Category: Show Photography

The Most Possible Fun, Ever.

Finding your Zen, Happiness, Show Photography, Street Photography, Travel, Travel Photography

Over the weekend, my wife surprised me with a trip to see the Amish Outlaws perform at a spring festival in Brunswick, Maryland. Though I had seen them three times. Once with my wife at a close friend’s wedding. It had been a good ten years since I last experienced what is surely the most fun and engaging show to ever take the stage. As we drove home I smiled and noted that it was the most fun and inclusive I’d ever seen her. To watch her sing, dance and engage with the singer was priceless. Thanks to the Amish Outlaws for bringing out the best in everyone. Below is an image of some of the crowd participation.

Heading into the Weekend on a Positive Note.

Concert Photography, Hardcore, Indie Rock, Music, Music Journalism, Rock Photography, Show Photography

With good news regarding recent tests coming from my neurologist. My long-suffering Mets surprising everyone with their wild-card win and success against long-time rivals the Braves and the Phillies. I welcomed the weekend with a sense of joy that seemed fleeting lately. Come Saturday, upon arriving home a just published book featuring one of my images was awaiting my return. The book, itself was amazing. Not only did it cover and reflect a very important period of my life. Many of the show flyer and fanzines illustrated within its pages. Mirrored that of my personal collections and boxes of memories of the time. The picture below features a friend at a mid nineties hardcore show at CBGB’s. The subject, whose name shall remain anonymous. Was/is a monumental influence on how I wanted to approach photographing bands and artists. I am extremely impressed with the books build and quality within. I’ll leave a link in case the subject matter (Fanzines and their importance to independent music.) interests you. https://tribalbooks.myshopify.com/products/cut-paste-the-american-hardcore-fanzine

Just A Minor Threat

Creative Writing, Documentary, Film Photography, Hardcore, Music, Music Journalism, Show Photography, Skate Boarding, Skateboarding, Storytelling

This past week, I attended two events celebrating new book releases from and about subjects whose work and passion have positively influenced me, my life, and the course the roads it’s taken. As usual, I decided to take my camera along. Taking place at Washington DC’s MLK Memorial Library and Virginia’s George Mason University Campus. Groundbreaking Photographer Glen E. Friedman and Ian McKay (Minor Threat. Dischord Records, Fugazi.) spoke about Glen’s photos and his book ‘Just a Minor Threat.’ Allowing me many firsts, including my first visit to the MLK Memorial Library and meeting Glen and Ian. Later in the week, I had a similar experience visiting George Mason University to sit in on a discussion about the book with photographer Antonia Tricarico, Joe Lally (Fugazi), and the man himself, producer/engineer of Viginia’s legendary Inner Ear Studio, Don Zientara on the book ‘The Inner Ear of Don Zientarara.’ I took a few pictures while I listened intently. I bought my first book of Friedman’s music photos, ‘Fuck You Heroes,’ in 1994. Each of the people I met at these events influenced my art immensely and provided stories regarding their journey. Looking back on my life, thing of the impact their images, music and the recordings they helped shape. It’s worth wondering what it would have been with it.

Lost & Found

NYC, Rock Photography, Show Photography

While retrieving an old hard drive featuring many of the negatives from my film camera days. I notice an image that was somewhat foreign to my eyes. One that captured my imagination while dialing back to my days of living in the storied NYC neighborhood, Hell’s Kitchen. At the time, I was going out to see bands two to three times a week. Although I went to clubs and bars throughout the tristate area. CBGB’s and The Continental were more or less, second and third homes for me.This particular image caught my eye, perhaps due to my often lamenting, wishing I had taken more time to photograph the attendees and personalities that often hung outside the clubs. Upon close investigation. I came to the conclusion that it was The Continental, a downtown, east village bar on 3rd avenue, just off St. Marks place. My other guess is, due to the ethnicity of the woman filming the action. That it might have been the Asian/Female fronted punk band Yellow Scab. As much as I’m guesstimating. Finding an image I don’t remember taking or seeing, was cooler than an eskimo sitting by a campfire. Though the picture was taken some twenty five years ago. Noticing it for the first time gave it a new shine.

