“It’s the combination of both, the music and photography that keeps me still going. Seeing new bands form and listening to new music is what is exciting. The energy in the room and not knowing if the artist or band will make it big. What I miss about the past is that when photographing from the back of the room for a whole audience and stage look, there was no mobile phones in your view.”

Mark Moray: Wicked Rock Photography

Mark Moray is a photographer specialising in music artists, festivals, concerts and gigs. Mark studied Interior Design at RMIT and Interior Decoration at the Melbourne College of Decoration. Mark’s passion for photography began in 1981 whilst studying Art and Design course and purchasing his first camera (film), a Minolta XG-1.  He learnt the art of processing negatives, printing his own photos and setting up a dark room at home. In 2015 Mark had his first music photos published in Rhythms magazine. His photos of ‘The Rolling Stones’ were linked to an article written by Sam Cutler the ex-tour manager of the Stones.  Mark's work has been published in ‘Australian Musician Magazine’ and ‘CultureMad’ magazine which included his interviews with numerous artists including Tim Wheatley, Natalie Rize (Blue King Brown), Ken Murdoch (Taste) and Darren Harts.  His work has also been published in books, magazines and on album covers.

(Mark Moray - Buddy Guy / Photo by Mark Moray © Wicked Rock Photography)

One of Mark's career highlights was receiving a call from Uncle Archie Roach’s Management a week after his passing, requesting to use one of Mark's recent photos for the booklet at his funeral, with the approval of his family. Over the previous decade, Mark has photographed numerous concerts and gigs around Melbourne and nationally including The Byron Bay Bluesfest, WOMADelaide, National Folk Festival, Mornington Peninsula Festivals and Maldon Folk festival.  Mark's wife, Ros Jason, writes festival reviews which complement Mark's photos. Mark’s work can be viewed on his website or on social media as ‘Wicked Rock Photography’.   

Interview by Michael Limnios      Photos © by Mark Moray/Wicked Rock Photography

How has the photo art and music influenced your views of the world? What moment changed your life the most?

My memory of the music I listened to as a child of the 60’s and as a teenager in the 70’s being born in Australia, was the British invasion. The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Slade, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Status Quo, David Bowie just to name a few as well as Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Alice Cooper and Suzi Quatro from the USA. I would listen to a song on the radio and then buy the album based on that song. I also loved the album cover art which was always fascinating to me by the way the band/artist had promoted the album. Then there were music magazines, and ‘Rolling Stone Magazine’ was one that I enjoyed reading in the mid 70’s, with photographer Baron Wollman’s photos that inspired me to take up photography.Then when studying an art and design course in the late 70’s, Photography was a subject I studied, and it wasn’t long before I set up a dark room at home.

My first camera was a Minolta X-G1 which I still have and occasionally use. Then eleven years ago, an Australian Roots Music Magazine called ‘Rhythms’ approached me about publishing my photos of the Rolling Stones with an article being written by Sam Cutler, the Stones tour manager in the 60’s and then went on to become the tour manager for the Grateful Dead. The following year I caught up with Sam after I finished photographing The Byron Bay Bluesfest. This gave me a break into having my photos published and opened doors to other opportunities which enables me to mix both my passion for music and photography as a joint venture.

“My memory of the music I listened to as a child of the 60’s and as a teenager in the 70’s being born in Australia, was the British invasion. The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Slade, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Status Quo, David Bowie just to name a few as well as Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Alice Cooper and Suzi Quatro from the USA.” (Robert Plant & Carlos Santana / Photos by Mark Moray © Wicked Rock Photography)

What characterize the philosophy of Wicked Rock Photography? What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience as music photographer?

‘Music enhances the rhythm of the soul; a camera will capture that moment’ This is my quote about how I feel about the art of my photography and music. It is an emotional journey for me. I have to feel the music to be in the zone. What I have learned from being a music photographer is to understand your equipment in a non-controlling environment, such as movement and lighting. I also created wonderful relationships between the Artists/Bands, Venue Staff, Promoters, and other photographers. To me this is one of the most important requirements being a music photographer.

