Atlanta and Charlotte
The journey was short but not without its challenges. Between blown tires and Atlanta’s infamous rush-hour traffic (where "standstill" might as well be the city motto), it wasn’t exactly smooth sailing. But here’s the thing: What could’ve been a full-blown logistical nightmare turned into just another day on tour, thanks to the band’s cool-headed professionalism.
They’ve been here before. Within minutes, they had the situation handled—calls to roadside assistance, gear secured, and a backup plan in motion—all without missing a beat. No panic, no ego, just a quiet confidence that comes from years of rolling with the punches on the road. It was a reminder of why I love working with veterans: When chaos strikes, they don’t just survive it; they make it look easy.
for most people, getting a flat tire halfway through a road trip would be a frustrating interruption. For me? It’s an unexpected photo opportunity.
The guys at the repair shop definitely thought I was nuts, snapping pictures around their garage like we’d stopped at some scenic overlook. But there’s something beautiful in these unplanned moments – the way the afternoon light hit the stacked tires, the candid laughter as the band helped with the jack. Tour stories aren’t just made on stage; sometimes they’re waiting in a roadside garage with grease on your hands."
Seeing Atlanta's skyline at 5 PM is a cruel joke - you're still 90 minutes of gridlock away from 'arrived.
The box truck flat tire was a little more intense —a full-on blowout at 70 mph. So thankful nobody was hurt.
Stuck in highway traffic for over an hour—maybe more. Love how Billy is framed in this shot. Wish I could’ve shown the full highway scene, or even gotten out to take some unique roadside photos. But of course, the second he stepped out of the van, traffic started moving again. Classic timing. Sat there forever, then boom
Our run kicked off at the Variety Playhouse, a venue that’s been the heartbeat of Atlanta’s music scene since its 1940 debut as a cinema. After its 1989 conversion to a concert hall, it quickly became hallowed ground – the kind of room where future legends cut their teeth and established acts deliver career-defining nights.
The Variety Playhouse nails what every music venue should be - a space that transforms to fit how you want to experience the show. Up front, the pit thrums with energy, while the sloped theater seating (a holdover from its 1940s cinema days) serves up perfect sightlines without strain. Terraced standing areas flank the sides - the sweet spot for dancing with a view - while balcony offers a bird's-eye perspective of the entire spectacle.
What amazes me is how these zones flow together. During Papadosio's set, I wandered from the pulsing pit to the airy balcony and never lost that connection - the sound remained crisp, the vibe electric. This is a room that remembers its history while serving every kind of fan, proving great design doesn't call attention to itself - it just works.
Mike putting the final touches on his drum setup. Gives you a little peek at the venue layout too. These mixed lighting situations can be tricky to shoot, but I love how the colors turned out - especially how the light hits Mike's face, making him stand out from the scene.
A 'candid' of Jake... though I’m pretty sure he caught me shooting and decided to strike a pose. Love how this one came out—the composition’s clean with those natural leading lines, and the stage lights hit him just right. Looks almost like I used a flash
Possibly the narrowest venue hallway I've ever seen - had to turn sideways just to squeeze through with my gear. Pretty sure the guys are used to me lurking in these awkward spots by now, waiting to catch that perfect walk-through shot. (One I've definitely taken...a few hundred times.
Love the composition here—every corner of the frame tells its own story. The can, the carpet’s texture, the rough concrete, and Mike quietly working out drum rhythms on his leg. Simple, but full of little moments
Another attempt at those layered compositions I'm obsessed with capturing. This one's close... but not quite there yet. The hunt continues
The hallway again.
Still getting the hang of shooting lasers - these last few shows have been my trial runs. But this one? Definitely my best attempt yet. Slowly figuring it out!
I’ve been chasing this shot for ages—but usually, when the light hits someone in the crowd, they just look blinded. This time? Magic. That beam isolates them perfectly, like they’re the only two people in the room... even as chaos erupts around them. Love how concert lights can turn a crowd into a private moment.
Love how cinematic this shot feels—the suspended drumsticks, the electric glow of the crowd, those perfect reddish-pink accents tying everything together. One of those frames where every element just works.
I knew I had something good here if I just got some kind of gesture from Anthony. I really like how the light is creating a rim light effect, separating him from the background, and Billy’s silhouette brings even more depth to the photo
This might be my favorite shot from the night. That rare moment of perfect balance in a chaotic concert setting – where moving subjects and ever-changing light somehow align into minimalist magic. If I could tweak one thing? Just a hair more space at the bottom to let the guitar breathe. But when the universe gives you frames like this, you don’t complain.
That magical moment when a photo just works - cinematic softness meets razor-sharp detail. Not easy to pull off, but so worth it when it happens.
A little shutter drag experimentation. Playing with motion and light to see what kind of energy I can capture
I’ve shot this moment at every single show. The secret? The closer I get with the fisheye, the wilder it looks—that outstretched hand warps into something unreal. Never gets old.
This moment between Mike and these young fans is everything—their pure excitement at getting drumsticks and setlists is priceless. But the best part? Being able to send this photo to their parents, so they can relive the magic too
Day 2: Blackbox Theater – Where Traffic and Geese Can’t Kill the Vibe
What should’ve been a 4 and a half hour cruise to Charlotte turned into a 6-hour parking lot on I-85. Classic.
This marked my second visit to the no-nonsense Blackbox Theater – a venue that embraces its name with industrial honesty. The surrounding area feels like an urban experiment (watch your step – the local geese mafia runs these streets), but step inside and the magic happens. All those "un-pretty" backstage realities vanish the moment the lights drop.
Dustin’s production transformed the box into a portal: that massive video board and lighting array turned stark walls into a canvas for crisp, almost holographic visuals. There’s something about this room – maybe the angles or the LED saturation – that makes every shot look razor-sharp.
I leaned into video tonight but still grabbed a few stills where the light hit just right. Because when the geese outside are judging your parking skills and traffic tries to murder your morale, the show somehow becomes more vital.
Jon focused on dialing in the sound during soundcheck, while clearly something hilarious was unfolding on stage. Love these unguarded moments where the real show happens off-script.
Any time I can capture a genuine smile on stage? That's an instant keeper. Those unguarded moments are always the best
Solid color tones usually mean I’ll go black and white—but this one kept so much depth. Just another reason to love shooting medium format. That tonal richness
When someone who’s always seated suddenly stands up? Instant spotlight. Love how Billy and Anthony mirror each other here—like they’re moving in sync without even trying.
Another shot with that cinematic vibe I love. Rob's usually tough to photograph given his stage position - I rarely shoot from directly out front. But when he steps over to his amp? That's my golden opportunity.
This photo immediately grabbed me - love how Mike appears solitary against the massive crowd. The only thing that could've made it perfect? If his head was tilted just enough to reveal the silhouette of his hat against the lights. Next time!
Madison Theater, Covington KY
I want to try something different with my coverage of Papadosio. Instead of just sharing photos, I want to dig deeper—to pair my favorite images with the story behind it. Why did I take this shot? What moment or emotion made me click the shutter? Maybe it’ll come across as overly technical or “camera nerd,” but I think there’s magic in those details. After all, every photo is a fragment of a larger narrative, and I want to invite you into mine.
This isn’t just another tour. With Papadosio stepping back from the road for the foreseeable future, these shows feel like a bittersweet farewell. I want to document this chapter not just as a photographer, but as a fan who’s lived and breathed these moments. My goal? To create something raw and intimate—a visual love letter to the community, the music, and the fleeting energy of live performance.
Down the road, I’d love to compile these stories and photos into a book. Imagine flipping through pages where every image is anchored to a memory: the way the crowd erupted, the backstage laughter between sets, or the quiet exhaustion after a long set. It’s about preserving the heartbeat of this era, not just for me, but for everyone.
Will it resonate? I hope so. But even if it’s just for me, that’s okay too. After all, isn’t that what art’s about?
One of my favorite images from the weekend. I saw this two-sided fireplace right away and knew there would be an opportunity for a great shot. I love the symmetry, the framing, and the colors in the moment.
Sometimes you get caught trying to capture a candid moment and end up with a completely different image. This was taken right after soundcheck. The crew puts in so many hours and effort to bring the show to life.
I really wanted to get a photo of Cincinnati at night, but it was too cold and I was too tired to make the walk each night. I’m happy with this one, though. I like how the composition turned out—the whole frame feels interesting, with each section having a different feel. This is as close as I got to Cincinnati, so I’m not sure if it counts as visiting the city
A ultra wide perspective from the van
From the moment I saw Billy in this hat, I knew I had to get a photo of him. What better place than a Waffle House? I just wish I had framed this a little better.
I really like how this image turned out. Being away from family can be tough, so I like to capture these FaceTime moments with family because you can always see the happiness on their faces. The composition of Mike’s silhouette as he tells me about a band’s poster on the wall—one of his friend’s bands from the area—adds a special layer to the moment.
This is always a hard photo for me to take—the mixed lighting, trying to get the lines straight. I don’t know, I feel like I’m fighting a lot of things. But I wanted to include it because I really enjoyed photographing in this venue. Each level offered a different perspective, and the side stage had some cool angles. This was my first show getting to photograph with Mike in the middle and Sam on the side, which offered a lot of different looks
Just a marquee shot. I wanted to bring a little more to the photo, so I waited for this guy with the hat to walk across and give the image some life. The front marquee lights were out, so I had to do a little work to bring those back.
Sometimes I point my camera at people and stand off to the side, waiting until they get the feeling that someone is looking at them. It’s kind of weird, but it gets me some genuine reactions when they realize what’s going on.
The genuine reaction.
Mike reading a letter given to him from the meet and greet.
Jake was telling me about a subreddit called Mirrors for Sale—a page dedicated to posting people’s sale ads on mirrors and other reflective surfaces where they’re awkwardly visible in the reflection. So, of course, in the middle of that conversation, I had to make my own.
I always have a dilemma deciding where to be for the final song, but moments like these tell me it’s the stage. Some of my all-time favorite photos come from these moments with the band and the fans—raw, intimate shots. This photo has a bit of everything in it. I’ll follow up with some more photos from this sequence.
Night 1 finale. I’m not really sure if Sam was making a Dosio logo or if I just caught him waving as he stood up. I like to think it’s the latter. Out of focus, poorly exposed, but I love the moment—the logo behind him, the weird lens flare.
This was really close to being one of my favorite images. I still really like it, but I wish I had gotten Sam’s face in focus—maybe some eye contact with the camera would have taken it up a notch. It’s a hard photo to take because I really feel like I’m intruding on the show a little too much. I’m shooting with a manual focus lens, so I can’t really tell what’s in focus.
This was the first time I’ve gotten to photograph Dosio with Mike in the middle and Sam closer to the front. This gave me a lot of new angles to work with. Even Rob, who’s usually in the same spot, allowed me to get more in front of him, which is normally hard to do without Mike’s drum set making me feel like I’m intruding on the show. I love getting these up-close, wide-angle shots.
Billy back stage watching Mind at Large
I’ve heard stories of skyline chili from my multiple trips through the area, but never got to try it out. our hotel was a 2 min walk from a skyline chili. Billy showed me how its done.
Always looking for interesting shots. Mirrors and reflections offer some unique angles. Mike was having a conversation with someone on the other side of the door, so I had to awkwardly stand here, waiting for the perfect moment when he was positioned just right.
This photo was close to being something special. I still really like it—I love how everybody seems to be going in their own direction. I’ve been trying to capture these layered shots where the frame is filled with people all kind of doing their own thing. If Rob and Anthony were a little more to the left, I think it would have worked perfectly.
Similar to the photo above—very wide and up close, which makes the edges a bit distorted.
The lighting is a bit rough on this one, but I love the moment. Getting this close to a guitar player who’s in the zone is always a risk.
I’ve captured this shot many times before, but the new stage setup allowed me to align the keys perfectly. The only thing missing is a bit more light on Sam’s face—it would have taken this photo to the next level"
Posting these images on a website allows me to play around with different crops that don’t work as well on Instagram. Here’s a panoramic shot of Billy during The End of the World
Some of my favorite images to capture are the fans on the rails. Unfortunately, not every venue has a photo pit that allows me to move around without getting in people’s way.
A shot ive taken a dozen times but never from center stage.
Not everybody can handle a wide, up-close shot, but Sam is usually up for it.
Another attempt at a layered shot—ended up just being a good photo of Jon.
Probably my favorite stage shot of the trip. It’s always tricky to get clarity on the stage while keeping the crowd lit up and the colors dynamic.
A moment from the meet and greet. This is the kind of image I’m always trying to create—a real moment, wide and close, with the whole frame being used to tell the story.
This trip was an incredible experience from start to finish. The town had such a welcoming vibe, and the venue was absolutely perfect. I knew this show would be something special—not only because of Papadosio’s recent announcement about their hiatus from touring, but also because of the deep connection to the band’s roots and Mike’s hometown. There was a palpable sense of nostalgia and celebration in the air, and it made for an unforgettable night.
I had an amazing time capturing these moments, and I hope the photos do justice to the energy and emotion of the evening. If you all enjoy this format of sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses and live shots, I’d love to keep it going for the rest of the shows I’m able to attend. Let me know what you think—your feedback means the world to me
