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10/05/2025

Through the Eyes of a Teen: Lil' Wayne and Tyga at Cascades Amphitheater (09.01.2025)

By Sydney and Mike Lewis // As Sydney gets older, there are also shows I attend for her. What she enjoys and what I enjoy don’t always align. Still, she’ll jump into the photo pit with me no matter who’s on stage. There may be a few complaints here and there, but she’s getting better. 

I’ve written before that sometimes photography requires a few sacrifice; mainly, covering concerts I’m not especially excited about. When it’s my choice, it’s just part of understanding where an artist fits in the bigger picture. I won’t turn something down simply because the music isn’t my style. But as Sydney gets older, there are also shows I attend for her. What she enjoys and what I enjoy don’t always align. Still, she’ll jump into the photo pit with me no matter who’s on stage. There may be a few complaints here and there, but she’s getting better. That’s where the sacrifices come in: saying yes to concerts I’d normally skip, because they mean something to her.

Which brings us to Lil’ Wayne. Sydney knows I photographed him years ago when he toured with Beck—a strange pairing that somehow worked. Lately she’s been keeping an eye on the local concert calendar, checking which shows she can get into and asking me to request coverage. Eventually she’ll handle those submissions herself, but that’s still a little way off.

I thought I knew who Tyga was, but it turns out I really didn’t. No surprise as rap and hip-hop aren’t my area. Sydney, though, loved his set. True to form, the minute we left the pit she wanted merch. After a brief internal debate, she walked away proudly wearing a Tyga shirt.

We’d been told the Lil’ Wayne portion would be shot from the pit, but once we entered, security redirected us to the soundboard. After a quick back-and-forth with our liaison, that was confirmed. I had only packed one telephoto, figuring it wasn’t needed, but since this was Sydney’s show, I handed her the camera and told her to go for it. She quickly learned why most photographers dislike soundboard shoots. They can work; Trans-Siberian Orchestra is a great example, but not always. For her first time shooting from front of house, though, she did well.

This wouldn’t have been my first pick for coverage, but it wasn’t about me. I’ve always told Sydney I’ll shoot outside my usual musical comfort zone, and this was one of those nights. That’s how she learns: by getting experience even when the conditions, or the soundtrack, aren’t ideal. It won’t be the last show I attend for her sake, but she enjoyed herself, picked up new skills, and continues to grow with every concert.

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