EarthSonic Live at Manchester Museum: Documentary Event Photography by David Oates

EarthSonic Live at Manchester Museum

EarthSonic Live at Manchester Museum was a full-day and evening programme of talks, workshops, performances and installations exploring the relationship between music, nature and climate. The event brought together artists, scientists, activists and audiences in a shared space, combining cultural programming with environmental themes.

The event was part of the wider EarthSonic project, which focuses on using sound and music as a way to engage people with biodiversity and climate issues.

The EarthSonic Project and Its Organisers

EarthSonic Live is developed through the EarthSonic initiative, connected to the Manchester-based organisation In Place of War. The project brings together global artists, researchers and communities to explore how sound can communicate environmental change and inspire action.

The programme is supported by organisations including Arts Council England, Wellcome Trust and Ableton, alongside a network of environmental and cultural partners.

A Full Day of Talks, Workshops and Performances

The structure of EarthSonic Live moved across the entire museum, with activity running throughout the day before transitioning into an evening performance programme. Visitors engaged with talks, installations and hands-on workshops exploring sound, ecology and climate.

The scale of the event was significant, with thousands of attendees moving through the museum across the day.

Artists, Speakers and Contributors

The programme included a wide range of contributors working across music, environmental activism and research. Participants included Andy Cato of Groove Armada, broadcaster Nihal Arthanayake, climate activist Tori Tsui, and artist Jason Williams, known as The Cloud Gardener.

Other contributors included Luke Wallace, Brian d’Souza (Auntie Flo), Sam Lee, Werkha, and a range of artists and researchers exploring sound and ecology through performance and discussion.

Installations, Performances and Live Work

Throughout the museum, installations and performances ran continuously. Sam Lee’s nightingale-based sound installation, D-FUSE’s immersive work Nine Earths, and Flow’s live vocal performances created a constantly shifting environment.

The Climate Choir appeared across the building in a series of moving performances, while projects such as biosonification workshops explored how plant data could be translated into sound.

Environmental Organisations and Public Engagement

Alongside the artistic programme, a large number of organisations were present, including the RSPB, The Wildlife Trusts, Music Declares Emergency, Young Wilders and the Woodland Trust.

These groups created a layer of direct public engagement, allowing visitors to connect creative work with practical climate action and environmental advocacy.

The Evening Programme and Live Music

The evening transformed the museum into a live music venue, culminating in a DJ set from Groove Armada. The programme also included a screening of BICEP’s TAKKUUK, Werkha’s Saturama installation and performances from Natural Symphony.

This shift from daytime programme to evening event created a different photographic environment, with changes in lighting, energy and audience behaviour.

Photographing EarthSonic Live as a Documentary Event

My approach to photographing EarthSonic Live was based on documentary principles, working across multiple spaces and responding to what was happening in real time. The event required continuous movement between talks, installations, performances and audience interactions.

Rather than directing or staging images, the focus was on observing and capturing the event as it unfolded.

Working Across Multiple Spaces and Conditions

The event took place across the full museum, from gallery spaces to lecture theatres and large open halls. Each space presented different lighting conditions and ways of working, from quiet talks to fast-moving performances.

This required a flexible approach, adapting quickly while maintaining consistency in the visual narrative.

Capturing Audience Interaction and Atmosphere

A key part of documenting EarthSonic Live was the interaction between people and the event itself. Audiences were not passive, moving between installations, taking part in workshops and engaging directly with performers and organisations.

Photographing these interactions helps communicate the scale and purpose of the event beyond individual performances.

Ongoing Work with Manchester Museum

EarthSonic Live builds on my ongoing work with Manchester Museum, documenting exhibitions, public programmes and live events.

Working regularly with the museum allows for a clear understanding of how events function within the space and how imagery is used across press, marketing and archive.

Documenting Cultural Events Through Photography

Events like EarthSonic Live bring together multiple disciplines, audiences and ideas in a single space. Photography plays a role in recording that complexity, creating a visual record that can be used long after the event itself.

For large-scale public programmes, this kind of documentation supports future programming, communication and wider engagement.

Manchester Event Photography and Documentary Approach

As a Manchester-based photographer specialising in documentary event photography, my work focuses on capturing real moments within live environments.

EarthSonic Live is an example of how this approach can be applied to complex, multi-layered events, documenting not just performances but the wider context in which they take place.

Photographing Manchester Museum for Art Fund

The newly remodelled Manchester Museum has officially opened its doors, and as a professional photographer, I had the pleasure of capturing the energy, excitement, and intricate details of this incredible space. Commissioned by Art Fund, I spent several hours documenting the museum’s refreshed galleries and exhibits, and I left inspired by both the design and the crowds.

Capturing the Energy of a Busy Museum

Visiting a museum packed with enthusiastic guests is a dream for any photographer. The Manchester Museum reopening was buzzing with visitors, families, and art enthusiasts, providing a perfect opportunity to photograph candid moments and dynamic interactions. The lighting, architectural renovations, and open gallery spaces made it ideal for both wide-angle shots and detailed close-ups.

Photography Tips Inside the Manchester Museum

Museums present unique challenges and opportunities for photography. During my visit to the Manchester Museum, I focused on using natural and ambient lighting, which the galleries provide in abundance, creating excellent conditions for photography without harsh shadows. I also concentrated on capturing intricate details and textures in the artifacts and architectural elements, which are ideal for close-up photography. Including people interacting with exhibits added life and scale to the images, helping viewers experience the museum vicariously through my photographs.

