Music in Frames
by
Marija Buljeta
13 January - 7 February 2025
Open View 16 January @ 7:00 PM
Marija Buljeta has been a photographer for 17 years specialising in portraits, fashion, live music and bands’ promo photography. Although her primary focus and inspiration in the beginning was portraiture, she felt that she had to explore other avenues. As she’s been a great music fan all her life, she is a frequent concert goer who appreciates all genres, but especially synth pop, new wave and alternative rock music. In 2015 she tried herself in music journalism and soon after founded her own music website which created the opportunity to merge her two greatest passions: music and photography. She continued to attend shows, but now as a live music photographer for her music magazine. She started small and slowly moved to bigger venues and more prominent artists. There was only one set rule she wouldn’t deviate from; she only ever photographed artists she was a fan of.
With this exhibition Marija tries to bring closer the exciting moments on the stage. Although the sound is muted, the pictures she took speak loudly; you can almost hear the music played live on stage before massive audiences across the UK.
"Being in a photo pit is a peculiar experience; you can feel the buzz and anticipation sandwiched between a huge stage and the crowd behind you. Cheers and sighs are mixed together as the main act takes the stage and for a brief moment it all goes quiet and dark just before the loud sound and bright lights hit you. From that moment on, you have three songs to do the best you can; you hope the light will be decent enough to take some good shots, because the photography is, after all, all about the light. What you see with your eyes, in this case, is not the same your camera does. And there lies the true challenge of the concert photography; you’re in control of nothing! You play the hand you’re dealt; it’s a real test of your knowledge, skills and patience. If you ever stood in a photo pit you would know that most of the time it’s like trying to catch a rabbit, with the photo pit being an ambush. There’s so much action on stage for which you must develop really fast reflexes; you have to catch the occasional ray of light, be able to shift focus and adjust your manual settings in a spilt second or your “prey” can easily hide in the dark the very next moment. The speed with which conditions change can bring great frustration, and that’s when patience comes into play; you have to make it one of your greatest allies. The adrenaline rush from being on high alert is a part of the “hunt” for the perfect picture.
Whether you have the photo pit for yourself or you have to compete with thirty-something colleagues, there is a certain etiquette you need to be mindful of. You are never to obstruct anyone’s view by raising the camera for a better angle, you need to pay attention to your surroundings and be respectful of artists, security guards, colleagues and of course the audience while trying hard to avoid tripping over something. And that’s if you’re lucky. There are numerous smaller venues with no photo pit where your ability to move is so restricted and the crowd so wild that you fear for your equipment. Despite of it all, the experience and the final results are so rewarding that you just want to do it again and again. Getting some great shots of your favourite artists feels like the greatest achievement possible and to be able to share it with others even more so, especially when artists themselves recognise your work and give you praise. Validation from colleagues and artists is always appreciated, but so is the critique. I find both approval and criticism to be a valuable feedback on my work; there’s no real growth without either.
Now, ten years after my first concert shots, I am confident enough to have some of them displayed in a gallery setting, where they can be viewed from another perspective, whether by peers or photography enthusiasts. Music in Frames is a collection of work that speaks two languages, that of music and photography. Its intention is to bring music closer to the observer, whether they are music fans or not. In a way, it’s an autobiography too. By sharing some of the most exciting moments of my life, I can say that I’m sharing bits of myself as well. Whether my passion shines through, it’s for you to decide. "
For the availability and pricing of the prints please contact the gallery.
Gallery 1885
16 Bowden Street
, SE11 4DS
Monday to Sunday 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
The Open View is on 16 January @ 7pm and everybody is welcome to come along.