Celebrating five years of local music photography exhibition FromThePit, an exceptional collection of iconic contemporary live snaps was chosen to be on digital display across publicly accessible screens of Aotearoa in May 2023, including a placement in the Parliament visitor centre at the Beehive. This is Te Whanganui-A-Tara photographer Stella Gardiner, who submitted a photo of Shayne Carter‘s Dimmer.

What’s your name, where are you from and how did you get into photography?

Stella Gardiner, originally from Blenheim. My music photography journey began 10 years ago when I happened to take my camera along to a Peter Murphy/Bauhaus reunion gig.

What do you love about music photography?

Our musicians give their all as performers, and I love being able to immortalise key moments on stage for others to share and enjoy. It’s history in the making.

What’s the best show by a kiwi musician you’ve covered?

Racing are super fun because they really get the crowd pumping. But I think capturing King Loser at Bodega in 2016 during their reunion tour was definitely a highlight for me.

If you could pick one piece of equipment, which one would you pick?

I’d have to say my 70-200mm Sigma workhorse because I can still get decent images from the very back of a venue.