Beyond the lens - Billie Eilish

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Ellie quickly packed up her gear as the last note of Billie Eilish's concert still echoed in the air. Tonight, she wasn't just another fan in the crowd. In fact, she barely knew the artist. A few songs, some conversations overheard here and there, but nothing more. Ellie had come for something else. For several months, she'd been working on a personal project to capture the sincerity of artists on stage, but not just that: she also wanted to immortalize the energy circulating through the crowd, those little emotions that went unnoticed. What she was after was authenticity, that wild energy concerts give off.

Tonight, she made sure not to get influenced by Billie's public image. She focused on the reactions of the spectators, on what they were feeling. She took hundreds of shots of hands raised in the air, faces lit up by the lights, silent tears sliding down captivated cheeks. She wanted to show something real, something that went beyond the artist.

Looking for the bathroom after the concert, Ellie, a bit distracted, ended up in the wrong hallway. She walked for a while, quickly realizing she had gotten lost deep in the backstage area. Before she could turn back, she pushed open a half-open door out of curiosity and accidentally stumbled into a small, dimly lit dressing room. Sitting there on a couch, barefoot, a water bottle in hand, was Billie Eilish herself, taking off her shoes after what looked like an exhausting show.

For a moment, Ellie froze. She wasn't sure what to do, but Billie looked up and saw her, smiling gently, not seeming disturbed or surprised.

Billie: "Hey, did you get lost?"

Ellie nodded, suddenly aware of the situation she'd gotten herself into. How was this even possible? But she kept calm, even though her heart was about to jump out of her chest.

Ellie: "I was looking for the bathroom, I guess this isn't the right place?"

Billie chuckled softly, a low laugh that echoed nicely in the small room.

Billie: "Definitely not, welcome to my dressing room."

Ellie smiled, appreciating that Billie didn't seem bothered by the intrusion. There was something comforting about her attitude, something simple and approachable.

Ellie: "Shit, I swear I didn't mean to."

A bit more at ease now, Ellie showed Billie the camera she was still holding tightly in her hands: "I'm just a lost photographer."

Billie, laughing: "Don't worry, I can tell by your face. So, are you working for someone or is this just for you?"

Ellie: "No, just for me. I'm not doing this for a magazine or anything, I'm trying to capture the real moments of concerts not just the artist posing for the camera, you know?"

Billie nodded, clearly interested in what Ellie was saying. She set her water bottle on the coffee table and sat up a little, her eyes shining with genuine curiosity.

Billie: "That's really cool. Most photographers focus on me. But the crowd is a big part of the show too. They create the vibe, they reflect the energy."

Ellie smiled, touched that Billie understood exactly what she was trying to capture. She relaxed a little more, even daring to sit at the edge of the couch, on Billie's silent invitation.

Ellie: "Yeah, that's what I wanted to explore tonight. I took a few shots of you on stage, but it's really the crowd that fascinated me."

Billie looked at her, clearly impressed by her approach, and smiled genuinely.

Billie: "I like that idea, what did you capture? Want to show me?"

Ellie, a bit surprised but thrilled by Billie's interest, turned on the screen of her camera and started scrolling through some photos. Billie leaned in, her eyes attentive to each image.

Billie: "These photos are amazing. You can really feel what you're trying to convey, it's so cool."

Ellie relaxed even more, delighted by Billie's appreciation.

Ellie: "Thanks, that's exactly what I was aiming for. I'm just trying to do things differently. I want my photos to tell something honest, without filters, just the moment as it is."

Billie stretched a little before giving her a big, genuine smile.

Billie: "You're on the right track, dude, it's really original."

Ellie finally stood up, realizing she had probably stayed longer than planned.

Ellie: "Thank you so much, Billie, seriously, this is insane. I won't keep you any longer, you must be exhausted. Thanks for not calling the FBI to kick me out of here."

Billie: "No problem sweetheart. The bathrooms are two doors down on the left. Just try not to end up in my brother's dressing room."

Ellie smiled at Billie's remark.

Ellie: "I can't promise anything."

Billie waved at her before settling back into the couch.

Ellie left the room, a light smile on her lips. She felt weightless, almost in a daze, still a little in shock from the encounter. She hadn't just met a star, but someone who truly understood and respected her art. On the way to the bathroom, she thought about everything that had just happened, eager to develop her shots.

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