1. Hiya, what's your preferred name and pronouns, and whose country do you live on?
Marc Roberts, he/him, I live and work on the stolen lands of the Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi) peoples.
2. What's your rig rundown?
When shooting Hardcore shows, I have a particular setup I pack. My camera body is a LUMIX S5ii with a Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 zoom. I much prefer zoom lenses; the quality of them now is almost making primes obsolete, in music photography anyway. I don't stress about much in life, but I can get nervous when packing my bag and forgetting something. I use a Hung Supply sling bag and load it up with earplugs, spare batteries and SD cards, snacks, a backup lens and most importantly, my flash and flash trigger. I love using a flash and the photos it creates. Sucks when I'm at bigger shows and they don't allow it.
3. How did you get into shooting live music?
Purely coincidental. I have been shooting photos my whole life, my mum was a photographer, and she passed down all her old film gear to me when I was younger. Taught me to shoot film with a full manual camera before the days of digital cameras. I have only been shooting music for about three years. I was looking up the Big Pineapple lineup on their website and spotted the section to apply for a photo pass. I applied and they had me on the team taking photos for the festival. Without that, I dont think I would be doing it today, so shout out Big Pineapple. Around that time, we had our daughter, so spare time became limited. Heading out at night, shooting shows allowed me to continue my hobby.
4. What/who are some of your influences in photography?
For music, it's got to be Ed Colver and Glen Friedman. Both those guys have such iconic photos and a timeless style. Very influential as it wasn't all about a musician on stage, but trying to show the energy and feeling of a show. They both did that so well.
People who shoot music currently that have made a positive influence on my own work would be Angela Owens, James Hartley and Sam Rottschefer.
Outside of music, I'm a huge fan of what Jerry Hsu does. I try to apply the ways he shoots the everyday world into my music photography or when out in the streets.
5. Do you have a favourite show that you've photographed, or a favourite memory from a gig you've shot? Or maybe a particular favourite photograph that you've taken?
The first festival I mentioned earlier will always be a great memory; it was new and exciting and set me on the path I'm on now. I got some good shots too, which is also nice. But I think the first time I shot a hardcore show in Nambour at the Black Box is something I will treasure. Finding that scene and witnessing the energy there was truly magical, let alone all the amazing people I have met and now call friends. And then there are the local bands that are all so good.
6. What else do you like to photograph outside of live music?
I take a camera everywhere, I shoot film photos of my family and just like walking the streets looking for interesting and cool things. My favourite thing to do is take photos, so you will find me doing it everywhere.
7. How can folks reach out to you if they'd like to get in touch?
I actively update my website and instagram.
Reach out and say hey, I will talk music and photography with anyone.
