I obtained my first camera by signing up for the photography class at my high school, for which I was required to have my own SLR camera, and for which I obtained the lowest-end model possible. My equipment's heinousness* was a blessing, because I brought that thing into many moshpits without worrying about the consequences of its destruction. The fewer the features, the less there is to go wrong.

I wanted to get into shows for free sometimes, and I wanted to be at stage front in the pits even when I didn't know anyone. A big camera provided an instant explanation for why I was there. Anonymity didn't last long; scene quickly became family. But I still liked (and continue to like) hiding behind the camera.

For a while, I had a band photo website called Neuter Humans. It was on Xoom (which may or may not still exist) and I'm pretty sure it isn't there anymore. If anyone has luck with the Wayback Machine or something, help me out.

I was inspired to post these because of my recent discovery of Dan Halligan's blog, 10 Things Zine. I used to read 10 Things when it was a print zine, and its online resurrection has been brightening my days with happy nostalgia for the past few weeks.

Yes, I took many blows to the skull at this time in my life. That explains a lot, doesn't it?

*Not only did I have awful equipment, I had no idea how to use it. I had a behemoth 1998 home scanner, and used an image editing software called ULead ImagePals 2Go. I still remember that software. Which I had no idea how to use. Nor did I care to properly learn, as is evidenced by the quality of these scans. Its interface is forever burned into my retinas.