Top 5 Favorite Photos I Shot in 2024
With 2024 coming to a close, I decided to take a look back at some of the work I put out into the world. Turns out, it was a lot. Some of it, I'm still happy with. Some of it, I'm more critical of. What I can say is when it came time to pick my favorites from the year, I did struggle with whittling it down to 5. While not what I would consider my "best" of the year. They are the ones that left an impression on me and ones that I'm proud of. To anyone who has taken the time to look at my galleries and/or enjoyed my photos, I just want to say thank you and I hope to keep you coming back in 2025! Odds are, in a week this list could be different, but as of now, here are my Top 5 Favorite Photos I Shot in 2024.
1
Maynard James Keenan (Tool)
I had never shot an arena show before and was feeling ill-equipped for the shoot. Top it off with a frontman that stands within the shadows in the back and it becomes even more challenging. However, I managed to get a shot that I was proud of. It also reminds me of an iconic Spider-Man (big fan) comic book cover, which adds to the bias. Spectacular Spider-Man 101 for any of the comic nerds out there.
2
Screaming Fan (Rise Against)
Photos of the crowd or front row sometimes come as an afterthought. Sometimes I get the shot, but more often than not I end up catching the fans at the wrong moment. While I have taken a few that I felt captured the excitement and intensity of a live show, none struck me quite like this fan holding up a "Give it All" song request for Rise Against while literally giving her all.
3
Chuck Ragan and Tim Barry (Hot Water Music)
There's a warmth and authenticity that you get from Chuck Ragan that I don't think you'll find in anybody else. When he speaks about anyone he's known or toured with for years, you can feel the love he has for those people and how much he values those relationships. This is one of my favorite shots because when I look at it, I sense those decades of friendship come through the photo when I gaze at Chuck singing along with Tim Barry as they perform Avail's classic, "Simple Song."
4
Andrew Eldritch (Sisters of Mercy)
This was another difficult shoot. Much like Tool's MJK, Sisters of Mercy like to be heavily backlit, which makes for more silhouetted photos. Not that opportunities don't pop up, but more often than not, the light was all behind them. Sometimes it just takes the right timing, and somehow I managed to get a shot of Andrew Eldritch dead on, in a curious pose, with enough light striking to highlight his signature glasses. One of my favorites just for the sheer luck.
5
Jordan Billie (The Blood Brothers)
This is one of those "pictures you can hear" situations for me. There were many shots from this show that I was content with, but there's something about this particular one that kept me coming back to it. From Jordan Billie's motion to his screaming face, I can hear The Blood Brothers coming through the photo. I can sense the intensity that he puts into his shouts/screams. Given it'd been 10 years since their last reunion, I never thought I'd get a chance to cover them. One of the most exciting shoots I've done this year.
- Aaron H
