Page 32 - ION Indie Magazine NovDec 2021 Issue

Story and Photography by Eddy Schneider III

AbsolutEddy Photography: https://www.facebook.com/AbsolutEddy

It’s so good to be back behind the lens and have this opportunity to share
live concert images from Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s Summerfest 2021! With
the world shutting down and Summerfest cancelled in 2020 due to COVID,
I found myself with only my day job to entertain me. So, I utilized this “down”
time to have a much-needed rotator cuff surgery, which required a 6-month
recovery period. In the meantime, to satisfy my creative urgings, I
submitted a selection of my artwork to the local county fair…and walked
away with four first place ribbons and one second place!

When I first had the honor of shooting for ION Indie Magazine as a
freelance photographer, I told myself I would do a five-year run with it. ION
embraced me and my work and I couldn’t think of a better magazine to
shoot for as I was still learning about businesses and the red tape that goes
with it as they guided me on my journey. It took six years because of
COVID, but I met my goal. Also, I was able to squeeze in Rock USA in
Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and Farm Aid in East Troy, Wisconsin, to my ION
Indie Magazine contributions. Hopefully, ION will allow me to capture more
rocking images down the road at other events.

Normally Summerfest runs the last week in June and the first week of
July…eleven days straight days in a roll. This year it was the first three
Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays of September, which was kind of nice
shooting three days then four days off to edit. Plus, it was so much cooler
out, and that alone made it a wonderful experience! There was low crowd
activity Thursday and Friday afternoons, but Friday nights and Saturday
were booming. I think the lower attendance wasn’t because of the change
of time of Summerfest, but the fact that proof of COVID vaccination was
needed in order to enter the park this year -- or you would have to do a
rapid COVID test for at the cost of $25. I got vaccinated early in the
pandemic as I didn’t want any issues shooting shows. So, I was good to
go!

Welcome to my musical journey within the gates of Summerfest 2021. I
look forward to bringing you more of my photography in future issues of
ION Indie Magazine!