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Firstly, my heart goes out to the innocent people involved in this attack and my thoughts are with their family and friends and also the casualties still in hospital.

So on the 22nd May I woke up to some crazy messages – Along the lines of ‘Hey I just heard about the blast at the Ariana Grande show – I hope you are ok, please let me know ASAP’ and ‘ OMG Just saw about the Ariana show in Manchester ‘ etc.

I switched on the TV at 5:30am and saw the news.

I was so devastated to see what had happened. Literally tears.

Turns out, the Ariana Grande show here at my beloved venue of Manchester Arena, had seen a blast.

I’m so so so gutted that this took place at a concert.

Having been to Manchester Arena for one of my first ever concerts, and the first arena I got to photograph at back at the Elbow show, it is such a special place to me.

Not just this, but people go to shows for just that, to see a show. To enjoy a night, or have one of the best days of their lives, and this followed.

Some of us photographers, it’s a second home, the photo pit. And we are more conscious about attacks taking place at concerts since the Bataclan Theatre attack. But should this stop us from carrying on what we do?

I don’t think so.

For it to happen at a concert is such a huge thing for Manchester, music is at the core of Manchester, it always has been and will be no doubt.

I headed in to the City today to pay my respects and just be present.

It’s really amazing to see the city come together through these shit times and share love, instead of hate.

I’ll leave you with some photos…

Take care of yourself and others and always choose love and light over hate and war.

Ariana Grande Manchester Attack