Benjamin Laird Arts & Photo

06/03/2026

27/02/2026

Happy opening night to the cast and crew of Casey and Diana! with .repost
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It’s Opening Night for Casey and Diana! ♥️ Thank you to the entire cast, creative team and crew for the beautiful work bringing this powerful story to the stage. We are ready with our tissues!

Hitting Edmonton April 4-26 with our friends at 🧡

📸 Emily Howard ( ), Nathan Cuckow, Norma Lewis ( ), Josh Travnik ( )and April Banigan ( ) in Alberta Theatre Projects’ production of Casey and Diana by Nick Green ( ). Photo by Benjamin Laird ( ). Set Design by Hanne Loosen ( ). Costume Design by Rebecca Toon ( ). Lighting Design by Whittyn Jason ( ).

albertatheatreprojects

28/01/2026

Mikah Sharkey () takes us of the masterfully horrifying psychological thriller ‘Brother’ – available to watch on-demand now. The indie film was directed by Sam Fichtner (@ safichtner), and supported by Calgary.

“We went into Brother wanting to blend the cinematic styles of 90s and 2000s thrillers with modern sensibilities,” Sharkey tells us. “Having access to the Gseries helped get us that much closer to our vision before the first light was even set up. ‘Brother’ is a movie about the way trauma shapes our connections with each other, and I was able to draw out the beauty of isolation in our environments by combining those lenses with a large format sensor. I opted for a nostalgic style of lighting, leaning into zones of light that the actors could pass through and let them spend time in shadows to heighten the tension. The high contrast of the lenses and the sensitivity of modern cameras allowed me to create an oppressive sense of darkness with confidence.”

📸 BTS photography by Ben Laird ()

28/01/2026

I’m thrilled to be mentioned in this post by , showing some of my work from . Cinematographer Mikah Sharkey created a stunning and eerie design that was challenging, but SO fulfilling to capture. I used my Z9 and 50mm 1.8 prime for some of it, alongside my trusty 70-200 2.8 and 24-70 2.8. I’ve since upgraded to the Z mount equivalents of those lenses and couldn’t happier with the results of my most recent work. calgaryphotography stillsphotographer stillsphotography motionpicturestills yycfilm calgaryfilm yycarts calgaryarts abfilm albertafilm nikonZ9 travelalberta keepalbertarolling
Cinematographer Mikah Sharkey () takes us behindthescenes of the masterfully horrifying psychological thriller ‘Brother’ – available to watch on-demand now. The indie film was directed by Sam Fichtner (@ safichtner), and supported by Panavision Calgary.

“We went into Brother wanting to blend the cinematic styles of 90s and 2000s thrillers with modern sensibilities,” Sharkey tells us. “Having access to the Panavision Gseries helped get us that much closer to our vision before the first light was even set up. ‘Brother’ is a movie about the way trauma shapes our connections with each other, and I was able to draw out the beauty of isolation in our environments by combining those lenses with a large format sensor. I opted for a nostalgic style of lighting, leaning into zones of light that the actors could pass through and let them spend time in shadows to heighten the tension. The high contrast of the lenses and the sensitivity of modern cameras allowed me to create an oppressive sense of darkness with confidence.”

📸 BTS photography by Ben Laird ()

26/01/2026

Lucha VaVoom hit the Winsport event centre over the weekend, and the place will never be the same. Where Luchador wrestling and Burlesque meet, a party is gonna break out. This is just a FRACTION of the photos I took that night for the 40th anniversary of ’s . Look for more photos through them, and I’ll probably do another post soon. This was unbelievable, and needs to be shared.

22/01/2026

A few photos of mine from One Yellow Rabbit’s all new production of The Dream Machine. There are only a few more chances to see this quintessentially OYR Production featuring establishing members and new Rabbits alike. With engaging writing based on the works of Willam S Burroughs, the ethereal music of the late David Rhymer, and riveting performances by the company, this is an absolute highlight of the 2026 High Performance Rodeo.

22/01/2026

Some of my photos of mine from One Yellow Rabbit’s all new production of The Dream Machine. There are only a few opportunities left to see this stunningly beautiful show. It’s quintessentially OYR, featuring gorgeous, thoughtful writing based on the work of William S Burroughs, the ethereal music of the late David Rhymer, and phenomenal performances by the establishing members and new Rabbits alike. Seriously don’t miss it.
✨ Dream Machine: Last Chance ✨

This is it. Your final opportunity to experience Dream Machine, one of the most talked-about productions at High Performance Rodeo.

At its core is a mysterious, psychedelic device that isn’t just part of the story—it is the story. Through mesmerizing lights, hypnotic sound, and boundary-breaking storytelling, this visionary production pulls you beyond traditional theatre and into something truly electric. ⚡

If you’re curious, bold, and ready to think differently—don’t miss this.

The revolution ends soon. 🤯

💭 Dream Machine
🗓 January 21 - 24
📍 Big Secret Theatre
⏰ 7:30 PM
🎟️ Link in bio

06/11/2025

Ridge is an absolutely stunning musical performance to help us observe Canada’s role in World War 1. You may think you know what happened at Vimy Ridge, but this show may help you understand more clearly just what Canadian soldiers sacrificed. Don’t miss it.
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Happy opening to Ridge by Brendan McLeod & performed by !

There are still tickets available to this limited run, but act fast: 12pm on Friday the 7th is SOLD OUT and 12pm Saturday the 8th is nearly sold out.

We’ve added an extra show on Tuesday November 11th at 7pm.

Get tickets now at the link in our bio. Veterans and active military are invited to attend free of charge.

Cast and Crew for Ridge:

Performers
Brendan McLeod, Rob McLaren, Adrian Glynn, and Maddy O’Regan ()

Hilary Angus | Set Designer
Julia Course | Director
Adrian Glynn ()| Music Director
Jonathan Kim () | Lighting Designer
Brendan McLeod () | Writer
Amy Thomasson | Stage Manger

Photo of Adrian Glynn, Maddy O’Regan and Rob McLaren by

05/11/2025

with .repost
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WHAT A NIGHT! 🎬🎬🎬
The STARS showed up and we had a party!
Congratulations to our ACTRA Alberta Award WINNERS:
Steven McMichael, David LeReaney, Darron Ta, Susan Serrao
Not shown: Kaya Coleman

Thanks to for the official photos of this prestigious event.

.mcmichael @kaya_coleman_

23/04/2025

New headshots for my dear friend, Norma Lewis, whose new show Mary Stewart opens THIS WEEKEND at at Motel Theatre in the beautiful building.
I love shooting headshots with this high key lighting and bright backgrounds. I know that’s not always the style, but I just prefer a lot of light. You have plenty of options in Calgary for actors headshots. But my bookings are always open if you like this style of headshot.
.matter

21/03/2025

Quite chuffed that posted these photos. I caught the theatre bug when I was 12, doing shows at Storybook Theatre and other community groups, studied all through junior high, high school AND university, earning my BFA in drama. Early theatre education is what made me who I am today. Programs like these are incredibly valuable for childhood development, whether or not a person goes into a career in the arts.
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Did you know? Today is World Theatre Day for Children & Youth! 🎭
Do you have memories of being introduced to the magical world of theatre as a young person? ✨

Theatre Calgary is proud to provide Creative Learning programs that introduce, nurture, and train young artists in the exciting world of theatre!
Young people can take their first step into the spotlight, or look behind the curtain, through programs like our Spring Break and Summer Camps, Artist in The Classroom workshops, and Schools on Site programs!

Learn more about Theatre Calgary’s Creative Learning programs at the link in our bio.

We also look forward to welcoming young ones and first-time theatre goers to our annual family friendly production of A Christmas Carol around the holidays. ❤️

Are you still making Spring Break plans? Spaces are still available in our Spring Break Drama Camp, running March 24 - 28, 2025!

Kids from grades 3-9 can enjoy a week of drama games, scenes, and stories, with a different special workshop each day! These can include music and movement, puppetry, clown, stage combat, acting, and more! Get creative, build skills, make friends and share your work at an end of camp presentation for family and friends!

March 24 - 28, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 pm
Price: $400
Grades: 3 - 9

Find more details and sign up at the Creative Learning link in our bio!

Summer Camp photos by 📸