Event Photography – Sidgwick Salon

As a rule, I don’t do event photography. I prefer tramping around alone in a landscape (forest/urban/whatever). But every rule has its exceptions. Because of personal affiliations, I end up doing some events. For example, I sing in the Orpheus Choir of Toronto. Orpheus sponsors a scholarship program for voice students (the Sidgwick Scholars). We pay them a stipend to sing with the choir. They get experience singing choral music and blending their solo voices with an ensemble. We get the benefit of their leadership and expertise. Everybody wins. Each year, Orpheus holds a Salon to beef up the scholarship fund. The scholars perform, and when the audience sees what amazing performers they are, they write cheques. I go with my camera and capture the fun.

As I view it, a photographer has a twofold job at an event like this. The first is to get the shots that the organization wants: the key people, the images that might end up in publicity material. The second is to keep an eye open for the unscripted moments that nevertheless capture something of the organization’s spirit. In a way, the second is like street photography. Below are two photos from this year’s Sidgwick Salon which I particularly like. The first is of baritone, Tristan Jones. As the MC was making a few remarks, I noticed Tristan leaning against the wall behind me, waiting to be called forward. Light was streaming through the windows and caught him full in the face while leaving the space behind him in shadow. I liked the contrast and the colour of the bowtie so swung around and got this shot.

This year, Orpheus held the Salon in the upstairs lobby of Koerner Hall. It faces east over Taddle Creek and the ROM. It’s all glass which, photographically speaking, is both a blessing and a curse. There’s lots of light. But it doesn’t necessarily shine where you’d like it. And, of course, you can’t use a flash when you’re aimed 90 degrees to a window. But you work with what you’ve got. In the photo below, bass-baritone, Ronan MacParland plays to members of the audience. Although scripted, this performance was a surprise to the audience (and to me). I don’t remember exactly what he sang although I suspect it was from Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte.