By SYDNEY LEWIS.. Copy by MIKE LEWIS // The further adventures of Sydney Lewis and her photography.
After over a decade of concert photography, I've come to recognize certain artists that would be perfect for Sydney to shoot. A few years ago, I had my first chance to step into the photo pit for Five Finger Death Punch, and ever since, I've made it a point to catch their shows whenever they come through. Sydney might not be familiar with them, but she’s learned to trust my judgment when I tell her a show will provide great photo opportunities—or at least, that's always the goal.
By now, Sydney is something of a veteran at RV Inn Style Amphitheater, marking her second year of attending a variety of shows. Last year, she only made it to the pit twice, but both were bucket-list performers on opposite sides of the musical spectrum. Garbage, a band she’s loved for years, and GWAR, for which she had repeatedly asked to join me, though I initially declined. This year, she’s been out to several more shows and has nailed the routine when we shoot there.
The tour kicked off with The Funeral Portrait, whose album Greetings from Suffocate City drops on September 13th. Hailing from Atlanta, the band blends a variety of musical genres to create a sound that’s truly their own. Emo, rock, metal, industrial, and even hints of goth are seamlessly woven into their music. Unless I’ve overlooked a previous visit to our area, this seems to be their first major national tour of this scale, and they certainly make their presence felt on stage—a definite plus for any live performance.
Not long after their set, Sydney noticed that vocalist Lee Jennings was signing autographs to promote the new album. Sydney tends to get shy around new people, especially musicians, so it took some convincing for her to go up and say hello. When she finally did, Lee was incredibly kind. What really stood out for her was when he mentioned he was looking forward to seeing her photos. It was a huge confidence boost for her.
While I was familiar with Slaughter to Prevail, Sydney had no idea what to expect. I was convinced she would hate them, as there are certain metal bands I assume might be a bit too intense for her. This time, though, I was wrong. She ended up loving the band so much that a stop at the merch table was non-negotiable before we left the venue. Part of her fascination was with the masks most of the band members wore during the performance, but she also genuinely enjoyed the music. Now, she's already excited for their next visit to Portland.
Marilyn Manson, of course, is no stranger to controversy, and the recent allegations against him are just the latest in a long line. Regardless of what may or may not have happened, my primary concern wasn’t his personal life—it was his past behavior toward photographers. Manson has been known to throw things at them, and I was really hoping that wouldn’t be the case this time. I had already talked to Sydney about the possibility that we might only get one song in the pit, if that, as Manson has a history of deciding at the last minute to ban photographers altogether. Above all, I told her to focus on getting good shots of him, as this was a major opportunity for her.
We were allowed in the photo pit, as I predicted, but only for one song. Thankfully, Manson didn’t throw anything at the photographers, and as instructed, Sydney focused on capturing shots of him. She mentioned afterward that she wasn’t familiar with him—at least not until "Sweet Dreams" came on, and then the music clicked. Like many at her stage of musical exploration, Sydney still gravitates toward the singles without diving deeper into an artist’s catalog, but I’m confident that will change with time.
You might wonder why I thought Five Finger Death Punch would be a great band for Sydney to photograph. There are a few reasons. For one, they consistently deliver an incredible light show, making it easier to capture quality shots. But more importantly, they’re the kind of band that knows how to work with photographers—always striking poses and giving a little something extra when they spot a camera. This time was no exception.
Sydney wasn’t disappointed. Both Chris Kael and Zoltan Bathory tossed picks in her direction, and Bathory even gave her a perfect shot, looking directly at her. Before the show, Sydney wasn’t sure if she’d enjoy it, but she did. She mentioned the impressive lighting and how the band noticed her in the pit. The only letdown for her was when Ivan Moody brought two young fans and their families on stage for the remainder of the show. She was a bit upset she wasn’t chosen, forgetting for a moment that she was there to work.
Usually, Sydney leaves a show with just one band she’d be eager to photograph again. But this show was different. Each band brought something unique that she found enjoyable, and she’d be happy to shoot any of them again. I’m not sure which of the four would rank highest for her, but the fact that she wants to revisit all of them makes this photo excursion especially worthwhile.
Don’t forget that Sydney does have her own Facebook page for her photography where she posts all her photos.