My mother was and is to this day a great documentarian of her family’s life through photographs. As a child I complained that she was taking too many pictures and, with the help of my brother, gave her tons of grief. She always won the battles and lots of pictures were amassed. She took dozens of slides and every year we would sit down as a family and, using a projector, watch the slide reels over and over. It wasn’t until I was much older that I realized how important those photos are to me. Now when she asks to take a picture with me I oblige and I see in her the happiness that capturing those memories gives her. I now have that same happiness in taking pictures for myself.

Documenting the events that change a nation are equally important as those happy family moments. To a certain extent far more important. Still photographers that get in the thick of things during major world events freeze moments that sometimes get washed over in video. They lock in the emotions and scenes in a fraction of a second for the world to see and for the world to remember. It’s those photos from the terrorist attack on September 11th, Hurricane Katrina and more recently the devastating earthquake in Japan that make us remember the frailty of life. Those photographs make it possible for us to not rely solely on our fuzzy memories for the important details.

Photography plays a major role in history and in the future. The family photographer, war documentarians, photojournalists all have one of the most important jobs in the world. Archiving it. With Facebook, Twitter and other media outlets being driven by anyone who has a computer, photography plays an even more important role. They spread across the world in a matter of seconds allowing the opposite ends of the Earth to come together to view what they otherwise would have to wait to see on TV. Visual documentations of important events are now seen as they happen, in real time.

It is more important than ever to record those images that you want to remember. Whether it’s a first birthday, graduation, tragic disaster or human blight, keep archiving the world around you and keep sharing those images. When you are telling your story to the next generations you can show them exactly what happened as it was, not as your fading memory thinks it happened.

Photography is all about capturing light. I love light, which is essentially color our eyes see. I think I see it differently than most and look for it constantly. I’m not talking about looking for the presence of light but instead I look for how light reflects, illuminates a scene, colors the room or frames a subject. I live my life through a viewfinder seeking the perfect light.

I hear [all the time] photographers say I only like natural light and how they don’t use artificial light. I’m guilty of saying that too! There is nothing more beautiful than God’s natural spectrum, however, there is some incredible artificial light that can make a photograph dynamic.

I found some of my favorite light in concert photography. All artificial light, all of it constantly moving along with my subject matter moving constantly too. Sometimes, though, it all comes together and the light is perfect. The subject is framed by the light. My shutter opens and the light is captured.

Some of my favorite photographs I’ve ever taken were of musicians performing live in concert. To me, there is no more dynamic of a venue to photograph. It is by far the most difficult and technically challenging assignment I’ve come across and, well, the most rewarding.

I have had the great fortune to photograph some incredible bands over the years. They all have their own dynamic that forces me to adapt on the fly and pull off some feats of incredible balance and camera control. To achieve stunning shots like I have taken requires some really good equipment, mad negotiation skills, the ability to compose a shot of a really fast moving subject in near darkness and, sometimes, balls the size of coconuts.

First of all if you’re uneasy standing in front of a crowd or nervous about meeting celebrities then don’t attempt it. I found myself constantly on stage shooting the crowd or working with the band to talk about what they wanted. The crowd generally loves to have their picture taken and the bands love to have shots of the crowd so you can’t be shy. When I photographed Chevelle I met them before the concert to talk about where they wanted me to shoot from and for how long I was to shoot from the stage. If you act even the slightest bit nervous they will kick you to the curb because the last thing they want is a photographer ruining the show.

The mad negotiation skills come in when you meet the iron curtain, also known as management. They are the ones who tell you when and where to shoot most of the time. Almost all of them will give you a small window of opportunity to shoot from behind the barricade by the stage, the most coveted position in the entire venue. (This is where the crowd tells you all the things they are willing to do to you if you’ll just get them back there to meet Bret Michaels). Generally a photographer has about three songs to shoot from that close to the stage and that’s where the best photos will be taken. So negotiating the amount of songs you can shoot through and from where is almost the most important part of the whole event because it dictates how many close-up photos you will get. You know, like the shots of All American Rejects jumping in the crowd.

Being able to shoot a well composed shot of a rock star jumping around in moving light is difficult and requires fast acquisition of your subject without disturbing the show (believe me if you get in their way you’ll get kicked out). Also you will need a high quality lens with the ability to utilize low available light. The smallest aperture you can get away with will be about f2.8 and anything larger will only benefit you, however you will rarely find a larger aperture in anything but a prime lens. You really need a wide angle zoom like a 24-70mm for the close up shots and a 70-200mm for the times you have to shoot from the rear or the balconies. It is rare that you will be able to shoot with a flash and even then the photos are never good with a flash. You have to time your shots to coincide with the moving lighting as well as the moving subject. I promise you, rock stars never stop moving.

