Emilian Fehrenbach

Emilian Fehrenbach spent his days roaming 1880s London with a camera slung around his neck, snapping portraits of actors backstage at the Lyceum and Adelphi theaters before they’d powder their wigs or adjust their cravats. He caught them mid-smoke, mid-laugh, mid-thought, no posed smiles, just real faces in real light. If you’ve ever seen an old photo where the person looks like they’ve just stepped out of a play instead of posing for one, chances are it came from his studio.

Look up Guy Little Theatrical Photograph to see what happens when a camera meets the real backstage rush.