Silent photographs of music being made

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!