I was given the opportunity at short notice by Jrock Revolution to go to last years Taste of Chaos tour to interview and photograph the Japanese rock bands on tour, Mucc, D'espairsRay, and The Underneath. It was to be my first major interview and my second time photographing a concert. Many of the photographs turned out amazing as you can see, but the interviews...? I didn't have enough time to prepare good questions, I was so unsure of myself, and in the end I'm hoping I didn't ruin my connection with JRR. I interviewed Tatsuro of Mucc and Hizumi of D'espairsRay first, and my shy nature really wrecked the interview. Tatsuro broke up some of my nerves in the beginning when he was teasing the translators and performing wrestling moves on them backstage. Tatsuro is seriously a trip in person. I interviewed Taka of The Underneath after their set and was more comfortable with him I believe because I could still feel the energy from the concert. He is a sweetheart. If I had better questions and organized my thoughts better, it would have gone more smoothly. I got more answers out of Tatsuro than Hizumi, I should have alternated between the two better, but I didn't. I wanted to be professional, but I was a rookie...

My reflections on the concert is something else entirely. I was escorted into the pit with the rest of the press during the first three songs of each set, and let the battle begin. All the photographers, who were about my age, were all tripping over themselves and each other, some using their flashes like morons, and being as annoying as possible to everyone. My deepest concern was being annoying to the artists and their fans, even though I am one too, I don't want to ruin the fun for those who paid. Photographers tend not to get that much respect in concert photography because of that vulture like nature, and I don't want to be like that. I would rather gain some sort of respect from the artist by getting out of their way and also delivering a great shot. Annie Leibovitz really comes to mind when she toured with the Rolling Stones.

The music was amazing. I do love concert photography because I love the energy and the passion the artists put into each and every song, and I want to do so much more with concert photography if there were closer venues. Each artist commanded the stage in their own way, especially in comparison with the western artists.

Right now, I am applying to be a concert photographer for a magazine out of Las Vegas as well as inquiring about touring with the Warped Tour around America. My fingers are crossed.

Anyway, hope you like my photographs!