It is difficult to not watch the show and easy to forget you’re there to photograph these awesome bands. There is a balance in finding the right shot and getting distracted by the action of someone like Big Boi or Anberlin tearing up the stage. Getting the shot you want sometimes takes some balls. I often times found myself hanging on the the rafters with one hand taking pictures with the other to get the “money shot”. Making your way through a drunk crowd that’s trying to spill beer on your $5,000 camera is a feat in itself. I found in one venue that standing on the bar was the best shot to get above the crowd. One time I was yelled at by the management of Chevelle to get off the bar because he thought I was distracting. I pretended not to hear him, continued to photograph and ended up with one of my favorite images of the night. I could have gotten kicked out but it was worth the risk. There is never reward without risk, in my opinion.

If I could have it my way I’d photograph live concerts every day. It always makes for incredible photos and I enjoy the challenge of capturing the raw feeling of the show. To freeze a moment in a dynamic event like a concert and make that shot convey the feeling I had when I was there is an experience I will always cherish.

Plainly stated I am a very passionate man. I always have been. I’m passionate about the smallest things in my life but one thing I am very passionate about is my photography. I have always, at least for as far back as I can remember, been surrounded by cameras. My mother loved taking pictures and even though she’s very modest about her skills I think she has an eye for composition and it shaped my photographic life more than anyone. That is why I think photography has a very special place in my heart.

For the last twenty-five years I have been honing my skills both in the darkroom and behind the glow of my monitor clicking away with my Wacom tablet in Photoshop. When I wake up I think about photography. I think about what it is I want to capture next. I can’t stop thinking about it. You’d think after so long the passion would fade or find itself idle in the corner behind the dusty old guitar I used to admire and play so endearingly but it only grows stronger every day. Second only to the love of a woman, I find my photography is the one thing I am most passionate about in my life. Without it I would be a lost soul.

I think for me it’s the idea of capturing time and freezing it for everyone to gaze upon and enjoy that intrigues me the most. A slice of life, if you will, that may not be seen by passers-by or an image that invokes an emotion. I see an old barn or the skeleton of a leaf and I see a photographic opportunity – I see art. I see the world differently as if I’m constantly looking through the viewfinder of my favorite camera. That’s what makes me passionate about photography.

Besides the emotional link to photography there is the excitement of shooting all day and coming back to the studio to see what I’ve captured. There is always a surprise in there – always a little gem that I didn’t expect. It’s exciting to post process the images and see something that lights up my soul with the unexpected such as a perfect expression on a child’s face or something in the background that makes the photograph more memorable.

I love it when someone sees my work and tells me how they love a particular picture. I always ask them what makes it memorable to them or why it is that they love it so much and I always enjoy the responses I get. The human interaction to my work and my love of art in any form, especially photography, gets me going and fires up my soul.

I am asking you, the reader of this blog, what makes you passionate about photography? Whether you are a pro, or a mom taking pictures of her newborn, or an amateur that just loves photography I want to know what drives you to pull out your camera.

Are you someone who is taking hundreds of pictures everywhere you go? Do you carry a camera all the time and annoy your friends and family with the constant click of the shutter? I want to know what you like to take pictures of and why.

I want to know your passion.

Chase Jarvis has it right when he says “The best camera is the one that’s with you“. I’m often asked what kind of camera I shoot with. I tell them I shoot with professional Canon cameras and lenses and their response is almost always “Well that’s why you can take such good pictures”. I take good pictures because I practice all the time and take the time to study the craft. Equipment is part of the equation but practice and technique are the cornerstone of good photography. There is so many times where taking my $5,000 SLR camera with me is either not practical or just plain scares the crap out of me so I carry either a point and shoot or my iPhone 4. I tell people that it’s not the camera that makes a good photograph but the photograph itself that makes the image memorable. Some of my favorite photos came from the worst cameras two nickles could buy.

I tell them its all about the emotion first, composition second and equipment third. Yes high dollar, professional cameras produce superior quality images, especially in the digital world, but I have seen photographers with the best gear money could buy and they produce mediocre photographs at best. Lately I have been shooting with my iPhone for fun and it keeps me grounded with the fact that good photography starts in the minds eye, with a desire to capture a moment in time to share with others. While I am a glutton for incredible cameras I also remember where I came from before I was afforded the luxury of owning such cameras. For years I only owned a point and shoot digital camera and before that really bad film cameras. With practice and some simple composition techniques anyone can capture memories, worthy of framing, with any camera they own.

Taken with the iPhone 4 and Hipstamatic app.

I’m not too proud to admit that I’m still learning every time I pick up a camera. I search the newest techniques and research other photographers works to get inspiration and I find it to be a huge value to improving my work. I look at others works and see how the shot is composed and ask myself what makes this image impressive to me and I try to apply the ideas to my work. At least once a week I search the internet for tutorials and websites that teach how to achieve certain images and I give myself a lesson for the week. One site I like to reference is Digital Photography School. Photographers from all walks of life and all skill levels discuss and teach their techniques. There are links to other tutorials and books as well on the site.

