That moment

By Andrew Gray

Prince Edward County

One of the most exciting young talents in local live-events photography, Logan Somers, made a name for himself while studying Journalism at Loyalist College. Taking the initiative, he produced a short documentary on Picton’s Regent Theatre, impressing the venue’s GM so much that he landed a job at the venue as soon as the dust settled on his graduation mortarboard.

When he is not out galavanting on the concert circuit, Logan is stationed full time as the Regent’s Digital Media Producer and Programming Assistant. Among the many hats he wears, one of the most exciting is that of in-house concert photographer—a role he stepped into unexpectedly when last-minute coverage was needed for a show. Thrilled, Logan jumped at the chance, had a blast doing it, and quickly became one of the most sought-after photographers in the scene.

“I learned how to use a camera during gigs. Very nerve racking because I was being paid while learning, but it’s how I improved so quickly.”

Shooting live events is a reactive art— anything can happen on stage, and a photographer must always have a finger on the trigger. While preparation helps, adaptability is key. As Summers points out, “the truly great shots come from divine accidents.”

In the front-of-stage pits at Picton’s Base31 and Toronto’s History, a photographer must be quick, nimble, and always on high alert. Crowdsurfers need to be avoided, swinging mic stands dodged, and, most importantly, fleeting magical moments seized. Patience and persistence are what allow Somers to nail the perfect rock-star shot—the silhouetted guitarist shrouded in stage fog, the glint of light on a crashing cymbal, the sweat-drenched hair flip, or that enigmatic instant when the spotlight catches a singer’s sunglasses just right.

Somers joined Stuart Roberts’ Kingston-based Photo Roadies group after (literally) bumping into him in the pit at a Sheepdogs concert. Roberts’ team of photographers covers live events across Ontario, and the connection has opened the door to several incredible opportunities.

One of Somers’ dream gigs came when he photographed the high-energy American rock band Underoath at History last year. The frenetic atmosphere is palpable in his images—you can almost feel the electricity surging from the stage as the crowd erupts and lead singer Dallas Taylor reaches the apex of a mind-melting scream.

“I always recommend picking a spot and staying there for a moment. Just wait and watch. When you move around a lot you risk missing the money shot.”