Morgan Buchanan // Denver, CO
DIA - Denver International Airport: home to New World Order conspiracy theories, as well as the airport that I consistently happen to have the most layovers at. I would say it’s safe to say that over the course of this project, I have averaged 12-15 layovers here a year. Most of the time the layover is a quickie - 55 minutes, barely enough time to grab Chick Fil-A and a coffee. Sometimes, though, I will purposefully select what is usually a “crummy layover”, to the tune of 4 hours. At DIA, this is just enough time to deboard the plane, head on over to the airport rail (train) station, and take the 37 minute trip to Denver Union Station.
Such was the case on this trip from Chicago, in September 2020, when flights could be had from Chicago to San Antonio for $37, as long as you can accept said crummy layover. In my opinion, these are the best layovers. That time frame is, as mentioned, just enough time to head downtown, photograph a ballerina, eat lunch, grab coffee, and make it back through airport security (thanks, TSA Pre-Check) with minutes to spare.
I reached out to Morgan Buchanan, who I noticed followed several ballerinas I have photographed, wondering if she would be up for a shoot. Thankfully, this particular Monday just happened to be her day off, and she agreed to a shoot. Upon arriving to Union Station, Morgan suggested we head to the upstairs bar area. I didn’t think we would be allowed access, but since we didn’t have to break any windows to enter, I had no qualms with photographing in this beautiful space.
In this project, my goal is now to always make a strong ballet image, with visual connections to classical ballet. Although my allegiance lies to making sure that I honor the ballet, and the ballerina, it’s always great when a ballerina can see my vision - even if that means you don’t see her. When I can make an image that is accurate to the ballet, yet visually appealing, that’s when I feel like I have done something perhaps a bit different than the countless other beautiful ballerina photographers.
Coincidentally, it turned out that Morgan is from San Antonio, hence the connection to our mutual friends, growing up not too far from my downtown San Antonio photography darkroom. And despite whatever imagery interpretation you may take from this image with Morgan, there are no conspiracy theories to be read into.
September 14, 2020
