My story

As a teenager, I spent plenty of time watching death metal bands in VFW halls and Elks Lodges around northern Jersey. I saw some incredible things. Like a bunch of kids walking home with spots of blood (unknowing whom it belonged to) on their torn shirts. They were smiling. They just spent a Friday night slamming into each other and watching some local nobody’s (or heroes, depending on who you’re talking to). I left many shows wishing there was some way I could record and look back at these iddy bitty moments of intense fury, deep pockets of laughter and even some tender moments of camaraderie.

It took me a while before I actually got a camera. And it took me a little longer before I actually started to take photos at shows. These days I take a lot of photos to make up for all the ones I never did.

Now

Born and raised in Hudson County, New Jersey, I am based in the NYC metro area.

I have worked with Village Voice, Decibel Magazine, Alarm Press, Metal Hammer UK, Prog, Profound Lore, Roadrunner Records, MetalBlade Records, Stereogum and High Times.

Contact
e-mail: hello@justinav.com
call: +1 551 655 5676

Education
BA in broadcasting, Montclair State University

Press
2010 - RVA Magazine
2009 - Lost At E Minor
2009 - MetalSucks
2009 - Hudson Reporter feature