Photographing Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hillside Theatre at Taliesin
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hillside Theater at Taliesin. Spring Green, Wisconsin. Photo by Andrew Pielage.
I’ve been photographing Taliesin every August for over ten years now, and much like Taliesin West, the compositions feel endless.
Over the years, though, my approach has evolved. Instead of trying to photograph the entire Taliesin Estate each year, I now narrow my focus to specific subjects or spaces within the whole—hunting for both big moments and small details in the best light.
When I arrived at Taliesin this past August, I knew exactly what I wanted to focus on: the Hillside Theater.
Why? Because it had just undergone a massive renovation, with every surface inside refreshed. It was vibrant, gleaming, and absolutely beautiful.
The first few days of my visit were spent checking in on the theater throughout the day, studying how the light and shadows moved through the space. I had a solid plan. And then... the overcast skies rolled in. Ugh—classic Wisconsin. Living in Arizona, I’m used to near-constant direct sunlight, so waiting out gray skies felt like torture. Sure, I could have photographed under overcast, diffused light—it’s technically easier to work with—but the newly restored theater deserved to be captured under nature’s spotlight.
What captivated me most was how the colors popped on the fully restored masterpiece within the Hillside Theater: the curtain. Originally designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and created by the Taliesin Fellowship as a gift for his 89th birthday, the curtain’s abstract design captures the rural landscape of the area, with Taliesin overlooking the Wisconsin River.
If you have ever wanted to photograph the Hillside Theater or the entire Taliesin Estate, I can help. I offer photography workshops every August at Taliesin. This year there’s an intermediate level workshop and its August 8-10th, 2025. Space is limited and it’s almost filled up.