Arenas & Sheds Concerts featured Verizon Center

Drake @ Verizon Center

Posted on November 11, 2013
Drake in Washington DC

WASHINGTON, DC - October 31st, 2013 - Drake performs at the Verizon Center in Washington,D.C. as part of his "Would You Like A Tour?" tour. Drake's latest album, Nothing Was The Same, was released in September and debuted at at number one on the US Billboard 200 album chart. (Photo by Kyle Gustafson / For The Washington Post) (Kyle Gustafson/For The Washington Post)

This was my fourth time shooting Drake. My first time shooting him was in 2010 at the 9:30 Club. Not exactly starting from the bottom. The thing about shooting Drake is his lights always suck. Always. They sucked at the 9:30 Club. They sucked at DAR Constitution Hall. They sucked the first time at the Verizon Center a few years ago and they weren’t great this time around. I’m also not sold on him being a great performer either. He either stands around or jumps and waves around in a jerky-jerky motion. Not exactly photogenic.

WASHINGTON, DC - October 31st, 2013 - Drake performs at the Verizon Center in Washington,D.C. as part of his "Would You Like A Tour?" tour. Drake's latest album, Nothing Was The Same, was released in September and debuted at at number one on the US Billboard 200 album chart. (Photo by Kyle Gustafson / For The Washington Post) (Kyle Gustafson/For The Washington Post)

WASHINGTON, DC - October 31st, 2013 - Drake performs at the Verizon Center in Washington,D.C. as part of his "Would You Like A Tour?" tour. Drake's latest album, Nothing Was The Same, was released in September and debuted at at number one on the US Billboard 200 album chart. (Photo by Kyle Gustafson / For The Washington Post) (Kyle Gustafson/For The Washington Post)

WASHINGTON, DC - October 31st, 2013 - Drake performs at the Verizon Center in Washington,D.C. as part of his "Would You Like A Tour?" tour. Drake's latest album, Nothing Was The Same, was released in September and debuted at at number one on the US Billboard 200 album chart. (Photo by Kyle Gustafson / For The Washington Post) (Kyle Gustafson/For The Washington Post)

I did like the oval stage set-up on this tour. If memory serves he was a bit more mobile than the previous tour but the lighting didn’t do him any favors. The Verizon Center was absolutely packed for this show and Miguel did an amazing job warming up the crowd with his performance.

WASHINGTON, DC - October 31st, 2013 - Drake performs at the Verizon Center in Washington,D.C. as part of his "Would You Like A Tour?" tour. Drake's latest album, Nothing Was The Same, was released in September and debuted at at number one on the US Billboard 200 album chart. (Photo by Kyle Gustafson / For The Washington Post) (Kyle Gustafson/For The Washington Post)

WASHINGTON, DC - October 31st, 2013 - Drake performs at the Verizon Center in Washington,D.C. as part of his "Would You Like A Tour?" tour. Drake's latest album, Nothing Was The Same, was released in September and debuted at at number one on the US Billboard 200 album chart. (Photo by Kyle Gustafson / For The Washington Post) (Kyle Gustafson/For The Washington Post)

WASHINGTON, DC - October 31st, 2013 - Drake performs at the Verizon Center in Washington,D.C. as part of his "Would You Like A Tour?" tour. Drake's latest album, Nothing Was The Same, was released in September and debuted at at number one on the US Billboard 200 album chart. (Photo by Kyle Gustafson / For The Washington Post) (Kyle Gustafson/For The Washington Post)

SHOOTING NOTES: As you can see, there are deep washes of color on every song. The first song he stays near the back of the stage and s a silhouette against the big LED backdrop, which I honestly didn’t mind. He works his way towards the front of the stage eventually and spends the next two songs walking back and forth. There is the occasional spotlight but they don’t last long. We were stationed at the soundboard, so bring a long lens. I shot these with a rented 400/2.8.

 WASHINGTON, DC - October 31st, 2013 - Drake performs at the Verizon Center in Washington,D.C. as part of his "Would You Like A Tour?" tour. Drake's latest album, Nothing Was The Same, was released in September and debuted at at number one on the US Billboard 200 album chart. (Photo by Kyle Gustafson / For The Washington Post) (Kyle Gustafson/For The Washington Post)

WASHINGTON, DC - October 31st, 2013 - Drake performs at the Verizon Center in Washington,D.C. as part of his "Would You Like A Tour?" tour. Drake's latest album, Nothing Was The Same, was released in September and debuted at at number one on the US Billboard 200 album chart. (Photo by Kyle Gustafson / For The Washington Post) (Kyle Gustafson/For The Washington Post)

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Drake @ Verizon Center – Images by Kyle Gustafson

Kyle Gustafson is a freelance photographer based in Washington, D.C. His work appears weekly in The Washington Post. Complex Magazine named him one of the 50 Greatest Concert Photographers Right Now.

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3 Comments

  • Reply
    J
    February 21, 2014 at 6:00 pm

    Hello there,

    I’m shooting drake in two weeks on the same tour, I only own a 50mm 1.8 and a 135mm 3.5 kit lens, could you please advise on a good lens to rent for the show, I’m panicking as I thought I’d be at the front 🙁

    Thanks

    • Reply
      Kyle Gustafson
      February 25, 2014 at 10:44 pm

      J, I shot these photos with a 400mm on a full frame body, but a 300mm on a crop body would work.

  • Reply
    The Best Concert Photos of 2013 from Kyle Gustafson | Kyle Gustafson
    March 3, 2014 at 10:57 pm

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