Paschal’s portraits on old-school film capture Illinois music festival’s flavor

Capturing the Essence of the Full Terror Assault: A Photographic Journey

In a world where digital photography has become the norm, one photographer embarked on a unique mission to document the essence of the Full Terror Assault music festival in southern Illinois. Armed with a 25-year-old film camera and a limited roll of film, he set out to capture the raw and unrefined spirit of the event through a series of individual portraits. The result is a captivating exploration of the festival's vibrant community, a testament to the enduring power of analog photography, and a poignant farewell to an event that has come to a close.

Preserving the Authenticity of a Niche Music Scene

A Photographic Experiment

The photographer, Alex T. Paschal, had previously documented the Full Terror Assault festival with hundreds of digital frames, but this time he wanted to approach the task differently. Inspired by the festival's unpolished aesthetic and the desire to pay homage to the raw energy of the music, Paschal decided to embrace the limitations of analog photography. Armed with a 25-year-old film camera and a 20-year-old roll of 36-exposure film, he set out to capture individual portraits of the people he encountered at the festival.

The challenge was daunting – with no room for error and no second chances, Paschal had to be meticulous in his approach. The harsh, changing light conditions, the risk of out-of-focus subjects, and the potential for film development issues all added to the complexity of the project. Despite these obstacles, Paschal was determined to create a series of portraits that would truly capture the essence of the festival and its community.

Embracing the Imperfections

Paschal's project was not without its challenges. Due to the unpredictable nature of film photography, he was unable to successfully create 36 portraits as originally planned. However, he embraced the imperfections that arose, seeing them as an integral part of the project's aesthetic.

The scratches, watermarks, and light leaks that appeared on the final prints were not flaws to be hidden, but rather attributes that upheld the anti-digital nature of the project. Paschal saw these imperfections as a way to convey the warmth and character of the festival, much like the pops and skips of a vinyl record album.

Capturing the Spirit of the Festival

Paschal's decision to focus on individual portraits rather than stage performances or candid shots was a deliberate one. He wanted the viewers to engage directly with the subjects, to see the humanity and personality behind the festival's unrefined and extreme metal-leaning atmosphere.

The result is a series of captivating portraits that showcase the vibrant and welcoming community of the Full Terror Assault festival. None of the subjects refused to be photographed, and Paschal captured a sense of joy and camaraderie, even if it was occasionally hidden beneath the surface.

A Poignant Farewell

The 2023 Full Terror Assault festival marks the end of an era, as the event is set to come to a close this year. For Paschal, this project represents a poignant farewell to a festival that has become a cherished part of his annual pilgrimage to southern Illinois.

Through these portraits, the essence of the Full Terror Assault festival and the wonderful people Paschal has met over the years will live on. As the final curtain falls on this niche music event, these images serve as a lasting tribute to the raw, uncompromising spirit that defined the festival and the community that embraced it.