Highlights from the Remodeled Galleries

The Manchester Museum renovation has made the galleries more immersive and visitor-friendly. From interactive displays to carefully curated collections, every corner offers an opportunity for engaging photography. During my visit, I focused on the central atrium and entrance areas to capture the architectural makeover, explored the gallery layouts to show how visitors engage with exhibits naturally, and documented the diverse collections of natural history specimens, cultural artifacts, and art pieces.

Looking Forward: The Egyptian Mummies Exhibition

One of the most anticipated upcoming attractions is the Egyptian Mummies exhibition. I plan to return next week to photograph this fascinating display, which promises not only historical insight but also visually compelling opportunities for photography enthusiasts. Capturing the textures, lighting, and intricate details of the mummies will be a highlight for my portfolio and an engaging story for museum visitors.

Why Visit the Manchester Museum

Whether you’re a photographer, history enthusiast, or family looking for an educational day out, the remodelled Manchester Museum offers a rich experience. The updated galleries, dynamic exhibitions, and beautifully curated spaces make it a must-see destination in Manchester. For photographers, this museum is particularly rewarding: the combination of architectural renovations, diverse exhibits, and lively visitor interactions makes it an ideal place to practice composition, lighting, and storytelling through images.

Mark Radcliffe for Art Fund

Photography for Art Fund Podcast Recording at the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester

I was very pleased to be asked to contribute still photographs for a forthcoming episode of the Meet Me at the Museum podcast produced by the Art Fund. The episode features broadcaster Mark Radcliffe and musician Paul Langley as they explore the galleries of the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester.

My role was to photograph the recording session and create a set of images documenting the presenters’ visit to the museum. These photographs accompany the podcast and provide visual material for promotion, editorial use and online publication.

Mark Radcliffe and Paul Langley at the Museum

Mark Radcliffe is widely known for his long career in broadcasting, particularly through programmes on BBC radio devoted to music and culture. I have photographed Mark a couple of times before, once memorably for a Daily Telegraph motoring feature in which he appeared alongside a vintage Volkswagen Beetle at Tatton Park in Cheshire.

On this occasion the setting was rather different. Together with Paul Langley, Radcliffe toured the Science and Industry Museum while recording their discussion for the podcast. The format of the series combines informal conversation with reflections on objects, exhibitions and cultural history within museums across the UK.

Exploring Manchester’s Musical History

During the recording we spent time in the exhibition Use Hearing Protection, which explores the formative years of Factory Records between 1978 and 1982.

Factory Records played a crucial role in shaping Manchester’s musical identity during this period. The label became internationally recognised for its roster of influential artists, including bands associated with the city’s post-punk scene, while also developing a distinctive visual language through collaborations with designers and photographers.

The exhibition at the Science and Industry Museum examines how Factory Records combined music, graphic design, technology and cultural experimentation to create a unique identity for Manchester. Through artefacts, recordings and archival material it tells the story of a label whose influence continues to shape perceptions of the city’s creative history.

Photographing Podcast Production in a Museum Environment

Photographing a podcast recording inside a museum presents its own set of challenges. The aim is to document the interaction between presenters and exhibits without disrupting the recording process or the experience of other visitors.

The images from the session capture Mark Radcliffe and Paul Langley in conversation as they explore the exhibition space, reflecting both the atmosphere of the gallery and the informal tone of the podcast itself. These kinds of photographs help audiences visualise the context of the recording and connect the spoken discussion to the objects and stories within the museum.

Listening to the Podcast

The Meet Me at the Museum podcast series invites well-known figures to explore museums around the UK and share their reactions to exhibitions and collections. The conversations offer a relaxed way to discover museum spaces through the perspectives of artists, musicians and broadcasters.

You can listen to this episode and other recordings from the series through the Art Fund website:
https://www.artfund.org/whats-on/meet-me-at-the-museum

Further information about the exhibition Use Hearing Protection can be found here:
https://www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/use-hearing-protection

Night at the Museum

Event Photography: Manchester Museum Adult Programme | Museum Meets Evening Events

I was commissioned by Manchester Museum to document a recent evening event as part of their Adult Programme. The highlight of the evening was a cyanotype workshop led by Angela Tait and Ian Clegg of ATIC. Cyanotype is a historic photographic printing process, and while the UV tubes used in the workshop are now considered a Health & Safety concern, it’s fascinating to reflect that similar equipment was once widely used in sunbeds.

The Museum Meets programme offers a unique opportunity to experience the museum after hours, combining art, science, music, and performance. These evening events bring together artists, scientists, filmmakers, writers, and musicians to animate the museum collections in immersive one-off performances. My role was to capture the atmosphere of the event, participants engaging with the workshops, and the creative energy of the space.

Capturing Museum Events and Workshops

Event photography in a museum setting requires careful attention to lighting, composition, and storytelling. At the Adult Programme evening, I focused on photographing participants at the cyanotype workshop, interactions with facilitators, and the ambience of Manchester Museum’s galleries. Documentary images like these provide a visual record for the museum, helping to promote future events and showcase the diversity of the programme.

By capturing both candid moments and staged shots, the photography communicates the creativity, engagement, and collaborative spirit of the museum’s Adult Programme. These images support marketing materials, social media content, and editorial coverage, demonstrating how museums can connect audiences with collections through innovative programming.

Conclusion

Photographing Manchester Museum’s Adult Programme highlighted the unique opportunities provided by the Museum Meets evening events. From workshops like cyanotype printing to performances that animate the collections, professional event photography documents these experiences, creating a lasting visual record that promotes engagement and celebrates creativity.

Check out the Museum Meets programme for upcoming events that explore the intersection of art, science, and performance in inspiring ways.