Concert photography is one of the toughest tests for any camera system. Lighting conditions swing from near-darkness to blinding strobes, subjects rarely stay still, and the energy of the crowd can be as unpredictable as the music itself. This weekend, photographer Ryan Russell put Apple’s latest flagship through those conditions at a Coheed and Cambria / Taking Back Sunday show, and the results show what the iPhone 17 Pro Max camera can deliver in the wild. If you’ve spent any time following alternative rock, punk pop, or emo, you’ve probably seen Ryan Russell’s work. His career includes iconic photos and recording sessions that range from Fugazi and My Chemical Romance to Paramore and Death Cab for Cutie. I first came across his photography as a teenager, probably in the MySpace days, and probably of Taking Back Sunday — one of the subjects of his iPhone 17 Pro Max shots from this weekend. Years later, our professional paths finally crossed when I had the opportunity to feature his Elton John farewell show shot from iPhone 11 Pro Max on 9to5Mac. Now it’s back to Russell’s vantage point from the photo pit using Apple’s all-new iPhone 17 Pro Max. The conditions were classic rock show chaos: bright colors washing across the stage, sharp contrasts between spotlight and shadow, and subjects constantly moving. Yet the shots Ryan Russell shared with 9to5Mac hold their own. Coheed and Cambria Taking Back Sunday (Man, it’s so great to see Taking Back Sunday, Fred Mascherino, and iPhone 17 Pro Max together on the same timeline. Happy birthday, Adam.) Apple often highlights iPhone’s ability to shoot professional-quality photos in studio-controlled campaigns. Seeing the iPhone 17 Pro Max perform in the unpredictable, high-pressure environment of a live show provides a different kind of validation. Follow Ryan Russell on Instagram to see more of his work, including gorgeous nature captures and more recent rock show shots! For more iPhone 17 camera tests, check out 9to5Mac’s recent coverage of photographers Tyler Stalman and Austin Mann, as well as 9to5Mac’s iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro reviews. All photo credit: RYAN RUSSELL