Concerts Up Close presents more than a decade of music photography, by Atlanta based photographer Gary S Davis. Galleries of concert photos, starting at a time before MTV and extending through the pop culture explosion that followed, provide your gateway into the unique stories in each frame. The Concerts Up Close archive of musician photographs spans from 1976 to 1988, a period when the hallmark of performance was excess, featuring artists across a diverse array of genres:
- Alt-Rock
- Country
- Dance-Pop
- Heartland Rock
- Heavy Metal
- New Wave
- Pop
- Rock and Roll
- Rhythm & Blues
- Southern Rock
Through Gary’s lens, Concerts Up Close embarks on a visual journey into the concert moments at the heart of 1980’s pop culture—such as Angus Young mooning the crowd, Stevie Nicks emotive face, or Billy Gibbons playing air guitar. Gary strived to create works that not only capture an image but also stir memories and emotions, forging connections that transcend time and space. His photographic philosophy, is a celebration of music, memory, and experiences that unite us all.
The Concerts Up Close archive is composed of Gary’s concert photography that survived the poor record keeping of youth, numerous moves, or the unfortunate incidents that left originals damaged or missing. The water leaks that always seemed to find the place where original negatives and slides were stored were the most tragic losses. Although much good work was lost, thankfully, a substantial collection of remarkable photography endured.
This archive showcases the over-the-top performances that characterized rock musicians of the era, notable for their big hair and tight clothes. Gary utilized a 24mm wide angle up to a 200mm telephoto, accompanied by filters, slow shutter speeds, and push-processed film to enhance and create compelling effects that evoke mood, emotion, and capture the experience. All photographs were originally captured on 35mm film. The digital images you see on this site have been scanned from the original slides and negatives when available, while those scanned from analog prints, produced from the original negatives that have since been lost, are noted. As you explore the galleries, you will encounter themed collections curated from the surviving images. This journey, however, does not follow a strict linear progression; instead, it weaves through a seemingly haphazard path, connecting various bands and genres as Gary engages in the meticulous process of sorting, cleaning, and converting analog film into digital files. In doing so, he is excited to present some of the best images to you. Hoping you find as much enjoyment in viewing these vintage photos of classic bands as Gary has found in organizing and sharing them with you.
Concerts Up Close
Concerts – Live musical performance given in public.
Up-Close – Photos taken from close [to the stage] range.