Jennifer Tenorio is a Las Vegas-based photographer who's work I have been following on Instagram for about a year now. Based in the Las Vegas area, her shots of local bands has helped to keep me connected to the hardcore scene there. That's the kind of information that is pricess in the process of running No Echo.
In this new Photographer Spotlight, we meet Jennifer and find out about her path to shooting hardcore shows.
Where were you born and raised, and were your parents into the arts?
I was born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. When I was 3 years old, my mom and I crossed the border to the states and I was raised in Las Vegas ever since. My parents aren’t super into the arts. My mom paints here and there as a hobby, and my dad just loves to blast Metallica in the truck every time I go visit him in Honduras.
What was your first musical love?
My first musical love was definitely metalcore shit like The Devil Wears Prada, Bring Me the Horizon, Attack Attack!, etc. I was introduced to Escape the Fate by a friend on MySpace and from there I’d go on YouTube and find other artists similar to them. Then sometime in high school my cousin gave me a Trapped Under Ice shirt, so I looked them up and was like, "alright. this is sick," and then came across bands like Rotting Out, Cold World, and H2O that really opened the gates to hardcore.
What is your camera and post set up?
I shoot with a Sony A7III. I usually start with my 18-35mm Sigma and then I’ll switch to their 15mm fisheye.
Who are some of your favorite bands to shoot?
Some local favorites are World Tension and Oversight. I also had a lot of fun shooting Iron Palm (RIP) when I first got into live photography. Favorites outside of Vegas are Life for a Life, DARE, and Harms Way.
If you could go back in time, who are some bands that you would have loved to shoot?
Turning Point, Inside Out, Bad Seed, and mf QUEEN, to name a few.
It seems like it's getting tougher to carve a space out at venues since there are so many people shooting these days? How do you feel about that?
Just a bit. I mostly shoot in Vegas and everyone’s pretty good about sharing space and moving around. As long as you’re being aware of your surroundings and not being a dick, then it’s all good. I try not to focus too hard on where I need to stand but rather what kind of shot I can get where I’m at.
Tell me about some newer bands that we should all be on the lookout for.
Check out Hand of Doubt and World Tension, two badass hardcore bands from Vegas; SHIIVA and All Eyez, punk rock and hardcore from Antelope Valley.
Who are some modern-day photographers that you admire?
Margaret Schmitt (Instagram), Chris Mounts (Instagram), Octavio Orduno (No Echo profile), Joe Calixto (No Echo profile). They’ve all inspired me too.
If you had to pick one of your photos that best encapsulates why you love shooting bands/artists, which one would it be and why?
The crowd shot below taken during Folsom’s set at Vegas’ annual toy drive show best captures why I love doing this. People going off and not caring about the bullshit outside those walls, just doing it for the love of music.
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Follow Jennifer Tenorio on Instagram to see more of her work
Tagged: photographer spotlight
