Countdown in Photos #3: Minus the Bear

Over the month of December I am planning to delight you with tales of my adventures as a concert photographer in 2011. They may be the best shots I took, or the best moments I experienced. Either way, it would be a shame for those to fall by the wayside and be left sitting dormant in my feeble mind. Keep coming back, there'll be a new one each day.

Check out yesterday's post with Bon Iver.

Minus the Bear photo shoot at Bumbershoot

Bumbershoot, to some, was sort of a let down with fewer big names and venue changes. I don't see it that way -- I think we ended up with a big win considering how well our local musicians were received night after night. Groups like Kris Orlowski, Macklemore, Lemolo, Pickwick and Campfire OK had packed crowds no matter where they performed. I'd take that kind of festival over big name acts any day.

Bumbershoot has provided quite a few photos for my countdown this year. One local group who has already made its mark on this city and across the country is Minus the Bear. This was the first year I started taking on photo shoots at festivals, and it's become one of my favorite things to do. You hang out with the band, get to know their personalities and have a chat.

There are really bashful or uninterested musicians, then there's guys like Minus the Bear. Genuine, fun and really happy to do what they do. I was really lucky to have the chance to take a few shots in the back room of the press area with these guys. The shot above just kind of happened and I was having a blast the whole time.