Three Las Vegas photographers describe the chaos of capturing live music

Three Las Vegas photographers described the physical and technical demands of their job in a recent interview. They work in environments ranging from the massive stages of Allegiant Stadium and T-Mobile Arena to small, independent venues with no barriers between the band and the audience.

Al Powers has spent 21 years taking photos of live events. He said he enjoys large performances that still feel intimate enough for him to get close to the band. He often uses the audience as a backdrop for his shots. Powers recalled shooting Kanye West in 2013 as a standout moment. He described the show as artistic and noted that West used a giant platform to levitate over the general admission pit.

Powers said arena shows are chaotic and come with specific rules. Large acts often follow a three song policy for photographers. This limits the time available to capture images. He and other photographers must plan their angles in advance without seeing the lighting setup beforehand. His preferred equipment for working in the pit includes a Sony 50-150mm f/2 lens, a 16-35mm f/2.8 lens, and a 10 millimeter fisheye lens. He said he has photographed many major artists and now focuses on up and coming bands to track their growth.

Alan Sabido, who also goes by the name Endvrs, has been in the field for 12 years. He said the realization that he could photograph his favorite artists was a major turning point for him. He described the experience of being front and center and capturing memories for others as a key part of the job. Sabido cited a Slipknot show at the MGM Grand as a memorable experience. He said he had goosebumps when the show began because of the band's size and reputation.

He also highlighted a Khruangbin performance at Brooklyn Bowl. He followed their career when they were smaller and was happy to be close to the stage when they sold out the venue. Sabido said the biggest challenge is walking into a venue without knowing the set list, lighting colors, or stage layout. He calls it a toss up. He usually shoots with two Canon R3 cameras but sometimes uses a Leica Q2 to test himself with its simplicity and small size. Kendrick Lamar is on his bucket list because of his stage presence, though he said Pink Floyd would be his dream band if he could travel back in time.

Danielle Dixon has photographed shows for 12 years. She said she loved being close to bands as a regular fan before she started taking photos. She prefers shooting in chaotic environments and admitted that she has only been in a dedicated photo pit once. She found that experience awkward and preferred dodging movements in the crowd to get a shot. She described a show by the band Knocked Loose at American Legion Post 8 as pure chaos. She noted that the venue gets very hot, making it one of the hardest shows she has shot.

Dixon said she tries not to get in people's way when shooting in smaller, independent spaces. She wants the crowd to enjoy the band without seeing camera flashes in their faces. She has been shooting many local bands since they were in high school. She said she gravitated toward the local hardcore scene in 2014 because she noticed that Las Vegas was not being photographed as much as other cities. She wanted to contribute to the visual record of that scene. She uses a Nikon D750 camera paired with a 10 to 25 millimeter lens. She said the lens and camera do not typically work together, but they function well in her hands.