Sterling Opera House 9-23-2013
Stepping inside the historic Sterling Opera House in Derby, Connecticut feels like stepping into frozen time. I brought an ultra-wide lens into this cramped backstage dressing room to pull the peeling paint, weathered woodwork, and vintage cast-iron radiator together in one cohesive frame. Natural decay has taken hold throughout the building, leaving behind authentic historical character that tells decades of local theater history.
The composition centers on an old wooden vanity table with pulled-out drawers, flanked by a tall ribbed radiator directly beneath a gridded window. Diffused daylight spills through the glass, picking up peeling teal paint, dusty floorboards, and raw lath textures throughout the weathered dressing room.
