Slash

7/15/2019 The Warfield, San Francisco



This is the first time I got to take some photos of Slash. So far I haven't been able to shoot Guns and Roses so this was my first opportunity to take some photos of him. There's a showmanship and something so cool in the way he plays guitar even though he's not running around the stage at lightning speed. One big name off my bucket list for sure!

Jake Hout, Dead Boys

6/7/2019 Burger Boogaloo, Oakland



This is my first time shooting at Burger Boogaloo. I hear that this year is smaller than few previous ones and I was a bit disappointed at the soze of the festival. For me the most interesting band was Dead Boys who somehow reminded me of Michael Monroe shows I have seen. Maybe it's the demeanor and performance of Jake Hout. He spent more time crowdsurfing and walking than on stage. Cool performer for sure!

Claudio Sanchez, Coheed & Cambria

6/25/2019 The Masonic, San Francisco

Claudio has an awesome lion mane-like hair and during the first two songs the stage was lit very well. This allowed me to almost stop the fast moving performance. This is the second time in a few weeks that I'm in a show at The Masonic and there's almost too much light on the stage. I'm liking the venue more and more.

Wu-Tang Clan

6/23/2019 Shoreline, Mt. View

Third Eye Blind

6/15/2019, Bill Graham Auditorium, San Francisco



It's always cool to shoot at Bil Graham because the venue itself has a ton of light and because of the size of the venue, the bands usually bring a great show. Third Eye Blind was no exception but they opted for visual, but less photographer friendly performance. Most of the first song was perfomed behind a curtain with only shadows of the band seen on it. Once the curtain dropped, the stong backlight was still there and it was challenging to get anything else than silhouettes of the band. The next two songs were easier for me, but I feel this shot is representative of the night

Paul Jason Klein, Lany

6/14/2019, The Masonic, San Francisco



The first show I shot with my "new" 400mm lens. It was a perfect sow for this baby also. THere was SO MUCH LIGHT!. I don't think I have ever shot a cocert with ISO 100 at 2.8/1000. The lens is HEAVY but awesome. This was sold in bargain condition but with my testing I haven't found anything wrong with it optically. The barrel has few dings but you really have to look for them to find them. It's actually easy to handle on a monopod. I recently got myself a new stepstool to replace one I left somewhere and the new one is few inches taller and now my monopod is too short. Well, another small acquisition for me :)

Ian Astbury, The Cult

6/12/2019 Regency Ballroom, San Francisco



I have managed to shoot The Cult few times and this was the first time I got to shoot them from the photo pit. I have been a fan of their music since Electric came out in '87. Did I just date myself?

Wiley Arnett, Sacred Reich

5/29/2019 Oakland Metro Operahouse, Oakland



I have been a fan of Sacred Reich for a very long time and my music collection seems to include all their albums. They started all the way back in '80s and called it quits in early 2000s but couldn't stay away from the road. Happy to be able to see the guys play!

Skeletonwitch

5/27/2019 The Independent, San Francisco

I try to be truthful to the colors of the shows I shoot. It's always a hard proposition as camera records the colors differently than our eyes and our brains process the information very differently. Every photo that is taken is edited somehow, no matter how little the photographer does in post production, there is a ton of settings chosen in the camera that affect the outcome of the photos. I shoot my photos as RAW files and set exposure manually so that the camera does the least amount of "thinking" for me. I do use autofocus when I can and when shooting fast moving subjects in dark concert halls it's a lifesaver for me.

Sometimes (more often than I'd like) the band, the light designer or lighting guy at the venue makes it next to impossible to pull pleasing colors out of the photos. This usually happens in smaller venues with smaller bands. Some venues don't have a lot of lights to work with. Some bands have a very strong visual style they want to go for.

I understand that the shows are not for the photographers (shocking, I know) but is meant as a dialogue between the performer and the audience. My job is to record the show so that people who didn't get to go have a chance to experience some of the show and the people who did, can reminiscence on the evening through my work. Both of these require the photos to be somewhat accurate representation on what happened on stage and how it looked like. I don't want to do heavy handedly edited, strongly stylized photos of bands. So my solution is to turn the evenings where I can't be truthful to the band into a set of black and white photos.

This allows me to work with the contrast on the images, bringing up details from shots that are heavily saturated with one color and still keep the feeling of the photos. The outcome feels similar to what I shot when I did black and white photos on film. The top corner is the unedited, full frame photo where I started my editing from.

