My first camera, a Pentax K1000, was a gift from my father, a serious amateur photographer who showed me the qualities of light and the alchemy of darkroom techniques. We traveled to Yosemite National Park, and there among the ancient sequoia trees and waterfalls. I thought I wanted to become a landscape photographer.

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When I was fourteen, I traded vast tranquil wilderness for the raw energy of punk rock in dark crowded clubs. I discovered my tribe on the Sunset Strip, and my camera transformed me from witness to participant. My 1981 photos of Wasted Youth were the first of thousands of images I would create, a personal document of a time, a place and an explosive new sound.

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I swapped print photos for access to guest lists at the Whisky a Go Go, the Starwood and the Roxy, expanding my portfolio while increasing my audience. I provided photography services for Mystic Records, a small independent label in Hollywood, and I conducted band interviews and authored scene reports for local, national and international punk rock fanzines, including Maximum Rock’n’roll and We Got Power. My parents became reluctant hosts to touring musicians.

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After college I moved north, drawn by Seattle’s thriving music scene, where I continued documenting live shows and expanded into portraiture and special events. My work is represented by Getty Images, and today my archive—thousands of images capturing the heart of punk and metal—is scanned and preserved for future generations of fans.

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This website is dedicated to the memory of my parents, Big Stan and Wilma Braun. Without their patience, support and maybe naiveté​, I could not have created this body of work.

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