Thursday the 25th, we took a train from Waterloo to Hampton Court to check out the Palace for class. Home of the infamous Henry VIII (and his six wives), as well as many other royals, this grand estate boasts in it's massive grounds and furnished rooms.

We visited various sections of the palace grounds, including Henry VIII's Kitchens. A huge hall was constructed with wood burning fireplaces for roasting meats, baking breads, and cooking stews. Over 600 people (those who were members of the court) were fed twice a day, so you might imagine the sort of activity that took place in this 230-year-old hall. Off to the side of the hall were two "offices." One dealt with the ordering/storing these massive amounts of food and the other with organizing, cleaning, and ordering more pewter dishes. Each piece of pewter was hand-made, and there were probably close to a hundred pieces on display. It was really interesting to hear about something that we wouldn't normally think about.

Often in the palace's squares, we'd see live actors. It reminded me a lot of the Mystic Seaport - realistic costumes and accents, maintaining character. It was really cool to see, and Sir Thomas Seamore even taught us a dance (pictured above on the left).

 We explored the gardens, grounds, and ponds as well. It was really pretty and my very first peek of Spring flowers. All in all, it was a really great time; the audio guide that we used was extremely helpful as well. It was my first time using one, but it was very informative.

The girls: Anna, Steph, and Mallory.

Waiting for Godot

Waiting for Godot was our next play in line. Actors Ian McKellen, Roger Rees, Matthew Kelly, and Ronald Pickup are brilliantly cast in Waiting for Godot. Best known for his role as Gandolf in the Lord of the Rings series, McKellen brings true heart to the stage. The onstage chemistry between McKellen and Rees makes one believe that they are truly brothers that share a deep passion for the theatre. Kelly's performance of Pozzo immerses us in their world, questioning their questions, and digging deeper into the mysteries of life.

Sasha Gusov

Designed by Stephen Brimson Lewis, the set is absolutely incredible. Unlike anything I've seen, the scenery depicted the theme perfectly. Desolate and empty, yet full of interest, the onstage pieces showed the wear and tear of life. A single tree stood to the right hand side of the stage, leaving us wondering how something of life could be found in such a dead place. Costumes were ragged and worn, beautifully designed to show the audience how life takes a toll on all of us.

Sasha Gusov

Of all the pieces we've seen in London thus far, the design of Waiting for Godot is by far the best. The extreme consistency and unity within the set, lighting sound, costumes, makeup, photos, and publicity tells me, without a doubt, that everything was planned to the T and done with intention. The program is by far the most beautifully designed program I've ever seen. From the poster design (with the single tree in the type), to Beckett's biographical information, to cast photos and interviews, this program is one that I'll be able to look at years from now and remember exact moments within the play. In my own career, I hope to create publicity materials like these, programs that are beautifully designed and that evoke strong memories and emotions from the piece.

Measure for Measure

On Wednesday March 17, (St. Patty's Day), we went to see Shakespeare's Measure for Measure with the theatre class. This famous piece follows the story of a Duke who steps down from office when he sees that the citizens have stopped obeying common law, and he allows his inferior, Angelo, a much more "to the book" ruler, to take his position. Under the control of Angelo, the character of Claudio is arrested, and his sister sets off on a mission to save his life. With twists and turns, scandals and even a proposal, this high action plot would keep anyone on the edge of their seat.

Keith Pattison

The set design of Measure for Measure was absolutely amazing. This was the first play this semester that involved a changing set; all other plays have one set throughout the entire piece. Director Michael Attenborough's adaptation of this play allowed for a modern set; the spinning set pieces and furniture that dropped under the floor added a dimension of style that we haven't yet encountered. I enjoyed watching the piece move, guessing how the set was going to be laid out for the next scene.

Excursion Week (Cont.)

During one of our last nights in Dublin, Lizzy and I went out to take some night shots.


Long exposures were used for most of these photos, and I even tried a bit more of an abstract approach. I set the exposure at 30 seconds and allowed the camera to hang around my neck as we walked around.
The result were several abstract photographs of various light sources, from headlights and taillights to floodlights in front of stores. It was a really great time.
Also in Dublin, I explored the National Photographic Archive; the current exhibition was showing photographs from the Irish Civil War 1920 - 1923. It was informative to learn about how people recorded history through the medium of photography. I also visited the Gallery of Photography in Dublin. The downstairs area is a bookstore that consists of many different photography-related books and magazines. On exhibition upstairs was a show by the Women of Concern. They are an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) that have banded together to release women from oppression around the world. After having taken Professor Nancy Janus' Human Trafficking course last semester, this exhibition pulled on my heartstrings because it incorporated my life's passion with human rights issues. It was then that I realized that this is how I can make a difference! The exhibition featured two floors of photographs and stories of women trapped in abusive situations, as well as their stories of rescue. The most striking photographs came from the recent Haitian earthquake and Women of Concern's role in the rebuilding of the community. All in all, it was a beautiful exhibition, and I would LOVE to work with an organization like Women of Concern. For more information, you can check out the exhibition website here, and the NGO website is here.
After a relaxing train ride up to Belfast, our group set out to explore Colin Glen Forest Park. My camera was set to take some photos using the various techniques that Peter Gordon had discussed.

