How to Photograph Classical Music Today?

Alexey Lybimov

I used to never photograph classical music concerts at all, purely for ethical reasons. The sound of the shutter during a concert simply destroys the magical atmosphere of the performance, even at open-air concerts, but with modern cameras with electronic shutters, silent shooting has become possible. There are a few things to keep in mind, though. It’s best to check the lighting before the concert—the thing is, older light sources “streak” when using an electronic shutter, creating colored streaks across the frame due to the stroboscopic effect. The eye doesn’t notice this flickering at first, but gradually it becomes uncomfortable to look at. And yes, to photograph the conductor at a concert, you need access backstage—that much is clear—since from the audience you can only capture his back.

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The magic of soft focus