It's probably clear by now that I love both metal and photography.

I've just recently started down the path of being able to shoot live shows, and it's one of my greatest achievements to date. It took some guts to step up and ask/tell promoters, "I'm good enough — so give me a chance." It's taken me a long time to get through the process of culling down this set, and grouping it into a few collections in different lighting schemes.

Normally, I write some really meaningful prose to go with all my photos, but this time... well, I'm really, really proud of these. I kind of want the music photography I post here to speak for itself. So I figure I'll post some show anecdotes, some links to the music, and then let you derive what you want from the images.

Meet Pallbearer; North American deep, melodic doom metal at its finest.

I've actually played these guys on my metal radio show a few times now, and the response from listeners has been pretty instantaneous. People are really digging a little dark and heavy, so if you're willing, you should definitely check them out and help them grow. You can find their website here, or listen to them on a streaming service like Spotify. I happen to be madly in love with Love You to Death, so if you want to know what a romantic, eerie doom ballad sounds like, start there.

I honestly live for pictures like this.

Look at these people, at a sold out show, having the time of their lives. I feel the same way about live music, and metal in particular, so there's something so intimate to me about capturing that instant in time; freezing that pure joy forever. While many of these are not technically good photos (we're talking focal points and lighting, sharpness, etc... but shooting under bad concert lighting is a bitch anyways,) the unbridled passion they convey make them — to me — the most poignant pieces of work that I produce.

I'm hoping these first few sets I put out get my foot in the door for bigger opportunities. I honestly think they will.

I can't wait to share more here with you guys. One of the best things about this platform is sharing success and elation with others; hopefully that comes through with each post I make.

All of these photos are my own original work, taken on my travels all over this pretty blue marble of ours. I hope you like them. 🌶️