All Art is Revolutionary

Photography By Grady

Southern California photographer Grady opens up about supporting local artists, overcoming sexism in the music scene, and the need to create, even when it feels impossible to do so.

Los Angeles, USA

How did you begin your journey as a photographer?

Photography has always been a part of my life one way or another. When I was very young (somewhere between five and eight) my dad would take me to the Bolsa Chica Wetlands in Huntington Beach, California with a Canon TXi-Rebel. We would take pictures of (and talk about) the birds that were native to that specific ecosystem. I submitted one of the photos of a Great White Egret for a competition my elementary school district was hosting, receiving 2nd place in my category.

Around the same time I was modeling for Lakeshore Learning, a school supplies store, giving me experience in more professional photography from the perspective of a subject. In high school, I took a photography class. My teacher did not understand my creative perspective and told me that the only reason he would not be giving me an "F" is because it would be embarrassing for a freshman to fail an elective class. Obviously, I did not continue taking photography classes.

I decided to take a different perspective of photography and began taking photos during musicals I was performing in, shooting with the same TXi-Rebel from childhood. After high school I took a break from shooting, and came back once I moved to Long Beach. I was deeply moved and inspired by the punk scene there. Since then, it has been a whirlwind of opportunity and growth that I am still at the beginning stages of experiencing.

What have you learned along the way? How have you grown?

I have learned so much about the world and myself in my photography journey, but one thing I keep coming back to is that everyone sees life in their own unique way, photographer or not. The things we have experienced in life alter the way we see the world, and no one person can see something in the same way as another. This is great news for photographers, as nobody can think and create in the same way you have. It should also relieve photographers, because your "worst" shot might just be someone's favorite. I've grown so much with this art form, being there at every turn in my life, it is super cool being able to look back and see how I once saw the world, versus how I see it now.

Your photography focuses on the underground music scenes of Southern California. Why do you focus on this subject matter? Why is it important to you?

Photography is my life long passion, but music is my first love. There is a certain kind of authenticity that is found in smaller artists that just can't be captured by more mainstream musicians. I never really thought about wanting to take pictures at concerts/shows, I just did. Starting on my phone, then once I realized I was doing it consistently, I found my childhood TXi-Rebel and went to as many shows as my bank account would allow. All I really could afford were the free local shows at Vine, a small beer and wine bar in Long Beach, with incredible local band curation. I was working with what I had and shooting bands that inspired me: Bushfire (Long Beach), Memory Loop (Dana Point), God is Evil (Long Beach), UGHH (Los Angeles). These bands not only spoke to my ears but my eyes as well, and their dynamic performances and hypnotic melodies were the jumping off point to where I am now, and where I will be in the future.

Having been raised in SoCal, supporting other local artists is incredibly important to me. A lot of people see SoCal and can't see past what is shown to them in popular media: all skinny, tall, blonde, tanned, white people who take selfies all day and make millions of dollars. I want my photography to be an opportunity for the world to see that that is in fact a very small minority of what this area has to offer.

How would you describe your style? How do you stand out from other music photographers?

My style is extremely colorful. When it comes to concert photography, I typically shoot with a black and white setting on my camera (currently shooting with a Canon R-50 2023 model). Then later in editing I will fuck around with color grading to enhance the picture. I have been experimenting with this editing style for about a year now, and I have learned that certain colors will bring forward parts of a picture that traditional black and white or color cannot.

I cannot say I came across this style completely by myself. I was shooting a band Chase Petra (Long Beach) at The Echo in Echo park, Los Angeles, where I met another photographer Kai (@kai.blehh on instagram, an incredible concert photographer who shoots in BNW). We started a conversation about the debate of using flash at concerts. Personally, I use flash, but I try not to use continuous shooting so as to not disorient people too much. They said that they never use flash at shows and see it as disrespectful to everyone. To each their own, but it inspired me to not use flash for that show as a little challenge for myself. I shot in black and white, because that would make turning up the ISO all the way slightly less ugly. When I started editing I found that the contrast was not to the standard I wanted, and no amount of messing with the highlights and shadows was going to fix it. The only thing I could think to fix the problem was to start playing with colors.

Ever since then, it has stuck with me, and has helped me grow so much in my editing style, to be less afraid of adding color into my images. This makes me stand out against the hundreds of music photographers in the scene because I fear some photographers are afraid to take a step into the creative when editing show/concert photos. I love a classic black and white photo of the singer of a punk band jumping in the air at a dirty outdoor venue ( check out @orange_jpeg for some iconic shots like what I described). It looks almost historic, very similar to photos that have always been taken of punk bands and other genres alike. It's the industry standard, and very much encouraged by everyone. I wish I could say that I decided to flip this standard for my own work because I wanted to create something people have never seen before, or as a way to stand out; but I really just love color and want to see more of it in show/concert photography.

Tell the story behind one of your images.

