Motionless in White Victoria Warehouse Manchester for Kerrang!

Photographing Motionless In White at O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester for Kerrang! Online

If you’re a metal fan and haven’t had the chance to see Motionless In White live, then you’re seriously missing out. But if you’re fortunate enough to witness their commanding performance, capturing it on camera is a whole different kind of art. Recently, I had the opportunity to photograph Motionless In White during their intense, high-energy show at the O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester for Kerrang! Online, and let me tell you – it was nothing short of spectacular. Here’s a breakdown of the experience, from the raw emotion of their performance to the technical aspects of photographing their chaotic yet captivating show.

The Venue: O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester

O2 Victoria Warehouse is one of Manchester’s prime spots for live music, and it’s easy to see why. Its industrial interior – with exposed brick, steel beams, and large warehouse-style windows – creates an amazing atmosphere for live shows. The venue is big enough to hold a crowd but still has an intimate feel, allowing the energy of the audience to connect with the performers. It’s the kind of space that seems to absorb every riff and beat, transforming them into a palpable force that you can feel in your chest. I’ve been to a fair few Warehouse Project nights here and they’ve been an event to remember!

As a photographer, you know that every venue comes with its own set of challenges. O2 Victoria Warehouse can sometimes be a tricky place to work in due to its varied lighting conditions, but for a band like Motionless In White, this was just another opportunity to push the boundaries of my craft.

Motionless In White: An Experience to Capture

Motionless In White is no stranger to spectacle. Their gothic-inspired aesthetic blends beautifully with their hard-hitting metalcore sound. With Chris “Motionless” Cerulli at the helm, the band’s theatrical presence takes center stage, complete with dramatic lighting, killer outfits, and a stage presence that demands your attention. This isn’t just a concert – it’s a full-blown experience.

From the opening chords, it was clear that the crowd was in for a treat. The band’s passion and intensity were impossible to ignore. Whether it was Chris Cerulli’s mesmerising gaze, the band’s synchronised head banging, or their lightning-fast movements, capturing their performance required a unique approach.

motionless in white live at o2 victoria warehouse 2025 — *Motionless in White Live at O2 Victoria Warehouse*

The Technical Side: Mastering the Art of Concert Photography

Photographing Motionless In White at O2 Victoria Warehouse was as much about technical skill as it was about capturing the essence of their live show. Here’s how I approached it:

1. Lighting: The Essential Ingredient

Lighting is always the first challenge at any show, and O2 Victoria Warehouse posed its unique difficulties. The venue has an interesting mix of stage lighting, ranging from dim, moody blue hues to intense reds and whites. Motionless In White’s aesthetic thrives on contrast, so ensuring I captured the raw emotion of their performance required me to work quickly with the changing light.

For concerts like this, I rely heavily on fast lenses with wide apertures (I was using a 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f2.8) to ensure I could shoot in low light while maintaining detail. The key was adjusting my shutter speed to match the lighting fluctuations and avoid motion blur. I opted for higher ISO settings to keep the exposure balanced, but this also required careful noise management in post-production.

2. Capturing the Energy: Quick Reflexes and Perfect Timing

The band’s fast movements meant that I had to be quick with my reflexes. In some instances, it was about anticipating their next move. The band members synchronised moments, such as jumping into the air or pushing the boundaries of their instruments, needed to be frozen at the right moment to give the image that high-impact visual feel.

I set my camera to continuous burst mode, shooting a rapid series of frames to ensure I didn’t miss those fleeting, powerful moments. This allowed me to choose the perfect frame later, whether it was a shot of Chris Cerulli with his signature mic stand or the band’s dramatic stage poses that looked straight out of a gothic movie.

3. Framing the Shots: Portrait vs. Wide Angle

While close-up, portrait-style shots often grab the most attention, I made sure to use a wide-angle lens for a few wide shots that showcased the grandeur of the stage and the interaction with the crowd. The intensity of the lights and the connection between the band and the audience created an electrifying atmosphere, and it was essential to convey that.

Framing the shots, I used different perspectives – capturing the band in tight, intimate frames, but also stepping back to take wide shots that communicated the energy of the crowd, the smoke-filled atmosphere, and the band’s larger-than-life presence.

4. Capturing Emotion and Motion

Motionless In White’s show is filled with emotion – raw, powerful, and at times, haunting. It’s easy to get lost in the music when you’re behind the lens, but that’s exactly what you need to capture: the emotions in motion. Whether it was the grimace of intense concentration on Chris Cerulli’s face or the passion etched in the faces of the crowd members, these small details are what make live music photography so special.

5. Post-Production: Enhancing the Gothic Feel

After the show, it was all about post-production. The shots I captured were stunning, but I wanted to bring out the band’s signature gothic vibe in each image. I used Lightroom to enhance the contrast, boost the blacks, and add some texture to the shadows to create that brooding, ominous look that Motionless In White is known for. A little noise reduction helped me retain detail in the low-light shots, while adjusting the exposure balanced the bright and dark spots in the images.

*Read the review and see the gallery on Kerrang! here*

The Final Result: Capturing the Perfect Moment

The final gallery featured a perfect blend of both intense, up-close action shots and wide shots that encapsulated the atmosphere. The images conveyed the sheer power of the band’s performance, showing off their unique energy, dramatic poses, and the dark aesthetic that has made them stand out in the metalcore scene.

But it wasn’t just about getting great photos – it was about telling a story. Motionless In White’s show wasn’t just a performance; it was a journey, and through these images, fans could relive the intensity of that night. The mix of gothic imagery, chaotic energy, and raw emotion made this one of the most rewarding shows to photograph, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with the results.

Photographing Motionless In White at O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester was an unforgettable experience. The band’s powerful stage presence and emotional performance were a joy to capture, and the venue itself added an atmospheric backdrop to these incredible moments. Whether you’re behind the lens or in the crowd, there’s something magical about being at a Motionless In White show, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to bring this energy to life for Kerrang! Online’s audience.

If you’re a fan of heavy metal, and even more so of Motionless In White, there’s no doubt their live show is an experience that you should witness for yourself. And for me, as a photographer, it’s a moment I’ll never forget – from the first note to the last shot!