Meet Evan Moses of Los Angeles, CA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Evan Moses.

Hi Evan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I grew up in Glendale, California, where I was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 2. I was always around music and film, and my parents were huge enthusiasts of both mediums. I had hyper-fixations on certain interests, from Godzilla to Dinosaurs, to the Nintendo franchise, which is a common thread of autistic people, being a super hyper-fixation on an interest, hobby, or career path. I got my start as a film major at Glendale Community College before the pandemic. At the same time, I was a huge fan of extreme metal and hardcore punk. I was constantly going to shows and moshing to my favorite bands locally. Then, during lockdown, I took what I learned from my film & TV classes and applied it to photography. I was practicing and developing my skills during downtime while taking classes online. But in 2021, shows began to come back somewhat, and I got to document the beginnings of a new wave of hardcore punk in the Los Angeles area, starting with the Dead City show under the 5 & 10 freeway in Frogtown. This was when I had just started my photography page about a few months before. From there, I’ve developed a local following of people I now consider to be friends within the scene, while also expanding into the realms of skateboarding, streetwear, flea markets, and events that draw a massive audience.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Early on, my biggest challenge was understanding the ethics of live music photography and how to adapt in chaotic environments. This took a bunch of trial and error early on, and eventually conquered that about two years into shooting shows. Networking was another skill I had to learn early on, as meeting not just bands, but managers, promoters, venue owners, and other individuals who work within the music industry. This was how I got to know folks in these fields to develop close connections and create my own opportunities without forcing them. However, a major challenge I’ve been running into lately has been finding ways to build my photography as a business, as live music photography is super difficult to sustain financially. This is where I’ve been learning new skills in commercial photography, such as product and portraiture. The business side of photography is my weakest point, and I’ve been making it a point to work on it as much as possible.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in documentary-style photography. Most people know me for my work documenting alternative culture in extreme metal, hardcore punk, the Y2K flea market scene, skateboarding, hip-hop, Latino culture, and poetry readings. I make an effort to capture moments that aren’t just the main action pieces or highlights that will get clicks and attention, but the little moments, group photos, portraits, and interactions of the audience or community. Moments like those go a long way, though I do love photographing bands such as the one time I got to shoot Slayer last year in Hershey Park. But I deliberately want to show more than just the performers, but the moments in between the sets. I also go out of my way to check out the next generation of music fans, bands/artists, or promoters that are up and coming and developing the next generation of alternative culture, whether or not they know it yet. This is something I know for a fact that hardcore kids who photograph shows have a bit of trouble doing sometimes, and that’s okay, it’s just the nature of the scene, which is sticking to what they know.

Any big plans?
I am currently focusing on a commercial photography class I’m taking part in right now, where I’m learning new skills in advanced lighting techniques for products and model subjects, creating mood boards, and the business side of photography that I need to work on. As far as the music side, I’ve become a contributor to Janky Smooth and Theory Media Group as a photographer covering music-related events. I’m planning on covering some bigger events happening later this year that I hope to be a part of. I might transfer to a 4-year university in the next year or so to continue my major in Film & Television Production.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://evanmoses1998.wixsite.com/emphotos
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emphotos98/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-moses-847551284
• Other: https://evanmoses98.darkroom.com/

Image Credits
Evan Moses