Around the world, music festival season is in full swing and to celebrate, we wanted to take some time to recognize a few of the Flickr members who are out there capturing shots at live music events. Whether concert photography is their full time job or a hobby, the photos shot at concerts have been flowing into Flickr, and we have taken some time to chat with three photographers that have been out there snapping images of some of your favorite artists. 

Alex Valentovich

First up is Alex Valentovich, Flickr member, photographer and writer who co-runs the music and entertainment site New Fury Media. Alex has also worked with Splice Magazine, In The Loop Magazine, & The Rockpit. He’s also had a photo featured in print with Revolver Magazine. Alex has been shooting concert photography since April 2014 where he captured Behemoth, headlining at the House of Blues in Chicago.

What is your preferred gear for shooting concerts or events?

It’s always been Canon. I started using a Canon Rebel T6 with a 50mm. Great camera to learn with that can get the job done. I now have two Canon bodies, a 5D Mark 3 and a 6D Mark 2 with my go-to lens being a 24-70 and 70-200 with a teleconverter when needed.

Who are some of your favorite musicians or bands that you’ve photographed? 

I’ve been super lucky to be able to photograph so many of my favorite artists. This year alone I’ve photographed Taylor Swift, The Cure, Fall Out Boy on their hometown opening night of their tour and more. Photographing acts like KISS, My Chemical Romance, Every Time I Die, King Diamond, and more are always great to see as well. 

What is a regular challenge that comes up when photographing live music events?

The most regular challenge is that you are on an extremely limited time frame on when and where you can get your shots. For most acts, it’s 3 songs from when they either put you in front of the stage or the soundboard. With the soundboard, you are stuck in one spot, so all shots are head-on in the same position. Lights, movement, if it’s outside, the weather conditions, the crowd, and everything in between can contribute to having to change your position and settings on the fly. You work with what you can, get through and make the best of it always.

What is one act that you would absolutely love to photograph that you haven’t yet, and why?

I’m thankful that I’ve gotten to do many of my bucket list bands, but I’ll say two that have evaded me thus far are Green Day and Metallica. Two bands very influential into getting me into their retrospective genres. 

To follow along with what Alex is up to, check out his Flickr site or find him on Instagram and Twitter. 

Charles McNeal

Next, we caught up with Flickr member, Charles McNeal. Charles is not just a photographer of music, he is a professional saxophonist, and lives in Las Vegas. He considers himself an enthusiast photographer, not quite full on professional but more than just a hobby. 

How long have you been photographing concerts?

I’ve been seriously photographing concerts since 2020, although I’ve been snapping pictures of concerts and musicians since the 80s. I’ve been into photography since high school, but once saxophone entered my life, I put photography on the back burner. About 10yrs ago I start to pick up a camera again just because I travel to some very cool places and musicians are some of the most interesting people on the planet. I wanted to document my musical life and travels.  Joining Flickr made me aware of what great photography could be. There are so many wonderful and talented photographers out there that I’d never know about if I wasn’t a member.

What is your preferred gear for shooting concerts or events?

My current preferred setup for concert photography is a Canon EOS 6D Mark II, with a Canon EF 70-200 mm f2.8L lens. I also will use my Tamron SP 24-70 mm f2.8 Di VC USD for some shots.

Who are some of your favorite musicians or bands that you’ve photographed? 

As far as my favorite musicians to photograph, I can honestly say that I don’t have any, but I do enjoy taking pictures of jazz and blues musicians. Probably because those are the artists that got me into playing music, and those musicians are the ones that shaped my musical life. Also, those classic jazz album covers from Blue Note, Prestige, Atlantic Records, etc. were a HUGE inspiration of what being a jazz musician was all about. Those covers were just as important as the music on the record itself.

What is a regular challenge that comes up when photographing live music events?

The biggest challenge for me when it comes to photographing in nightclubs and at concerts is lighting and finding a good vantage point. In a smaller venue, I don’t want to block the view of the crowd who paid to watch the musicians perform. On bigger stages, there can be a lot of backlighting on the stage to deal with as well. But with all the challenges, it’s still fun to shoot at concerts and gigs.

What is one act that you would absolutely love to photograph that you haven’t yet?

I’d love to get the chance to photograph some of the few remaining jazz and blues legends that are still alive. I’ve had a few opportunities, but not enough.

To follow along with what Charles is up to, check out his Flickr site and find him on Facebook

Stephen Pollard

We also checked in with Flickr member, retired elementary school principal and fan of live music, Stephen Pollard. Stephen is based in Texas, and appreciates that the photos he takes at concerts help him chronicle and remember all the great concerts he’s been to over the years.

How long have you been photographing concerts, whether it is professional or as a casual concert-goer and music fan?

The concert that sparked my interest in photographing live music was a Metallica show in Dallas in 2009. A friend, who worked for the lighting company that was providing the lighting for Metallica’s shows, offered my wife and me backstage passes to the show. I was able to take quite a few photos from the floor in front of the stage and after looking at my pictures, I knew I wanted to do that more. To record, in all their pixelated glory, some of my favorite bands seemed very fun to me. If I look at a picture I have taken at a concert, I usually can reflect on that exact moment. It makes me happy that I retained that memory.

What gear do you generally use to capture your concert or live event photos?

Early on, I was able to use my DSLR. I usually attended shows in smaller venues that really had no photography policy, so these venues allowed me to take pictures from the audience.  As smartphones developed with better built-in lenses, more venues in my area began allowing what they called non-professional photography, but they did become stricter when it came to cameras with interchangeable lenses. As a fan, I no longer could use my DSLR. I then switched to a compact camera. I had to find a point and shoot that shot in RAW because RAW processing allowed me to adjust for unexpected lighting. After using, an Olympus Micro Four Thirds camera and Canon’s PowerShot G7 Mark I, I settled on Canon’s PowerShot G1X Mark I. Currently, I am using a Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100. I switched for two main reasons, better handling of low-light situations and a longer reach with the built-in lens.

Who are some of your favorite musicians or bands that you’ve photographed? 

I have thoroughly enjoyed most of the concerts I have attended. Having said that, some bands stand out for their dynamic shows, energetic performances and, of course, great sound. These bands are: Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Mastodon, Rammstein, Gojira, Metallica, Mastodon, U2, Depeche Mode, Café Tacuba. 

What is a regular challenge that comes up when photographing live music events?

For me, it is the lighting. The lighting can change very quickly, resulting in shots that have blown out whites or images that are simply too dark. Strong back lighting, especially at floor level, almost makes it impossible for me to take any picture. As I do not know what lighting to expect or where the performer is moving on the stage, I just try to find a moment where I think it may give a good shot, and sometimes I get lucky. Additionally, since I have to take pictures from the audience, that has its own perils as many times the crowd is jumping up and down, sometimes bumping you or, in some cases, crowd-surfing over your head.

What is one act that you would absolutely love to photograph that you haven’t yet, and why? 

I really wish I had been able to see R.E.M. Along with being music that I like, it is also music that is part of my youth. The music brings back many fond memories that I would have loved to capture in all its digital glory. 

To follow along with what Stephen is up to, check out his Flickr site and find him on Instagram

To see more photos from these photographers, as well as other live shots submitted by our Flickr Social group members, check out this gallery.