My Top Photos of 2017

At the end of every year I usually do a list of my favorite concert photos, but I took a step back from concerts minus a few shows in Denver and Chicago Riot Fest.  So this year I'm just going to look back at my favorite photos that I've taken in 2017.  Enjoy!

Minne D'Moocha and Ludella Hahn as Rocket and Groot.  Taken at San Diego Comic Con.  

Minne D'Moocha and Ludella Hahn as Rocket and Groot.  Taken at San Diego Comic Con.  

Ludella Hahn as Harley Quinn.  Taken at San Diego Comic Con.

Ludella Hahn as Harley Quinn.  Taken at San Diego Comic Con.

Kristian Nairn aka Hodor from Game of Thrones.  Laramie, Wyoming.

Kristian Nairn aka Hodor from Game of Thrones.  Laramie, Wyoming.

Peaches at Riot Fest Chicago.

Peaches at Riot Fest Chicago.

Actor Doug Jones from "The Shape of Water", "Hellboy", and "Pan's Labyrinth".  Taken at Cheyenne Comic Con.

Actor Doug Jones from "The Shape of Water", "Hellboy", and "Pan's Labyrinth".  Taken at Cheyenne Comic Con.

Actor Malcolm Goodwin from the CW's "IZombie", and "American Gangster".  Taken at Cheyenne Comic Con.

Actor Malcolm Goodwin from the CW's "IZombie", and "American Gangster".  Taken at Cheyenne Comic Con.

Stephanie and Nick. Montrose, Colorado.

Stephanie and Nick. Montrose, Colorado.

Travis Barker of Blink-182.  Denver, Colorado.  

Travis Barker of Blink-182.  Denver, Colorado.  

Blink-182 with my wonderful assistant Paulina. When I asked her to help out, she had no idea that I was going to get her to meet the band.  She may have cried a couple of times and had a few awkward encounters with Mark.  Three to be exact…

Blink-182 with my wonderful assistant Paulina. When I asked her to help out, she had no idea that I was going to get her to meet the band.  She may have cried a couple of times and had a few awkward encounters with Mark.  Three to be exact.  

Jack Antonoff a.k.a. Bleachers.  Denver, Colorado.  

Jack Antonoff a.k.a. Bleachers.  Denver, Colorado.  

Jerayah.  Laramie, Wyoming.

Jerayah.  Laramie, Wyoming.

Countess Tifa as Cindy Aurum from Final Fantasy XV.  Taken at Denver Comic Con.

Countess Tifa as Cindy Aurum from Final Fantasy XV.  Taken at Denver Comic Con.

Sierra.  Laramie, Wyoming.  

Sierra.  Laramie, Wyoming.  

Blackheart Burlesque-San Diego Comic Con

The Suicide Girls happened to be in San Diego while I was there covering Comic Con.  Since I loved my photos from the last time I photographed them, I decided to go and photograph them again.  The only problem was that there was no photo pit, which meant that I had to duck and shoot around a standing room only crowd.  Overall it was a good way to spend an evening, and their publicist just asked me if I want to cover them again when they come to Denver.  

My Top Concert Photos of 2016

Last year I photographed a lot fewer shows than I normally do, and this year was even less.  I think that at some point in 2015, I decided that concert photography was not even a challenge for me anymore and got bored with it.  Another thing that didn't help was that my focus started to drift towards wedding photography and personal projects.  Around April or May of this year something reinvigorated me, and by the end of 2016, I completely fell back in love with it.  The highlights for me were getting picked up by Riot Fest Chicago to come photograph for them, and also shooting Big Gigantic in Philadelphia.  Somewhere along the way I realized that it kept me sane, and helped to balance out everything else that I was photographing.  With that said, here are some of my favorite concert photos from 2016.

Justin Bieber//Denver, Colorado

Justin Bieber//Denver, Colorado

Deftones//Riot Fest Denver

Deftones//Riot Fest Denver

Pierce The Vail//Riot Fest Chicago

Pierce The Vail//Riot Fest Chicago

Rob Zombie//Riot Fest Chicago

Rob Zombie//Riot Fest Chicago

Thursday//Riot Fest Chicago

Thursday//Riot Fest Chicago

Pepper//Riot Fest Chicago

Pepper//Riot Fest Chicago

Blink-182//Denver, Colorado

Blink-182//Denver, Colorado

Joywave//Denver, Colorado

Joywave//Denver, Colorado

Matt and Kim//Westword Music Showcase

Matt and Kim//Westword Music Showcase

Mumford and Sons//Denver, Colorado

Mumford and Sons//Denver, Colorado

Pitbull//Denver, Colorado

Pitbull//Denver, Colorado

Tame Impala//Denver Colorado

Tame Impala//Denver Colorado

Brand New//Denver, Colorado

Brand New//Denver, Colorado

Metric//Denver, Colorado

Metric//Denver, Colorado

Concert Photos: Mumford and Sons//Denver, Colorado

As some of you know, I got my start in concert photography thanks to a personal invite from Mumford and Sons to photograph their show a few years back.  Check out that story here: http://petapixel.com/2015/01/29/chance-encounter-helped-launch-concert-photography-career/.

I had just finished photographing the biggest gig of my career thus far, which was Riot Fest Chicago.  So coming back to Denver and shooting the band that gave me my start, made me realize that things had pretty much come full circle for me.  Driving to the show afforded me time to reflect on all of the things that I have accomplished so far in such a small amount of time.  I then realized that I had already finished pretty much everything on my ten year career plan, except for two things.  Now I'm working on a new ten year plan.  

The only thing that sucked about shooting this show, was that the photographers were only allowed to shoot from one side of the stage, and not allowed to cross-over.  I think I chose the best side.  Here are the pictures.

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