Experimenting with Music Photography

Damion Photo, Editorial, Finding your Zen, Indie Rock, Memories, Music Journalism, Rock Photography, Show Photography

It’s safe to say, my interest in photography was born out of necessity. As a teenager in love with hardcore punk and going to Sunday matinees, I started a fanzine which needed pictures to go with my interviews and show reviews. Admittedly, my pictures were terrible. I really knew nothing about composition or camera settings. When I think about it, I didn’t even own a film SLR until I was twenty four. by then I was more interested in documenting my new surroundings in a neighborhood known as Hell’s Kitchen. While I was still going to shows regularly. and taking much better photos, I eventually got bored, which started my focus on experimentation with light and movement. Ultimately, is was within the shadows, movement and darkness, that I found my love. The more I learned about composition and waiting for the right moment, the more my images stood out. While it wasn’t alway pretty, I felt that I was finally capturing the energy, raw emotion, and elements that capture the essence, and intimacy that smaller venues offer.

Fast, Loud Still Rules

Canon R6 Mark II Mirrorless, Concert Photography, Event Photography, Indie Rock, Music, Rock Photography, Show Photography

In a little less than a month. I hope to attend a friends band play what seems to be a small, intimate venue in Richmond. Due entirely to health and my inability to maintain any sense of balance. I haven’t been to a music event since 2017. Considering my love for music, going to events and capturing moments through photography. The event and the chance to see a really good band that hasn’t performed remotely close to my residence. The excitement can be compared to the feelings I often experienced as a much younger show attendee. With a new camera and being years removed from shooting live music. I have a lot of relearning to do.

Overwhelming Desire.

Modeling, Portraiture, Show Photography

A combination of hearing from former models I’ve worked with and a number of sales regarding studio lights and equipment. I’ve experienced overwhelming urges to recharge my studio work. After a week or so of measuring, planning, and unhealthy overthinking. I was able to free myself from the lofty goal of rekindling my studio photography days. While my love of connecting with my subject, and doing my best to earn the trust and capture the beauty and depth of my subject. I’d be wiser and a lot more happy to look back and say, “I accomplished just that.” If I ultimately decide to get back to that aspect of my work. I’d like to explore more of my interest in natural light and shadow. Until then.

United By… Book Project

Concert Photography, Music Journalism, Promotional, Show Photography

If you’ve been paying attention, you might notice that I’ve discontinued a feature I started back in April of 2020. “United By” was the skeleton for a book featuring many of the concert/show images I had taken over the years. After a spirited start, reality set in, and the idea went into the “Maybe someday.” to do file; however, after finding a template where I could build my project at my own pace. Things picked up rapidly. After seeing the right person to pen the books foreward and an incredible editor, I began reaching out to band members and people involved in putting on shows, putting out records, and giving a voice to those who create. The responses and thoughts added much-needed yet previously void of life to both the images and my little project’s purpose. Work continues as I wait for the final images to be digitized and downloadable.
Though things seem to be wrapping up on my side, I know there is still a lot of work to do before figuring out how to submit it to publishers. Here’s to a long wait.

For Those Who Shall Remain Nameless

Concert Photography, Digital Storage, Indie Rock, Music, Rock Photography, Show Photography, Storytelling

If you read ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’ you might recall that I digitized all of my photos and threw the pictures and albums out. Aside from creating a lot of room. Having all those pictures to play around with and put memory has been a lot of fun. Though there were certainly a few that saw new life with minor adjustments in Photoshop and Lightroom. It was the countless show photos I took at clubs, bars and halls that presented a very different challenge. That of remembering the bands names and methods of operation.

Funny, but I remember being at this show, taking this shot and standing on the side of that storied CBGB’s stage. I remember my friend Brendan working the door. while I can’t remember the band name or that of the guitarist. I remember they were the third band out of the five that played that day, I recall when the guitar string broke and how it led to the uncontrollable bleeding that followed. Undaunted, he finished the song and even the set before wrapping a rag around the cut and wiping down his guitar until all the blood was gone. It was the 90’s and CBGB’s was still the things of legend. Independent rock & roll was hanging on to its last threads of danger. Men were men. Sheep were scared and bands finished their sets, no matter what.

United By… Getting Close With (Holy City Zoo)

Canon Lenses, Indie Rock, Maxwells, Photo Journalism, Rock Photography, Show Photography

Below are a couple of closeups that focus on the bass and guitar of Holy City Zoo’s AJ Russo and Frank Joseph. HCZ were one of my favorite bands’ that populated the Tiny Giants collective. Having been a part of the collective, myself. I’d go out and see them live, every chance I got.