Brenna Mulligan // San Antonio, TX

The Pearl Brewery in San Antonio has evolved into one of the coolest spots over the past 15 years. Situated about 3 minutes from my photography studio, I’m at the Pearl perhaps 2-4 times a week, either getting food with a friend, sending emails from my favorite coffee shop, or engaging in a photo shoot with a client. 

The lines in this photo make up the facade of the parking garage, where I usually park; this is a structure that I’ve walked past many times in the past 15 years. However, I didn’t notice the lines until I was asked by an architect magazine to photograph one of their lead architects for a magazine article. The image needed to be made at the Pearl, and I knew that I wanted something that implied an architect’s handiwork. 

After the shoot, which the magazine ended up selecting a different, non-architectural looking image, I decided the location shouldn’t go to waste, and I would add to my project with these lines. After all, a ballerina’s lines and legs go hand in hand with the lines of a parking garage, no? 

I had never worked with Brenna prior to this shot, so I felt a bit shameful asking her to do a shoot for this project without even showing her face. Thankfully she was intrigued with my idea, and even exceptionally willing. Once Brenna captured my vision, she pointed and winged perfectly, to the point where I had leg cramps for her. Perhaps my next project will be focused solely on anonymous ballerinas, no faces, just their legs - les outils de leur métier.

February 22, 2021