One of the best experiences I have had as a photographer was creating a photo story on the lead singer of the band Flipturn. At most of the concerts I had photographer in the past, I was solo photographer in the crowd that only interacted with the band when I sent them the best photos by email the following day in hopes that they would post them on their social media. However, with this project I got to really know Dillon, the singer of the band, and spend time with him both on-stage and off in an effort to create photos that paint a picture of him as a person. The project was a part of my Advanced Photojournalism class and was taught by one of the best professors I’ve had, Daron Dean. Daron had pushed me to find a photo subject that would result in dynamic photos that would show the human side of the performer and his or her passion for music. I immediately thought of Dillon.
I had shot photos of Flipturn earlier in the year, and I knew that he was an amazing performer that came alive when he was on stage.
Over the course of a about a month, I met up with Dillon at various times to capture his life as both a student at the University of Florida and as a musician and lead singer. He was incredibly welcoming and allowed me into his day-to-day life. I photographed early-morning coffee runs, candid moments with friends and time spent around campus as well as thrilling on-stage antics and band practices. I felt the project needed an even balance of both musician and student to give a viewer the opportunity to see Dillon’s personality through the photos. I was also granted many great opportunities to go backstage with the band and take photos that show the interactions of a group that seem far closer to a family than a band. I was able to sneak back stage at a few shows and capture a view that normally only those on the stage have the chance to enjoy. I’m incredibly proud of how the project came out and it served as a learning experience for me as a photographer. Finding someone so welcoming as a subject gave me great access to show detailed parts of a person’s life that allow viewers to relate to the subject on a deeply human level. This time spent with Dillon only reinforced my desire to be a photojournalist and further tell people’s stories.
