Excellent Work of the 5th Cyber-Island Photography Contest
Photographer: U-Ru Zhang
Date and place photos were taken: 2008; Taipei
 

Looking at the dark clouds behind their backs, they could only work harder to finish the awning before heavy rain came.

Carrying boxes of stage props; dripping drops of sweat.

To most people, the aerial work these lighting technicians perform is like a special effect stunt, but it is daily routine for them. With safety helmet and chain, they climbed up the lighting structure without a safety net, all for perfect stage lighting.

One, two, three! They strenuously tightened the rope.	Pull a little harder so the rope could be tied up.	The show is about to start, they strived to set up lighting on the steel beams.

Amazing performances on the stage always pull the attention of audience. But, who has ever cared about the backstage crews who work behind the scene?

The theater is a space for collective cooperation. The professional backstage crews are the ones whose work allow the actors to concentrate on acting. Especially for the outdoor shows, rain or shine, all the crews must work together seamlessly from constructing sceneries to arranging lights and sound. They have to integrate all aspects of techniques and meet the ever-changing challenges the nature throws at them. They have to complete the stage in a very short time, go over the details again and again, and calmly resolve any unexpected situations. Day after day, they work under tremendous pressure in a race against time; all the hard work is for the moment when a perfect performance is achieved on stage.

They are a group of invisible people who quietly delicate themselves. Almost no one knows their names, and the flowers and applauses at curtain calls are never for them. But they are the most important workers in the entire theater system. Their devotion is sufficient enough to touch everybody’s heart. Their every drop of sweat and every look of concentration is another beautiful story as dazing as that on the front stage.


To view Gold Prize of the 5th Cyber-Island Photography Contest, please go to The Funeral Orchestra.

Text and images are provided by Exhibition of Cyber Island, Taiwan