In celebration of the amazing music scene on the east coast, Halifax photographer Scott Blackburn has put together an exhibit made up of what may be the most complete roster of musicians, fans, and industry professionals. Last year Blackburn took his camera to the 2017 ECMAs in Saint john to begin a photo project capturing those involved in the scene. Over the week-long festival and conference, he took 550 portrait shots of 550 of the people who make the music scene what it is. Now, one year later, the photos are on display at the 2018 East Coast Music Week in Halifax.
“I decided I wanted to do a new personal photo project and wanted to capture a lot of people quickly, I got a portable light source and decided to take it with to ECMA 2017 in Saint John. Each portrait took about 10 seconds to do – no retouching was done on faces in the photos, except being turned black and white in Photoshop,” says Blackburn.
“I just wanted to capture photos of the people who make up the music scene here on the east coast. I guess I just kinda went with it, I decided it would be fun to do, I asked people, if they said yes I made it happen. If not, I just went about my business.”
Blackburn says that his two favourite portraits from the project are Charlottetown electronic artist Russell Louder and Pictou County music promoter Carleton Munroe who passed away in November.
But this isn’t Blackburn’s first photo project. He completed two others before this. One of his previous projects was a compilation of photos of people wearing Groucho Marx glasses.
In addition to capturing photos during East Coast Music Week last year, Blackburn has also been photographing people at other music events, including Music PEI and Nova Scotia Music Week.
Blackburn is placing faces to the many names who currently make this music scene what it is, and putting into perspective how much really goes into keeping it the unique community it has become.
To check out this photo project, visit the exhibit this week during the East Coast Music Awards at the Halifax Marriott Sable Foyer Room from May 2nd to 6th.