Ax and the Hatchetmen, Chicago based rock band, took Salt Lake City by storm. On July 2 of 2023, they played a sold out show at Kilby Court. This was the first live show I shot at the venue since dipping my toe into concert photography this year, and it did not disappoint.
Kilby Court is undoubtedly one of Utah’s most iconic music venues. Its small size and capacity allows for some captivating, intimate shows which make photos at the concerts there so fun to take. Shooting Ax and the Hatchetmen’s show was the perfect way to spend a summer evening.
I adore the high energy atmosphere at concerts. It’s so fun to capture people doing something that they are passionate about, which is why musicians are such a fun subject to shoot. They convey such raw emotion and exude so much energy that makes the photos tell an interesting and dynamic story. Concert photography allows me to combine my two favorite things in life: music and taking photographs.
Ax and the Hatchetmen consists of lead singer and guitarist, Axel Ellis, along with six other skilled musicians. The photos that I shot at this show truly reflect the group’s charisma and lively presence. Their show was a dream to shoot for any music photographer, as they jumped around the stage, enthralling the audience with their upbeat music and bandmate camaraderie.
It was such a fun experience to observe the band-audience interactions as well. For me, one of the best parts of photographing live shows is capturing the shared enthusiasm between the artist(s) and the crowd. The apparent buzz in the air creates a vivacious environment that can’t be replicated anywhere else.
I love to watch the audience enjoy the music with the artist(s). The shared interest and appreciation of music is such a profound experience and capturing these relationships as a concert photographer is so special to me.
In my opinion, authenticity is the most important element of a photo. I believe that stories are best told through candid moments when people are being their genuine selves. I love capturing the simple, natural moments and emotion that may tend to go unnoticed to the average person in a moment.
There’s nothing I love more than seeing someone carefree in their element. Concert photography allows you the experience to capture artists doing their thing and portray them in a way that is true to themselves.
