Behind the Lens & Beyond the Barricades: An Introspective Photo Journey

I’ve always been keen on the idea of documenting my travels along with the photos of artists living their dream on the front of the stage as well as my own. It wasn’t until more recently when I decided to share my experiences with the world outside of my own personal group of friends, and how much it has been both an outer as well as introspective journey in the most recent years of the lifestyle I have grown adapted to and love.There are only a handful of die-hards I know personally, whether they are musicians themselves or avid supporters like myself who stay on this path and don’t just make it a “once a year/season” type of thing. Every season is a season of change. Music, art and travel revolve around my life and are the 3 essentials which I will never tire of. The one thing these all have in common is that they are all ever-changing and limitless. Such as any photographer, I take great pride in the photos I take, and although as cliché as it sounds, they will always be more special and captivating through my own eyes rather than my audience who views them. Memories frozen in time, as I like to call them.

As much as I’ve gotten used to flying, nothing truly feels like you are moving forward in full momentum as being on the road. Knowing that I am getting closer to my destination makes the journey far more exciting and all the more worthwhile in the long-run. Every journey on the road still remain more crystal clear for me than all the planes I have flown on.

I would be a hypocrite saying that memories are not most cherished or easily remembered through photographs, although with the extent of technology these days, a picture is merely a few clicks away and can be taken at any given time of any person or thing, but despite the advantages of this, the full experience of being in a certain place at a certain time will forever be saved as a photographic memory rather than just a digital file on a screen. Our experiences are what make life worthwhile and living to its full extent. I have never been one that’s been able to appropriately document my travels while being on them, although this will be changing very soon, although for personal purposes, I feel that every individual experience might as well be shared rather than kept inside. As I’m writing this right now, I’m not sitting in the back of a car, train or plane, but my journey remains constant and I can foresee myself in the places which those modes of transportation will take me to.

There are countless others in the world who have been to a larger number of gigs than I have, although I’d like to think that I’ve been to a fairly decent amount for being 22 years old and wandering around the U.S. For the sole purpose of enjoying live music as well as great company. Music is the universal unity which has truly helped me connect with those from all around the world, at the core of it all that’s what it comes down to. Although I’ve never been a fan of cheesy “metalhead brother/sisterhood” clichés and the like, music as a whole and generally speaking is an important aspect for many of us which only further our discoveries of others as well as ourselves. I cannot ever see myself tied down to solely one place or interest, or just being tied down period. Every person who has tried to do such, whether intentional or not has failed and learned the hard way that a person with a heart for wanderlust cannot be tamed. But what less could be expected of someone who partakes in the lifestyle we have chosen?

When I glance over and see other photographers alongside the front of the stage with me, I’m always curious to know what their own story is. I was taught in college that in the business field, we are all competitors and team players at the same time. Anyone who still maintains a degree of passion for what they do, while still making profit off of their work has my upmost respect, as it shows that they have not “sold themselves out”, which holds an eery similarity to the music industry. Then, I glance behind me and see a crowd of faces amongst a high amount of energy radiating throughout the entire building. Although I don’t always shoot in front of a stage railing or barricade, the times I do, I always still see myself amongst those crowds of faces and raging along with them. Every time.

The live aspect of a band’s performance is probably one of the most phenomenal things that one can experience, probably one of the main reasons why I love going and keep coming back to them. If anyone tells me that they have never been to a concert in their life, it almost makes my heart stop and is nearly a foreign concept which I cannot even begin to fathom in the least bit. Although that may come off as a bit harsh, I simply cannot imagine (my) life without the live experience of watching my favorite bands live through and expressing their passion in the here and now rather than just solely on recording. It is the same aura that is present in the crowd which is also projected right back from the musicians themselves on stage, and being able to witness both in action while being in the middle of it all is just an incredible and indescribable experience to be put at best.

And so here is where I will draw this piece to a close, although it’s already quite lengthy, there are still so many more experiences and own personal thoughts which I could add onto this which I will refrain from this time around. There are still many more journeys ahead and more words to be written at a later time, whenever and wherever that will be.

Over and out,
Tracy / www.t-terrorphoto.com