As well as doing work for WGRE, people often wonder why I'm at so many shows. The reason: I document them as a concert and festival photographer for The Big Takeover Magazine.
I often get asked if my life resembles that of William in “Almost Famous” and, usually, my response is “Kind of, but not quite” – (and if you haven’t seen the movie, please do, it’s an excellent film). Sure, I get to meet famous musicians by attending concerts and festivals for free, but concert photography isn’t always glamorous.
Carrying 20 pounds of gear through teeming festival crowds is far from fun, and I often reconsider my life choices as I rush from stage to stage. The competition is intense, every photographer rushing to edit in between sets to send photos off to public relations firms. This is all in the hopes of getting an image published in print or online.
It's been a fast-paced game of “eat or be eaten” trying to secure interviews and produce images worthy of attention. It’s a stressful game to play.You can’t beat the rush, though.
Being so close to an artist that you could untie their shoelaces, looking a musician straight in the eye through a lens; it’s truly a beautiful thing to capture the subtle, almost hidden moments onstage, whether it be a flick of a hand or the hint of a smile in the midst of all the madness.
I like to think that I preserve specific chapters in these musicians’ lives. I’ve had the privilege of shooting a range of artists: from small bands like Hiatus Kaiyote or Oh Wonder, to big names like LCD Soundsystem, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Radiohead and Phish. I’ve interviewed many types of people, including The Chainsmokers and Steve Gunn, and have had small moments with musicians from all genres, like sharing a water bottle with Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder. Above you can view some of the moments I captured this summer, at 88 different concerts and 5 festivals. Enjoy, and be on the look-out for more to come.