Up Close With Leela James at Melkweg Amsterdam – A Dream Night for Concert Photography

Photographing Leela James live at Melkweg was one of those evenings where everything simply clicked.

There was no photo pit that night, but I arrived early and managed to secure a spot right up against the stage, slightly left of center. Normally, younger audiences tend to press tightly toward the barricade to get as close as possible. Leela James’ crowd, however, was refreshingly mixed. The front row was filled mostly with fans aged between 30 and 60, and they gave each other - and me - space. That generosity created a rare luxury: over a span of roughly two to three meters, I could move freely, repositioning myself until I was directly in front of Leela whenever she claimed the center of the stage.

Even better: there were no shooting restrictions. Absolute bliss. After three or four songs at the front, I was free to roam the entire venue. Left, right, upstairs - then back down again. Shooting from the balcony, switching between left, center, and right viewpoints, constantly changing perspective. Moments like that remind me why I love concert photography so deeply.

And then there’s Leela herself. What a voice. What presence. From the very first minute, the room was on fire. She commands the entire stage - moving, dancing, engaging, lifting the audience higher with every song. The energy never dipped, and the crowd responded in kind. Smiles everywhere. Pure joy.

I had two camera bodies with me, covering a 24–70mm, a 70–200mm, and a 50mm lens. Having all three focal lengths ready gave me the freedom to switch quickly and take my time experimenting throughout the night.

In short: a perfect night. For me as a photographer, and just as much for the fans who came to celebrate the music.