‘Ruby’ … Her Story … Her images …

Thanks to the brilliant explosive but so so sad comprehensive three part story penned by journalist Kristin Shorten, I’ve in the past few days had an exceptional run in The Australian three editions in a row with several different portraits of ‘Ruby’ … a startlingly brave but severely damaged  twenty one year old indigenous mother from the remote Northern Territory community of Yuendumu.

Over three front pages over three days and several more inside, Kristin tells in graphic horrific and ultimately the saddest detail, the story of ‘Ruby’ (not her real name), her multiple rapes at the hands of her father, the violence that is endemic in her NT community … and the aftermath of that violence as she fled to the relative safety of Cairns. For ‘Ruby’ that was indeed ‘relative’ as she found herself in jail and separated from her one year old son.

‘Ruby’ … who not surprisingly has difficulty trusting anyone … was charming to portray and, eventually, to talk to.

An aspiring artist, ‘Ruby’ uses her art to forget her brutal past. Sincerely hope her art thrives and the story of her future with her son is much brighter.

Huge thanks and a pleasure to be a part of Kristin’s fabulous work on this story that had to be told.

Here are my personal favourite portraits of ‘Ruby’ (from top) and grabs of The Aus page 1 and some of the other pages with my pics. Kristin’s comprehensive harrowing stories and more of my images can be found online … with a subscription … at …

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/indigenous/out-of-yuendumu-how-violence-seeps-through-generations/news-story/5d28ff3aa44699c9e89d884019a2a594

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/indigenous/rubys-story-i-didnt-want-dad-jailed-but-i-was-scared-he-would-kill-me/news-story/303ce27b48c7278aabc971833f822ed7

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/indigenous/father-free-to-unleash-four-month-reign-of-terror/news-story/060ca1e3716cf7642d0fef3382b3e39a

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/indigenous/rubys-story-i-want-to-go-back-home-but-i-dont-feel-safe-there/news-story/242e3968f716b96a55b9ac4186ee1a2a

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/rubys-art-thrives-in-her-baby-sons-shine/news-story/6537c9e30ed8251156cf66e38181b600

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/in-the-clamour-for-an-indigenous-voice-true-suffering-is-being-drowned-out/news-story/0b6fd8710fc0410a9a377fa8364f3824

Images © Brian Cassey

Ruby from Yuenemudu - story by Kristin Shorten, images by Brian Cassey

Ruby from Yuenemudu - story by Kristin Shorten, images by Brian Cassey

Ruby from Yuenemudu - story by Kristin Shorten, images by Brian Cassey

Ruby from Yuenemudu - story by Kristin Shorten, images by Brian Cassey

Ruby from Yuenemudu - story by Kristin Shorten, images by Brian Cassey - The Australian

Ruby from Yuenemudu - story by Kristin Shorten, images by Brian Cassey - The Australian

Ruby from Yuenemudu - story by Kristin Shorten, images by Brian Cassey - The Australian

 

 

Three (New) Images Selected in Percival Portrait Prize …

Chuffed that three of my portraits are getting their FIRST award recognition after being selected yesterday (Friday) as Finalists in the bi-annual Percival Portrait Prize. They will be exhibited on the gracious walls of the historic Perc Tucker Gallery in Townsville.

The award runs in conjunction with the Percival Painting Portrait Prize and attracts entries from around Australia and Internationally.

Nice to see these three more recent images selected … ‘Covid Vax & Ice Cream’ (top – Leanne at Yarrabah after her Covid vaccination),  ‘Mother Africa’ (centre – African American Aurora Coulter) and ‘Graham Elms – Legendary Larrikin’ (bottom) … all made in far north Queensland in the last few months.

‘Covid Vax & Ice Cream’ was made for a The Australian story on the door to door vaccination program in the indigenous community of Yarrabah. ‘Mother Africa’ … of Colorado USA raised African American Aurora Coulter …  was made to depict the historic plight of black Americans, an issue very close to Aurora’s heart. ‘Graham Elms – Legendary Larrikin’ was made for a Sunday Mail series on … well … ‘Larrikins’. Graham is your archetypal far north Queensland bad boy of old.

It’s now three ‘Percival’s’ in a row that I have had work selected to be exhibited … three works in 2018 hereand two in 2016 here

The winners of this years Percival Photographic Portrait Prize will be selected and announced at the exhibition opening at Perc Tucker Gallery in Townsville on the 23rd April and will show till July 3rd.

Images © Brian Cassey

 

6th Time Lucky … Sydney & The Walkley Awards …

Sydney … got there … and so stoked I did !!

On five occasions since the Covid virus reared it’s ugly head two years ago, I’ve booked to travel to Sydney for photography (and social) events … each time to be thwarted by new outbreaks, lockdowns or border closures. Seemed like it would never happen …

Then, in November last year, I received the fabulous news that my “The Yarrick Family of Kunhanhaa” image was selected as the Winner of the Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize. Epic. Not only that … but the Walkley Foundation contacted me and asked if I would present a Walkley Masterclass on photojournalism and portraiture as a prelude to the awards presentation eve, by then delayed and re-scheduled for Tamworth NSW in the first weeks of February. Of course … what’s not to like 🙂

With flights booked to Tamworth nervously waited and monitored the news of the latest Covid Omicron march across Australia. In January the Tamworth Country Music Festival was cancelled and the Walkley’s had no choice but to move their awards away from Tamworth and reschedule in Sydney later in February.

So … last week I actually flew to Sydney … presented my “The Portrait & Photojournalism” Walkley Masterclass at Macleay College to the assembled enthusiastic twenty plus audience throng … AND … had an absolute belter of an evening (and somewhat later) at the Walkley Awards.

Thanks to the Walkley Foundation, the International Convention Centre Darling Harbour and the Nikon Australia crew, it really was a fabulous evening … with an amazing’ collection of Aus based photographers … umm … ‘celebrating’ … and a recognition of my win in the Nikon Portrait Prize.

Hope I don’t miss anyone … but here goes with the Aus based media photographers who were also there and why …

Alex Coppel won the ‘Sport Photography’ category and ‘Press Photographer of the Year’, Andrew Quilty won ‘Long Form Feature Writing’, Dean Sewell won ‘Feature/Photographic Essay’, Brooke Mitchell won ‘News Photography’ … Finalists Jake Nowakowski, Justin McManus, Scott Barbour, Jason Edwards, Chris Hopkins, Michael Dodge joined other prominent photo media figures Mark ‘Crusty’ Baker (AP), Dean Lewins (AAP), Jeremy Piper, Tracey Nearmy, Matt Abbott and James Brickwood. Many of us were graciously hosted on the two Nikon Australia tables (and at the ‘after parties’ – plural) by Nikon Marketing Manager Kylie Dredge and Professional Marketing Manager Julie Kimpton. (Huge Thanks Kylie and Julie ! … and couldn’t ask for a better bunch of colleagues to celebrate with.)

Below is a little vid of the announcement of my Nikon Portrait Prize win (my third win in this category in the last ten years) at the awards last Friday eve. It’s very short as I was too busy nattering to photographer mates, hampered by a large glass of Shiraz in my hand and missed the start of the announcement. Oh well … (the sound is the best bit).

Clip © Brian Cassey (iPhone)

 

 

Documenting Mt Mulligan Mine Disaster 1921 for Aus Geographic …

How do you illustrate, in the middle of a pandemic, a story of a tragedy that happened one hundred years ago in a remote part of Australia ? That was the delightful challenge that I was set by Australian Geographic for their story in the just published March/April ’22 edition on the September 1921 Mt Mulligan mine disaster on Cape York Peninsula that took the lives of seventy five miners. 

Journalist Denise Cullen initially came up with the names of several people who had strong connections to Mt Mulligan both before and after Australia’s second largest mine tragedy in 1921. A couple were in then Covid Delta locked in New South Wales so ‘out of bounds’. 

However, most were fortunately in Queensland and so began a several weeks quest around the Sunshine State to find and photograph these fascinating individuals. I found and made portraits … and listened fascinated … as they sat and told me their stories in Cairns, Mackay and the Atherton Tablelands.

Ken Best worked in the mine up until it’s final closure in 1957 and told of older miners stories of ‘ghosts’ in the mine. Pam Millett’s grandfather had a contract to cart logs to the mine to shore up the ceilings and roof, and he was delivering logs at the time of the deadly explosion. Helen Scott and her family were the last to leave the mine settlement when it was finally closed and  ‘removed’. Desley Brkic’s grandfather was the first to witness the smoke from the mine explosion. 

Arguably, though, the most emotional image for me was found at the end of a journey to Mackay to photograph an object.

Stephen Smyth of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) is the ‘keeper’ of an inanimate object that, for me, summed up the story of the disaster perfectly in a simple single frame … a battered ‘Waltham’ pocket watch that was on the person of miner George Doran James when he was killed in the explosion. The watch ‘stopped’ at the moment George, along with his son and seventy three others died at nine twenty five that morning. 

It was a pleasure to be afforded the time to portray and meet these fascinating people over a time frame that is rare these days … (Thanks AG and Editor Chrissie Goldrick) and to be involved in this story that is a part of Australia’s history.

Check out Denise’s story and my images (including two whole page pics) spanning ten pages of Australian Geographic print journal 167 March/April edition … on sale now.

Images – top – Desley Brkic reflects on the disaster at her home in Tinaroo, centre – the ‘Waltham’ watch, worn by a blast victim, that stopped at the moment of the explosion, bottom – ex miner Ken Best of Mackay.   © Brian Cassey, Magazine © Australian Geographic

Walkley ‘Masterclass’ (and Walkley Presentation Eve) This Week … Hi Sydney !

