Chapter 1: A Memorable Concert Experience

Throughout my life, I have had the privilege of attending numerous concerts, reveling in the joy of live music and my favorite bands. However, I never developed a habit of keeping concert tickets, recording bootleg audio, or snapping photos and videos during these events. I also don't recall purchasing any merchandise, primarily due to budget constraints. The experiences themselves were sufficient for me.

In truth, my lack of concert photos stems from the fact that I attended many shows before smartphones became ubiquitous. Back in those days, bringing a camera to a concert was uncommon; they were typically prohibited, too large to fit in pockets, and easily confiscated.

Recently, however, while at an outdoor venue on a beautiful August evening in 2023, I found myself with my iPhone in hand and took my very first concert photo.

Photo by Michael Bryant

If you've attended a concert, you likely have similar photos, though your vantage point may differ. Depending on your perspective, my inaugural concert photo may either impress or disappoint.

In the image, the guitarist strikes an iconic rockstar pose, enveloped in the fog that seems essential to rock concerts. The lead singer, visibly engaged, gestures to the audience, while the keyboardist skillfully plays one-handed, acknowledging the talent of the drummer. Pyrotechnics also lit up the night; unfortunately, I didn't manage to capture them.

This was the sole photo I took that evening. As I scanned the audience, filled with illuminated screens, I realized I was quite alone in my restraint; my intention was to savor the music and performance firsthand, rather than through a lens.

The band performing was Foreigner, on their farewell tour. With only a few founding members still in the group, all now in their 60s and 70s, they continue to deliver an authentic rock experience. They perform live, without pre-recorded vocals or excessive production, creating a gloriously genuine atmosphere. During the show, I noticed every man-child in sight, myself included, engaging in air guitar, while several women opted to dance.

I could have snapped countless similar photos before this moment, but it was not until the iconic circle with the number "4" appeared during the encore that I felt inspired to capture a shot. This symbol holds significant meaning for many fans of Foreigner, and I couldn't resist taking at least one photo of the band performing in front of it.

For those unfamiliar with Foreigner, “4” is the title of their fourth album, released in 1981. It enjoyed worldwide commercial success and is often regarded as their finest work. It remains my favorite album, as the songs from it, along with their earlier records, have been part of my life's soundtrack since high school and college.

One of the things I admire about Foreigner is their ability to craft lyrics that evoke vivid imagery and deep emotions. Their songs can create entire music videos in my imagination, rendering MTV unnecessary (back when it actually played music videos). For instance, the opening lines of “Juke Box Hero” resonate deeply:

> Standing in the rain, with his head hung low

> Couldn’t get a ticket, it was a sold out show

> Heard the roar of the crowd, he could picture the scene

> Put his ear to the wall, then like a distant scream

> He heard one guitar, just blew him away

> (Songwriters: Lou Gramm and Mick Jones, Juke Box Hero lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group)

Each line evokes an image or emotion, akin to a photograph distilled to its essence, free from distractions. Recognizing this, it felt right to break my tradition and finally take a concert photo.

The "4" I captured was a simplified rendition of the album art, which features the number 4 as seen in old film leaders—images more common decades ago than today. Here’s the album cover for reference:

Image from Wikipedia page for the Foreigner album “4”

A few weeks after the concert, I opened my iPhone photos app and encountered a familiar dilemma: my iCloud storage was full.

Sharing an iCloud account with a teenager, many of you can relate to my predicament. It’s astonishing how quickly a shared account can reach its storage limit.

In an effort to set a good example, I began deleting photos from my phone, deeming this concert photo expendable. After all, I had navigated life without concert photos thus far, and I believed I could continue to do so. The image was dark with blown highlights, and I thought, “Not again,” as I clicked delete.

The subsequent photos were black-and-white silhouettes of a tree near a scenic overlook. Recently, I've begun exploring black-and-white photography, experimenting with different settings while enjoying the view. I deleted six of the images but kept one horizontal and one vertical shot for future experimentation.

Author’s Note: The preceding section is a manually crafted imitation contact sheet to illustrate the process of culling photos from my phone. One aspect I miss from the film photography days is the tactile experience of contact sheets. They provided a satisfying way to select images that feels lacking in the more sterile digital process. Perhaps it was the treasure hunt nature of reviewing contact sheets or the simple joy of using markers on photos.

After removing about 70 photos, I decided I had done enough for now, knowing that I could enlist others in the noble quest for extra storage.

However, the next day I realized my mistake regarding that concert photo. I needed to recover it.

In my rush to clear space, I had overlooked an essential truth: photos don’t have to be technically flawless to hold importance, meaning, or beauty. Initially, I believed I captured the moment solely because the "4" represented the band. Yet, it was more than that.

What the photo lacks is the context that this concert was a Father's Day gift from my daughter, who possesses a remarkable taste in music, often influenced by the 80s tunes I introduced her to. We shared a wonderful experience. Enjoying the music from my youth alongside her at a live concert bridged my past and present. Although this sentiment isn’t depicted in the photo, it serves as a reminder of our connection.

This illustrates the profound significance personal photographs can hold, highlighting the emotional weight they carry. In personal photography, the memories and feelings associated with an image far outweigh technical details or storage concerns.

So, upon reflection, I’ve decided to keep my very first concert photo.

Chapter 2: The Importance of Personal Photography

The first video titled "Using Social Media To Grow A Concert Photography Career" explores how photographers can leverage platforms to advance their careers. It provides valuable insights on building a brand and connecting with audiences in the concert photography realm.

The second video titled "The TRUTH Behind What Happened After The Omah Lay Concert‼️ || OFF THE RECORD" delves into the events surrounding a recent concert, offering behind-the-scenes perspectives that highlight the complexities of live performances.

Meet my fellow Live View writers!

Live View features authors from diverse backgrounds who share their passion for photography. You can meet them all, read their stories, and follow their journeys by visiting the Live View about page on Medium.