The Palladium: A concert palace

Before Sunday, I had made two trips to Carmel, Ind., to check out the new, world-class concert hall on the grounds of the Center for the Performing Arts. The first was in October, when the Palladium -- the dominant architectural spectacle in the complex and the facility that holds the main concert hall -- was in its last stages of construction.

I visited again in January on opening night of the first performance of the first of the three series to debut at the Palladium.

On Sunday, members of the Indy Meetup Photo Club, of which I am a member, made a group visit to the Palladium, where we were able to photograph for 2.5 hours. It was a great opportunity -- and experience. The photos here are just a semblance of the structure's beauty. If you get a chance to visit one day when you can stroll throughout the complex, do go.

After we finished our tour, I stuck around and grabbed some high-dynamic range (HDR) images of the Palladium's exterior (one of which leads off this post) and a few more HDR shots across the street in Carmel Clay Veterans Memorial Plaza.

I'm going to present my shots in separate posts. Other than the exterior shot leading off the post, I'll devote this post to just images of the Palladium' primary concert hall -- the attraction that's generated the biggest buzz. The facility's halls, stairways and gathering areas outside the main hall, however, are equally stunning, festooned in color, architectural splendor and a photographer's dream -- lines, patterns and shapes. That will be tended to in a second post.

The third post will be devoted to the exterior HDR shots.

Most of us in the IMUPC had the same idea: To capture a spectator's view from the concert hall's extremes -- above, from the top row of the seats highest and farthest away from the stage, and, below, the view of patrons sitting behind the stage, looking out to the expansive concert hall. 

Above: Another view from the seats behind the stage, only from the right (west) corner.

Above: Another view of the most distant seats, but from the east corner.

Above, a look a the back section of the Palladium from the orchestra (floor) seats. Below, a gaze down an aisle toward the rear, also from the orchestra seats.

 

Above: The stage, as seen from the orchestra pit, looking up. 

 

Above: A peek toward one of the upper level boxes as seen from the east corner of the back seats (below).

Above: For some reason, seeing the above brought the phrase "like ducks all lined up in a row" come to mind. I'm sure it inspired me to go after the lines, patterns and shapes opportunity here.

Above: The domed ceiling, from a slightly different perspective.

Above: Steps leading to the seats. 

Above: On concert day, the Palladium staff wants to see people in these seats. But empty seats provide a photographer ample opportunity to exploit lines and patterns. Below, these same orchestral seats as seen from the back of the hall at ground level, looking toward the stage.

Above: A lines and pattern shot, using the back of the hall -- as seen from the third-level mezzanine boxes on the west side.

Above: A more traditional look at the domed ceiling, integrating seating into the picture.

Above: A perspective shot of the orchestra seats and the east boxes, as seen from the west boxes.

Above: The stage as seen from those same west boxes.

Above: A look at the network of lights and lighting equipment above the stage. 

 

Above: The seats behind the stage, as seen from the west corner.

Above: Another lines and pattern shot.