On this day, we celebrate an unforgettable Lunar New Year with AMPM. Hosted by my friend Tracy.
March 03, 2024 — 2 hours before midnight.
I get on location and I'm greeted by the owners and a few familiar faces. Tonight is a special night.
The atmosphere shifts noticeably when industry insiders celebrate their own. On this particular evening, AMPM's anniversary celebration for Tracy, marking her first year with the venue, transformed the usual upscale nightclub environment into an exclusive gathering that tested the limits of even seasoned event photographers.
The VIP section, typically a well-organized space of exclusivity, evolved into a hot tub of . The corner booth, despite its optimal lighting conditions, presented unique challenges for documentation. The unprecedented turnout of guests – a mix of regular patrons and new faces from Toronto's nightlife circle – created an interesting dynamic that required quick adaptation of standard photography techniques.
From a technical standpoint, the evening demanded a lot of effort to swim through a dense crowd and navigate to a spot where I can take my shot. Moving between opposite corners of the venue became an exercise in timing and patience and sheer will to push through.
One of the most memorable experiences I documented was captured by my GoPro. It just perfectly displays the sheer energy within these booths and how crowded it really is. It gets impossible to reach a certain location and you just have to be creative with your approach.
I capped the night with a few DJ shots and brief introductions with a few new faces and plan the next shoot.
Cheers and see you on the next one.
Gear list:
Olympus OM-D EM-10 MK2 (Body)
OM Systems 18mm f /1.2 Prime Lens
Nikon D850 Full-frame (Body)
25-75mm f /1.2 Nikkor Pro Lens
Godox v1 Roundhead Flash
GoPro HERO 12 BLACK
