Warped Tour 2018
For over 20 years, Warped Tour has been changing the game for people in the music industry in every respect. Bands have exploded into popularity, photographers have been able to make the connections to keep their freelance businesses afloat, tour managers and merch people have had their times to shine, and I got to be a part of it this year.
Since 2012, I've gone to Warped Tour as a fan, simply because I love the music and the community, which is only fitting that I'd like to base my career in this very industry. In 2016 and 2017, I tried my best to document the event independently, which ended with me having to smuggle my camera and a gigantic 55-300mm lens into the venue just to shoot from the middle or side of a full crowd. I envied the photographers that could freely walk in and out of the photo pits, mainly because I'd been that person before, but never for an event of this size. So it's no surprise that I longed to be on the other side again. But even in these conditions, I enjoyed myself, got some shots I'll cherish for a lifetime, and grew as a photographer.
Sharptooth
Sharptooth
When the tour got announced this year, I started doing what any other desperate concert photographer would do; I sent out about 50 emails to every contact I could find for anyone on tour. Obviously, since I'm not on the tour, I was met with either, "Sorry, we already have someone," or just no response because of the sheer amount of emails flooding in. But I didn't let that stop me from getting into the photo pit.
Last year, I started working with a publication and actually missed the application deadline for Warped Tour. But this year, I was on top of it and, to my surprise, I got approved!
My mind was blown. I couldn't believe I was actually going to have my chance to shoot all of my favorite bands from the photo pit. I had a small taste of it in 2017 when Sonic Boom Six asked me to cover their set, and I was going to be able to experience it again, all day, for real this time. And with every passing day, I got more and more stressed out. What if I messed up? What if my shots didn't come out the way I wanted them to? I hadn't had thoughts like this since I started off in photography, I'd always been so confident in my work. But this was essentially my last chance to catch something amazing at one of the most influential music festivals in the world.
Then finally, the day came. And everything was good.
In Hearts Wake
In Hearts Wake
I mean, I say that as if our date didn't get a downpour and so much lightning, we had to shut down the event for an hour to evacuate, but it still went well considering. I ended up spending a bit of time in the back of a truck meant for transporting stages with some people working the tour while we waited on the storm to die down, but at least it wasn't boring. Everything had to be pushed back a bit, but the day essentially went as planned. I caught a bunch of bands, took a bunch of photos, and met up with some good friends of mine that I miss already.
For all the experience I've had in the photo pit, I genuinely wasn't ready for the Warped Tour pits and all that came with it. Fans assuming I was actually on the tour, members of my favorite bands running past me to jump into the barricades, people stopping me to ask me to take their photo. Well, that last one, I was used to. And all in all, it was pretty much the same as any other concert experience, except it was outdoors, raining, and I had to run from stage to stage. But after the first band of the day, I felt a lot more comfortable running around like I belonged there.
And can I just mention how proud I am of the results? I was genuinely worried about how my photos would turn out. Between having to make a makeshift rain sleeve and being soaked to my socks, I didn't really put much thought into the photos I snapped for the first few hours of the day. Also, I completely forgot to bring more than the two memory cards in my camera, so I spent a lot of time selecting photos between bands. For my mind being all over the place, I surprisingly ended up with a bunch of photos of a bunch of bands that look nice, and made way for a couple new original presets.
Waterparks
Waterparks
So basically, all of this to say, Warped Tour changed my photography, it helped me to become more creative, and covering it as a professional was a goal that I finally attained. I'm really sad to see it go, because it's always been a haven for the kids that were different, that had pent up aggression, that felt lonely, and it gave us a family that we might not know personally, but we will never forget. There's nothing like being out in the middle of a parking lot in 100 degree heat, listening to you favorite band with hundreds of others screaming the lyrics along with you. Nothing will beat watching these bands do all of this, pack up, and do it all over again in another city the next day. It's a marvel, and I don't know if there will ever be another even quite like this emo kid summer camp.
Part of me hopes someone picks up the torch and comes up with another tour that is just as amazing. I'd love to see what ideas people come up with. But I'd be happy covering any music festival again.
Thank you, Vans Warped Tour, for giving us a place to hang out and listen to music from superstars and stars in the making since 1995. I'm happy to have been a part of it.
