All photographs are silent. As far as I know, light doesn't make a sound. Photographs, theoretically, could make sound, if you printed them on a substance, and used them to agitate the air, treating them as an oriental fan. This post isn't about that, instead it is about a venue called Ancient World, located in Adelaide, South Australia, and a few different musicians who gathered to perform there on the 18th of July, 2025.
It was my first time at the venue, down a laneway off the main strip of nightclubs and bars in the city, and to the left, in the shadows of a multi-level car park. I was there on the invitation of Abbey, who I recently photographed in my series of images called "Postcards of the Night".
I caught the train, disguising my camera gear in a shopping bag. Security through obscurity :)
I arrived early, had a brief chat with venue staff, and some of the performers who were gathered, and sought their consent to capture their performances. All was granted and in good order.
The event invitation I went.
Soundchecks occurred, and then the music began. I captured these images using a 35mm f/1.8 lens, and my 85mm f/1.2 lens. I shot mostly wide open, and that was required, due to the low levels of light in the venue.
The performers were a mix of what I can only describe as ethereal, moving, and intimate. Stories and anecdotes of deeply personal events and deeply meaningful and profound bits of their lives were interwoven between tracks, and a real connection with the small audience was forged.
Many people were already friends, some people left as friends a new. I had some wonderful conversations with strangers, and because this was meant to be a belated celebration of Abbey's birthday, we all ate cake. Delicious cake.
This event the performances were very grassroots, and very authentic. Ordinary people performing extraordinary songs in a comforting, welcoming, and warm atmosphere, on what ended as a cold, foggy night. People drank deeply, people applauded, people embraced. People sat on the floor to listen to story and song.
Enjoy the images!
