How we got this photo of the Phillips Choir performing for Black History Month

This week’s top photo comes from Visual Journalist Anthony Vazquez. Follow him on Instagram.

What makes this photo great?

What makes this image great is how it captures the moment—the choir lined up in a row, the conductor’s hand full of energy as he leads them through the song. Seeing his hand in action helps tell the story of what he’s doing. The view from behind the conductor gives a clear look at the choir, and the wide shot shows the whole room, revealing they’re rehearsing in an ordinary classroom. This story is also a follow-up to a piece we covered in December of last year.

How did you get the shot?

For this photo, I stayed around the edges of the choir because I wanted to capture the whole group and the story we were telling. I figured the best way to include as many faces as possible was to shoot from behind the conductor and wait for the right moment.

Technical details:

  • Equipment: Canon EOS R5 with a RF70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM lens
  • Focal length: 200 mm
  • Aperture: f/2.8
  • Exposure: 1/6400
  • ISO: 800

17 more great photos from the Sun-Times staff

UNITEDLOTS-022525-8.jpg

A Pink Line train passes by a parking lot owned by People’s Stadium Parking is located at 1717 W. Warren Blvd. outside the United Center, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025.

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Bullet holes riddle the window of a home in the 10900 block of South Edbrooke Avenue after authorities said a 77-year-old man was shot to death overnight while inside the Roseland neighborhood building, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Bullet holes riddle the window of a home in the 10900 block of South Edbrooke Avenue after authorities said a 77-year-old man was shot to death overnight while inside the Roseland neighborhood building, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

A box sits in Robert Crimo III's seat at the defense table as he did not attend the morning of day three of jury selection at the Lake County Courthouse, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Waukegan, Ill. (Ashlee Rezin /Chicago Sun-Times via AP, Pool) ORG XMIT: ILCHS110

A box sits in Robert Crimo III’s seat at the defense table as he did not attend day three of jury selection at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025.

Ashlee Rezin/AP Photos

Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart speaks with Highland Park parade mass shooter Robert E. Crimo III's attorney Gregory Ticsay after the completion of jury selection at the Lake County Courthouse, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Waukegan, Ill. (Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP, Pool) ORG XMIT: ILCHS131

Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart speaks with Highland Park parade mass shooter Robert E. Crimo III’s attorney Gregory Ticsay after the completion of jury selection at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025.

Ashlee Rezin/AP Photos

Luis Delgado, 15, a former Esmeralda Santiago Elementary student and current 10th grader at Northside College Prep, joins dozens of other advocates for Acero charter schools during the Chicago Board of Education meeting at Chicago Public Schools headquarters in the Loop, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Luis Delgado, 15, a former Esmeralda Santiago Elementary student and current 10th grader at Northside College Prep, joins dozens of other advocates for Acero charter schools during the Chicago Board of Education meeting at Chicago Public Schools headquarters in the Loop, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau workers and their supporters protest in Federal Plaza in the Loop, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau workers and their supporters protest in Federal Plaza in the Loop, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

FLAG-022525-10.jpg

Protesters stand silently as speakers talk outside of St. Sabina Church at 1210 W. 78th Pl., on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025.

Zubaer Khan/Sun-Times

FINNEAS-022825-11.jpg

Finneas performs at Salt Shed, at 1357 N. Elston Ave., on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025.

Zubaer Khan/Sun-Times

UKRAINE-022525-14.jpg

Milana, 6, looks around while standing at her pew as Bishop Venedykt Aleksiychuk, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy in Chicago speaks to hundreds of parishioners and Ukrainian Americans during an interfaith prayer service commemorating the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine at Holy Name Cathedral, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025.,

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

CZUBA26-022625-4.jpg

Oday Al-Fayoume, father of Wadee Al Fayoumi holds up a peace sign to the media after exiting the Will County Courthouse after the second day of trial for his sons killer Joseph Czuba, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, in Joliet, Ill.

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

WEATHER-022725-3.jpg

Waves roll into an ice and snow encrusted Foster Beach as temperatures in the Chicago area reached low 40s, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025.

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

CPSBOARD-022825-20.jpg

Advocate for Acero charter schools eagerly wait for the Chicago Board of Education to vote on keeping five Acero schools open during meeting at Chicago Public Schools headquarters in the Loop, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025.

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

PACZKIPRICES-022825-12.JPG

Paczki Donuts at Alliance Bakery at 1837 W Grand Avenue in West Town, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. Costs of goods have risen making it hard for local business to maintain lower prices. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

PHILLIPSCHOIRFOLO-030125-29.JPG

Joseph Smith conducts the choir during a rehearsal at Wendell Phillips High School in Douglas, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. Alumni of the Phillips Choir got together once again to perform at the Black History Month celebration at their alma mater.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

GOODMANCENTENNIAL-022625-04.JPG

David Byrne, The Talking Heads, announces the arrival of the “Theater of the Mind” to Chicago during the centennial season lineup announcement at the Goodman Theatre at 170 N. Dearborn St., Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

PACZKIPRICES-022825-20.JPG

Ellen King, Owner of Hewn Bakery, prepares a chocolate croissant at Hewn Bakery at 1733 Central St. in Evanston, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. Costs of goods have risen making it hard for local business to maintain lower prices.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

MIDWAY-022625-04.JPG

A Southwest passenger airplane flys by as it comes in for a landing outside of Midway Airport in West Lawn, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)
  Travis Kelce Resurfaces in FaceTime Video After Big Super Bowl Loss

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *