Too Grand! Concert: Event Photography for Nordic Northwest in Portland, Oregon

At the Too Grand! concert for Friends of Nordic Northwest, held at a private residence in Portland, Oregon, I had two roles. I photographed the evening, and as a member of the Nordic Cuisine Committee, I was also responsible for two of the dishes, an appetizer and a dessert. It was interesting to experience it both behind the camera and as part of the culinary team.

Two grand pianos and a harp

Too Grand! is an ensemble celebrating more than twenty years of playing together for fun, and this was their 230th performance and their 37th for Nordic Northwest. There were two grand pianos and a harp, and different musicians took their turns at them. The repertoire was quite extensive: a program that traveled from Grieg to Rachmaninoff, with pieces of different histories and cultural significance.

Evenings like this one feel close to my heart. I grew up in Saint Petersburg, Russia’s cultural capital, in the center of art, history, and architecture. Through my school and my family, I was always going to cultural events: countless theater performances, from ballet to opera, and many others, among them events organized by the Scandinavian consulates in the city—book presentations, lectures, artist talks, and exhibitions. I’m truly excited to be part of that cultural life again, now on this side of the world.

From inside the room, and from outside the window

As a photographer, I move around the room quietly, giving people their space. I’m there constantly looking around, with a sharp eye for the genuine, happy moments of connection that happen between people: chatting, grabbing a snack, discussing the food we served, and then listening to the concert. For this event I also took a creative approach and stepped outside the house. Walking around it, I photographed the evening through the windows, finding unique angles that opened up only from outside while everyone inside was watching the concert. Some of the most beautiful documentary images of the night came from there.

Cooking with the Nordic Cuisine Committee

My other role that evening was a culinary one. The Nordic food was created by our committee, and I really enjoyed being part of a group that comes together to discuss and deliver signature dishes from the five Nordic nations. I made gravad lax, salmon with dill and pepper on cucumber, as an appetizer, and äppelkaka, a Swedish apple cake, for dessert. I baked the cake with almond flour, which gave our guests one more gluten-free option, and I was so happy to see both of my dishes become so popular that every last piece was gone.

Besides my two dishes, I designed all the dish presentation tags and the name tags with the help of AI design tools, and I’m happy that my knowledge and expertise could help our guests discover each dish in a clear and beautiful way. On each dish tag, guests could find the ingredients, with dietary preferences and restrictions such as vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free highlighted. They could also learn what each dish is called in its native language.

I am an avid cook myself, and I love to host. I enjoy cooking the cuisines of different cultures, and I often cook a familiar dish in a new way, adding an ingredient or something exciting. What I focus on is food that is healthy, comforting, and delicious. When I host, I think about the whole experience: the different courses and how each one is presented, the design of the table, the space around it, and the music. I also love presenting a dish in words, sharing what inspired me to create it. That is why joining the committee felt like such a natural match. It is the hosting I love, just in a different setting, and I find so much joy in knowing that I am sharing the taste and the ingredients with people.

Photographer and author: Alina Veksler @veksalinaphotography
Event: Too Grand! concert for Friends of Nordic Northwest, with Nordic cuisine by the Nordic Cuisine Committee of Nordic Northwest

Location: Private residence, Portland, Oregon, USA

Gear used: Sony a7iii | Manual vintage lens Minolta Rokkor 58mm f/1.4 | K&F Concept Black Diffusion 1/4

Alina Veksler—a creative portrait photographer based near Portland, Oregon, offering professional photography and creative direction for individuals and businesses seeking unique, tailor-made sessions defined by quality and artistry.

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