A World Filled with Music

Music has always been my first love.  My mom is a choral director that has directed every choir you can imagine from show choirs to gospel choirs.  She would often take me to work with her when she rehearsed for musicals, show choir competitions, and the like.  I was exposed to every genre from operas like Porgy and Bess  to classical music like The Awakening by Joseph M. Martin- one of my favorite musical pieces that talks about a world with no music.  I often dream that my days would be filled with music because music takes me to another planet beyond my concerns, beyond my limitations to a place that is filled with every emotion and every hope I could dare think of.

When I moved to Minneapolis, I began shooting concerts for the first time.  My first concert was Lilith Fair with Sarah McLachlan, Mary J. Blige, Metric, and more.  I shot with abandon and my work experienced a freedom that had not been there for a long time... 

It's been a minute since I last shot a concert because my work has taken me in different directions, but last night was a night unlike no other where I longed to have my SLR in my hands, but instead made due with my iphone!  Last night I saw Janelle Monae perform for the first time and my love of concert photography was reignited.  She performed with such passion, love, and enthusiasm that it was infectious.   I love to hear how strong women, like Janelle, do not let anything deter them from their path.  As a freelancer, it's imperative to surround yourself with messages like that.  I caught this image of her while she was walking through the crowd right in front me of me!

Janelle Monae

Yes, it was a lesson learned that I should always have my SLR with me!  Check out some of my previous concert work below...I'm really missin it right about now :)

Kurupt

Mary J. Blige

Usher

Les Nubians

Sarah McLachlan

Vita Chambers