Looking at Josh Skolnik’s photography, it’s difficult to comprehend his relatively recent start in the field. The man has been a professional photog for two years, and he only got into using a camera four years ago. But, newcomer though he may seem, Skolnik is shaping the game, specifically when it comes to capturing images of musicians and their ecstatic fans. Part of what makes his work so electric is that he figuratively wraps his hands around sacred moments before opening them wide to show his audience natural beauty at play.
Skolnik took photography classes in college, so he isn’t entirely self-taught, but his skills weren’t honed in a classroom or on a campus. They were sharpened in the front rows and mosh pits of shows. He isn’t a photographer placed in a venue, he is a fan first. A professional photographer has the technical skill needed to create well-composed images, and Skolnik does that. But, the passion he has for his subjects elevates his work beyond pretty images and gives them life, a soul. This is why he’s a “go to” for people in the Chicago music scene and festival organizers.
Between gigs, Skolnik took time to answer a ton of questions about why he got into this line of work and what it entails. He was even game for talking about his sobriety and what it’s like to work in an environment famed for drug and alcohol use. If you’re interested in music photography and want to know more about the life of a festival photographer, we’ve found someone you need to know more about.
Why do you do festival photography?
Most of the festivals I lean towards are things that I am personally interested in. Which is what’s so beautiful about it. I am mixing both of my passions into a career. I think that I tend to choose festivals that I am drawn to because of the artists that are playing.
I noticed on your Instagram that most of your shots from the festivals that you posted there are of the artists. Do you spend a fair amount of time on the people attending, or is it really directed at the stage?
I think I post more of the artist shots. Because that’s kind of where I think more of the exposure is most of the time. That’s one of my favorite things to photograph: the artists on stage. But yeah, I definitely get into the crowd and do a lot of portraitures and try to capture those moments as well. I probably post more pictures of the artists than I do of the crowd. But, I mean, I love the vibe.
I love what is going on at festivals. I love how happy everyone is and just capturing the essence of that festival.
When you take pictures of people who aren’t on the stage, what draws you to them?
It’s just their energy. It’s how excited they are. How happy they are to be in this moment. It’s just like a vibe. You see someone shift, whether they’re crying their eyes out in happiness or just dancing away without a care in the world, and it makes for a very attractive photograph. It’s not really about their appearance or anything like that, it’s about what type of energy they are giving off at that time.
And then you get to capture it for a moment, forever.
Yeah, exactly.
What gear are you using?
Nikon D850 is my primary camera. It’s a 46mp beast equipped with state of the art technology. The camera has an extremely high resolution, 4k video and finds it focus very quickly. The camera was just recently released a couple months ago. I like to use a Nikon 50mm for portraits but recently upgraded to a Sigma Art 85mm. I use a 70-200mm 2.8 for portraits of musicians because I have a big range to work with if the artists are moving closer and further from me. I also use a Sigma Art 24-70mm 2.8. For wide angle shots of stage lighting and the crowd, I use a Tamron 15-30mm 2.8. For Astro-Photography, I typically stick with my Sigma Art 14mm 1.8 and my Nikon 20mm 1.8. I use a Nikon D500 for my secondary body. It’s a crop sensor but handles low light very well and since the sensor is smaller, I can add a bit of length to my existing lenses.
Where have you worked recently?
The most recent was Hulaween. Most of the time that’s the last festival I shoot of the season. I do all the Chicago festivals, like North Coast Music Festival, Pitchfork. I didn’t do Riot Fest this year, but I did it last year. What else did I do? I did Electric Forest and Summer Camp, which is in Chillicothe. Those are just a couple to name so far. Hulaween is by far my favorite.
Why?
The music venue there is just gorgeous. It’s like 800 acres of Spanish moss. They have that really cool river, with the rolling hill that falls into the river and has sand all over it. The thing I like the most about it besides the venue is, again, the energy there. I’ve been to Forest, North Coast, Summer Camp, you know a lot of these festivals, but the energy there is like none I’ve ever felt. Everyone is there to have a good time and enjoy the music. The art exhibits at Spirit Lake are incredible. There’s just a lot of time and effort put into that place, and it really pays off in the end.
Because you’re a photographer I am assuming you’re probably more observant and aware of what’s happening maybe than other people are. So, what are some things that maybe people who have not been to festivals would be surprised about or interested in?
