Angela Morgan

Angela Morgan is a Milwaukee based photographer specializing in music, lifestyle and portrait photography. Angela has shot for several area musicians and documented numerous live concerts and events. She is the Event Photographer for Present Music and was previously the House Photographer for the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music.

In 2011 Angela was elected to the Coalition of Photographic Arts Board of Directors and in 2012 elected President. She is also a member of the Chicago Photography Center, Photographers of ETSY, and The Lomographic Society.

Angela’s photography is currently on display at the TCD office in the Shops of Grand Ave., in the Plankinton Arcade. Angela recently became a staff photographer for TCD.

Sahan Jayasuriya: How long have you been a photographer?

Angela Morgan: I’ve been doing photography pretty steadily since about 2008. It was around then that I realized that I wanted to do something more than just play with a camera from time to time. Last year is when I officially established the business and really just started to put all of my free time into it.

SJ: Is there any one subject or theme that you tend to focus on in your work?

AM: However I can incorporate music into my photography is always my number one thing. I worked at a music school for ten years and I grew up playing instruments, so music has always played a big role in my life. When photography became my second love, it just made sense that I should combine the two. So I tend to shoot a lot of live concerts and events, but its obviously not always limited to just live music. I tend to be see music in a lot of different things, so sometimes that tends to come through in my work.

SJ: What is it that you enjoy about shooting live music

AM: I tend to always be on the lookout for those really unique or special moments to capture. I obviously always try to capture the moment but also the energy and the feeling of being there as much as I can.

SJ: How do you feel about smartphone apps like Instagram?

AM: I like the more vintage styled filters, with the rounded edges, especially. It kinda takes you back to the 70s, a period of obsession for me as far as culture and music is concerned. A lot of the film photography I do can bring out a lot of those kind of vintage elements. A lot of times in my digital work when I’m post-processing, I’ll de-saturate it and add a rounded border to imitate those kinds of effects.

SJ: How often do you get the opportunity to shoot film?

AM: I still shoot film, not quite as much as I’d like, though. Its a fun way for me to get creative. Shooting with film, you don’t always know what you’re getting, and some of those mistakes can turn out to be some of the best photos that you’ve ever taken. Plus, there’s a second component to your artistic creativity there, because you shoot the photo and afterwards you can go into the dark room, and that can take a photo anywhere.

SJ: Let’s talk a little bit about your pieces on display here.

Set You Free

AM: A lot of my photographs I tend to name after songs. It may not always be the band that was performing when the photo was taken, but rather a certain element of the photo brings to me a song or song title. While the title comes from a song by the Black Keys, this particular photo was taken during Phantogram’s set at the 2010 North Coast Music Festival.

Rapture

AM: This one was named after the Blondie Song, who got their start at the club back in the 70s. I took this photo right before the club closed down in 2006.

I’m A Wheel

 AM: This was taken at Navy Pier in Chicago. I know there’s plenty of ferris wheel shots out there, but I felt like this one was just a little bit different because I was able to get the swings in there too. I feel like this photo is the definition of summer. The title comes from the Wilco song of the same name.

Will it Go Round in Circles

AM: I was doing a photo walk in the Marquette neighborhood in Madison during the fall when all the leaves were brown, and I just noticed this black that really stood out. This couple actually framed their entire garden with old LPs as opposed to borders. I just thought it was a really unique and interesting thing to do with them. The title comes from a Bill Withers song.