‘Spread’ in Australian Photography with ‘AFP400TX’ …

Excellent article in the current ‘Australian Photography’ magazine … and a luverly use of one of my images across a double page spread on the title pages … on Renato Repetto‘s wonderful ongoing ‘AFP400TX’ project.

The read entitled ‘Film Noir’, written by photography journalist Sam Edmonds, tells the story of Renato’s idea of passing a vintage 70’s Nikon F2 around to a host of Australia’s top photographers to each shoot one 36 frame roll of Tri-X black and white film. The resulting images will form the basis of eventual exhibitions and a book.

Singing the praises (rightly) of Renato’s idea, the article also delves into the reactions and the resulting project work of several legendary … and … uuummm … older ‘AFP400TX’ practioners … in Tim Page, Michael Coyne and Robert McFarlane. I also get a par or two and a couple of accompanying images in the article. (Sometimes it’s nice to be ‘the youngest’.)

Although the exhibitions and book may still be some little time in the future … the Nikon F2 is still traversing Australia in the hands of celebrated and not so celebrated photographer’s … it’s great to see Renato’s excellent project already gaining the respect it deserves. (My earlier comments on ‘AFP400TX’ can be found at  … https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/blog/publications/2017/08/final-frame-nikon-f2-afp400tx/ … and … https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/blog/2017/07/nikon-f2-roll-tri-x-36-pics/

My double page spread image (below) … shot on just the last frame 36 on my roll of Tri-X  …  is of musician Geoff Tozer who has been diagnosed with several forms of terminal cancer. My second image accompanying the article was a portrait of Aurukun ‘Camp Dog’ artist Lex Namponan.

Image © Brian Cassey & publication by Australian Photography

Australian Photography - Film Noir - AFP400TX project - Geoff Tozer image by Brian Cassey

Nikon F2 … Roll of Tri-X … 36 Pics …

Thanks to legendary veteran combat photographer Tim Page (who dobbed me in) … I have this week been wielding on a spare shoulder a pristine circa 1971 manual everything Nikon F2 loaded with a roll of Tri-X film.

The idea … the brainchild of photographer Renato Repetto … is to get the Nikon into the hands of top (and not so top) photographers all around Australia who will each shoot one roll of B&W film … just 36 frames each.

The AFP400TX Project is about seeing life through the eyes of Australian Film Photographers. The Nikon F2 (eye level DE-1 Plain Prism, 1971-1976) no 7587117 with a 55mm 2.8 Micro Nikkor will be used for every exposure of the project, making the only variable the photographer. All rolls of film will be developed by the project sponsor Rewind Photo Lab in NSW to ensure consistency across the project.

My colleagues of note featured in the project include the afore mentioned Tim PageDavid Dare Parker, Michael Coyne, Stephen Dupont, Jesse Marlow, Sean Davey, Heather Faulkner, Roger Garwood  … and many maybe not so well known.

A diary accompanying the camera will document the creative thoughts of all the photographers in the project for later  incorporation into a photo book. The book will be launched with gallery exhibitions in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne featuring silver gelatin prints of the best photos of the project.

Now … I cut my teeth shooting ‘manual everything’ film SLR’s way, way back when … but can now confirm that ‘going back’ is somewhat of a sobering and frightening experience !!

Below is a pic I made (on a D4S) of Wik Munkan artist Lex Namponan from Aurukun, wielding the precious Nikon F2 used in the project. Lex was born in 1971 … the same year that the F2 was released. I used two precious frames from the Tri-X roll to make a portrait of Lex. Fingers crossed that Lex and I make the AFP400TX Project exhibitions and book …

Image © Brian Cassey

AFP400TX Project - Australia - Brian Cassey