Performance Photography: Sunday Lunchtime Concerts
- Faruk Kara
- Jun 14
- 2 min read
The Painted Church is one of the hidden gems of Cambridge. If you're not familiar with it, it is located on Jesus Lane. I walked past it for over 35 years without realising. Sure, you can't miss the Victorian Gothic church with the huge spire, but it was never open; it is no longer a working church. Through a friend at the Cambridge Camera Club, I was asked to cover him while he was away, for some performance photography at the monthly Sunday lunchtime concert. The remit is to get a photograph of the performers for the website.
The task is not without its challenges. When built in the 1860s, the church was gaslit and then replaced with poor electric lighting. The lighting challenge is huge. Sometimes, the lighting gods are kind, and the set can be bathed in soft light through the nearest stained glass window. However, it is usually either harsh light or gloomy. Modern digital cameras have a significant dynamic range these days, but that isn't so useful when you are shooting in very low light. Bump up the ISO, and you introduce noise; slowing down the shutter speed introduces movement blur; and opening the aperture reduces the depth of focus.
Usually, the performers rock up an hour or two before the concert to rehearse, and dash off when the doors open to let the audience in. They reappear just before the performance begins after having had some downtime; a bite to eat, and changed into their performance dress. So, that means you get a few minutes - five is good; ten is exceptional - to capture your photos between rehearsal end and the audience coming in. When the rehearsal overruns into the doors opening, you do what you can!
Grabbing the photos while they are rehearsing might mean they aren't in full attire; there are music stands in front of them, with music sheets strewn on the floor, and various water bottles and drinking cups. Clutter may be okay for documentary, but not great for portraiture. Some of the performers like photos, some don't, and some want them for use in their own publicity, which is the best situation. The majority are very accommodating, and the students tend to be game for more creative portraiture, which is an absolute pleasure to work with.
Painted Church Performer Photos
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