SUB-TRIBE Live in Sydney: Behind the Scenes of Red Earth Tour

Still Photography for a Documentary on Sydney’s Music Scene

On 26 September 2025, I photographed SUB-TRIBE at Metro Social in Sydney as part of a documentary project exploring the city’s music scene. The evening brought together a film production team to document the band through an interview and live performance during their Red Earth Tour.

Working alongside the crew, my role was to capture the project through still photography — documenting the people involved, the production process and the atmosphere surrounding the performance.

While the film captures the story in motion, still photography offers another perspective: individual moments, expressions and details that preserve the character of the experience beyond the screen.

Before the First Note

Before the doors open and the live performance begins, the band takes the stage for soundcheck. Instruments are tested, levels are adjusted, and musicians work through the details that bring the performance together.

Photographing this stage of the production offered a closer look at SUB-TRIBE at work — from the keyboardist checking his setup to the musicians playing together and communicating across the stage. These moments reveal the preparation behind the performance and the people who make it happen.

As part of the wider documentary project, my role was to capture these details through still photography, adding another layer to the visual story of the band and the work behind the music.

Photographing SUB-TRIBE Live

SUB-TRIBE are a seven-piece band whose sound brings together dub, reggae and contemporary musical influences. Their live performance offered a different perspective on the project, shifting the focus from the interview and production process to the energy of the music on stage.

Live performance photography calls for careful timing and an awareness of changing light, movement and expression. Rather than documenting only the overall scene, I look for individual frames that convey the character of the performers and the atmosphere of the event.

Together, the photographs provide a visual account of the evening, connecting the people behind the production with the musicians and their performance.

Photography for Creative Productions

Projects like this reflect the collaborative nature of professional photography. Whether working alongside a film crew, documenting a live event or contributing to a commercial production, my focus is on creating considered, purposeful images that support the wider visual story.

Based in Sydney, I work across fashion, commercial, editorial and event photography, collaborating with creative teams on projects where people, atmosphere and visual storytelling are central.