‘I believe we are making history.’ Macon photographer captures his city’s musical heritage
Dsto Moore loves photography about as much as he loves his hometown of Macon. He’s also a huge fan of Macon’s rich music history, which is why he started the Macon Music Project.
“Macon is known for its music history and I love good stories, so I started the project. I had an old speaker that my uncle Jerald gave me for a prop when I had a studio,” he said. “I had a vision to photograph musicians from all genres of music and people who are affiliated with the Macon music scene on the speaker in different places around Macon that have meaning to them.”
Moore said he got into photography around 10 years ago and found his purpose — allowing people to see the beauty and smell the flowers through his work and document moments that would live on forever.
So with the speaker in hand, Moore went all over Macon taking photographs of local musicians — all with a unique story to tell that Moore was able to capture with brilliance.
Whether the musician was sitting on the speaker, standing on the speaker or simply had the speaker nearby in the photograph, Moore made masterpieces — and history — with his lens.
Moore started the Macon Music Project in 2019 with his grandfather Buddy Barron as his first subject.
Moore said his grandfather was a gospel singer in the 1920s and came to Macon in the 70s. Moore said he wanted his grandfather to be his first subject because he was 97 when Moore started to project and wanted to make sure he was a part of it.
“I really wanted to give him his flowers while he could still smell them,” he said.
The project currently has 50 musicians. Moore said as a documentary photographer he believes that the musicians’ stories are valuable and needed to be documented for future generations.
Three musicians who took part in the project already have died.
“The stories that I have heard from the people I have photographed are amazing and need to be heard,” he said. “This is one of the most diverse photography projects I have done so far because it involves people from all demographics, religions, genders, races and sexuality - the one thing they all had in common was their love of music.”
Moore found the musicians on social media and also went to music venues like historic Grant’s Lounge, Back Porch Lounge, JBA, Serenity Entertainment Complex and other places where live music is played to recruit people for the project.
Although he currently does not have additional musicians lined up for the project, Moore said he hopes to photograph more artists to make the project even more diverse to include Macon’s Jewish, Hispanic, and Asian communities, as well as others, so their voices can also be heard.
“I would like to see it go as long as possible because Macon has so many talented people connected to music living here in the area — 100 musicians would be great though,” he said.
Moore said all 50 musicians that he photographed for the project have signed the speaker. He believes the speaker will one day be part of a museum exhibit and that the photographs are part of the speaker’s story that will live on in Macon’s legendary music history.
“I believe we are making history right now and I’m just grateful to have the ability to document what’s going on now so future generations will know about it,” he said. “And, the biggest thing I’ve learned from this project is just how powerful music can be.”
Moore recently announced his latest photography project SMILE BLACK MAN. Inspired by the timeless smile of his grandfather Buddy, the project celebrates the resilience and joy found within the Black male experience.
Moore owns Dsto Moore Photography in Macon. His other projects include Macon Choose Me, We Are Pleasant Hill, Macon Hidden Gems, and more.
