Remember when Rocks Off told you we were holding a contest to determine Houston's best music photographer? It only seems like it was before photography itself was invented. (Here's the link, in case you think we're making it up.) Turns out quite a few of you think you fit that description -- more than 30, when all was said and done. No wonder it took so long.

So the real credit goes to the three kind souls who were willing to sort through almost three dozen portfolios to narrow down the field to ten: Ky Meyer of Channel 39's Newsfix; The Convoy Group's Mark C. Austin, himself a damn fine music lensman in his own right; and UH associate professor of photojournalism Richard Carson, formerly of the Houston Chronicle photo desk.

Now, at long last, it's our distinct pleasure to announce the ten finalists in our contest to determine Houston's best music photographer. Congratulations to them all, but we're not ready to declare a winner just yet. First we're going to introduce you to all ten in the next couple of weeks, and then we'll open up the voting to our readers. For now, feast your eyes on what a tough decision you'll have to make.

VIOLETA ALVAREZ

TRISH BADGER

JULIAN BAJSEL

DAVID BLOCK

VICTOR CERVANTES

GREG NOIRE

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