Just like every song tells a story, so does a photograph. Music photography captures moments in time that fans can look back on and either remember a concert they attended, or one they wish they had. From documenting live music, to candid moments off stage, this series of interviews is meant to hand the mic over from a specific artist to the photographers who are capturing these moments in music history.

For our first photographer interview, we spoke with Josh Massie (Scattered Pictures). Josh has photographed Anti-Flag and been part of their crew for years. Check out his favorite photographs and memories with the band below.

Socials: @scatteredpictures87 (IG) • @scatteredpix (twitter) • @scatteredpictures (FB)

Portrait Credit: Kristina McComas

How did you meet Anti-Flag and start working with them as their touring photographer?

Josh: I met A-F, particularly Chris #2, while on tour with Florida band, Fake Problems on Warped Tour 2010. Those chance meet-ups for the two weeks we were together would lead me to staying in contact with Chris, who later asked me to travel to Pittsburgh and join White Wives, a band he was piecing together with Anti-Flag guitarist, Chris Head. Chris was always pushing me to do something new once Anti-Flag asked if I'd like to go on tour with them. What started off as a merch gig with them turned into light design, a few small tour managing tasks, and eventually photography and video!

Description: Chris #2 and I with Pit Reporter Tiffany Mink at the Washington stop of Warped 2010

Can you show us your favorite live photo of Anti-Flag that you've ever taken? What do you love the most about it?
Josh: There's a shot from Open Flair Festival 2017 in Eschwege, Germany that I always think about first when it comes to my shots of Anti-Flag. I only had my trusty Canon Rebel T5i at that time with its factory 18-55mm lens, but it got the job done. Some of the most common comments on my photos of Chris are "how does he jump that high?!" and I think this photo in particular really captures the mystery around it. Additionally, I'm originally from Texas where ice hockey isn't the biggest sport (unless you're from Dallas perhaps) but when I started visiting Pittsburgh, Chris would have me watch a lot of Pittsburgh Penguins hockey. The team won back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships in 2016 & 2017, and so I found a small Cup replica and placed it on top of Chris' amp each day which you can also spy in the photo.

Description: Anti-Flag shot at Open Flair Festival 2017.

Is there a portrait you're the most proud of making? Can you set the scene of where you were and how you interacted with the band?
Josh: Before I got my hands on my first full-frame DSLR, the band asked me if I could shoot new press photos before the release of their 2020 album, '20/20 Vision'. I really wanted to use a full-frame camera for the shoot, but didn't have the funds, so I rented one from a local Pittsburgh shop and brought the band to my favorite location in the city, the Allegheny Cemetery, for the first shoot. Having toured together for almost 7-8 years by then, our communication was pretty smooth, but directing people into poses doesn't come as natural for me, so we just kind of experimented with different things until we found what worked best. We also knocked out 6 different locations around the neighborhood in the span of that afternoon, so I suppose you could say things went quite smoothly, and the band were happy with the final products, which is all I could hope for! Seeing those photos circulate around all kinds of media for the months that followed leading up to the release of the album provided a major sense of accomplishment.

Description: Anti-Flag shot for Spinefarm Records.

From candid, live or portrait photography- do you have a preference on which you enjoy the most when you're on tour with Anti-Flag?
Josh: Since my first days on tour with the band, I've remained the merchandise manager which keeps me busy for most of the time on the road, along with the occasional time behind a light console during shows. All of that means that I don't get to spend a lot of time backstage for candid or portrait shots, so I'll have to go with live shots for sure. Festival season in Europe always ends up providing some of the most fun shooting experiences especially if we play during the day because that allows me to shoot from stage or in the photo pit. That's the best time for me to capture any backstage shots. I've also seen the show so many times over the years, but I'm always on the hunt for a new shot/moment on stage I haven't captured yet!

