I just read some sad news… Evenko, after discussion with the Warped people, have decided to pull the plug on the 2013 edition of the “punk” festival. It has been running in town for the last 18 years!
I’ve had the pleasure to go to a few festivals and shoot. It was the first major festival I ever worked photos at…. and while it is one of the most grueling (and each year, I tell myself this is the LAST time I’m doing this, I’m too old for this shit), I’d go back anytime. The last few years have been marked by intense heat, lots of bodies and dust. Usually lead to a few showers when I got home and some major gear cleaning!
Tip of the hat to the organizers of Warped… we always had a nice media area in the backstage, under trees, so we can do some image work, conduct interviews, or just take a break for the insane shooting schedule. I believe 2012 has over 80 bands on 8 stages in one day. Yeah… intense. Met and shot with many great photographers. Something about being in the dusty trenches just brings us together (can I get an “awwww”?)
Shooting Warped was always a challenge. Between the 40C temperatures, the bodies, the very packed pits, the crowd surfers, the constant hydration… you are dealing with a pretty strong sun over head causing some major contrast, flares and other fun stuff. But hey, who gives a crap, its WARPED!
Figured I’d put up a series of the bands I’ve shot in the last few years, as well as some fan images. Let’s hope the festival comes back in 2014! At least punk fans can still rely on the Montreal Pouzza fest for 2013! 🙂
3oh!3
The Acacia Strain
The Aggrolites
Anti-Flag
Asking Alexandria
August Burns Red
Bayside
Big Chocolate
Blood on the Dance Floor
Dance Gavin Dance
Emily’s Army
The Expendables
The Ghost Inside
Go Radio
Greek Fire
Ill Scarlet
Iwrestledabearonce
Less Than Jake
Lionize
Lucero
MC Lars
Machine Gun Kelly
Miss May I
New Found Glory
Paramore
Passafire
Planet Smashers
Polar Bear Club
Relient K
Taking Back Sunday
T-Mills
Unwritten Law
The Wonder Years
And what would a Warped series be with the SKATE RAMP!!
i never went to warped and then as i got older I just stopped knowing the bands. But you took some amazing photos. i especially love the ones of the crowd or the interaction between artists and the crowd… and of course security and the crowd.
Thanks!
Crowds are what make the festival and the young crowds at Warped were always really intense. Lots of crowd surfing and dust kicking mosh pits. I pity the security working the stages.