The Magic Bench
In 2009 in Lima, Perú, I began the process of creating my own backdrops and figuring out how I could become “una fotografa ambulante.” I read about early itinerants in their accounts, paying attention to their tips and tricks. One thing I learned that was extremely helpful was to stay in the same locale for a long period of days or weeks, as those who passed by would become familiar with one’s presence and find one less intimidating or strange. I used some of the same phrases they used on their backdrops and created my own as well. I used one, though spelled incorrectly, “Majia e Ilusion,” to create a space with magic and illusion and, simultaneously, allowing the space outside and backdrop setup to show, to reveal the real moment. It became theatre.
