From the realm of "how not to be a professional" comes the story of a concert photographer who violated venue rules, put the musician at risk of a medical issue, and did little to help his case after the fact.
Ryan Adams was headlining the 2017 Gasparilla Music Festival, when Joe Sale, a Tampa photographer, caused him to stop the set. Adams has Meniere's disease, the symptoms of which can be set off by flashing lights; thus, he strictly forbids flash photography at all his concerts. Adams is so adamant about the policy that security guards at the festival patrolled the crowd to remind fans not to use flash.
Adams noticed Sale using a flash from behind the soundboard and called him out via an improvised song and a request to security to remind the crowd of the policy, at which point, Sale flicked the musician off. Afterward, the feud continued on Twitter, with Sale tweeting (from a now-deleted account): "I used the flash from 2,000 feet away. I shot the 12 other bands over 2 days w/o flash. You lived... write a sob story about it."
Adams minced no words in his reply, unleashing a (justified, in my opinion) tirade on the photographer: "No, a**hole. It says NO FLASH! Because I have MENIERES DISEASE and have SEIZURES!!!! Ok, Ansel Adams?" In speaking to the Tampa Bay Times the next day, Sale said he thought it was unfair to be expected to know of his condition ahead of time and noting that he would never use a flash near the stage and asserting that it had no effect on the musician. Nonetheless, Festival Spokesperson Michelle Gutenstein noted that every photographer was notified of Adams' condition in advance. Furthermore, most anyone in the concert photography industry knows about Ryan Adams and flash photography.
Sale eventually attributed his behavior to frustration over being forced to shoot from the soundboard instead of a dedicated pit:
When it comes to trying to photograph somebody and get a decent shot, and then you’re told you can’t do the work you’re there to do, why is it up to him?... I didn’t use flash for all other 12 performances because you don’t use flash when you’re close to the stage.
Sale has shown no remorse for his actions or regret due to the social media backlash he has received. Nonetheless, Gutenstein has noted that Sale will not be invited back, nor will the festival use any of his shots, and has said she will discourage colleagues from issuing him photo passes.
Personally, I think Sale's is a selfish response. As a musician myself, I know it's important to be respectful of the requests performers make to ensure that they can achieve the level of professionalism and artistry they desire, but when those requests are coupled with a medical issue and are well disseminated by the venue, there's really no excuse. What're your thoughts? Let me know in the comments.
Lead image by Flickr user Drew de F Fawkes, used under Creative Commons.
[via Tampa Bay Times]
I was unaware of his condition. You weren't there, so you have no idea how far away I was. Of course I could hear him and he could see me, I was on an elevated lift far from the stage. I realize it's not about me, wasn't about me for the 12 other bands I photographed over the weekend, while volunteering my service for the non-profit who puts on the festival. Thanks for your remarks, I have learned a lot from this, so it will only make me better.
you know people can read right? and talk to other people? NO, you weren't near the stage. Just like all the other photogs weren't near the stage. You were all sent to the soundboard. You weren't away from the performance; you were on the lift near the soundboard. You weren't down the street in some other part of Tampa. When you make remarks like that, it only makes you look more dishonest. You were in the show area. That means the rules apply. The NO FLASH rule applies in the show; you admit you knew it was No Flash. The organizers say the photographers were told No Flash. They also say the artist's condition was told to the photographers. So you are saying the charity that provided you with the shooting opportunity is lying? No wonder you've been banned. You clearly don't have the principles and temperament to shoot concerts so please stick to your studio.
If Ryan called you out you were too close to be using a flash. plain and simple. you knew the rule and you broke it.
@Todd C
"you give a bad name to our profession dude."
No, he doesn't. He is just one photographer. Which is why it was wrong for the performer to denigrate the profession with his childish Ansel Adams remark. No doubt that performer has benefited from photography.
so one musician makes a joke about photographers and thats denigrating the entire profession? you have thin skin sir. like I said I've worked with Ryan, he treats people with respect as long as they treat him with respect. He definitely has benefitted from photography but when someone treated him the way this guy did he was well within his rights to fire back the way he did.
Yes, it was denigrating. No doubt he wouodn't have appreciated someone mockingly referring to him as one of the best and most accomplished in his profession.
Thin skin? Not at all. I grew up in a crime infested ghetto and I'm a 20+ year military veteran. No, what I have is manners. Being a jerk doesn't make someone tough.
"he treats people with respect as long as they treat him with respect"
His comments should have then been limited to him.
"He definitely has benefitted from photography but when someone treated him the way this guy did he was well within his rights to fire back the way he did."
Not by denigrating photography and photographers in general.
Ok buddy you keep being mad a rockstar hurt your feelings.
What's the point in even using a flash from behind the soundboard at a festival, besides pissing off the band, of course? This guy obviously needs a crash course on the inverse square law
2000ft, cmon someone give me the light falloff maths on this...that I'd be interested in.