I was asked to shoot a show with Jagged Baptist Club at Permanent Records Roadhouse one evening. I didn't look at the flyer so I had no idea who was opening. I took one of my friends with me since she hadn't seen the band yet, and as we were chatting outside I heard a song that I had just added to one of my playlists. I ran inside to see Hurt Hawks (Los Angeles) doing his thing in the bar. There was almost no lighting so manual focus was a must, which makes it infinitely harder since I can't see. The only photos that turned out during his set were three of the most iconic photos I have taken during a band's set.

Who are some of your favorite bands to work with? Who should we follow?

The list of bands I love working with and want to shout out is infinitely longer than the list of bands I don't. I have had the utmost pleasure of working with some of the most talented people in Los Angeles. Almost every single band or person I have taken pictures of have been extremely kind and supportive along this arc of my life. A few notable mentions are:

Jagged Baptist Club (Los Angeles) Bringing UK punk vibes with hints of 80s new wave. They just released an album with Nice Swan Records called "Physical Surveillance" go listen anywhere you listen to music.

TwoLips (Los Angeles). If you are looking for an artist that does genre bending music right, TwoLips is who you're looking for.

Charlie Horse (Long Beach) Midwest emo with a twist, their addition of unconventional instruments and honest lyrics will have you bouncing around the pit.

Spooky Marvin (Los Angeles) Is bringing goth back in a way that is new, yet true to the genre. An incredible group of femme performerms who are on the brink of something big.

So Vain (Los Angeles) A sight to behold, this band goes full out even when they are last on a bill on a Monday night. Any show you see of theirs is their best show ever.

Hebrew (Los Angeles) An incredibly talented human whose talents stretch far beyond music and make everyone feel loved and special when he is around them.

Cosmic Kitten (Los Angeles) A group of incredibly kind humans who know how to rock! I feel like they are always out touring and doing shows for their community. They are also incredibly supportive of the artists that surround their music.

On top of that there are some incredibly supportive promoters that I would also like to shout out, Punk Munk Productions, and Clear Vision Collective. These are two teams of people that make up a huge part of the LA punk and DIY scene. They seem to always be looking for bands, vendors and photographers for their events.

How would you describe the underground music scene in Southern California?

The underground music scene in SoCal is gigantic. I don't know if I could give a proper description without excluding a pocket of the scene that has yet to expose itself to me. SoCal really has everything from spoken word to bubblegum pop. I tend to reside in the punk, queer, and indie circles, and even those spaces are huge. Being the entertainment capital of the world makes it a lot easier to find what you might be looking for in live music. Los Angeles specifically is a very exciting place to be right now, everyone that got into making music during covid is now showing off the work they have been putting in and it's paying off. So many talented people are getting their comeuppance. Sugar Pit (Los Angeles) is one that I have been following for a while, who has just blown up in the past year and is only going to get bigger as time passes. One of the best things about being in the underground is getting to meet incredibly talented people who just haven't been seen by enough people yet.

If you can photograph any music scene in the world, which one would it be and why?

I absolutely adore shooting in Los Angeles, it feels like a dream that I didn't know I had coming true. However, if I could go anywhere else and shoot their scene it would be either New York, or New Orleans. Both bustling with such rich American culture. New York is tied for the most iconic city in the United States, in my opinion, and there are so many incredibly talented people over there. I would love to explore more of the club scenes and the rich theater community on the other side of the country. From what I know about New Orleans, the people there have a genuine care for the community they live in, that is something I really resonate with, and need to experience at some point in my life.

What have been some of your biggest obstacles as a photographer? How have you overcome them?

One of the largest obstacles I have had to overcome is the ingrained sexism in the scene. Most photographers I have met are straight men. Not that there is something inherently wrong with being born straight or a man. It can be very hard for me to feel safe and understood in that group. Being a feminine presenting person in the music photography scene can feel incredibly isolating. Thankfully I have found so many strong femme photographers ( @ghostgirlemily @frankieblimon @bloodorangephotography @rockeracandids ).

With a lot of the bands being mostly men, the question of are they hiring me because they want to sleep with me, is a very real question I find myself pondering. Which really makes me question my work, thinking "Am I even good enough?" Everyone is a photographer in SoCal, it is hard to feel that my work is special or different from everyone elses. That is literally a crazy train of thought I go though, and I know I am far from the only one that feels that way.

What has been the best advice you have received while on your photography journey?

The best advice I have received is to create, especially when it feels impossible to do so. I wish I could remember who told me, but that advice has gotten me through some of the most difficult times in my life. For those who traditional therapy doesn't seem to work for, create. Learn about yourself through the art you make. (Obviously if you need therapy go find a therapist, go reach out for help if you need. You are loved, you may not feel it right now, but you deserve to be here just like everyone else. If you are feeling suicidal and need to talk to someone call 988 or talk to someone you trust. You are not a burden)

What is next for you?

As for right now, my next steps are to wake up in the morning and get out of bed. With the ongoing state of the world, getting anything done is an achievement. It feels like the art I am making isn't making a difference, but it is. All art is revolutionary if you can put the intentions. So keep working, keep making the art you want to make and you will make a difference to someone.