I didn't always dream of being a photographer. If anything, I really wanted to be an artist, the kind you usually think of when you hear the word “artist.” Artists like Monet, Van Gogh, Georgia O’Keefe, etc. Preferably, a mixed media artist who switches from paint to ink to charcoal, anything in between. Following in the steps of my Mom, I also really wanted to be a teacher. I have always had a love for kids and a passion for teaching. I also thought that I could be a writer and share my stories and thoughts to the world. I had never thought that I would strive towards the dream of being a photographer.

I am writing this article because I feel that it has the capability to really inspire someone. How one subtle remark, inspired me and truly planted a passion inside of my heart. It just took one comment from my high school art teacher that changed it all,

“Corbyn, you have an eye of a photographer. You have an incredible talent.”

I could have let the comment just be thrown in with the mixture of randomness inside of my head or I could think twice about it, which I did.

I began to go out and take pictures of absolutely everything! I would capture whatever happened in my life and I loved it. I focused mainly on nature for my subject and I watched Youtube videos to learn new techniques and to help give myself new ideas.

Eventually I kind of got sick of just focusing on nature so I began to take portraits of people. I took a bunch of senior photos of my friends and it was great and is still something that I enjoy doing but not all of the time. I just wasn't passionate enough about it.

At one point or another, a photographer has to decide which niche of photography he/she wants to pursue. Thankfully, I eventually found the type that I was most passionate about. Music photography.

I remember the first show that I received a photo pass for. It was about two years ago for a show at a smaller venue in Minnesota. The show that consisted of many local Minnesota artists. Prior to getting this pass I had been taking photos at multiple concerts before this, however, I only attended as a concertgoer. This was the first show that I got to wear the cool “All Access” lanyard. I got some pretty cool shots and it was an incredible experience for me. It made me certain that concert photography is what I wanted to pursue.

I continue to receive photo passes from time to time but with college, it has become a bit more difficult. When an opportunity does come up in which I can attend I try to get everything that I can out of it. At each show, I learn something new and it is so exciting. I do my best to try and get to know the band as much as I can before going to the concert. I like to research the band beforehand in terms of watching YouTube videos. It gives me an idea of how they artists like to stand if they have any signature moves, what they do, when they do it. And I’ll try to position myself in the right space at the right time to get those shots. When I am shooting I also do my best to capture the moments of the crowd because it helps you notice moments that pop up that you might not notice if you were just focused on the stage.

Music photography is awesome. You have the opportunity to capture the amazing moments of a two-hour long show in a simple photograph. I love music, the live events, the entertainment, and photography. It’s a combination of almost everything I enjoy.

One of the reasons that I enjoy concert photography is because I think it is so much fun to shoot guerrilla style. Fast paced one the go, boom, boom, boom. I like to be in my own element, zoned out and focused on what I am shooting in front of me. I like how concert photography is 1 on 1 from a distance. It is a freestyle of two different artists doing what they do — one performing, one shooting. It is just you, an artist, LIVE music, and your camera.

In contrast, taking photos of live music poses a special set of challenges. It’s hectic as hell, taking place in a photo pit if you’re lucky, but often involving getting your elbows up to try to manage a good vantage point in a crowd or mosh pit of fans who have just as much or more of a right to be there than you; preparation is guesswork at best, which means sometimes you might have packed the wrong lens, or get stuck in a spot where you have no sight lines; and a lot of the time, there’s either no light, or the stage is so drenched in reds and blues that your subjects are going to look like washy blobs. And you’ve usually only got the first three songs to snap at least a couple photos someone will publish and maybe even pay for.

Although people will tell you to not get into music photography because it is not where the money is at, it is worth it when you are truly passionate about it. Plus, sometimes getting into all the shows and festivals you wanna hit up for free doesn’t hurt, either! There’s no type of photography quite like concert photography and I am so glad that I have fallen in love with it.

Here are a few photos that I have taken over the past few years: