The Key’s Year-End Mania: Lissa Alicia’s top five shots of her first year photographing concerts

Junglepussy | photo by Lissa Alicia for WXPN

Year-End Mania is the Key’s annual survey of the things below the surface that made 2018 incredible. Today, Key contributor Lissa Alicia shares her favorite photos from her first year shooting concerts.

To some degree, I have always been interested in photography. At the start of 2018, I decided to purchase my first DSLR. I figured that since I already did a lot of written concert coverage, that it would not be that difficult to get into concert photography.

With the exception of playing around with a friend’s Canon t3, I didn’t have that much experience being behind the camera — honestly, I still don’t — but I am learning.

Shortly after purchasing my own Canon t6, I reached out to Key editor and photographer, John Vettese and told him that I was interested in shooting a concert — preferably as a second shooter at an outdoor festival or concert — I suggested the Roots Picnic. John suggested something smaller to start, and a few weeks later assigned me to photograph Miguel at The Fillmore. I was terrified at the idea of this, but I wasn’t going to say no to a new opportunity.

The night of the Miguel show, I packed up my entry-level camera, and kit lenses and made my way to Northern Liberties. Since that night, I’ve learned that shooting a concert is a lot more fun than writing about one. My images turned out great, so I kept at it.

Below are a few of my favorite shots from this year. My first year of owning a camera. My first year of shooting concerts. Enjoy!

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Miguel at The Fillmore, March 20, 2018

Monica at the N2N Festival, September 8, 2018

Junglepussy at The Foundry, October 17, 2018

Joey Bada$$ at The TLA, April 21, 2018

Big Freedia at The TLA, October 20, 2018