Some of my photographer friends complemented me on my set of photos from the show, but honestly I don't remember even taking them -- I was so scared and preoccupied about making it home to rest in my chair. Making it home was its own challenge, but I managed to complete the task and stay up a few extra hours to turn in the photos and make my deadline.
The valuable lesson I learned from this show was to try to eat a minimum of three hours before a show, and immediately at the conclusion. Unfortunately, this would be dangerous if I did it at a festival, so I preemptively medicate with Lomotil and Imodium for events like Coachella and all-day festivals. This lesson also taught me to carry extra medication with me into the concert, just as a back-up.
I've managed to shoot over 200 concerts since my initial diagnosis, and in nearly every case I can remember a certain detail of whether I photographed a band after getting chemotherapy or if I was feeling sick. While I may be at a disadvantage compared to the other healthy photographers, I try to use it as motivation to dig deeper and take the best pictures possible. Cancer may have changed my preparation for shooting shows, but it will never break my resolve.
See Also: -Last Shot: A Concert Photographer's Battle With Cancer - Last Shot: Helplessness Blues at a Fleet Foxes Concert - Last Shot: Chemical Warfare Takes Its Toll - Last Shot: Photographing Coachella with Cancer is Like Running an Ultramarathon - Last Shot: Time Is Running Out - Last Shot: Chemotherapy Leaves Me Seeing "Stars" With Hum Follow RFT Music on Twitter or Facebook. But go with Twitter. Facebook blows.
