On the red carpet: Brad Walls' staggering shots of ballet from above in pictures

"Three years in the making, PASSE is Walls' most ambitious project to date. It features one of the largest choreographed ballet photoshoots ever attempted, involving 60 dancers, a 10-person crew and a single eight-hour session of continuous shooting. A massive football fieldsized red carpet was laid across the warehouse floor. Above it, an equally large light bounce was suspended to create even, diffused lighting throughout the space. A custom crane rig stabilised the camera to capture precisely choreographed scenes from directly above."

"More than 20 compositions were meticulously storyboarded with eight successfully brought to life. Choreographer Ian Schwaner played an integral role in the project's development, crafting movement sequences that fused classical discipline with graphic design. The cast includes dancers from the New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet School and Ballet East, bringing together some of the most skilled performers in the country. Every visitor to the gallery receives a handwritten postcard from a featured ballerina, printed with images from the series."

"These unique keepsakes serve as both a personal connection and a lasting moment. The tactile gesture echoes the exhibition's emotional core: to turn observation into presence and stillness into something deeply felt. During Walls' first ballet shoot in 2021 with ballerina Montana Rubin, a group of young triplets approached Rubin and were visibly moved. That moment hit me,' Walls recalls. It reminded me that ballet, while celebrated for its perfection, is also deeply human."

PASSE is a three-year project featuring one of the largest choreographed ballet photoshoots, involving 60 dancers, a ten-person crew and an eight-hour continuous shooting session. A football-field-sized red carpet covered a warehouse floor while a massive light bounce and a custom crane rig enabled even, diffused overhead lighting and stabilized camera movement. More than 20 compositions were storyboarded and eight realized, with choreographer Ian Schwaner fusing classical discipline and graphic design. The cast includes dancers from New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet School and Ballet East. Every gallery visitor receives a handwritten postcard from a featured ballerina.

Read at www.theguardian.com