Also, be aware of those who pay to see the artist/band as the last thing they want is a photographer constantly blocking their view. When in the pit, I try and be conscious of other photographers as we all have the same specific time to take our photos, and therefore I try not to get in their way. Great pit photographers have respect for each other, so everyone has an opportunity to take that great photo.

What is the driving force behind your continuous support for your art? What do you love most about the act/art of photography?

I really enjoy music festivals. I have photographed Byron Bay Bluesfest, WOMADelaide, The National Folk Festival, Red Hot Summer Festival to name a few. At these festivals it is challenging going from venue to venue, over many days, but it is photographing an artist or band that I have not heard of before or they are just starting up trying to make a name for themselves. If they are interesting and exciting to photograph, I will try and get to see them again when they are playing at my hometown in Melbourne. You never know if you are documenting the next big thing, and that is what is exciting.

After photographing many years of Blues Music, I have started to branch out to other genres, which also excite me.

“It is an emotional journey for me. I have to feel the music to be in the zone. What I have learned from being a music photographer is to understand your equipment in a non-controlling environment, such as movement and lighting.“ (Yosuf/Cat Stevens & Warren Haynes / Photos by Mark Moray © Wicked Rock Photography)

Are there any specific memories or highlights of your career that you would like to tell us about?!

There are plenty of memories and highlights of my career that I am grateful for, like meeting artists afterwards,having my work published in books and magazines, photos for album covers, solo photographic exhibitions thelist goes on. Probably there are two standouts. The first being that of when Yosuf/Cat Stevens re tweeted aconcert review that Ros Jason and I wrote for ‘Australian Musician Magazine’ and photos I took of him when he toured Australia. The second being asked if my photo of the famous Indigenous aboriginal national icon and musician, Archie Roach could be used for the cover of the programme for his privately held funeral. Then Iwas asked if that same image could be used for the programme for the State Memorial that was held for thepublic in Victoria. It was such an honour.

What's the balance in photo art between technique and emotions? What do you think is key for a good image/shot?

Emotions are what I try and capture with all my photos. While editing, I sometimes try and create the image as a portrait. That way I am totally focusing on the artist. For me, a good photo is when the artist or band are excited by what I have taken of them, and they either purchase the photos or book me for a photo shoot.

What keeps a photographer passionate after more than ten years in photo art? What do you miss most nowadays from the music and musicians of the past?

It’s the combination of both, the music and photography that keeps me still going. Seeing new bands form and listening to new music is what is exciting. The energy in the room and not knowing if the artist or band will make it big. What I miss about the past is that when photographing from the back of the room for a whole audience and stage look, there was no mobile phones in your view.

Also, I miss photographing some of Australia’s legends of Blues because of their passing. Chris Wilson and Broderick Smith are just some who are deeply missed.

“Emotions are what I try and capture with all my photos. While editing, I sometimes try and create the image as a portrait. That way I am totally focusing on the artist. For me, a good photo is when the artist or band are excited by what I have taken of them, and they either purchase the photos or book me for a photo shoot.” (Derek Trucks & Mick Fleedwood / Photos by Mark Moray © Wicked Rock Photography)

What is the impact of Photography/Music on the socio-cultural implications? How do you want your photo work to affect people?

I think now with streaming and social media has given people around the world access to what is old and new in the form of music either by video or airplay. It is exciting as we can explore many genres of music, and some even ‘live’ as they are performing by the artist. This also works as a wonderful medium for a photographer as we can take a photo, then transfer to a mobile device, edit it and then upload it to social media. All within minutes while at the music is still being played. I would like to think that my photos reflect feeling and emotion that that enables the viewer to feel that they become connected to the artist/band or event.

What is the strangest desire that someone have requested? Who was the most photogenic and difficult artist?

I guess the strangest request I received was when I was approved to photograph a well-known Australian musician at a gig, and just before the artist went on stage, the manager approached me and requested for me not to photograph close ups of their face. There have been many musicians and bands that I have had the pleasure of photographing where they have been very photogenic. Their glow comes from within when they are not doing their craft in between songs. It’s the smile, the unexpected look away. The enjoyment of being there. Ihave been very fortunate that I haven’t come across a difficult artist, so I have either been lucky or it’s the relationship and trust that I have made with them or the band.

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(Walter Trout / Photo by Mark Moray © Wicked Rock Photography)