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Berg: I miss capturing the energy of Saskatoon's summer festivals

With festivities cancelled or made virtual due to the pandemic, I've been thinking back on some of my favourite moments shooting festivals.

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If it wasn’t for the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival, I might not be a photojournalist today.

I was taking photos of Herbie Hancock for fun at the 2007 festival when an editor for The Sheaf, the University of Saskatchewan student newspaper, told me the paper was looking for a photo editor. I applied, got the job and have now been in the industry for 13 years, including working at The StarPhoenix since 2010.

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Typically my summers involve photographing Saskatoon’s many festivals. Each year I am excited to attend and challenge myself to photograph them differently than before.

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Now, with festivities cancelled or made virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve been thinking back on some of my favourite moments shooting festivals for The StarPhoenix.

RAGMOP’s Falling Awake during PotashCorp Fringe Theatre Festival’s preview night at the Broadway Theatre in Saskatoon on July 27, 2016. (Michelle Berg / Saskatoon StarPhoenix)
RAGMOP’s Falling Awake during PotashCorp Fringe Theatre Festival’s preview night at the Broadway Theatre in Saskatoon on July 27, 2016. (Michelle Berg / Saskatoon StarPhoenix)

The best part of shooting the Fringe Festival is attending the preview night where you get to watch two-minute snippets from each show. I would stay for the whole event and file a photo from each play so our reporting staff would have fresh art for all of their reviews.

Ms. Lauryn Hill performs at the Bessborough Gardens during the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival on June 25, 2014. (Michelle Berg / The StarPhoenix)
Ms. Lauryn Hill performs at the Bessborough Gardens during the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival on June 25, 2014. (Michelle Berg / The StarPhoenix)

Getting pit access at the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival and being able to get up close during a live performance is a real treat. You can feel the energy from the artists and the crowd, and those captured moments are real and beautiful. There’s something special about being outdoors with hundreds of people and loud music.

Three-year-old Mya is overjoyed at the 2016 Saskatoon Ex Parade in Saskatoon on August 9, 2016. (Michelle Berg / The StarPhoenix)
Three-year-old Mya is overjoyed at the 2016 Saskatoon Ex Parade in Saskatoon on August 9, 2016. (Michelle Berg / The StarPhoenix)

When the Saskatoon Ex was on, I’d go almost every day. There was always something to photograph: The setup, the parade, the rides, the food, the shows. So many different characters and expressions to capture. Not having the EX this year is especially hard on my five-year-old daughter. It’s her highlight of the summer and this probably would have been the last year she would have been short enough for some of the children’s rides.

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Prince Naja performs his fire dance at the Caribbean Pavilion during the Saskatoon Folkfest on August 17, 2012. (Michelle Berg / StarPhoenix)
Prince Naja performs his fire dance at the Caribbean Pavilion during the Saskatoon Folkfest on August 17, 2012. (Michelle Berg / StarPhoenix)

The fire breather at the Caribbean Pavilion at the Saskatoon Folkfest always makes for an impressive photo. This is a festival we need in these times, to bring a deeper understanding and appreciation of all the different cultures in Saskatoon.

Drag queen Iona Whipp sprays her hair after the three-hour transformation into Aron DoSouto’s performance alter ego at her home in Saskatoon on May 18, 2017. In a small room painted a deep purple (chosen for its name, Fashionista), he has everything he needs to make the “confident, straightforward, very flirtatious” character come to life. (Michelle Berg / Saskatoon StarPhoenix)
Drag queen Iona Whipp sprays her hair after the three-hour transformation into Aron DoSouto’s performance alter ego at her home in Saskatoon on May 18, 2017. In a small room painted a deep purple (chosen for its name, Fashionista), he has everything he needs to make the “confident, straightforward, very flirtatious” character come to life. (Michelle Berg / Saskatoon StarPhoenix)

Saskatoon Pride celebrations are all about being out — which made it tough to celebrate virtually. I loved getting to know Aron DuSouto three years ago and his transformation into Iona Whipp for a drag show at Diva’s. The opportunity to be welcomed into someone’s home to share their story is an honour, even more so now that we need to keep at a distance.

Travis Lovett demonstrates the men’s fancy dance during National Aboriginal Day celebrations at Wanuskewin Heritage Park in Saskatoon on June 21, 2017. (Michelle Berg / Saskatoon StarPhoenix)
Travis Lovett demonstrates the men’s fancy dance during National Aboriginal Day celebrations at Wanuskewin Heritage Park in Saskatoon on June 21, 2017. (Michelle Berg / Saskatoon StarPhoenix)

Powwows are beautiful and powerful. Aside from the opportunity to create stunning images, I appreciate the chance to learn about Indigenous culture at these celebrations. Being at a powwow, hearing the rhythm of the drums, the song, watching the dances, and hearing stories from the families taking part is an incredible experience.

Gator BBQ ribber Alexa Latowiec flips a rack of ribs on the barbecue during Ribfest in Saskatoon on August 6, 2017. (Michelle Berg / Saskatoon StarPhoenix)
Gator BBQ ribber Alexa Latowiec flips a rack of ribs on the barbecue during Ribfest in Saskatoon on August 6, 2017. (Michelle Berg / Saskatoon StarPhoenix)

Summer is a time to get outside and eat. Some of Saskatoon’s biggest summer food festivals include Ribfest, Taste of Saskatchewan and Food Truck Wars. People don’t generally like it when I stick a camera in their face as they chow down, so I like shooting Ribfest where I can focus on the flames, energy and competitive vibe of the BBQ ribbers.

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The Boreal Forest Spirits danced and sang at Ness Creek Music Festival on July 21, 2014. (Michelle Berg / The StarPhoenix)
The Boreal Forest Spirits danced and sang at Ness Creek Music Festival on July 21, 2014. (Michelle Berg / The StarPhoenix)

Ness Creek would have been celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. This is a festival where people can truly let go and connect with the spiritual world through music. I had the opportunity to cover the festival for The StarPhoenix six years ago and loved it.

Evan and Steven Qiu are all smiles during the potato bag race at the PotashCorp Children’s Festival at Kiwanis Park Sunday in Saskatoon. (Michelle Berg / Saskatoon StarPhoenix)
Evan and Steven Qiu are all smiles during the potato bag race at the PotashCorp Children’s Festival at Kiwanis Park Sunday in Saskatoon. (Michelle Berg / Saskatoon StarPhoenix)

There was always plenty of opportunity to capture pure joy and wonder on children’s faces at the Children’s Festival. To be able to let your kids be surrounded by hundreds of other children of all different shapes, colours and sizes is a good way to teach them about the world around them. I know, as a parent, how hard it’s been explaining to our kids that these festivals will not be happening this summer. These new experiences make lasting memories.

Summer is like a big family reunion in Saskatoon — we run into people we haven’t seen for months.

Seeing the city come to life — all of these people emerging from their houses after a long winter indoors to soak up the sun, eat good food, listen and dance to music outdoors, celebrate our diversity and various cultures … This one is a summer to remember, I suppose.

I’m missing photographing the energy that is Saskatoon summer, but hoping it will bring about a new appreciation of it next year.

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