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!!

Papa Roach, Buckcherry, Sevenfold

You can always feel the energy resonating off the crowd in the moments before a show starts. All these kids in one place, all here for the same thing, to absolutely let loose. As the lights finally go down, your physically moved by the roar that swells from the fans. This is my final queue to get into position, and since I've done this so many times now I'm always the first photog to make their way through the darkness (and sometimes smoke) to the front of the stage. I see the band sneak into their spots in front of me. Dramatic lights explode with color and intensity and the music hits me in the chest like a wall of thunder. Another day at the office... Tonight it was Papa Roach, Buckcherry, and Avenged Sevenfold.