Photography is cool as heck. The idea of being able to view the world with your own lens and use said lens to capture a singular moment in time is kind of mind-blowing when you really think about it. Throwing that same medium into the music community is an entirely different orgasm and one that’s often overlooked. Hundreds of music photographers die by their art and do everything they can to do so — whether it means adapting to a ramen noodle diet or toughing out a 13-hour drive across North America — and in a time period where culture should be preserved, they deserve to be recognized as everyday heroes. Our crew went above and beyond in 2017 so it made sense to showcase our favourite portraits and concert stills from the year that was.
A special thanks goes out to all of the photographers that are featured below: Amanda Fotes, André Varty, Hannah Jor, Jeff Filman, Joel Pilotte, Maggie Elizabeth, Marie Rupolo, Matt Forsythe, Matt Jumper, Riley Taylor, Seita Goto, Steve St. Jean, Wendy Wei, and more.
AARON WEST
at Hard Luck Bar (Toronto, ON)
ALLAN RAYMAN
at The Phoenix (Toronto, ON)
ANGEL OLSEN
at The Phoenix (Toronto, ON)
ARCHITECTS
at The Danforth (Toronto, ON)
A$AP ROCKY
at Camp Flog Gnaw (Los Angeles, CA)
AT THE DRIVE-IN
at Rebel Nightclub (Toronto, ON)
BANKS
at Governors Ball (New York, NY)
THE BEACHES
at The Phoenix (Toronto, ON)
BEACH HOUSE
at Governors Ball (New York, NY)
BONOBO
at The Danforth (Toronto, ON)
BRING ME THE HORIZON
at Ricoh Coliseum (Toronto, ON)
BROCKHAMPTON
at Camp Flog Gnaw (Los Angeles, CA)
BROODS
at The Danforth (Toronto, ON)
CAGE THE ELEPHANT
at The Meadows (New York, NY)
CHARLOTTE DAY WILSON
at The Mod Club (Toronto, ON)
CHARLY BLISS
at The Rec Room (Toronto, ON)
CHERRY GLAZERR
at The Velvet (Toronto, ON)
CHILDISH GAMBINO
at Governors Ball (New York, NY)
CIRCA SURVIVE
at Rebel Nightclub (Toronto, ON)
CITIZEN
at The Opera House (Toronto, ON)
CONVERGE
at The Waiting Room (Buffalo, NY)
COUNTERPARTS
at The Opera House (Toronto, ON)
D33J
at The Velvet (Toronto, ON)
DEFTONES
at Budweiser Stage (Toronto, ON)
EARL SWEATSHIRT
at Camp Flog Gnaw (Los Angeles, CA)
ELOHIM
at The Phoenix (Toronto, ON)
EVERY TIME I DIE
at The Opera House (Toronto, ON)
FATHER JOHN MISTY
at the Royal Alexandra (Toronto, ON)
FEIST
at Massey Hall (Toronto, ON)
THE FLAMING LIPS
at Rebel Nightclub (Toronto, ON)
THE FLATLINERS
at The Opera House (Toronto, ON)
FRANK OCEAN
at WayHome Festival (Toronto, ON)
FRIGS
at Silver Dollar Room (Toronto, ON)
FUTURE
at The Meadows (New York, NY)
GREYS
at The Garrison (Toronto, ON)
JAY-Z
at The Meadows (New York, NY)
JULIEN BAKER
at The Opera House (Toronto, ON)
JUSTICE
at The Meadows (New York, NY)
KALI UCHIS
at The Danforth (Toronto, ON)
KEHLANI
at Rebel Nightclub (Toronto, ON)
KID CUDI
at Rebel Nightclub (Toronto, ON)
KILO KISH
at The Phoenix (Toronto, ON)
LOCAL NATIVES
at The Danforth (Toronto, ON)
MAC DEMARCO
at The Danforth (Toronto, ON)
MAJID JORDAN
at Governors Ball (New York, NY)
THE MENZINGERS
at Rebel Nightclub (Toronto, ON)
METALLICA
at Air Canada Centre (Toronto, ON)
METZ
at Silver Dollar Room (Toronto, ON)
MINUS THE BEAR
at Saint Andrews Hall (Detroit, MI)
MOUNT KIMBIE
at The Velvet (Toronto, ON)
THE NATIONAL
at Sony Centre (Toronto, ON)
NEW SWEARS
at The Garrison (Toronto, ON)
PORTUGAL. THE MAN
at The Danforth (Toronto, ON)
PRINCESS NOKIA
at The Velvet (Toronto, ON)
PROTEST THE HERO
at The Phoenix (Toronto, ON)
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE
at Budweiser Stage (Toronto, ON)
REAL ESTATE
at The Danforth (Toronto, ON)
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
at The Meadows (New York, NY)
SAMPHA
at The Mod Club (Toronto, ON)
SKEPTA
at Rebel Nightclub (Toronto, ON)
SZA
at Rebel Nightclub (Toronto, ON)
TENNIS
at The Horseshoe (Toronto, ON)
THUNDERCAT
at The Danforth (Toronto, ON)
THURSDAY
at The Danforth (Toronto, ON)
TOPS
at The Garrison (Toronto, ON)
TOWKIO
at The Opera House (Toronto, ON)
TRASH TALK
at Camp Flog Gnaw (Los Angeles, CA)
UNDEROATH
at Ricoh Coliseum (Toronto, ON)
VINCE STAPLES
at The Phoenix (Toronto, ON)
THE XX
at RBC Echo Beach (Toronto, ON)
