Fran is one heck of a talented gig photographer; getting into all kinds of poses to get the perfect shot. She spent the summer running around from festival to festival, taking some stellar images. Get a behind the scenes look into her images, and how she feels and experiences a festival. Words and images taken by Fran.

Kaleidoscope: December 31, Tauranga

Soaked Oats bringing in the New Year. Oats are always special. I was "working" at this gig, so I was supposed to capture the crowd, sponsors, important people, and of course the bands. I arrived earlier than my friends and just wandered around the empty venue while the first act played.

I got to know Oscar (well not really) but throughout the year I would give him and his girlfriend a wee takeaway box of cake whenever they came into the café that I work at. I don't know why I do it, but it's the best part of my day, so I've continued the habit. It's a weird interaction where I don't speak much, and neither does he – just exchange smiles. As it ticked over to the New Year, Oscar beckoned me up on stage amongst his friends that had rushed on stage with him. Unfortunately, I didn't get an incredible photo while on-stage, but I was so happy.

Mini Simmons – time-travelling back to the '70s! Rock and Roll, and God, they pull it off well. It was so exciting to watch and just look at their clothes! So much fun. They had a photographer with them. Being brutally honest, he was intimidating. He had a couple of cameras hanging around his neck: film and digital. I didn't talk to him; I just watched him stride across the stage. So much bloody confidence! Later, I saw his photos on socials. They were stunning, and instead of being supportive and excited for him, I felt it as a blow. My photos didn't look like that. Why do I bother when there are so many other photographers? Looking back on the summer of festies, I've noticed my perspective has started to change (Thank God).

Bay Dreams Pre-Party January 1, Tauranga

I was not officially shooting this festy, so I was right in the centre with my film camera. Sticky Fingers were incredible, as predicted. This photo encapsulates the middle of a mosh pit. Vision slightly blurred, someone's hat blocking your view, someone's hands reaching high, phenomenal lighting. It's not perfectly composed, but I like it.

Mac Demarco, Auckland Town Hall

Baily just before seeing Mac Demarco in the Auckland Town Hall. I had flooded all avenues of Mac Demarco's management to try and get my big camera in. Alas, I got no reply. So, again just went along with my film. No special photos were taken inside the gig, but I did spot a lovely patch of grass on the way in. Baily obliged and sat down like we'd been there for hours. Simple. Nice.

Nest Fest January 11, Havelock North

Nesty was the most beautiful festy to photograph. I've been to Black Barn amphitheatre many times before, as I grew up in Hawkes Bay. It took a couple of brave emails to get permission. God, I was nervous to do a good job here, so I was running around all day. 11am to 11pm, searching like a meerkat for something interesting. This was the first gig I plucked up the courage to talk to a lot of other photographers. I learnt a lot from watching them prance all over the stage like they didn't give a shit. From a distance, they were intimidating but up close in conversation, they were all kind, smiling, and friendly.

Mild Orange and the shoulder dart. As much as I admire the photographers who get right in close to the bands' faces, they often don't take their cameras into the middle of the mosh. I do. I love the compression shots, shooting through heads, arms, and sometimes fluke a shot like this. Stoked.

The Murlocs through the smoke. When scrolling through the NestFest Instagram, I saw this photo and thought "fuck I wish I took that, wonder who did?" It was a pleasant surprise to find the original photo on my laptop – well done, Franno.

It was now night-time, and the amphitheatre looked magic. Fran stood in the wings as Sam Wave came on and a familiar face popped up beside me. Josh Mehrtens from Mild Orange. He explained Sam Wave was his older brother, and this was his first big gig. It was a lovely moment. When looking at these photos, I feel proud of Sam even, though, I've never met him!

Tora Bomborra January 18, Martinborough

If Nesty was the most beautiful, Tora was my favourite. So many friendly friends. Tora was all about the people. It was the biggest family-of-a-crowd, and I never felt self-conscious lugging a sniper's camera around with me. I was assertive like I was on a mission. I felt like I knew what I was doing. Perhaps it was because I photographed the festival in its first year (last year) and I knew the territory. Maybe it was because of Louis, the man who organised Tora. The buzziest, grinning powerhouse of a human. Unlike the voice in my head, Louis is easy to please. No matter what I produced, he would be excited by it, and would thank me for it. Louis brings out the best in other people, myself included.

Marlin’s Dreaming. They played at Kaleidoscope on New Year’s then Nest Fest, then finally Tora. Beautiful. Good God, they’re beautiful.