Description: Chris #2 warming up before the Mourning In Amerika show in Irvine, CA 2018; Anti-Flag with Hunter Burgan of AFI

Can you share a random memory with Anti-Flag while on tour paired with a photo?
Josh: The first that comes to mind was at Southside Festival in Germany 2016. We had just wrapped our set for the day, and were all back up on stage to watch Flogging Molly absolutely RIP up the crowd. A few songs in, so many amazing things happened. First, Nathen Maxwell (FM's bassist) came over to me and Justin Sane, gave us each a bottle of Guinness, and then kissed me square on the lips! Almost right after, the sky broke open and rain started pouring down on the festival. Nothing mattered, and the crowd went insane for it, but unfortunately the weather got the upper hand, and the rest of FM's set, and the festival were shut down. We all went back to the artist village only to find it completely flooded, and the next day we were all supposed to be at the sister show, Hurricane Festival, but that ended up getting cancelled because of the terrible weather as well. But the A-F, Flogging Molly, and Frank Turner crews all found each other and decided to hang out and party all day since there wouldn't end up being a show. The grounds were muddy and soaked. Our spirits were not.

Description: Flogging Molly at Southside Festival 2016.

When did you first begin taking an interest in music photography?
Josh: Actually, some of my first Warped Tour experiences had a lot to do with it. Again, I'm originally from the south central Texas area, and the San Antonio stop was the closest one to me. NO cameras were allowed at the amphitheater it used to be held at, and one year, they decided that bringing in disposable and small digital cameras was finally okay. So I'd bring disposables and a small point-and-shoot I got my hands on the years that followed. I had very little to no experience at that time so I just held up the cameras, shot, and hoped for the best. Having a tangible memory of those shows was special, and I think that's ultimately what led to my live music photography interests. Music is my lifeblood, and I wanted to be able to contribute in my own way.

Description: Angels and Airwaves; Paramore at Warped Tour '08 on Canon Powershot!

What was the first concert you photographed?
Some of the earliest shots I could find was a Rancid show in 2006 at the old Emo's in Austin, TX. I would have just graduated high school, so it's safe to say it was one of the first shows I brought a camera to, a little Canon Powershot! Being that young and having nearly ZERO experience, I probably spent a lot of that show just blasting the bands with the flash. I hope they've forgiven me since, hahaha. Whatever, I had fun!

Description: Rancid at Emo's in Austin, TX

Are there are bucket list bands you hope to work with next?
Josh: Once I started to take my own photography a lot more seriously, I decided to brand social pages under the name "Scattered Pictures" based off a song by Green Day. They've always been a huge influence on me growing up and finding punk rock. I did get the opportunity to shoot during their set at the recent Hella Mega Tour when it came through Pittsburgh, but being able to shoot with them again or tour with them would be amazing. There's a lot more artists within the genre that I grew up with that I'd love to get shots of if ever given the chance such as Hayley Williams (solo)/Paramore, Circa Survive, The Used, or My Chemical Romance. I'd also love to shoot a major arena/stadium show like Harry Styles, Lil Nas X, Muse, Metallica etc. Then there's other wish list items of artists or bands that aren't currently active, or around anymore like blink-182 with Tom, Silverchair, Daft Punk, or Babymetal! Shooting the French artist, Woodkid, would also surely be an incredible experience. I saw him perform at Coachella a few years back, and that show was insane!

Description: Green Day at Hella Mega Tour in Pittsburgh, PA

What was your favorite concert you've ever photographed?

Josh: That Green Day show is definitely up there because it felt like a dream had come full circle. It was also one of the first major shows that Pittsburgh had since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Going so long without getting to shoot a show, and then having that one mark the return to live music was intensely special. That said however, back in 2018, Anti-Flag was invited to join AFI and Rise Against on the Mourning In Amerika tour. Early on, I feel like I missed out on a lot of rad tour packages in that mid 2000's punk/emo era, so this felt like an opportunity to make up for that. It was so fun to watch all 3 bands every night, but I took a particular interest in AFI's show. The way they move on stage together is flawless, and always made for some really cool shots that I still revisit today. I'd certainly love to go on tour with the band some day to capture more of that magic!

Description: AFI on the Mourning In Amerika tour 2018.