Now that almost everyone has a digital camera you can practice all day long and throw away the bad images. I say shoot all the time. Take the same photo from all angles and see what makes the image look good. Step outside your comfort zone of shooting from the standing position. Wear comfy shoes and clothes and get a little dirty. I can’t count how many times I find myself crawling around on the ground or climbing on a table to get the best perspective.You will be amazed what you can come up with if you just change the perspective of the composition. Yes you might annoy your friends, family and pets and possibly break some furniture in the process but you will find very quickly that your technique will improve and your photographs will look better. Don’t give up if what you shoot doesn’t look “professional” and remember beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Check out some of my iPhone photos on my Facebook page and you will see what a point and shoot cell phone camera can do with a little practice.

Good luck and happy shooting!!!

My last photo gig, here in Florida, was  last Friday and it really couldn’t have been a better final job. One of the biggest names in rock n roll and a pioneer of glam rock band Poison, Bret Michaels ROCKED the Swamp club. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to have photographed some great bands over the last year and a half and to close the curtain with such a huge rock star made me one hell of a happy photographer.

What can I say about the show? It just plain kicked some serious ass, but what would you expect from a seasoned pro like Bret Michaels. No one would have known he has been sick for the past couple months by his energy and showmanship. He and his band blazed some of the classic Poison songs like “Every Rose has its Thorn” and mixed in some original new work from his yet to be released new album. I was lucky to meet him before the show at Hurlburt AFB where he signed autographs and showed his support of our military. I went with Leslie from the Morning Movement at 99 ROCK as her photographer. After the show Leslie and I got to meet with him again and get our pictures taken with him. I’ve met several rock stars and I have to say he was one of the coolest yet. I grew up listening to his music and never thought I’d be photographing him one day. So to have this be my last show before I move to St. Louis was really special.

Thank you to the Swamp Club and Nightown for an awesome ride and for giving me the opportunity to photograph some of the great bands you’ve hosted.

See my images of the Bret Michaels concert at the Swamp Club.

On Monday night the rock band Chevelle brought down the house with their three piece band that sounds like a rock n roll orchestra. First off let me say I am a huge hard rock fan and second I really like Chevelle. So this was a special treat to be able to photograph the show. This is the first band I’ve photographed that I was a fan of first.

My evening started off with shooting the 99 Rock radio interview with Woofy the DJ and Sam the drummer of Chevelle. I was lucky then to be able to meet the band who was gracious and very cool. They took the time to meet some fans and myself and then gave us their autographs. I am not normally very star struck but it was really cool to meet the guys.

The house was packed early on and I got my all access seat between the barricade and the stage. There’s really no better place to watch a show or for that matter to take pictures. I was excited. My skin was electric with anticipation for some really loud rock. My camera at the ready to capture the excitement I was feeling. The stage was almost empty except the red Mesa Boogey speaker cabinets to the left and right of the drum riser and the two microphones. The lights came down and the crowd erupted. With out much ado Chevelle started their very powerful set with their signature sound. My shutter almost couldn’t keep up with my trigger finger. It was hard for me to not get wrapped up in the stage performance. For a three piece band I was fully impressed how they could create so much sound and rock that hard. I was in heaven.

Chevelle didn’t disappoint  any one of the thousand-plus fans including me. They rocked the stage like they were playing to a hundred thousand screaming fans. It was the first show in a long time I’ve photographed where I was was that engrossed in my work and in the show at the same time. From that I captured some of my best concert images yet. This show will be a powerful memory for a lifetime to come.

View my Concert Portfolio for more images.

I was fortunate to photograph the Corey Smith concert at the Swamp Club on Sunday night. His opening band was Tyler Reeve from Atlanta Georgia and together they really kicked off the spring break here. The house was packed from wall to wall with spring breakers screaming the lyrics and blowing off steam while on vacation here in Destin.

While I had not heard of Tyler Reeve it seems the crowd had and I was completely blown away by his performance. Sometimes the opening band just kicks ass and this was the case. What a humble and gracious country singer he was. While Corey Smith rocked the house I had a chance to exchange some conversation with Tyler as he watched the show from the wings for a few minutes. I’ve been to a lot of shows and he was the first singer to take some time to talk. We talked about the show and how different each genre of music fans were different. I find the country shows have the most fun loving crowd and he agreed explaining how they connect with the lyrics while at rock shows it’s all about the music and hard beats. During Corey’s set Tyler decided to “moon” Corey from the wings which is something they apparently do to try and distract each other during their shows. Unfortunately I was not in position with my camera to capture his ass for you ladies!

Corey Smith completely brought down the house with his story telling songs. One thing I like is when an artist gives some kind of background to his songs because it brings some meaning to the song. He regaled about a time when he was caught in a police check point on his way home from a healthy night of drinking and was busted not two miles from his home. So he wrote a song titled “F**k the PO PO”. Sounds like it should be a rap song but he wrote a great country song to the title. Along the way Corey had fun enjoying a drink or five with the crowd, who was in love with him by now, laying down some of the best country I’ve heard in a while. And that’s saying a lot from someone who’s not a country fan.

It’s shows like these that remind me how lucky I am to be a photographer shooting events like these. Now if only I could get Metallica to come to the Swamp Club…

View my Concert Portfolio for more images.