Michael Cooper Photographic

10/07/2026

I’ve always liked photographing musicians because there’s so much more going on than just the instrument.
These portraits are of violin students at the University of Toronto.
I wanted to get away from the usual “musician with an instrument” portrait and make something a little moodier.
Something that shows the concentration, personality and quiet intensity that goes into learning to play.
Black and white seemed like the right fit.
No stage. No audience. No performance.
Just the musician, the instrument and that moment of concentration before the music starts.
Nikon Canada Inc. Profoto Capture One | Photo Software

09/28/2026

PastelSupernova.
After seeing all the busts and statues in the Louvre, I started thinking about photographing people covered in slip clay and transforming them into something that looked like a statue.
This shoot with PastelSupernova was one of those ideas that came from collaborating with another creative.
That’s one of the things I love about working with other artists — you start exploring ideas you never would have thought of on your own.
The clay, the curves and the light all came together.
I start with an idea… and then see what happens.
And often something emerges in the image that you hadn’t imagined when you started. (Also one image before the clay ).

Capture One | Photo Software Nikon Canada Inc. Tether Tools

09/27/2026

La Traviata — Canadian Opera Company
My 40th season photographing the Canadian Opera Company.
After all these years, one of the things I still love about photographing opera is never knowing exactly where the image is going to happen.
The music, the movement, the set, the costumes and the light are constantly changing. And somewhere in all of that, there’s a moment when everything comes together.
Sometimes it’s dramatic.
Sometimes it’s quiet.
Sometimes it’s just a look.
My job is to watch, anticipate and discover that moment.
A few moments from La Traviata at the Canadian Opera Company.

09/24/2026

Come see my work on display at Todmorden Mill closing this weekend. Xpose is a curated show of professional photographers across Canada

09/22/2026

A little elegance, a little mischief, and a whole lot of confidence.
I had the pleasure of photographing Emma away from the stage, where their personality comes through just as strongly as their artistry.
A 2-Spirit L’nuk/Mi’kmaq artist, Emma is a member of the Canadian Opera Company Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio and one of a new generation of Canadian performers redefining what opera can be. They are equally at home performing the great operatic repertoire and creating new work, using opera as a vehicle for cultural resurgence, human connection and fearless storytelling.
Emma is currently performing in Verdi’s La Traviata with the Canadian Opera Company.
A singer, writer and creator with a distinctive voice—both on and off the stage. Emma Pennell

08/18/2026

Very different moments with Barbara Barsky.
On the set of Sunset Blvd. About 1995. And sitting at a table with in Larry’s Party a play by Carol Shields Canadian Stage 2001
I’ve had the pleasure of photographing Barbara in three worlds ( see previous post) and that’s one of the things that makes this work so interesting—getting to see the person behind the performance, and then watching that person disappear into a character once the lights come up.

08/18/2026

Barbara Barsky, at home and surrounded by one of her passions—her wonderful collection of Fiesta kitchenware.
Sitting by the window, with a beaming smile over her left shoulder, the afternoon light streaming in—and with a little help from me—this became one of those portraits where everything came together.
I love working with natural light, then adding just enough of my own to shape the image without losing the feeling of the moment. Nikon Canada Inc. Profoto Capture One | Photo Software S**t on Nikon Z9 with one Profoto B1x processed with CaptureOne

08/09/2026

06/30/2026

A while back I had the pleasure of photographing Claire Lynch for her album “Empty Pair of Shoes”. This image found its way onto the back cover.
What I like about this portrait is its simplicity. Claire, her guitar, and a quiet moment. Although it looks like natural window light, I actually created and shaped the light to keep the feeling authentic and understated. Good lighting shouldn’t call attention to itself—it should help tell the story.
Whether I’m photographing a performer, a CEO, or an artist, I’m always looking for the same thing: authenticity. The technology changes, the lighting changes, but that goal never does.
And yes, I still get a kick out of seeing my photographs on album covers. Some things never get old. The second photo is an environmental portrait of Claire with some her and her husband’s instruments.