Three Takes

THREE TAKES brings together the work of three Niagara photographers, Dan Brown, Ronald DeFields, and Jeff Friesen, who have spent years documenting the region’s vibrant jazz scene. Through their distinct artistic perspectives, the exhibit captures the energy, intimacy, and spontaneity that define live jazz performance—from quiet moments of concentration to electrifying exchanges between musicians and audiences.

Featuring photographs taken at festivals, clubs, concerts, and community events across Niagara, the exhibition celebrates both the artistry of jazz and the people who make the scene thrive. Through three unique photographic voices, visitors are invited to explore the rhythms, emotions, and stories that unfold when music comes to life.

Dan Brown A lifelong photographer, Dan Brown added music to his photographic journey. He began capturing local music with an iPhone simply to document a musical experience. Encouraged by singer and promoter Juliet Dunn, he started photographing performances within the local music community, discovering in the process a deep connection between photography and improvisational music.

Drawn particularly to jazz, Brown’s work seeks to capture the instant when a musician becomes completely immersed in the music—a moment of bliss and creative freedom that can be difficult to describe but unmistakable when witnessed. Whether photographing an intimate club performance or a larger concert setting, he aims to preserve the emotional energy that passes between performer, music, and audience.

Working primarily in live environments, Brown embraces the challenges of changing light, movement, and spontaneity. Much like jazz itself, his photographic process relies on observation, timing, and intuition. Rather than simply documenting an event, he strives to reveal something of the musician's inner experience and the unique atmosphere created in performance.

The photographs presented in this exhibition celebrate the vitality of the music community and the artists who dedicate themselves to their craft, from emerging local performers to internationally acclaimed musicians. Brown is honoured to exhibit alongside fellow music photographers whose work shares a commitment to documenting and preserving the culture of live performance. Through these images, he hopes viewers will experience the sound, energy, and joy of Jazz.    
 

Ronald DeFields is a passionate amateur photographer living in the Niagara Ontario region. Two of his interests collided in 2023: a deep and longtime devotion to music, and a 50-year passion with portrait photography.

Creating environmental portraits of musicians practicing their craft is a natural evolution of Ronald's art. The planned result is an image that is less performance photograph, and more artist portrait.

Ron's craft began decades ago using black and white film. Today's digital technology has allowed for a dream to be realized: seeing a black and white image in the digital viewfinder versus using imagination and visualization via film equipment. Ron prefers black & white for its ability to focus on the subject’s expression, vs having the viewer distracted with colours.

Jeff Friesen is a Niagara based photographer whose love for the camera and music have combined in his business Jeff on Camera. He's had the privilege of shooting a variety of artists, from local musicians in small venues to music icons in crowded stadiums. Whether it’s a small club or a large festival Jeff captures the energy and emotion of each performance and has the creative and technical skills to produce beautiful stage, promo and head shots. A musician himself, he anticipates the moments that translate into photos both artists and audiences love.