AWOLNATION crowdsurfs in Victoria. No big deal.
Canon EOS 550D (T2i) · Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
17 mm · 1/250 s · f/5 · ISO 200
I took almost 3,500 photos during this three-day festival of awesomeness centered mostly at Royal Athletic Park, but held over ten venues in total.
It really says something that I, as a born and bred local, truly felt like I’d traveled to another city/country/world while inside the park.
Here, Aaron Bruno from AWOLNATION stage dives during his first song at Rifflandia 2011. This is what I consider to be my “shot of the festival.”
I couldn’t believe my fortune when I saw this start to happen. Aaron jumped down from the stage and climbed onto the barrier steps. Knowing what he was likely to do, I also jumped onto a barrier step, something I wouldn’t normally do (I try to be really cognizant of the audience’s sightlines and security folks’ duties), but all eyes were off the stage and on Aaron.
With the help of many screaming fans, he steadied himself to a standing position at the top of the barrier gate, then flew up and over, about five feet deep, into the crowd.
EDIT: Kinda sorta pants-wettingly happy that AWOLNATION used my photo on their Facebook page!
Canon EOS 550D (T2i) · Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
36 mm · 1/250 s · f/4 · ISO 200
Hollerado wins RIFFLANDIA for best stage outfits (all of the band members except the drummer performed in bathrobes) and sproingiest legs.
Here’s another great moment I was lucky enough to see coming in advance.
Typically, if a guitarist/lead singer climbs up onto the bass drum, turns around, and gives The Look™ to the audience, there’s a pretty good chance a jump’s about to happen.
The fact that that Hollerado’s Menno Versteeg nearly stumbled into my lens upon landing made things all the more awesome.
Canon EOS 550D (T2i) · Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
17 mm · 1/800 s · f/5 · ISO 200
A look at the whole park Saturday afternoon, stitched together from 8 photos, panning handheld from the stands while getting the autograph of USS’ Human Kebab.
I’m sad that Rifflandia is over. I guess . . . I suppose . . . that I should maybe kinda sorta cut my wristbands off now . . .
=)