Donna Hopper: You can blame Motley Crue

It all started with a blog.

Well, actually, back that up a bit.

It really started with a bartending job. I had the good fortune of tending bar at a local downtown establishment that saw an endless list of amazing talent grace its tiny stage.

Bands both local and national played to a sometimes packed room, and sometimes just for staff. But I was there for almost every single performance. Taking pictures, of course.

Then I started to blog about it, sharing my experiences and encouraging others to support the local scene.

Then a friend drew the attention of the SooToday powers that be to said blog, and I was offered some freelance work writing about and taking pictures of local shows.

That was in early 2006.

It wasn't long before I had a full-time position, focusing mostly on community events and entertainment coverage.

I was a pretty seasoned photographer at the time, having inherited my father's vast collection of photography equipment when I was just 14 years old. I was self taught, learning through trial and mostly error. John Hedgecoe's Complete Guide to Photography was my Bible.

But in 2006, I was new to the world digital photography. Film and digital are very different animals, and I was somewhat intimidated by the Canon Rebel I purchased for myself. I had a lot to learn, and I knew it.

So, when I got the call informing me that I would be photographing Motley Crue at the Sault's newly constructed Steelback Centre, I was both nervous and excited. Arena concert photography was completely new to me, and I wasn't sure how I was going to manage the ever-changing and intense lighting setup.

I dove in blind, with both feet and just shot it. The pyrotechnics, and strobes, and fog, and everything else that comes with big concerts were a tad overwhelming. And the images I managed to capture weren't amazing by any stretch.

But, that was it. I was hooked. All I wanted to do with my life was photograph concerts. I had found my calling and I wanted to learn everything I could about live concert photography.

I began researching, and following, and reaching out to other far better concert photographers for inspiration and motivation. A few even reached back with advice and friendship.

Virtually every concert that happened at our arena was mine to shoot for SooToday. I believe that thus far, there's only two concerts ever hosted there that I haven't photographed – Heaven and Hell with Megadeth (my editor insisted that he shoot it) and Anne Murray (because my editor took Heaven and Hell with Megadeth away from me, I made him shoot this one as payback).

Over the years, I've honed my skill and can photograph a concert with barely any thought at all. I've been immensely entertained, pleasantly surprised, and bored to tears, and I wouldn't trade any of it for anything. Every one of these experiences has value in one form or another. Sir Elton John, KISS, The Police, Dolly Parton, Neil Young, The Blue Man Group, and so many others – I walked away with a new lesson learned every single time.

But smaller, bar shows proved equally as valuable. These are where I learned to turn the camera on the audience – especially during punk or metal shows – capturing some of my favourite images.

Now, it's been more than a year since I've photographed any live music, and my trigger finger itching. I know I still have much learning to do. Once the pandemic is over, I can't wait to get back to class.