A slow shutter speed was used on water, and a faster shutter speed was used on various aspects of the forest: leaves, trees, ferns, etc.
Another smaller side trip was to St. Anne's Cathedral in Belfast. It was an absolutely gorgeous cathedral with plenty of beautiful stained glass pieces. Awesome time.

My final exploration of Irish photography took place at the Belfast Photo Imaging Club. It was an incredible experience learning how to use studio lighting, small scale lighting, and macro techniques.
The following day, I met with photographer Brian Hughes at St. George's Market. His story was absolutely incredible, and I'm so glad to have to have been able to learn so much from him.
That afternoon, we headed back to London. What an incredible trip.

I know it's been forever...

Sorry! Things have just been so incredibly crazy, but so absolutely amazing. =)
I'm not even sure where to begin, so I'll just start sort of where I left off. Just FYI, this might be a very long entry.
The first week of March was devoted to planning for Excursion Week; this is a required field trip of sorts where we're provided with 100 pounds to go wherever we want in the British Isles. A lot of planning goes into this sort of travel, and generally people travel in groups of threes or fours. I traveled with my two roommates, Lizzy and Andrea, and our friend upstairs, Brianna. We decided on Dublin and Belfast to study our respective subjects: Lizzy and Andrea studied parks/public outdoor spaces, Brianna was folklore, and I studied photography. =) There will be more on this later.The Wednesday before Excursion Week, we saw a play called The Misanthrope. Starring Kiera Knightley, The Misanthrope is a light comedy that makes powerful statements about today's society, even though it was intended to comment on the society of the 1660s. Writer Martin Crimp's version of Moliere's classic is a look into the world of present day celebrity life and those who refuse to take part in that society. The subtle rhyming throughout the piece is only noticeable once pointed out, but it creates a lighter atmosphere, adding to the general comedic tone.

Photos by Johan Persson

The following day we took a group outing to The Imperial War Museum as part of our British Seminar class. It was a huge museum, filled with tons of information on all the wars/conflicts that Britain has been involved in. One of the exhibits we explored was called the Trench Experience.

The walk-through exhibit simulated the trench warfare that many soldiers would have seen during WWI. From the smells and sounds of war, we walked through the trenches, seeing wounded and fighting soldiers. It was a powerful experience. Another exhibit we explored was the Secret War - or the war for information.

This area explored what seemed to be Britain's CIA or FBI and the sort of devices that undercover agents would use to gain information. These gadgets inspired the story of James Bond.
The next day, Friday, was devoted to packing and final preparations for Excursion Week. We caught an early flight at the Luton airport to Dublin and found our hostel (Abraham House). The following day I scheduled a seminar with landscape photographer Peter Gordon of ExploreLight.

Peter Gordon

Luckily this seminar landed on the first Saturday we spent in Dublin, so I was able to use the techniques I had learned early on for the rest of our trip. The seminar itself only had six participants, so it was an incredibly personal experience with each of us asking questions during the presentations. It was incredibly informative, and I ended up taking close to 15 pages of notes. It was such an amazing experience. That night, we met up with a few of other friends from Eckerd who were also in Dublin for a traditional Irish dinner.



I had a bangers (sausage w/ onions) and mash (mashed potatoes) with Kopparberg mixed fruit cider (my favorite drink I've tried thus far); there was also an incredible live Irish band, mandolins, fiddles, bass, the works. It was such an awesome experience - people were dancing all over the place.
The next day we explored Phoenix Park, the largest park in Europe (even larger than Central Park in NYC). The park boasts many different environments, and the one that I was most interested in were the small waterfalls located all over the grounds.
I experimented with slow shutter speeds to create smooth water effects. I also concentrated on small-scale details, from macro to larger scale.


Our next exploration was in a small sea-side town called Howth. About an hour's bus ride from Dublin's city centre, Howth boasts many beautiful cliffs and peaceful maritime environments. During this trip, I experimented with a polarizing filter and larger landscape compositions that I learned about in Peter's workshop. The polarizing filter caused the sky to drop to a deep, rich blue, intensified by gentle editing in Photoshop.