A Little Something Extra

I purchased a new toy for myself last spring: a fancy-schmancy Nikon 3100 digital camera (it also takes video, although I'm not interested in reading that page yet in the handbook. One thing at a time for this beginner).I don't want to be a professional photographer or even an amateur for that matter. I just want to play one on TV.

So this season, I put myself to work at several Marsh Symphony on the Prairie performances to capture a bit of the audience, the environment, the entertainers and yes, a little bit of silliness that might or might not occur backstage. 

Here are my favorites, in no particular order:

I carefully crept behind this couple to get a shot of them and the stage. I was going for the "perfect night at Prairie" look.  After hearing my shutter click, the gentleman turned around and gave me that "who-in-the-heck-are-you" look.  I wouldn't be a good paparazzi photographer, that's for sure.

This darling child ran back and forth for 15 minutes. Feeling inspired by this artist, I wanted to catch the spring in this little girl's step.  I must have clicked that shutter a bazillion times. Thank goodness the child had stamina.

We can always count on Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly to ham-it-up for the camera.

One of our loyal table patrons creates a thematic centerpiece for every Prairie concert. Can you guess which Symphony on the Prairie concert this was for?

She couldn't have picked a better shirt to wear to the Classical Mystery Tour: The Music of the Beatles concert. This couple danced all night long.

Photographing fireworks is super duper hard to do. I still have no idea how I ended up with this shot. The people look a little funny but the explosion looks fabulous, in my beginner opinion. (side note: I took this at our concert in Danville, Ind.)

Every so often, I have friends that ask me, "don't you ever get tired of working concert nights and weekends?"  With an atmosphere like this, are you kidding?

During windy nights, conductors might use clips or clothespins to hold the score down. Jack Everly prefers the good old fashioned rock. So we gave him his very own.

Not an award-winning photograph. Not even the best looking sky. But I do love this shot (taken from backstage).  This is the angle we [staff members] love most about Conner Prairie. After all the duties are done, we park ourselves on the terrace behind the stage and gaze out into the sunset and listen to the gorgeous sounds of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

This weekend is the last set of concerts for Symphony on the Prairie.  If you bring your camera and take a few shots of this amazing venue, send me one.  jdisanto@indianapolissymphony.org.  I just might post it here!