2015: A Year in Photographs

It’s only natural - however sad it might be - that we value a blurry 2am selfie taken at Glastonbury outside our tents with Mac DeMarco over something more finessed.

That doesn’t mean we don’t value the time, thought and imagination that goes into capturing music in all its forms. The photographer is one of the most sidelined roles in music. They’re continually stepped-on and ranked beneath writers. They have to shop up earlier to shows, get home before it’s over, spend hours poring over Lightroom. It’s an almost thankless task in pursuit of a bunch of pixels that somehow relate something interesting, something meaningful that mirrors or amplifies a particular artist.

"The photographer is one of the most sidelined roles in music. They’re continually stepped-on and ranked beneath writers."

Our photographers are some of the most talented people we know. They’re artists. They’re diplomats. They’re tech-heads. They put up with some of the most appalling treatment doled out in the music industry and they remain fucking hard workers too.

We love them lots and this is big thank you to them all....

Django Django sharing a laugh backstage at Union Transfer in Philadelphia by Erika Reinsel.

Bernard + Edith at Harpa for Iceland Airwaves in Reykjavik by Sebastien Dehesdin.

Sleater Kinney play their first British headline date in a decade at the Roundhouse in London by Jason Williamson.

Royce Wood Junior captured in South London for a Best Fit One to Watch feature by Sonny Malhotra.

Ezra Furman getting ready before his Rough Trade East album launch show by Gaelle Beri.

J-pop superstar Kyary Pamyu Paymu live at the Roundhouse in London by Sara Amroussi-Gilissen.

Grimes playing a much anticipated set on the Blue Stage at this year's Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin by Andy Pareti.

Flo Morrissey shot for a Best Fit Longread in London by Hollie Fernando.

Kendrick Lamar celebrating the release of To Pimp a Butterfly at this year's Bonnaroo in Tennessee by Glen Brown.

Jose Gonzales rehearsing in Gothenburg before his European tour by Victor Lundmark.

Toro y Moi backstage before his Oval Space show in London by Wunmi Onibudo.

DIIV live at this year's Levitation Festival in Austin by Kirstie Shanley

Jenny Hval and co before their show at Manchester's Gullivers by Mike Hughes

Kelela at Spazio Novecento in Rome for Spring Attitude Festival 2015 by Kimberley Ross.

MOBO award-winning rapper Stormzy backstage at Islington Academy in London by Anthony Keiler.

Madonna in Birmingham on her Rebel Heart World Tour by Burak Cingi.

Oh Wonder at Village Underground in London before their headline show by Laura Harvey.

Eagles of Death Metal live at KOKO in London by Minh Le.

Metz captured at 100 Club in London by Siamak Amini.

Mariachi el Bronx hussle before they hit the stage at King Tut's in Glasgow by Matthew McAndrew.

Natali Felica captured for a Best Fit One to Watch feature by Blanca Linder.

Recent Mercury winner Benjamin Clementine at St John at Hackey in London by Dan Harris.

Benjamin Booker backstage at Village Underground by Victor Frankowski.