The power of social media has once again given me the opportunity to get in with people that I didn’t think would give me the time of day. While writing an article for a UK band, I got in with Janson about getting permission to use his pictures in the article and have kept in touch since. It would then seem logical to then ask him a few questions about himself, his photography and what goes on for a photographer in the live environment. Thanks for a very interesting read and best wishes for your health and future.
First of all, thank you for taking the time to answer these questions for our readers at Moshville Times. Can you tell us how your life as a photographer began?
Well it is a bit of a strange one only people in my family and close friends know. I was born with a heart disease called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. I was told I would not be able to do too much exercise at age 14 but that did not stop me, I then started playing drums and had good success touring, as well as being signed to Earache Records. I’ve always had a love for the live environment. Three years ago I needed an ICD implant, which is a defibrillator and pacemaker, fitted and was told I could no longer be an electrician and although I had worked my whole life, the government would not help me out so that’s when I started shooting and then got into live photography. I also had a cardiac arrest two years ago and had to surrender my licence for six months.
When you started photography, what was your first interest before developing an interest in gig photography?
Well I was handed a bridge camera from my uncle which is basically a camera with a fixed lens, and just took shots of anything. Things like landscape to close ups of items and then doing themed competitions online and successfully got featured on a few platforms.
Now that you are a photographer by profession, what advice would you give to someone wishing to start becoming a photographer?
It depends on what they want to do. If they want to be a gig photographer just hook up with a few local bands and shoot their gigs and hopefully progress along with them. I would recommend possibly getting a decent bridge camera to start and shoot on auto mode to get the feel for it and then learn about aperture / shutter speed and iso, and then shoot on full manual mode. And if you really like it and want to get serious, when you purchase your pro camera “buy right, buy once”. So many people I have told this and they just jump in and buy a bog standard then three months later want to upgrade. I still own the same first pro body I bought and now I also have a second to save me changing lenses at gigs.
If someone was to take this seriously, what sort of budget would they have to set aside in your opinion and what is your most expensive piece of equipment?
Well this is a difficult one for me to answer and I answered this sort of above, get the best you can for your budget. If you are thinking I really want the next model up than what you’re looking to get, then hold out and save until you have enough money. Also try MPB.COM they have amazing second hand equipment and both my camera bodies are from there.
Is there a piece of equipment, and don’t say the camera, that you can’t do without?
It would have to be my Nikon 24/70mm lens, it’s a beast!
Can you run through what happens at the night of a gig? How long are you allowed to take pictures for?
Always triple check your gear, and make sure you have memory cards. I left one in my computer before and I’m sure I’m not the only one? Luckily the gig was local, since then it’s never happened again. Normally you only get three songs in the press pit at large gigs. Generally you are in between the barrier and the stage. For smaller gigs, sometimes no rules as long as you have permission to shoot, you can shoot all night. But always to let the audience enjoy the show so don’t stay in one place too long.
Best thing is if you are touring with a band. You get free reign and can pretty much do what you like, but still give the audience a view ie: I will stay in the pit for the whole set but duck down and sneak around the pit, then go backstage and take some side shots and even approach the drummer for one entire song then leave them to it, but to be fair you can get all the shots you need in three songs.
What difficulties can you face when taking photographs at a gig?
Mainly, the crowd. I was shooting Sepultura at the Fleece in Bristol and there is no barrier, you have to get to the front and stay their for as long as you can ie three songs. I was kicked in the head and carried a grown man on my head as I was protecting my gear at all times. This also happened whilst shooting Knocked Loose in Cardiff and the drummer could see I was in a bit of difficulty and waved me on stage, so I nestled in and got some great stage dive shots that night.
Do you have any pet peeves in the live environment?
Sometimes you get photographers in the pit that just stand in one area and do not move, normally in the middle, it’s like, “come on, guys!”. Also when people walk in front of your camera, this happened recently. I knew the singer from Fire From The Gods was gonna jump, my camera was up and another photographer walked straight in front of me so I missed it, so really just walk behind me or duck as you , please. I’m generally pretty chill and let people be people, we all make mistakes.