Tough question. It’s like a non-stop party for four days. Besides that, it’s just how genuine people become, It’s just how giving and loving people are, like unconditional love is just shown left and right. I feel like people are really part of a community when they are at a festival like that. They’re really trying to give back in positive ways. They’re looking out for each other. It’s not just “All right, let me step over this person to get closer to the stage.” Or, “Let’s get to know each other. Let’s dance. Let’s have a good time.”
Even being a photographer and working a lot of these festivals I meet so many people that I have continued relationships with. I meet a lot of people that I end up going to other shows with and other festivals with. It’s a really, really cool experience. I think so many people are drawn to going to music festivals like that because they’re hoping to have one magical moment that kind of changes their perspective or gets them out of reality into a place where you can just feel very free.
Can you name a specific instance or something that was really a nice memory recently from your work?
I guess this happens a good bit with the right people. I asked a family with a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old child with them if I could get a family picture, and they’re like, “Of course.” Afterwards, they were almost in tears; they were so happy that I asked them for a photo.
And there’s another instance at a String Cheese concert that I just photographed here in Chicago for Thanksgiving where a daughter, maybe 20-years-old, was with her mother and father. And the father tapped me on the shoulder and asked me if I could take a picture of him and his family. I scanned and emailed it to him later. It turned out that he was some really cool artist, some local artist. He sent me a print of his work, which was pretty cool.
If it’s a nonstop party, does that mean that, even though you are working, you still get to get high and drink a lot?
It’s different because I’ve been in recovery for almost five years. So, I haven’t drunk or gotten high in almost five years. I feel like I am kind of the minority at these music festivals. Other people may indulge, but yeah, I don’t.
Is that hard for you?
Actually, no it’s not. I’m offered stuff all the time. If you’ve got a bunch of friends that are into going to festivals, you’re definitely offered things. Some of these people don’t know that I’m in recovery. And why would they? I have a high level of acceptance of the fact that drugs and I don’t mix. And I’m not there to party, I’m there to work and enjoy some awesome music with some beautiful people.
That sounds fully satisfying. So, I can see that.
I’m sure that some people try to have a good time in the way that they know how. You know what I mean? My way of having a good time is dancing and hanging out with my friends when I can. It’s kinda relative at that point. You know, people have different ways of having a good time, and mine happens to not include drugs or alcohol.
Well, go, you! That’s working for you.
Yeah! Hell, yeah. I guess so.
Do you have to be on the road a lot, or are these just isolated trips that you take every once in a while, and you stay in Chicago the rest of the time?
I mostly stay in Chicago. For Hulaween, I always go down. And Summer Camp is in Chillicothe, which is three and a half hours away. But, then, I’ve been to Okeechobee, and I’ve gone out to Red Rocks a good bit to go photograph out there. But, primarily it’s a lot of shows here and the Midwest that I go to.
Do you see a point where you just spend all summer going festival to festival? Or, do you like the business that you’ve established in Chicago?
I love Chicago, but, traveling and photographing is the dream. I think for most people in my line of work, spending the whole summer in a different city every weekend is ideal. Even though it would be chaotic, it’d be great.
Last summer, I worked with a nonprofit organization in Israel, and I was out there for about a month. That was probably one of the most incredible experiences that I’ve had. And, also, one of the toughest gigs that I’ve had, but it was absolutely amazing.
What work were you doing with the nonprofit?
I did event coverage. I did a lot of landscape photography of Israel. Promotional photography for their nonprofit organization, the Birthright organization. I was working for about two and a half weeks. And then the rest of it I just ran around Israel and got creative. I have some family out there that I hung out with.
What exciting things do you have planned for the future?
Aww, man! Hoping to get on a team with Okeechobee. This stuff doesn’t really come up until a month prior, sometimes less. I think I’ve gotten put on the team less than a month prior to the festival at times, which is understandable because these festival organizations have so many moving parts. They have a lot going on.
And this winter, I will be picking up bookings where I can here and there.
Is there anything you wanna add?
I would say if you haven’t been to a festival you should probably go to one.
Well, between your interview and your photographs maybe you will seduce people into doing just that. You never know.
Yeah, I hope so. I hope to. That would be wonderful. I’d love to see more people at festivals.
