Music photographer Kyle Horne is capturing stars in action
It’s important to follow your dreams and Kyle Horne, an 18-year-old music photographer from Rosyth, Scotland, but now based in Cambridge, is a fine example of that.
For despite his tender age, Kyle, who moved here last year, has already photographed some of the biggest names in music, from the media pit, performing at some of the UK’s most prestigious venues.
“Music has always been a huge part of my life,” says Kyle, who also studies photography at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).
“I studied music in school before getting into photography, and that passion naturally led me to photographing live music.
“Coming from Fife, and attending school in Dunfermline back in Scotland, where opportunities in music photography are rare, I knew I had to create my own.”
He adds: “I moved down here just to open that space up for me, to go to new venues, go to bigger places, like London, and so far, so good.”
Artists Kyle has photographed include McFly, KT Tunstall, James Bay and Disney Channel star Joshua Bassett at major venues, including the O2 and Wembley Arena.
He has made it happen by contacting magazines and asking if he can taken pictures for them, and has even co-founded his own online magazine, ADRENALINE, where he combines his love for music and photography with interviews and reviews.
Kyle, who started taking photographs when he was 16, went from doing 300-capacity venues in Scotland to 16,000-person arenas in London. His first ever arena show was McFly at the O2.
“I didn’t really know what to expect,” he recalls, “and then they televised it and I remember my mum texting me saying, ‘Is this you?’
“I was starstruck and loved the experience photographing my first arena.”
Kyle has contributed to several online independent music magazines, including The Concert Club (theconcertclub.uk), German publication The Unseen Mag (theunseenmag.de), and Discovery Music Scotland (discoverymusic scotland.com).
He reveals that he would love to collaborate with an artist and “work on their album cover” and also “work with them on every campaign that they’ve got”.
Kyle also hopes to carve out a space in music journalism while showcasing the work of up-and-coming photographers and writers.
He feels he is learning a lot on his course at ARU.
“It’s opening my mind to what photography is,” says Kyle, “and allowing me to connect with all different people who love the same thing.”
Living in Cambridge is also very much to his liking.
“It’s nice; it’s a city but it doesn’t feel too big,” he says, “because there are areas where it’s calm and I can fit in with that.”
He is planning to try and photograph some gigs in Cambridge during the summer months.
“I’m so busy with all my magazine stuff and university stuff, that’s something I definitely want to do, whether at the Junction or at the Corn Exchange…”
Kyle concludes: “It’s been a fun experience; I don’t think that a year ago I thought that I would a) be at arenas and b) have completely moved down to Cambridge.”
If you are a local band or musician and would like Kyle to come and photograph you, or one of your gigs, email hello@kylestourdiaries.co.uk. To view some of his work, visit kylestourdiaries.co.uk.
