Yes it’s that time again. From a music perspective, Download is probably my favourite festival but this year, for the first time, I had an official photography pass courtesy of national press so the experience was even better than usual.  So, here we go with some of my best bits and best shots, in no particular order.

Great to see two Sheffield bands on the main stage. Bring me the Horizon were brilliant to shoot..

And While She Sleeps were also well worth a look.

Friday night heavyweights Avenged Sevenfold put on a good show..

..and gave me this lovely shot.

Picking up the mantle for Saturday nght – Linkin Park were also entertaining..

And on Sunday, Aerosmith completely justified their top billing but were a real struggle for everyone to shoot as we were stuck in front of the sound desk.  I was surrounded by long lenses the size of rocket launchers armed only with my 200mm zoom but I was pretty happy with the shots and when I looked at what other people were getting it was fairly similar so – all good.  Plus I met some really nice photographers which was an added bonus.

Bowling for Soup were, as always, entertaining…apparently the giant, inflatable sheep met a very sorry end but fortunately I missed that particular murderous incident..

A ‘secret’ gig, advertised with just a question mark and a performance time, turned out to be Black Stone Cherry which was great and I got some lovely pictures there.

Rob Zombie must have had something interesting in his hair. When he took his hat off for a spot of head-banging there was a cloud of dust…I’m guessing not dry shampoo…not much call for that in the world of the living dead..

A variation on a theme, Zombie Kids were also funny – apparently you need a couple of hours to achieve the zombie look…although for me a couple of nights in a tent would probably have done the trick..

Liverpool band Anathema were really lovely.  I’ve not come across them before but I know their PRs, I like Press, so caught up with them for a chat, shot the performance and then bumped into them on Sunday too.  Always good to make some new Fest friends.

A got all the shots out before close of play Sunday then headed for bed…for a long, and thankfully zombie-free sleep.  I’ll leave you with a couple more bits of Download dynamite – blues guiarist Joe Bonamassa and Michigan rockers Alter Bridge.  See you next year…