A special group of weird birds
From the current snapshot: "Humor."
Fun forms the centerpiece of Steve Best's work. As a comedian and photographer, he holds a great trump card and gains access to otherwise hidden moments. He takes us into the world of entertainment, shows the trappings and makes the comedy scene personal. His resulting series COMEDIANS is also available as a coffee table book, the second part of which has now been published.
Steve Best - Jo Brand
Steve Best - Jon Udry"COMEDIANS is a 10-year journey of following my colleagues on and off stage."
What do you want to show with your series COMEDIANS?
COMEDIANS is a 10-year journey in which I have accompanied my colleagues on and backstage. Many people watch comedians from the audience seats, but hardly anyone has backstage access to experience the moments before and after the performance, as well as everything else that happens in between. I want people to see the laughter, the nervousness, and also the friendships that exist between this very special group of weird birds.
"I want you to see the laughter, the nervousness and also the friendships..."
Are there any reasons why you specifically photograph the British comedy scene?
The British comedy scene is all I've ever known in my career, both as a comedian and as a photographer. I've never done any other profession for over 25 years. There is a lot of photographic documentation of the rock and roll and theater scenes, but to my knowledge no one has ever documented the comedy scene. Maybe it's the lack of access, since it's wriklich hard to get into that group unless you're part of it yourself.
How do you manage to always be in the right place at the right time and take these unadulterated photos?
In the last few years, I've been performing myself and I've become friends with a lot of comedians. So you know me more as a comedian than a photographer. When I'm backstage, I'm one of them and can talk and joke with them freely. I enjoy unrestricted access and complete acceptance in that world. It's a great advantage that not many photographers have.
I have long used the Fujifilm X series of fixed focal lengths, which are usually very small and unobtrusive. Lately, I've also been using a Leica Q, which is even smaller and almost silent when shooting. This makes me almost invisible as a photographer. On stage, I know when the punch lines are coming and the laughter is going to start. So I'm always ready for the right moment. Over the years, I've also learned how to make my photos more dramatic. I don't particularly like shooting from the audience seats because it can make the photo a bit one-dimensional and could have been taken by someone in the audience. My approach allows me to photograph from vantage points that are not accessible to the audience. I often shoot sideways directly onto the stage and against the light to create a dramatic effect.
Steve Best - Phil Jeays
Steve Best - Marlon Davis, Matt Welcome, Imran Yusuf and Andrew Bird
Steve Best - Jo CaulfieldWhy do you shoot exclusively in black and white?
Black-and-white photos are timeless. For me, black and white emphasizes the atmosphere backstage. Especially the lighting conditions there are not always ideal and the high ISO and the accompanying noise emphasize the mood in black and white much better than it would in color. On stage, the bright white spotlight in contrast to the shadows is especially beautiful.
Is it more fun to work with comedians than non-comedians?
Comedians are what I know and what I am. I photograph other people too, which I really enjoy, but I already have a special affinity and camaraderie with this particular group of exotics. I still enjoy going on stage myself, but I feel a spark more enthusiasm behind the camera.
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Steve Best
