A low ceiling of cloud sat over Donington as the site filled early on Thursday. Download 2023 marked the festival’s 20th anniversary and expanded to four full days, with the main stage running from early afternoon through to headline slots after dark. The scale was immediate, with multiple large stages operating simultaneously.

Coverage moved between headline production and earlier afternoon sets, adjusting to shifting light, weather and constant crowd movement. As a UK festival photographer, I worked across wide main stage frames, tighter pit access and atmosphere throughout the arena and campsite.

The weekend carried a sense of momentum, building steadily across four days of sustained volume and crowd engagement.