Nostalgic waves marked the first four days of Rock in Rio, driven both by the 2000s hits of artists like Ne-Yo, Black Eyed Peas, and Barão Vermelho, as well as by the presence of analog cameras and vintage digital equipment in the audience. At the 2026 event, held at Barra Olímpica, dozens of people were carrying cameras that were bestsellers during the time of the festival's third edition, when it was still held in Jacarepaguá.
The couple Gabriela Baratela, 30 years old, and Kelvim Fraga, 34 years old, were spotted waiting for Elton John's performance with analog cameras. The two admitted to feeling nostalgic about the past and explained why they used a model with 72-exposure film.
According to Gabriela and Kelvim, what attracts them most to analog photography is the anticipation of developing the images. They highlighted that the feeling of reliving the special photographed day, when they finally see the results, is something they don't find in digital photography. The experience of taking a photo and waiting to see how it turned out when developed represents, for them, a more genuine way of capturing memories.
