Heavy Riffs, Good Causes, and a New Workhorse

Saturday night was all about community and heavy riffs. I was out capturing a fundraiser performance for Drop Food Not Bombs for Cuba, and the energy in the room was electric. With a packed lineup featuring four incredible local acts—Dave!Ja!Vu!, Tiger54, Have Gun, Will Travel, and Tension Electric. The crowd showed up in a big way. By the end of the night, the bands rallied together to raise over $1,000 for the charity.

The momentum didn't stop there. On Sinday, Deviant Libation hosted its Sunday Service, a space carved out for solo performers to strip things down and take the stage. Tampa’s own Tim Ogden kicked things off with a fantastic set, followed by a performance from his daughter. Let me just say, this Sunday Service did not disappoint.

As Sinday evening approached, Deviant Libation transformed once again, shifting gears from intimate solo sets to an epic evening of heavy metal. The lineup—The Scream Queens, Decibel Dogs, Roads End, and The DOOD absolutely tore up the stage.

Moving into the week, it was time for a major bittersweet milestone in my workflow: saying goodbye to my workhorse camera, the Nikon Z7II. That body was absolutely pivotal in capturing so many defining moments over the last six months. So, what replaces a piece of gear you’ve depended on so heavily? Enter the Nikon Z8. With its advanced autofocus and speed, it is a massive upgrade for capturing subjects in intense action, even in the most unforgiving low-light environments.

To top off a massive week, Яɘlik Portraits officially went live toward the end of the week. The response has been incredible, with two physical artifacts finding homes this week alone. Bringing us to a total of five sold since the inception of the series.