CHASE STEVENS

Chase Stevens is the assistant photo editor of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology, soon after joining the staff of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Before that he interned and freelanced at the RJ as well as working dual positions as Photo Editor and Arts & Entertainment editor of UNLV student paper The Rebel Yell, now the Scarlet & Gray Free Press.

Chase has covered everything from domestic conflicts such as the Oregon Standoff to the Oct. 1 mass shooting, as well as other areas like presidential campaigns and a Stanley Cup Final. An avid music fan, he has covered everything from the Electric Daisy Carnival to Life is Beautiful, as well as Coachella and Burning Man. He’s also spent a significant amount of time exploring the further reaches of Nevada in search of stories and moments. In his free time he documents performers and entertainers in the burlesque, circus and theater world, along with the occasional concert.

His work has been awarded by Pictures of the Year International, the NPPA's Best of Photojournalism, and the Nevada Press Association. During his time in Las Vegas he has also worked on assignment publications like the Associated Press and USA Today, and he has produced work for clients such as Caesars Entertainment, the Hard Rock Hotel, Brooklyn Bowl, and Drai's Las Vegas. His work has been featured in Time, The New York Times, CNN, Rolling Stone, National Geographic Travel, The Wall Street Journal, and by celebrities ranging from Mick Jagger and St. Vincent to T-Pain and Ice Cube, as well as pro athletes like Damian Lilliard and Josh Jacobs.

VIM Q AND A

VIM MAGAZINE: Looking back, what is the thing that stands out most about that time when the Las Vegas strip went dark?

CHASE STEVENS: Things happened so quickly that it was absolutely surreal and hard to really wrap my brain around, even though I was out documenting the Strip shutdowns and everything coming to a halt. 

For some time the thought of the future was just scary to even consider. Would we be able to get to a point where we could gather again? Would live entertainment and experiences return? Will things ever go back to normal?

There were just so many unknowns at the time, and now it feels like such a distant memory. I hope it stays that way.

VIM MAGAZINE: How has that time period affected you overall?

I think I value live entertainment - the experience, the art of it, the humanity, even the crowds and reactions - more than I ever realized I would, and that’s purely because of how much I took it for granted before. Before the pandemic I went to concerts pretty often but didn’t make an effort to go to as many other shows beyond that regularly. The pandemic made me reflect on where I want to focus my time and attention - both in terms of my work as a photographer and how I spend my “leisure” (is that a thing for me?) time, too.

VIM MAGAZINE: What is your process when capturing images and has it evolve since then?

I like to be a fly on the wall, looking for candid scenes that might tell a story, showing a fleeting moment, something that might reach out to the viewer and draw a connection. I spend a lot of time focusing on burlesque and circus types of stage entertainment, as well as cabaret and concert and a mix of other things in-between. Lately I’ve also been trying to take more time to do portraits as well.