What a thrill it is to be able to listen to live music in a frankly pretty funky venue. Such is the Valentino Safe Co. in Lilydale Tasmania. Enthusiastic drummer and lockmith Rudy has crafted a perfect venue for boutique acts and intimate gatherings.

I often marvel at the images captured a gigs, and lord knows I've been to a few in my time, and continue to love the live music scene.

Now you may notice that in my collection of images that there's barely ANY captures of people, let alone band members. I just can't seem to do people in photography - in life as well perhaps...

Is it because they move? Does it feel too intrusive or impersonal? Am I too disconnected from my art? Maybe it's all a bit too technical and I don't have the skills yet...

I'm not beating myself up about it but I think it's an interesting quandry.

Actually, I blame my lack of gear (no massively long lenses for me) and my reluctance to be 'that bloke' who is part photographer part poser? at the front of the crowd. (Yeah right Mark, thats the reason pfffft...)

I have managed to snap a few gig-type photos, and here's one of them. I particularly like the way the parlor guitar is highlighted in the image, which is part lighting at the venue and part me adding a vignette in post production.

Maybe one day the light will go off and I'll finally crack the people thing.