“To me, the magic of photography, per se, is that you can capture an instant of a second that couldn’t exist before and couldn’t exist after. It’s almost like a cowboy that draws his gun. You draw a second before or after, you miss and you’re dead – not them. To me, photography’s always like that.”
– Mario Testin

I’ve been shooting from the pit for 15+ years, from small independent venues up to the likes of Shepherds Bush Empire in London as well as a number of regional and national festivals. And while a great privilege, it also represents one of the greatest challenges for a live music photographer. Most often you have just 3 songs in which to capture the moment(s) that can define an entire performance. Anticipating what the artist will do next, how the lighting will be, avoiding any front of stage obstructions, all the while jostling with the other photographers for an unhindered line of sight, equally seeking to catch that elusive moment where everything aligns in just the way you need it. It’s exhilarating, it’s intense, it’s the ultimate proving ground where you absolutely must bring your “A” game, each and every time you step foot in the pit.