Justin Bieber

I've shot some pretty loud shows in my career; Metallica, Foo Fighters, they were loud. Weezer, Papa Roach, Buckcherry, Avenged Sevenfold, all very loud. KISS was loud. Normally when it's a loud act, and especially if I'm shooting from the pit, I'll get an email from the promoter to bring earplugs. I got that email before the Justin Bieber show, which I thought was odd, I'm not terribly familiar with his music, but what I had heard, I wouldn't considered LOUD. When I got into position that night I realized that the promoter wasn't warning me about the sound that would be coming from the huge speakers in front of me, but it would be coming from the throngs of adolescent girls screaming behind me. And since this was a sold-out show, the intensity and decibel level of the shrieks and screams was ear-splitting. I could have used double plugs that night.

And P.S. the first image has been selected as 1 of 8 finalists in the Crowd category in this year's PDN Ultimate Music Moment contest. Winners will be announced early Dec. Fingers crossed!!