Daily Reel #16.
I thought I’d start off June right with a Daily Reel image that is definitely one of, if not my most, well known images I’ve ever shot. This photo happens to be the cover of The Chariot’s 4th full length album, “Long Live” (pictured below). At this point in my life, I had only been doing photography professionally for a little over a year, even though I had been shooting bands live for 5 years. I was still in the early stages of trying to learn how to make a living at it and trying to get my name out there. I had met and become a good acquaintance with David (Cha Drummer) years before, but hadn’t seen him in a while since he had joined The Cha and was all over the world. Through another friend of ours, Logan (the legs behind Wolf pictured above) I was told to go to the a show The Cha was playing in Atlanta. Reconnecting with David I had no clue where life was heading. I met all the guys, took a bunch of photos of them and all of the bands. I spent two weeks that brought me close to the guys I call some of my closest friends, delivered the images to the Chariot boys, and David then asked me to shoot their free show at the 7 Venue that summer.
The free show is where this image was taken. If you’ve ever shot a live band that moves around a lot, you understand you’ve got to work for the shot… but shooting The Chariot is a whole other ball game. I don’t think there is any other band that is harder to shoot in this world. If there is, I’d love to see them live. So hard to shoot, but so worth it in the end. If I had to chose a band to shoot forever, it’d be The Chariot… or Johnny Cash, Minor Threat, or Further Seems Forever, just because you know? This show was wild and I got a lot of gems featured in the album art. This was the image that was chosen to be the cover. Wolf some how fell and just kept going on the ground. I was on top of a PA opposite side of the stage from him. I saw those legs flailing in the air amongst strobes. When I went in for the edit, I was super pleased with this capture. Reminded me a lot of older rock photos from bands like The Who in the 1960’s or punk rock bands from the 1970’s – 80’s like The Clash, Black Flag and Bad Brains. NOT that I’m nearly as good as those photographers who took some iconic images, but the capture gave me the same feeling. I’ve tried implement classic live photography into my knowledge of this digital age and accessible lighting. I hope to always continue to get better at it.
Summing up a long story: Josh asked me to come out on tour in 2010 to take photos and help with merch. It was one of the best experiences in life at that point. I am forever grateful to David, Josh, Stevis, Wolf, and Brandon. It was especially a proud moment in Chicago when Josh and David came to tell me that my images would be used for the entire “Long Live” album art. One of my lifetime aspirations was made that day. To see your work on something that is all over the world will never be something I take for granted. I am still floored by the blessings the Lord has shown me through my friends. I have been through much with the band, them all individually, and especially David. I’ve been shown so much of who Christ is in my professional and person life, which is very meshed. I grew a lot from all the work I’ve done with The Chariot, that is why I am forever thankful and supportive of who each guy is and what the band stands for.
Specs: Canon 5D mk II, Canon 50mm f/1.4, Alienbeen 1600w right backside of stage, flood light right front side of stage.