Jai Wolf

5/18/2019 The Warfield, San Francisco

This is not my usual kind of a show to shoot, but every now and again I like to expand my range. Shooting different kinds of bands gives you ideas on how to approach the genre you gravitate to also. Rock bands make you focus on the musicians, they want to show off their skills with the instruments. EDM bands focus on visuals, because the DJ/producer performance itself rarely is super interesting. I got a questions last night at Jai Wolf show from the audience: "Did you come here to shoot the lights? Thants why we are here". And yes, in this kind of a show it's mostly about the lights. I have few decent photos of Jai Wolf himself, but the shots of the whole stage and lights are way more interesting..

EELS

5/13/2019 Regency Ballroom, San Francisco

The Midnight

5/4/2019 Fox Theater, Oakland

Jyrki 69, 69 Eyes

4/30/2019 DNA Lounge, San Francisco

This was first time I have been back to DNA lounge since I was banned from shooting there several years ago. Not sure if I'm still banned, but at least I got to shoot my fellow Finns, the 69 Eyes, perform first time in ten years in the USA. Somehow they ended up at the small room at DNA while the bigger one was occupied by soem Death Metal bands. The attic was full of fans and surely it was a dream come true for quite a few "kids" in the audience.

Metal Allegiance

4/20/2019 The FIllmore, San Francisco

Metal Allegiance is an awesomely insane collection of musicians who seem to have so much fun when they get together on stage. Youd think there would be soem personality clashes but nothing of the kind. Awesome guys, awesome music!

Rivers Cuomo, Weezer

4/10/2019 Oracle Arena, Oakland

Michael Buble

4/3/2019 Oracle Arena, Oakland

And then something very different. Between shooting rock and metan bands I got the chance to photograph Michael Buble in concert. It was very interesting to see how intimate or personal this kind of a big show can be as there's only one person to focus on even though there was a whole orchestra onthe stage. Michael is definitely a showman and was chatting with the audience, knew the environment and people. GOes without saying that his singing was top notch. I actually enjoyed the show and the photos are pretty dramatic from a big set like this.

Alexi Laiho, Children of Bodom

4/1/2019 Regency Ballroom, San Francisco

I have shot Children of Bodom a handful of times and this was probably the best performance and at the same time the most challenging to shoot. There were three finnish bands on the bill, Wolfheart, Swallow the Sun and CoB. It's important for myself to try to shoot all traveling finnish bands and hopefully meet up with the guys. I didn't manage to meet up with CoB, but had the privilege to chat briefly with Wolfheart guys. Awesome night in the end!

Jon Mess, Dance Gavin Dance

3/31/2019 Regency Ballroom, San Francisco

I have to admit this wasn't my favorite show of the year, month or even the week. The performances were OK, lighting was so-so but so not my music even though the lineup was somewhat metal. I'll chalk it down to "been there, done that"

Todd La Torre, Queensryche

3/29/2019 Slim's, San Francisco

There has been a lot of great bands at Slim's but I have never seen it as full as it was when Queensryche came to town. The venue is relatively small and there is an awesome pillar in front of the stage but Queensryche made the most of the space. The audience really enjoyed the show, to the extend that I couldn't make my way out of the venue through the front door but had to sneak out through the back.

Sharon den Adel, Within Temptation

3/18/2019 The Warfield, San Francisco

Second time in a week for me at The Warfield with very different performances. Within Temptations was on tour with Swedish bands Smash Into Pieces and In Flames. All bands are quite different from one another and it made for an interestign night. Within Temptation was the lightest of the bands and had the most thought thrrough performance both musically and visually. I might not be the biggest fan, but I did like the show.

Graveyard

3/16/2019 The Warfield, San Francisco

Another first for me. First time seeing Graveyard and they were cool. The music ius very roots based hard rock. The songs are catchy but the lyrics have actual meaning and there's a social commentary in them. It feels like the band and music is a throwback to age when music was a protest rather than "just" entertainment.

Billy Idol

3/8/2010 Palace of FIne Arts, San Francisco

Two firsts on the same night. I have never shot at Palace of FIne Arts and this was my first time seeing Billy Idol with a camera on me. Billy was performing with just his guitarists Steve Stevens and the show was awesoem. Billy talked a lot between the songs and even thought the venue is quite big the night had an intimate feeling to it. It was great to cross one more big name form my photography bucket list.

Daron Malakian And Scars On Broadway

3/6/2019 Slim's, San Francisco

This is the closest I have gotten to System of a Down. Shooting Daron Malakian at Slim's. I really have poor memory as I always get to Slim's even when I know the light is never stellar. Great to see Daron and the band even if photography wasn't super good.

