My years as an alt-weekly music editor was not without its perks. Among them was nearly carte blanche access to photo pits at festivals, stadium shows, and clubs. I spent nearly half a million shutter clicks capturing legendary (or soon-to-be legendary) artists in difficult shooting conditions, with little available light and strict time limits to capture that one moment that told the story in ways my words couldn’t.

The immortal Bobby Womack in his last performance. He’d pass just two weeks later.

Cedric Burnside, in one of my personal favorites, and a feature in Performer Mag’s “Best Concert Photography of 2015” issue. The lighting was poor, and I never use flash, but a slowed-down shutter and a steady hand froze him in a moment of pure prim

While I was living in Orlando, the band Sleep played a benefit for the families of the Pulse shooting victims a month after the incident. I donated a large canvas of this capture to be auctioned, which ended up selling for more than $400.

Patrice Quinn of Kamasi Washington’s live band