Steven Carlson Photography

06/17/2024

"San Francisco, but actually Oakland and not Alameda, Your girl was in Berkeley with her communist reader..."

Thank you Vampire Weekend for two amazing shows at The William Randolph Hearst Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley this weekend! (And thank you for playing a matinee so I could create a photo in daylight like this.)

02/21/2024

I wrote some thoughts on my recent visit to the incredible Sphere and U2 for RIFF Magazine: https://riffmagazine.com/opinion/sphere-las-vegas-astounding-potential/

A lot has been said about Sphere in Las Vegas being game-changing for concerts, and it's all true. It changes what's possible, both visually and aurally.

08/15/2023

New on my blog: 10 years of photographing concerts!

Today, I’m celebrating 10 years of photographing concerts. Ten years! Okay, technically I lost a little time during the pandemic. There weren’t many concerts to shoot for a little over a year, unless you count that drive-in tribute band show I covered. (It was a weird time, we all remember.) Bu

07/20/2023

Thrilled to see Celisse open for Jason Mraz last night! Her mom taught my kids' elementary school music classes, so this was a special one for me. 🥰 Welcome home, Celisse!

05/14/2023

I have a lot of feelings about how amazing last night’s 8th annual Acoustic-4-A-Cure was, which I hope to write about sometime soon. I’m glad Chris felt the same way and shared a few of my pictures! You can find more pics and a great recap by my friend Román on riffmagazine.com! https://riffmagazine.com/reviews/joan-baez-taj-mahal-bobby-weir-sammy-hagar-20230513/

12/30/2022

My 2022 📸 in review! Paul McCartney, Pearl Jam, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Weeknd, LANY, Louis Tomlinson, ATEEZ and more.

While late 2021 marked the return to concerts following the pandemic shutdown, 2022 is when touring really got going.  There were still a number of tours cut short or modified due to COVID outbreaks within the tour crew, but for the most part 2022 felt normal again. For me, 2022 was a ye

01/05/2022

New on my blog: My 2021 Year In Review (aka Finally, Concerts!)

Finally, concerts. My last “real” concert in 2020 came on February 29, and aside from a drive-in tribute band show later that summer (a true pandemic experience), I had very little to do until finally bands began to hit the road again in late summer this year. Without a doubt, the most boring ye...

12/19/2021

Last night I shot the first big show by METALLICA for their 40th anniversary takeover of San Francisco, and it was epic. Pics to go along with a review by superfan Danny Willis now on riffmagazine.com!

The first of two Metallica 40th anniversary shows included a song from every album; even deep cuts. Fans traveled from around the world to see the band.

09/21/2021

It's been a little while since I've reminded you about my concert photo exhibit hosted by Inklings Coffee & Tea, so I wrote a little bit about it on my blog. And don't forget, I'm raising money for Blood:Water through my "tip jar", please make a donation if you enjoyed the exhibit!

If you haven’t heard by now on my social media feeds, late last year I launched my first concert photography exhibit in downtown Pleasanton, California at Inklings Coffee & Tea . I couldn’t be more excited. And while the pandemic threw a monkey wrench into my plans and made the exhibit inac

03/25/2021

My concert photography exhibit is once again open at Inklings Coffee & Tea in downtown Pleasanton! Stop by for a great cup of coffee and check out the exhibit back in the Common Room. Artists featured include Twenty One Pilots, Coldplay, Sufjan Stevens, LANY, Bon Iver, Arcade Fire, Julien Baker, Lecrae, Counting Crows, Switchfoot, and many more. 👨🏻‍🎤📸🕺🏻

If you enjoy the exhibit, please consider "tipping" by making a donation to Blood:Water! Framed prints are available to take home at the end of the exhibit for a minimum $80 donation, contact me for details.

Donate here: http://fundraise.bloodwatermission.com/TellMeAllYourThoughtsOnGod

03/22/2021

It's , and I'm raising money for Blood:Water to support critical water, sanitation and hygiene programs in Africa through my concert photo exhibit "Tell Me All Your Thoughts On God...", now open at Inklings Coffee & Tea in downtown Pleasanton, CA. Grab some delicious coffee then check out my photography in the back, and pick up a Blood:Water flyer while you're there to learn more about their vital work!

$40 is enough to provide one African with clean water and sanitation for life - donate $80 or more and I'll let you steal one of my framed prints at the end of show. 👍 WIN-WIN! 👍

http://fundraise.bloodwatermission.com/TellMeAllYourThoughtsOnGod

03/12/2021

It's back! My concert photography exhibit hosted by Inklings Coffee & Tea is open again, thanks to loosening COVID restrictions! Stop by this weekend for some excellent Stumptown coffee and check out my photography back in the Common Room. And remember, I'm raising money for Blood:Water - I'd be grateful if you'd consider making a donation! https://fundraise.bloodwatermission.com/TellMeAllYourThoughtsOnGo…