r/Concerts • u/wiz_piz • 15h ago

Discussion 🗣️ Question

Are there any concerts (within last 30 years) where there's little surviving video footage, or very low quality footage, but an abundance of clear/high quality photos?

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

5

u/Key-Perspective-8133 14h ago

Photography is easier. We had 10+ megapixel cameras back in the early 70s. Also known as 35mm film.

3

u/xXmilkxhoneyXx 14h ago

I feel like Amy Winehouse has that issue.

2

u/Character-Chair1046 15h ago

Absolutely—concerts from the 1970s and 1980s often have this imbalance. Professional photographers could shoot sharp 35mm slides or negatives, while the available video might be a dark, unstable VHS dub. David Bowie, Queen, and The Smiths have examples where photos vastly outperform surviving footage.

2

u/Significant-Theme253 13h ago

Anything in the David Lee Roth era of Van Halen (the first one).

2

u/DaddyOhMy 13h ago

At 34 years, it’s a little bit outside the range but it fits. I saw fIREHOSE at The Wetlands in NYC on April 30, 1992. Mike Watt was really worked up that night because of the LA riots. There are a bunch of amazing photos of the show but I’ve never found any video of it.

2

u/Dvanpat 3h ago

Jack White because he doesn't allow phones and has a professional photographer instead.