St. Augustine photographer Dustin Miller has been taking intimate portraits of musicians backstage at The Amp, a renowned music venue in Northeast Florida. Miller’s black-and-white compositions capture the artists at their most vulnerable and assured moments, both before and after they perform on stage.
Timeless Portraits
Miller’s portraits, which include shots of pop crooners, country troubadours, hip-hop legends, and bluesmen, disassemble presumptions of era and genre. The images establish a sense of immediacy, making the viewer feel like they are experiencing the moment alongside the artist. By using a custom canvas backdrop, a simple strobe, and a humble apple box, Miller creates a uniform setting that allows each artist’s personality to shine through.
Miller has photographed nearly a dozen artists in the past year, including Jacksonville natives Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, New Orleans rapper Juvenile, and Texas songsmith Ryan Bingham. The portraits are best observed in before-and-after diptychs, which showcase the transformation of the artists from pre-show jitters to post-show elation.
Original reporting: Jacksonville Today — read the source article.