Just look at that view. Golden sunset. In the middle of nowhere. Sea, sky, stage, steaze, what a stunner. The rain didn't faze the crowd – they had music and dance.

Wherever he went, Matty Sollis stood out. The most enthusiastic dancer and biggest radiator of positive energy. An act on his own, he was phenomenal to watch.

Same Name Confusion. The most fantastic coordinated spastic! These guys are incredibly exciting to photograph. Running, jumping, and dancing around each other with their wireless set up. Arghhhhh how did they get so cool?!

Electric Ave February 22, Christchurch

I struck gold with this "big boi" festy and was able to weasel my name onto Lime Cordiale's media list just through a FB message. How good! I was very excited for this one – I fucking love Lime. As a thank you for their kindness, I gave them two avocadoes and three caps in a film canister. The boys laughed at this and grinned.

This was taken in the middle of the mosh pit on top of tall, lanky Reed Taylor's shoulders. I was on top of the world! The film is Psychedelic Blues which is a pre-exposed experimental film from Canada ($13 per roll – not bad). The camera is a tidy point-and-shoot Olympus mju-II 115mm. Although I was swinging the massive telephoto lens around my neck, I made a point of taking lots of film, since it produced something different from all the other paparazzi.

Straight after their set, Louis checks his cheeks are still there. Around about now, I really wanted to rush over and tell them how much fun they are to dance to. I wanted to arrange them 'just so' for a beautiful post-show portrait like I'd seen other photographers do. Instead, I whipped out the film for one candid snap.

Getting distracted. George from The Butlers: ooh la la, beautiful.

Gang of Youths' huge jump! Biggest action shot of the day taken on the digital. When I was perched on the front wing of the stage, Dave waltzed over close to me and smiled in between lyrics. I melted -- so much energy in his performance.

121 Dance Odyssey March 13-15, South Wairarapa

This was the FINAL FESTY before the Corona pandemic. God, we were lucky to be still able to go! Held on a racecourse – it was a stunning space. I was part of the media team, and we were given a roster to follow. Five stages over three days – this was huge. I was supposed to photograph the dance tunnel between 8pm-4am on the first night, which gave me the rest of the weekend free. The dance tunnel was a concrete shed-like space. It was loud, the acoustics were harsh, and it was DJs all night. Of course, I love a bit of doof but mate not 8 hours all in a row. I found shooting this stage really hard. But hey, who am I to complain? I was lucky to be there. I finished my shift, did my job, put my camera down and joined my friends.

Mild Orange awash with sun glares on the Saturday. I’ve done several gigs for Mild but had avoided talking to them. At Nest Fest I did have a yarn and sent through their photos super fast. Mild used my snaps on their insta and there was a wealth of positive comments. That felt good. I absolutely love their music and seeing them perform for the second time that summer was really special.

My beautiful friend Kenzie at dusk. At Tora, I met her through a good friend of mine, and we were planning on sharing a tent. Neither of us actually slept in that tent haha. Kenzie takes beautiful film photos of Welly bands. So happy. Immune from this Covid-19 news stream. Immune from real job worry. A beautiful little moment.

Flamingo Pier on the Odyssey Stage. I met the builder and designer of this stage. He was so proud of it, and so he should be. Just look at it! Flamingo was the act I was most excited to see, and oh they delivered.

Ps. Remember Mini Simmons from New Years? The guy on the right in this photo plays the guitar for Mini. Small world huh?

That bloody dance tunnel! By 4am I was so salty but as always there’s a silver lining. This random guy happy as Larry under the disco ball.

I think my perspective has finally started to shift. I take photos for myself. Sometimes they turn out shit; sometimes they're beautiful. Both outcomes are equally important. Photographing Sam Wave at Nest fest was phenomenal, shooting DJs a 121 was shit, but I learnt stuff.

What I love is energy. I love seeing a dancing crowd. I love seeing the band feed off the crowd's enthusiasm. I love seeing my friends beam and bounce. I love knowing the band either personally or just through their spotify and through the eyes of other photographers. I love shaking hands with a band behind the stage, grinning my head off and telling them they're producing something groovy. If my photos encapsulate all of that energy, then it doesn't really matter how it looks. When selecting these images above, I chose them for their energy and how they make me feel. Is that twisted? Yeah probably

When I curl into bed after a gig, I try to copy that conversation "Fran you're producing something groovy – well done my dear." Yeah there are many photographers at festies, and they are just doing their thing, and I'm just doing my thing (and I quite like what I'm doing thanks, Fran).

A festy filled summer with Fran behind the lens