Storm Large backstage

If you've followed Pink Martini lately, then you're familiar with singer Storm Large.  At intermission of Saturday's matinee concert with the North Carolina Symphony, Storm took a moment to check something on her phone backstage.  I used my phone to grab this shot.  The light in most parts of Meymandi Concert Hall's backstage areas is dismal for photos, but Storm sat in a good place and was facing just the right direction, so everything worked.

The show was fun to play, and the capacity crowd had a great time!  One of them blogged about it from an audience perspective, so you can see and read about the other side.

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Convey the message with one image

Here's a photo from the close of a Durham Symphony Orchestra holiday pops concert, Dec. 6, 2013 at the Durham Armory. This is not a typical venue for a symphony concert, but there was lots of flat-floor space, with tables set up so that groups of people could enjoy tasty, festive comestibles and potables while enjoying the music and fun.

Because I was at the same level as the audience, when they rose for a standing ovation, I overcame my usual reserve and engaged my inner chutzpah. That is, I stood on a chair (an unstable plastic one at that) and shot over their heads. It was worth it to catch this moment. That is of course William Henry Curry, Music Director of the Durham Symphony.

I shot a lot of photos that evening, and of course good coverage of any event requires this. A photo essay would almost by definition include multiple images. Still, for me there's a fascination with the elusive goal of creating one image that tells enough of an interesting story that it stands on its own.

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Triangle String Quartet - a two part portrait session

When the newly formed Triangle String Quartet asked me to create publicity photos, my first thought was that we might try to get some casual outdoor shots if the weather cooperated. Of course, arranging a time that four busy musicians could meet with me for a morning that fit in my busy schedule was not an easy thing, but we found a day. Then with the confluence of Tropical Storm Karen and a strong approaching cold front, we worried that the whole day would be a washout, leaving only studio shots as a possibility.

We were lucky, and there was a break in the rain perfectly coordinated with our timing. We wasted no time getting out to the park, and began with some get-acquainted-with-the-camera-man-and-relax-and-be-yourselves photos.

With everyone warmed up to the occasion, we created what became the cover photo for the quartet's website and their Facebook page.

I went for a bit of a nostalgic look here:

To finish the project, we ducked into my studio. The group changed into formal concert clothing, and we caught their formal PR shot.

Permalink: http://jilcp.blogspot.com/2013/10/triangle-string-quartet-two-part.html

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Durham Symphony outdoor concert becomes an indoor treat

Sunday, May 19, the Durham Symphony was scheduled to play a free outdoor concert in Hillsborough, NC. Due to rainy weather, the concert was moved indoors, to a gymnasium at Cameron Park Elementary School. A sizable audience packed the room, and did not display disappointment at the change from the al fresco plans. As the official photographer, I have to admit to a little disappointment that I couldn't make use of the natural beauty of trees and grass for my backgrounds, but basketball hoops and lockers didn't pull my focus away from the musicians.

The change of venue didn't interfere with the pre-concert Instrument Petting Zoo set up by High Strung Violins.

Gym lighting is a challenge for photographers. I'll let the concert pictures speak for themselves.

It was very hot in the room, but the energy didn't flag.

Permalink: http://jilcp.blogspot.com/2013/05/durham-symphony-outdoor-concert-becomes.html

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KidZNotes with the DSO

Katie Wyatt, executive director of KidzNotes, had every reason to be proud of the accomplishments of the young students who performed alongside the Durham Symphony April 20 at the Emily K Center. The program was varied and refreshing, including works by Wagner, Beethoven, and Stephen Jaffe, who arranged one of his own compositions so that the kids could participate.

DSO music director William Henry Curry joined the youngest of the kids (the "Mozart" orchestra) for a photo before the concert.

The young musicians were fearless in performance.

The intermediate children ("Beethoven" orchestra) played side by side with the DSO pros.

Composer Stephen Jaffe was pleased with how the KidzNotes ensemble performed. He had spent much time rehearsing with them.

At the end of the program, maestro Curry accepted the applause for everyone involved.

Permalink: http://jilcp.blogspot.com/2013/04/kidznotes-with-dso.html

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