Blake Larson Photography

In the age of corporate-controlled radio, it's easy to see how one can become frustrated with the sterile nature of the music that has become popular culture. In FRINGE CHAMPIONS, I turn a professional eye to the do-it-yourself punk scene in Philadelphia. By photographing basement shows as though they were arenas, I place the performers on an equal plane with current and past pop stars. My intent is to show that these talented, intelligent young men and women lack only the capital and scale of the larger music industry, as well as to make the viewer question whether or not these young punks want or need it.

I couldn’t turn down the opportunity when my friend Blao invited me to photograph the city’s self-proclaimed “longest running hip hop event. While MOST ILL, MOST RAW, MOST AUTHENTIC takes its name from the Gathering’s tagline, and many of these photos have been shot at the legendary event, this ongoing series is about more than a single monthly party. This is a collection that seeks to capture the athletic skill and grace of b-boys in Philadelphia in a way that also highlights how the b-boy community self-supports and encourages the next generation of b-boys through mentoring and competition.

"Without people, you're nothing." -Joe Strummer, The Future is Unwritten

the PORTRAITS collection takes a cue from Joe and focuses on some of the great people that I've had the pleasure of meeting.

I'm always shooting, whether its bands and bboys, or a spur of the moment trip to Gettysburg to satisfy my inner history geek. My BLOG is a look at what I've been immersing myself in over the past week or so.

The ABOUT THE ARTIST section is a look at who I am and how I ended up holding a camera in a mosh pit, covered in beer and other people's sweat.