This December, award-winning Australian music photographer Nic Bezzina will be unveiling Release The Crowd, a music photography book of the people, made for the people and following a highly successful crowdsourcing campaign, spearheaded by the people.
In stunning black and white, Bezzina has captured a cornucopia of moments from eleven of the world’s biggest festivals, spanning five countries. The result is 100 glorious images in glossy high-definition.
From Wacken Open Air Festival in Germany to Byron Bay’s Splendour In The Grass and everywhere in between, Bezzina was in the trenches, copping waves of your sweat all in the name of getting the perfect angle.
The end result appears to be an anthology that truly highlights live music as an entity that transcends race, language, creed, religion or political views. Images that could very well be you, your mates, your partner, your sibling or even your parents. You’ll struggle to not feel a strong sense of pride in our kooky little subculture flicking through it.
See a sneak peak for yourself in the gallery below, and get the full picture (geddit?) at one of the book’s launch dates.
Sneak-Peak through ‘Release The Crowd’ / Photos & Captions: Nic Bezzina
Nic Bezzina ‘Release The Crowd’ Book Launch
Saturday, 10th December
Goodspace Gallery, Sydney
Sunday, 18th December
BSIDE Gallery, Melbourne
Nic Bezzina - 'Release The Crowd'
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Hellfest Open Air, France 2015
I find it exhilarating taking photos amongst the action within the mosh pits. My camera at the time was a battle-ready tank and I treated it as such, wrapped in gaffer tape and with most rubber elements torn or melted off by the sun. Entering these situations without any fear of damaging my gear (or myself) allowed me to capture some pretty intense images such as this one. -
Download Festival, UK 2014
I love the mystery behind this image. Who is she? Is that blood? What is happening? Is she hurt? There is an intensity that your mind tries to make sense of. -
Wacken Open Air, Germany 2013
The running man, this image reminds me of a movie poster and has an amazing sense of kinetic energy. This was one of those situations where I wanted to put myself as close as possible to the action. While most of the other photographers were seeking shelter from the downpour, I was in the mud with a plastic bag wrapped around my camera. -
Bloodstock Open Air, UK 2014
There is a comical element to this image that I love. It’s straight out of Spinal Tap. A young man wearing black metal face paint brandishing a skull handled sword, surrounding by teenage girls and someone’s mum at the front of a mosh pit. Reality is so much stranger than fiction at times. -
Soundwave Festival, Australia 2013
This shot transports me back to the moment and reveals the intensity that comes with letting go. These guys are the epitome of heavy music fans, making the most of the best seat in the arena, front and centre against the barrier in a whirlwind of hair and metal horns. \m/
