We asked our photographers to share their favorite concert photos from 2023 and let them explain what made their picks so special in their own words. This year, the picks include the return of Taylor Swift to the Bay Area on her Eras Tour, as well as Muse, Post Malone, P!nk, Karol G and more. Enjoy this visual recap, in no particular order.

Taylor Swift at Levi’s Stadium – July 28

To me, this simple photo captures the phenomenon of what Taylor Swift has become in recent years. She’s larger than life and impossible to ignore. And her massively extravagant and successful Eras Tour has been an emphatic exclamation point on what’s already been an astounding career. Shooting video walls behind an artist can be tricky because the image on the screen can be a distraction when the video delay puts it out of sync with the performer, so I love how the video in this Taylor Swift shot perfectly mirrors the pose on stage. — Steve Carlson

Karol G at Levi’s Stadium – Aug. 14

Karol G is hands down in the top three out of the more than 20 concerts I photographed in 2023. This is coming from someone who’d never really listed to her at all prior to getting in my car for the show. This photo is one of my favorites that I’ve taken this year. Being able to shoot at Levi’s Stadium for the first time made this moment extra special. — Derek Fisher

Post Malone at BottleRock Napa Valley – May 26

Finding my favorite photo this year was surprisingly simple, despite the multitude of shows I covered. Despite my limited knowledge of the Post Malone songbook, his live performance left a lasting impression. Posty had impressive stage presence and vocal talent.

It was also a challenge, as I found myself in a crowded photo pit. Positioned uncomfortably behind a towering photographer, it was difficult to get a clear shot. I thought about my options and got security to let me stand on the barricade, providing a unique angle to get this shot and a bunch more. — Sean Liming

P!nk at Chase Center – Oct. 14

I love this P!nk image for its emotional depth and charming pink tones that bring tranquility and warmth to the image. The composition highlights the subtle details. The play of light and shadows added depth, leaving a lasting emotional impact and a personal connection that’s stayed with me. — Imani Sires

Arctic Monkeys at Chase Center – Sept. 26

Arctic Monkeys have their sound and image locked down to T, and this moment exudes that exact vibe, I think. I love the way the light hits lead singer Alex Turner as he strikes a pose. It’s giving glamor. It’s giving rock and roll. This was a bucket list show for me, and I would love to relive it! — Chloe Catajan 

Queen and Adam Lambert at Chase Center – Nov. 8

Queen was one of the first rock bands I was introduced to through a childhood friend. Having an opportunity to photograph the band live was a dream come true and a full circle moment. This photo of Brian May encapsulates the feeling I have when I listen to Queen. Here May is holding his signature Red Special guitar, which he designed himself. The shot captures the glimmering wood on the guitar in the lower half of the frame, leaving the rest of the focus on the smiling guitarist. The light peering over his shoulder draws you into the moment and his infectious smile. — Onome Uyovbievbo

Lil Wayne at the Masonic – May 12

This photo is special to me because it encapsulates Lil Wayne’s on-stage energy mid-performance. The fiery visuals brought out the colors in the red accents of his jersey and show how it feels to listen to Lil Wayne: straight fire. He was a great performer and rapped every single bar. — Matt Pang

Mr. Bungle at Fox Theater – May 23

Mike Patton is an artist whom I’ve followed for years, and this was my first chance to see him live. He enjoyed interacting with the Oakland crowd, and I was able to capture a moment of connection with this photo. —  Nate McKinley

NF at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium – Aug. 6

This concert had the best lighting design out of all the shows I covered this year. Great lighting helps tell a story and draw the audience in. Detroit rapper NF’s show did a great job of that. — Derek Fisher

MisterWives at the Warfield – Oct. 11

Capturing this photo challenged me to play with more colors and silhouettes. Getting a full-body image of Mandy Lee bent over with her arms dangling in front of the stage lights allowed me to get creative in cropping the frame and telling a story through the use of shadows and an industrial green tint and orange hues to enhance the creepiness level. — Onome Uyovbievbo

Måneskin at Oakland Arena – Oct. 13

I actually didn’t realize I caught this moment until culling photos after the Måneskin show, but it’s become one of my favorite shots ever. Looking at it makes me feel like I’ve been accepted by the cool kids, but that’s pretty standard at a Måneskin show! The band invited several fans to dance onstage later that night, which was such a fun thing to see. — Chloe Catajan

Muse at Oakland Arena – April 14

For whatever reason, I’d never photographed Muse. For this show, the band had photographers lined up along the catwalk, and I was in the back, so for most of the show I was using my telephoto lens. Luckily, Matt Bellamy came cruising down, and there was no one in front of me to capture his knee slide. I ended up shooting around 10 frames of this moment, but the lighting and angle of this shot captured the energy best. — Derek Tobias

Zach Bryan at Oakland Arena – Aug. 21.

Photographing Zach Bryan was a rodeo in itself, with the stage set at a challenging 9 feet high in the center of the arena. The difficulty increased when we were told we’d only have two songs instead of the standard three to shoot.

As Zach Bryan took the stage, he initially positioned himself behind a microphone, which obstructed direct angles. A keyboardist also partially blocked my view. Bryan playfully moved around the stage, avoiding my lens. In the end, 30 seconds was all I had to capture the elusive shot. — Sean Liming

Kim Petras at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium – Oct. 29

This image of Kim Petras captures her infectious energy and psyche. It’s visually striking, echoing the dynamism of her music. Petras isn’t afraid to make bold statements, and this show was full of them. — Imani Sires

Lupe Fiasco at BottleRock Napa Valley – May 27

Rappers can be a challenge to photograph, as they bounce around the stage and work the crowd. That can make for some really great wide angle shots, but it can be difficult to get close-up portraits. I was thrilled then to get this tight shot of Lupe Fiasco at the BottleRock, despite his near constant movement. — Steve Carlson

Static-X at the Fillmore – Feb. 25

This was one of my most popular photos this year. Static-X kicked off its tour in San Francisco, so it was the first time anyone saw new singer XERO live. He locked eyes with me (I… presume) and stared directly into my lens. — Nate McKinley

Future at Oakland Arena – April 1

If you’re familiar with my work, you can tell I love a good pyro shot. I had to strategically align this one before Future walked out. I positioned myself in front of the catwalk to get the action with Future aligned in the middle. Here’s he’s pointing right at my camera! — Matt Pang

The Isley Brothers at SAP Center – Feb. 17

Many don’t realize how influential the Isley Brothers have been over five decades. I have a soft spot in my heart for some good old-fashioned soul music. Having the chance to capture Ernie Isley, one of the most underrated guitarists of all time, chow down on his guitar strings during a solo on “That Lady” was easily one of the highlights of my year, if not photography career. — Derek Tobias

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