Critiquing Your Work – BreakAway Music Festival 2018 to 2019

“Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not who someone else is today.”- Jordan Peterson

Being a photographer is a great job as a creative, however I try to view as more of a means to learn, grow, and meet people through. I feel over the course of this year I have not only grown as an artist, but also as a person. I recently took a trip back out to Columbus Ohio BreakAway Music Festival for a second year. While going through the images I took some time out to look back over my journey as a photographer that is easily depicted through the course of one year. If you think I’m conceited after this, please note that I hate the other 1000 plus images that I take haha.

I would not consider myself an extremely assertive person. Not sure if it stems from not wanting to come across as rude, unapproachable, or if in general just have a laid back attitude. I do my best to stay out of the way while still trying to capture a particular moment or emotion. These images showcase the progress I’ve made in dealing with the environment around me in terms of being more assertive and composing (sometimes directing) the shot I have in mind while still allowing it to be natural.

I loved the natural light on this and how it hit the can. I remember walking through the crowd looking for anyone sporting some sponsor gear/ goods. Saw this gentleman with Four Loko in hand, just then part of their group that was behind me must've just arrived and called out to them. Lifted my camera to snap a shot and this happened?

I liked the framing of this image and the genuine expression of her face. I walked through the silent disco tent and tried to snap as many candids of people dancing away to the music.

This image was taken in 2018. Was trying to get some more experience images and needed some of people with a PBR can. Luckily these guys volunteered and decided to dare him to chug it right there. He nailed it

This was also taken in 2018. I was having a bit of a hard time shooting the silent disco that year in regards to composing, settings, and trying to be discrete. Luckily I managed to get this candid of pure joy.

It is extremely important to be self-aware as an artist. We should always be thinking about our process, decisions, strengths, weaknesses and our prejudices. We should also be mentally present and aware to the environment around us, for instance while one the stage as you are shooting said artists.

I won’t lie, at the beginning this gave me major anxiety in both safety and simply trying to avoid any sort of embarrassment. I would constantly worry about knocking a whole set up over or falling off stage in front of a large crowd (and everyone catches it) and ya know…things of that nature haha. So at the beginning you could perhaps say I would rush these sort of shots out of I guess fear. Over time however I have gotten far more comfortable navigating in said atmosphere while still staying out of view. These images I think help depict how I am now better able to plan my composition accordingly while doing it promptly.

Christian French's drummer Nick Ineck taken August 2019

Wax Motif bringing that energy! This image worked because you could see his face as well as the crowd here

Phantoms taken back in August 2018. I wanted a silhouette type shot while again still having some of the crowd in frame

GG Magree taken back in August 2018. This girl's energy is like no other! She was so much fun to shoot and a total goof ball. I think this shot really captured her overall positivity she emanates.

Lately too I’ve been trying to work on selecting some of my favorite images, really narrowing it down. I want to improve so I try to be critical of myself…but in a constructive manner. I value other people's opinions, but at the same time I have to take my own into consideration. My work is very much a part of me but at the same time its separate. This separation is important for it helps in being able to take critiques and use them to improve. Remember, they are analyzing your work, not you as a person. So below are some of my personal favorites from the festival a few months prior.

I really dig the variation of colors in this shot. Even though it was kinda windy, this was definitely one of my favorite images . Also, who doesn't love bubbles?

Caught a close game of pool in VIP. I'm pretty sure he made the shot too.

BlackBear from the crowd

This was my second time seeing Bassnectar, but my first time being able to shoot his set. Once again the visuals and the crowd's energy did not disappoint,

The Bassnectar crowd from the barricade

More images of Bassnectar's visuals because I can't get enough

First time using a monopod from in the crowd without a trigger. Actually went a lot smoother than I anticipated and loved the final product!

Well that’s all I really have for now, until next time!