Ozzfest 2002 on August 3rd at Polaris Amphitheater was as chaotic for me behind the scenes as it was electrifying the experience. This marked my first official experience photographing a major festival, a milestone that came with equal parts excitement and anxiety. Between navigating unfamiliar territory and getting lost on the long drive from Des Moines, Iowa to Ohio using clunky printed directions like some sort of land pirate, and impossible-to-refold maps, the day already felt like an uphill climb before I even arrived.
Running on only a few hours of sleep, I was approved to photograph just the festival’s 2nd Stage, which had a relentless lineup of rising heavy acts; Chevelle, FLAW, Otep, Ill Nino, DOWN, Hate Breed, and many more. Bands that I’d not heard of before that day, but many of which would go on to grace my camera again, some even numerous times throughout the next few decades.
The pressure quickly set in, though. I hadn’t brought enough rolls of film to properly cover every band, forcing me to be selective and deliberate with every shot. In the days before digital safety nets, every frame mattered and every missed moment stung.
Despite the challenges, the experience was unforgettable. The raw energy of the 2nd Stage, the constant movement of the crowd, and the intensity of the performances made it a crash course in live photography. It was exhausting, imperfect, and occasionally overwhelming but it was also the moment everything started to feel real. Looking back, the obstacles are just as memorable as the music itself, marking the day as a defining step into festival photography.
Words and photos by Adam Tibbott
Kodak film photos digitally edited and enhanced.
