This week marks a milestone for local street press magazine; BMA.
They have done what many would have thought impossible back when it was conceived in a small Canberra restaurant back in 1992. - They just published issue #400.
My involvement with the magazine began in 2007 when I sent an email to Allan Sko who was editor at the time asking him if I could possibly take some photos at some gigs around town.
I had a camera, I loved concerts so why not combine the two I thought to myself.
I was told they had enough photographers at the time, but if there were any gigs left I would be told.
One of the earliest gigs I can remember was photographing Expatriate/Soft Tigers and Hancock Basement at The ANU Bar on July 25th 2007.
I think it was the first gig photos I had published in the magazine.
As time went on, I got to attend more and more gigs for the magazine, one of which was The Howling Bells at The Greenroom. They were being supported by The Whiskey Go Go's and a relatively unknown band called “The Temper Trap”. My photos weren’t too bad, but I definitely had to practice more.
Eventually, as I got to photograph more concerts and festivals for the magazine, I became one of the three members of the “Flashbulb Posse”. We were the principal photographers who shot for the magazine. Being included in that list with such fantastic photographers as Andrew Mayo and John Hatfield was such a great achievement for me.
Sadly, work pressures and my ever busy schedule has meant that in the previous year or so, my involvement with the magazine and attending gigs has slowed down. I still shoot from time to time for the magazine and am often photographing directly for bands and musicians.
While I am reminising about BMA, I thought I should put a massive shout out to the great people I have met over the past 6 years of me photographing bands.
Allan Sko - You are a gentleman and a scholar. I owe you a lot and thank you from the bottom of my heart for answering my email 6 years ago.
Peter Krbavac, Ben Hermann and Julia Winterflood - Nobody could ask for better editors than you three. Thanks for letting me photograph some amazing bands.
Lisa Toulcher - Thank you for being the first photographer I met in "the pit" and helping me work stuff out. You are awesome.
Thommo, Boxy, Klips, Simon, Silas, Mayo and Cole - I couldn't think of a nicer bunch of guys to share a photographers pit with over the past 6 years.
Gazza Peadon - Thank you for letting me invade "The Greenroom" on a regular basis. It was the most enjoyable and entertaining venue to photograph in. The "Original" closing night party is still one of the craziest nights I have ever had and still the only party to have a piano thrown down a flight of stairs.
Matty Ford - Thank you for dragging me aside to have a chat many years ago at "The Venue" where you were working as stage security. One of my fondest photography memories is still getting stuck in the middle of a field in your car at Newtons Playground Music Festival.
And a big thanks to all the bands and musicians I have photographed, as well as their management. Especially; Snow Patrol & Tara R, Kate Miller-Heidke & Emma C, Amanda Palmer / The Dresden Dolls, SuperKate, TONK and Variodivers.
Obviously I have plenty of stories, anecdotes etc, including the time when Phil Jamieson of Grinspoon stole my camera to take self portraits, but I think I'll save those for another time. ;)
- Nick B.
One of my first gig photographs. Sarah Blasko at The Greenroom - 31st January 2007.