Lords Of Acid

2/24/2019 UC Theater, Berkeley

This was a bit of a different show for me. I'm not familiar with the bands and can't say I'm still a big fan, but the night was good because of other reason;

I'm testing out a mirrorless camera, Canon EOS R, this week. I took it to two shows with me. For image quality it's similar to my EOS 5D MI IV but ergonimically very different. I'm leaning towards not switching yet for two reasons.

1) There's a lag on when the electronic viewfinder switches on. This makes me miss shots as i'm used to pulling my camera to my face and immediately seeing through it.

2) I can't set up the camera in a way that the LCD screen is only used for reviewing my photos. I'm sure there will be a software update at some point for this but it bugs me.

Add these to the fact that I would need to teach my muscles to handle a very different body. I currently shoot with two different bodies, 5D and 1D, and there are differences but my hands already feel which is which and I operate them without thinking.

Cannibal Corpse

2/23/2019 Regency Ballroom, San Francisco

Cannibal Corpse is one of the bands that are a must for all metalheads. This night was no exception and Regency Ballroom was sold out for the Decibel Magazine tour with Cannibal Corpse and Morbid Angel. The lighting was suprisingly good for Cannibal Corpse who usually perform in a dim red light.

Markus Toivonen, Ensiferum

1/20/2019, Oakland Metro Operahouse

2nd show for the year and 2nd time in Oakland Metro. This time I wanted to go support my fellow Finns, Ensiferum. The night was awesome and the audience really got into the show. The guys said it was the best show of the tour, but potentially that's said every night. I'm always surprised about th eamount of light they can summon in Metro when they want to. This night was one of the better ones and I had a blast shooting there, even when I did have to do it from the audience again. The metal crowds are the best, when you show them your camera, most people almost push you to the front row.

Jeff Becerra, Possessed

1/12/2019 Oakland Metro Operahouse, Oakland

The beginning of the year is always slow for me and this time I took whole December off photography because pf travel and family visit. It was great to get back to action and the start was an old school concert at Oakland Metro with Possessed. It's been a while since I shot from the front of the stage without barricade and my old bones definitely felt it. You get a lot of energy from the band and crowd in front, but you don't get to move and your shots are from the spot you managed to get before the band assrives. I unfortunately had backup cocal mic on my face and I had to try to reach around it for my shots. The stage in Metro is low enough the you don't shoot up the noses of the band but the lighting is unpredictable and with a lot of stage fog it was a waiting game this evening. Eventually I managed to get a bunch of decent shots of Jeff and the rest of the band.

Municipal Waste

11/24/2018 UC Theatre, Berkeley

All the bands on the bill but on a great show but the lighting tech tried to sabotage the whole night. I understand that the show is for the audience not the photographers, but this was beyond bad. I get that you want to bring drama to the lights but being so dim that the audience can't see what the band is doing on stage is not acceptable. Bright lights at the back and dark hues in the face of the performers may give the stage a strong look, but it prevents the audience from seeign the people they came in for.

Nergal, Behemoth

11/23/2018, Regency Ballroom, San Francisco

Behemoth is currently one of my favorite bands. I have seen and shot them number of times, but tonight was hands down the best show for me lighting wise. Usually the band has very strong lihgts and stobes from behind, but this time sround there was more light in the faces. A great night indeed!

Al Jourgensen, Ministry

11/21/2018, The Warfield, San Francisco

First time shooting Ministly! There are some bands that are harder to get to shoot, they either come around seldomly, there's a ton of photographers who want to shoot them or they are not photographer friendly. Ministry definitely ticks all the marks, tough they have been more accommodating recently.

I really wnated to get closeups of Al because of his very interesting face with all the tattoos and piercings. My original idea was to get him mid movement with some of the face in focus, but he didn't end up moving emough to ge that shot. Instead I got this more moody headshot of him.

Scott Hill, Fu Manchu

11/6/2018 Great American Music Hall, San Francisco

I have been a long time fan of Fu Manchu and finally I got to shoot them. My favorite album is their 2001 California Crossing and they rewarded me by playing California Crossing from the album. The light was what it is in GAMH but I'm happy I got to cross one ore band off my bucket list.

The Damned

10/31/2018 Regency Ballroon, San Francisco



My favorite punk grandfather, Captain Sensible of THe Dambed. I have shot the band a few times and Captain is always the most entertaining character on the stage. I wish I have similar energy in 20 years!

