Shooting The Liverpool Philharmonic at the BBC proms on Monday night was one of the strangest live gigs I’ve ever shot for a variety of reasons. Firstly, guest photographers at the Proms get chaperoned at all times whilst working in the hall which is great because they know the venue so well and are there to help you get the best photos as well as helping you with doors whilst you’re dragging loads of gear around and looking after your bags whilst your shooting! Secondly, I got to shoot the whole show which is very difficult in the classical world as the last thing you want is for anybody to see you. And they definitely don’t want to hear you! But the weirdest thing about shooting at the Proms was the fact that most of the photography is done from behind curtains and you stand in this little space between a door and a curtain, where it can get a bit warm, and you stick your lens through the curtain into the venue. You then keep an ear on the music, an eye on the orchestra and then fire away when the band hits full throttle. That is of course, as long as the BBC TV camera jib doesn’t appear right in front of you as you’re about to get your shot! It’s all a bit sit and wait and watch and listen carefully with The Proms and, being stuck behind a curtain with your lens poking out to discreetly photograph 5,000 plus people watching an 80 piece orchestra, felt very voyeuristic I’ve got to say. However, I’ve now decided to buy a blimp or at least a camera muzzler which is a camera cover to quieten down the sound coming from the shutter, as the BBC photographer who I met behind the curtain had one, so I’m now available to be hired for classical and jazz quartets, poetry recitals and lifestyle shoots in libraries! Coming up next will be some shots from the Phil’s rehearsals in the Albert Hall.
The Phil at The Proms
The Phil at The Proms
The Phil at The Proms
The Phil at The Proms
The Phil at The Proms
