The Melbourne leg of the U2 360 tour in 2010 played out at Etihad Arena. At the time, I was shooting for Triple M and was fortunate to have a photo pass for the event. Like most other A-List shows, media had permission to photograph the first three songs (no flash) in a designated area. For this show, we were ushered onto a small set of bleachers adjacent to the massive 360° catwalk surrounding the main stage. At three steps high, five metres wide and level with the catwalk, the 'stand' provided a clear line of sight. During their performance, Bono and The Edge not only engaged with fans as they traversed the catwalk but also paused in front of the photographers – without missing a beat – to deliver fantastic and generous gestures, offering ample opportunity to capture exceptional images.

While the event was incredible, it was Bono's outfit – a leather suit and biker boots – that, for me, further highlighted his dedication to live performance and professionalism. During the show, I kept thinking about how hot Bono must have been under lights in so much leather. It was not until I was back at the studio processing the shots that I realised the suit was perforated – from collar to cuff – offering ventilation to provide greater comfort. Suffice it to say, from stage design and catwalk right through to the suit, U2 delivered across the board. Their attention to detail, fan focus and performance were nothing short of exemplary.

U2

Love the dark

Installing Trust at MAPh