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04/22/2025

Through the Eyes of a Teen: Arch Enemy at Roseland Theater on 04/18/25

Photos by Sydney & write-up by Mike Lewis

 

Sydney has officially entered her teenage years. As any parent knows, this stage brings a new set of challenges. My wife and I have already seen glimpses of this through the occasional attitude shift, but one thing that has remained steady is her passion for photography.

I am not sure if she fully understands the significance of what she is doing yet, but she does recognize that she is unique in the local scene. To our knowledge, there are no other photographers her age currently working shows in the area, and that awareness seems to be slowly taking hold.

Arch Enemy marked her first photo pit experience as a teenager. She has photographed them once before when they came through Portland in May of 2022. I still remember how disappointed she was after missing a moment when vocalist Alissa White-Gluz noticed her and threw the horns in her direction. Sydney had been hoping to capture it, but the timing did not work out. This show gave her a second chance with a little more experience under her belt.

Recently, she has been making an effort to find her own rhythm in the pit. While she still tends to stay nearby from time to time, she is gradually learning how to position herself for key shots. I think she is beginning to realize that my years of experience can be helpful, especially when it comes to anticipating those perfect moments. She wants to develop that same instinct but also values the freedom to explore and learn independently. She is not quite ready to go in without some guidance yet, but she is getting closer with every show.

During this performance, I noticed that she leaned heavily into shooting in portrait orientation, particularly during Thrown Into Exile’s set. Every time I looked in her direction, she had the camera turned vertically. While portrait shots can certainly be effective, variety is essential. After the show, we had a quick talk about the importance of mixing up styles and not relying on a single format.

She has also begun adjusting her camera’s ISO more frequently, which shows she is thinking about her settings and trying to improve. That said, she does not yet fully understand what to look for when making those changes, so we will go over that together soon. As I have mentioned before, I have let her experiment and learn in the same way I did when I first started—by getting in there and figuring things out through trial and error.

Of the four bands on the bill which included Thrown Into Exile, Baest, Fit for an Autopsy, and Arch Enemy, there were two that stood out most for her. Thrown Into Exile made a strong impression, largely because she met the vocalist, Evan, later in the evening. He was kind and supportive, offering her encouragement that really resonated. Those moments of validation are exactly what she needs right now. As for Arch Enemy, she is familiar with their live show, so she knew what to expect and had a sense of what to look for on stage.

Overall, there was nothing out of the ordinary at this show, but I did see more confidence in Sydney’s approach. She is improving with each outing. Of course, there are still some technical mistakes and adjustments she needs to work on, but that is part of the journey. At some point, I will begin showing her more about the editing process, but that is likely a year or so down the road. For now, the focus is on experience, practice, and building her portfolio . . . one show at a time.

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