After you have finished taking photographs at a gig, what is the next step to getting them ready for publication?
Well at a gig I just keep checking my settings to make sure they are ok. I never really check what I have until I get home. Then I load them on the computer and choose the ones I want to use, then get stuck in with a bit of editing, slap a watermark on and done.
What piece of software do you use to edit your photographs?
I use Lightroom and Photoshop, you can get both versions for £8 a month or something like that. These are probably the main two applications for most I suppose. To be fair, at well lit shows I very rarely do much editing, literally a few little tweaks. But for under-lit shows, you have to do a lot more. All I would say, and can’t stress this enough, really focus on getting the best quality shot you can as it makes the rest easy.
Have you had the opportunity to exhibit your pieces of work to the public and if so, how did that feel and how did the event go?
I’ve put a few up in the past, limited editions and sold those and it felt amazing that people wanted some photos I’ve taken, thank you lovely public. As yet I’m still waiting for the right opportunity to put some up. If anyone out there wants some art up in their business premises, I’d be happy to do that. I have been in talks with a few people and something could be possibly happening in Bristol in the near future, so keep an eye out.
With the public looking at your photographs, what thoughts or emotions would you like them to take away from your pictures?
Just one really, I hope it encourages them to want to get to some shows and enjoy music, but please make sure you check out local talent at small venues as they could be huge in the future. For instance years and years ago I watched Incubus at the Fleece in Bristol and now look at them.
What would you say is the proudest moment of your career?
I think the recent 25 day tour I did working for Dead Girls Academy who are signed to Victory Records, when they ed P.O.D and Alien Ant Farm. Michael Vampire and his band trusted me to capture every moment of this epic run, and to also do some recap videos for them. This tour was by far the best so far as everyone got on so well, jumping on each other’s buses and hanging out after shows was awesome. I came away with some great friends from this.
Also to be now shooting for Metal Hammer Magazine which I’ve read since age 16. To see my images and name in there is cool.
Possibly impossible to answer but would you have a photograph that you are extremely proud of? Do you archive your own pictures?
Yes. I personally feel my Papa Roach shots are some of my faves, and yes I have a 16TB home server with all my photos on it, with a hot swap system. Basically fingers crossed if a drive dies it has a spare it saves to and it tells you and you swap the defected drive and all images stay…
Do you have some photographers that are your influences and have ired their work?
As an influence Dustin Jack Photo from the USA. I’ve dug his work for a while.
What would you say you would have to do to enhance your skills to reach that of your peers?
Just keep on shooting and pushing myself. I’ve said this for years however good you are at anything (say drums, guitar, running, football), you can always be better. Also I was taught this years ago with drums, when you are playing you are listening out for your mistakes and when you hear someone else they can sound better as your just listening, so don’t beat yourself up they are probably thinking the same. It is the same with photos, most of the shots I post I may no longer like due to seeing them loads of times from when I took it, when I edited it and when I posted it. When others scroll social media and see it for the first time, it is fresh to them to whereas I already want to move on to the next image.
Do you have a favourite place to shoot your photographs?
It has to be Bristol O2 at the moment. Also the in-house photographer, Martin Thompson, is a cool lad, people need to check him out. I also get to hook up with Phil Watson who is another good photographer in the Bristol scene.
What motivates you to keep taking photographs?
The fact I can’t play drums live anymore, due to the above heart reason, but I can still feel a part of the live environment. I love my photos to show peoples characters within the bands live performance and to try to engage the audience to get out to see these bands play.
Thank you for your time in answering these questions for Moshville Times. If there was a person or a gig past or present that you wish you would have had the opportunity to take photographs, what would it be?
I would probably say Ozzfest 98. It had the full Pantera line up. To have had the chance to take photos of Dimebag Darrell would have been awesome…
