Photographer of the Week: Adam Elmakias

Adam Elmakias is an 8 year veteran in the photography world.  Adam was born in Madison Wisconsin, so he is a fellow Wisconsinite like Rob here.  Adam is now established in Los Angeles, but most of the time he is on tour with bands for his work.  At heart Adam is a rocker, and his love for music has got him where he is now.  Currently Adam works for Rock Sound, AMP Magazine, and Alternative Press; all of which are magazines with a rock and metal niche.  Adam has got the pleasure to work with amazing bands like Bring Me The Horizon, Deftones, A Day To Remember, Devil Wears Prada, and Yellowcard.  Adam is actually good friends with the guys of A Day To Remember, and has shot them since 2007.  Adam has watched the group climb the ladder of success, and arguably has helped them up a few steps with his photos.

         Adam claims his style is very crisp, balanced, saturated, and real.  What got Adam into photography was when he was in his high school yearbook class.  Adam would go to a lot of concerts,and took the initiative to grow a strong friendship with a few local promoters.  The promoters weren’t just business associates, but true friends to him, and would let him into shows he otherwise wouldn’t be able to get in.  Adam claims what got him started in his personal photography was the support of his school counselor, who got him his first camera after seeing his great shots for yearbook, and the local promoters.

            Adam has shot several Warped Tour’s, and loves the unique experience of Warped.  The crazy people, all the different bands, the experience is one that cannot be mimicked.  A few shows Adam has shot in Oregon Recently was Warped Tour 2014, House Party, the Right Back At It Again Tour, and the American Dream Tour.  House Party was headlined by A Day To Remember and featured Pierce The Veil and All Time Low.  Right Back At It Again was a tour based on A Day To Remember’s new album, Common Courtesy, and featured Of Mice & Men and Issues.  American Dream Tour was headlined by Bring Me The Horizon and was accompanied by Of Mice & Men.  All of these shows were in Portland, and I have had the pleasure of seeing Adam shoot these gigs.  With this information, its pretty obvious Adam has a list of favorite bands to shoot.

            Outside of concert shots, Adam has also worked with clothing lines like Macbeth and Glamour Kills.  Though he has taken a step out of rock shows, his heart still lies in the back of a mosh pit.  Personally I love the energy in Adam’s photos.  His photos leak out the raw emotion of individuals who are pouring out their heart and soul on stage, and even though there is no sound to be heard, Adam beats the impossible and makes us see the music, not hear it.