In 2015, I received a call that any concert photographer would dream of—an assignment to shoot Rihanna’s concert at the Estadio Nacional in Chile. It was a golden opportunity, a chance to capture a global icon in action, and I wasn't even dedicated to photography. But there was one problem: my gear.
At the time, I was working with my trusty Canon T5i, with a 70-200mm f/4 lens. It was a decent setup, but I knew its limitations, especially in low-light conditions. The real heartbreak? I had just ordered a Canon 6D, a massive upgrade in my career, but fate had decided it would arrive two days after the concert. The irony was brutal.
Despite this, I walked into the stadium, determined to make the most of what I had. The atmosphere was chaotic—dim lighting, thick smoke swirling around the stage, and Rihanna constantly slipping in and out of visibility. Every shot was a challenge. I pushed my T5i to its absolute limits, adjusting settings on the fly, praying for a clean shot.
And then—it happened.
Through the haze, the lights hit her just right. I saw the moment unfold through my lens, my heart racing. I pressed the shutter, knowing this was the shot. The one that made everything—every technical frustration, every limitation—completely worth it.
Two days later, my Canon 6D arrived. A bittersweet moment. It would have made my life so much easier that night. But in a way, that final epic shot with my T5i became a defining moment of my journey.
Fast forward to today, my 6D is now my backup camera, and I’ve moved on to a Canon R6 as my main gear. But no matter how advanced my equipment gets, that night taught me something invaluable: it's not just about the camera—it’s about the photographer, the moment, and the determination to capture it, no matter the odds.
And that Rihanna shot? Still one of my favorites to this day.