Daren Cris and Lea Michele

10/29/2018 The Masonic, San Francisco

Brandon Boyd, Incubus

10/14/2018, Aftershock Festival, Sacramento

Chino Moreno, Deftones

10/13/2018, Aftershock Festival, Sacramento

Wolfheart

10/11/2018, Oakland Metro Operahouse, Oakland

Tomi Joutsen, Amorphis

9/22/2018, UC Theater, Berkeley

It's always special to me to be shooting bands from back home in Finland. This night was special in a way that the bill had two finnish bands, Amorphis and Omnium Gatherum on the bill. Tomi usually has very big microphones and sings through his hair so it's rare to get a shot of his face. Lucky he's also an entertaining performer nad you sometimes get cool shots when he's not belting his lungs out.

Arcade Fire

9/21/2018, Greek Theater, Berkeley

Exodus

9/18/2018 Slim's, San Francisco

This is Exodus performing at 30th annuversary of Slim's. It's hard to believe that I have been in SF for half of that! This club has been the venue for most of my shoots in San Francisco and I still love to go there because of the awesome bands they get. This time I was positively surprised, but also a bit sad, to see the photo pit widened. Now you can pass other photographers without rubbing your genitelia against their asses. Nice!

Patti Smith and Flea

9/14/2018 The Masonic, San Francisco

I got to shoot Patti and Flea with number of other musicians at Pathway To Paris event in San Francisco. This was an event against climate change and to advocate clean energy and future for us and for our children. Check out 1000 Cities campaign as well as 350.org for more information.

Rebelution

8/31/2018 Grek Theater, Berkeley



I have mixed feelings shooting at Greek Theater. The lighting is usually really good but the stage is very high and you always get shots that are right up the performers nose. Also, it's next to impossible for a short guys like me to get full body shots because I can't reach the stage level. I should always carry my stepstool with me, but somehow I always forget about it.

Walk Off The Earth

8/26/2018 August Hall, San Francisco



It's rare that I get to shoot in new venues, especially in San Francisco. After renovations, the old nightclub, Ruby Skye was opened as performance music venue August Hall. This was my first time shooting there. The lighting equipment is powerfull, possibly too powerful for the size of the venue. Also, the stage is very low which makes shooting very easy. Another first for me was also Walk Off The Earth, a canadian band that has gotten poppular through their Youtube videos and they were very capable musicians and performers, thought most of their music was covers.

Maria Brink, In This Moment

8/23/2018, The Warfield, San Francisco



In This Moment is one of the few bands that allow the photographers to shoot the whole show. The show includes multiple costume changes so it makes sense to allow photographers to capture all aspects of it. Unfortunately the show also inlcudes insane amounts of smoke and strobes which makes shooting the band harder than many others. My approach to this kind of a lighting is to set my camera for the brigtest lights on stage and then try to capture the brief moments when the lights are on. This helps cut throught the smoke and produces framatic photos. Naturallythe hit rate is not so awesome and I ended up throwing at least half of the shots to trash without much of a hesitation.

Brendon Urie, Panic! at the Disco

8/14/2018, SAP Center, San Jose



Shooting a bigger indoor show with a long lens was a change of pace after working three days at Outside Lands. The light was dramatic and with a performer like Brandon it's hard not to get awesome photos. The photographers were stationed on the sides of the arena, half way to the sound board. The distance was a bit awkwards, but lucky I had my extender with me and I got some nice shots. Always be prepared for everything!

DJ Snake

8/12/2018 Outside Lands Festival, San Francisco



Last act on Twin Peaks stage at Outside Lands this year was DJ Snake. There was a rumor that a very special guest would be performing so I stayed and shot the whole set. This equals to the time I have spent in my life at DJ sets. The show was awesome to shoot though. It had fire, sparkles, huge video wall, and if you like this kind of music, great music. Not my style though

Future

8/11/2018 Outside Lands Festival, San Francisco



The main act on Twin Peaks stage on Saturday was rapper Future.

Beck

8/10/2018 Outside Lands Festival, San Francisco



I wasn't in the group of five photographers who were approved to shoot Beck so I had to catch few shots from the audience just so that I can say I have shot his show.

Weezer

8/7/2018, Shoreline, Mt. View



It was great to get to shoot a bigger venue and a bigger band after being in club scene for a while. The abundance of light took me by surprise and it great that Sleigh Bells opened the evening so I could get my bearings. Weezer brought a 70's living room vibe into the set and delivered for the audience. They started with bnch of songs from their self titled "blue" album. They are always a pleasure to photogeraph thought this time they didn't do their signature move during the 3rd song. Usually the guitarists and bassist get together for a guick pose in the middle of the song. I was ready for that to happen just to find out that old dogs do learn new tricks.