Over the last couple of years since that damn virus reared it’s ugly knobbly profile, I’ve been trying to get back down to Sydney … each journey (five booked in all) very carefully planned to coincide with the ‘latest’ outbreak or lockdown. Missed out on several great events including two Head On Photo Festivals, a couple of exhibitions of my work … and the launch and exhibition of the ‘Paper Tigers’ Australian photojournalism project that I worked on with Moshe Rosenvzeig. It’s been a ‘bugger’ … (but, of course, a very minor inconvenience compared with those many more adversely effected by the pandemic.)

Don’t want to speak too soon … but Thanks to the Walkley Foundation (and Nikon Australia), in just a few days I’ll be winging my way to Sydney town to host a ‘Masterclass’ … ‘The Portrait & Photojournalism’ … and also attend the ‘delayed’ ’66th Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism’ presentation night.

The invitation to my little talk about portraiture and photojournalism in Sydney came in the wake of my win in the Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize a couple of months back (see post here) with the image “The Yarrick Family of Kunhanhaa” … my third win in the prize in the last ten years and the reason for attending this years awards eve. The promo describes the event thus … “What makes a great portrait and when is a portrait photojournalism? Award-winning photojournalist Brian Cassey will discuss this question and the power of lighting, composition and how to achieve the best results. Plus the importance of building trust and rapport with your subject”.

So … it kicks off Thursday at high noon at Macleay College, Chippendale and will run for approximately two hours (no one will be allowed to fall asleep 🙂 ).

Next day … the Friday … the Walkley presentation eve event gets underway in Darling Harbour … really looking forward to that !

If  you are are in Sydney and fancy listening to me for a couple of hours you may book and find all the details of ‘The Portrait and Photojournalism’ event here … https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/masterclass-the-portrait-photojournalism-tickets-216702070727  … and in the image below.

Portrait here by Marc Steiner ©

 

 

The Portrait & Photojournalism - Walkley Masterclass by photographer Brian Cassey - Sydney Australia February 2022

News … January is Good … 17th Pollux & More …

… a nice start to ’22 … good news on a several fronts … (but inexplicably somewhat spoilt by Facebook).

Firstly, announced in the 17th International ‘Pollux Awards’ mid January …  two ‘Honorable (sic) Mentions’. A first recognition for the image “Veronica – Where Home Brew Kills” in the ‘Portrait’ category  … and also a ‘HM’ for “The Yarrick Family of Kunhanhaa” in the ‘People’ category, adding to it’s lengthening ‘list’ (think you’ve seen that one a few times before on previous posts). Both were made on Mornington Island.

(Astonishingly Facebook immediately REMOVED (twice) the Pollux International award image of the five year old indigenous girl Veronica (below) because it “goes against our Community Standards” … I’m enraged ! Would be interested to hear your take on this.)

Also, selected as a Finalist this month in the ‘soon to be announced’ (can’t tell you more) Maldon Photographic Portrait Prize and exhibition ‘I Be Human’ at Edge Galleries, Maldon, Victoria in February … whilst there’s also an exciting ‘first’ for another image in a big International Prize that I’m not allowed to tell you about yet on pain of death ! 😉

January is good … (despite Facebook/Meta)

Image © Brian Cassey

17th Pollux International Photography Awards - 'Honourable Mention' - People - "Veronica - Where Home Brew Kills" by Brian Casse

Pulitzer Prize Winner Barbara Davidson Meets Carol in Barcelona …

Mentioned a few months ago that a handful of my images had been selected in the 16th Edition Pollux Photography Awards … including a nice ‘Portrait Winner’ placement for my work “The Skin I’m In” of Cairns burns survivor Carol Mayer.

Perhaps it’s just another ‘Carol’ coincidence (there have been several) … but last week on the first anniversary of Carol’s so sad passing at the the hands of the ‘Big C’ December 2020, I received these images of my portrait of Carol on display in the winners circle at the opening event of the The 6th Biennial of Fine Art and Documentary Photography at the FotoNostrum Gallery in the Spanish city of Barcelona.

Carol would no doubt have been be as pleased as I am that her portrait was appraised at the Barcelona exhibition opening by three times Pulitzer Prize Winner and Emmy film award winning photojournalist/director Barbara Davidson (seen in all black centre top image, below, with “The Skin I’m In” at the FotoNostrum Gallery).

Celebrated as photo ‘Royalty’, Barbara is best known for her work on victims of gang violence in Los Angeles. She is also a 2019-2020 Guggenheim Fellow recipient and will spend the year traveling the United States making portraits of survivors of gun violence using an 8×10 film camera. 

Somewhat of a coup for the Barcelona Foto Biennalle to have Barbara attend the opening event as a very special guest in these times of Covid … and a real buzz for me (and probably Carol ‘up there’ too). Still trying to learn from the event organisers (who sent me these pics) whether Barbara made any audible comment about the work.

So … great to win the Pollux Portrait Award with the image of Carol … and that led to the real buzz of the work being selected to appear on the wall of the 6th Biennial Foto Barcelona at the FotoNostrum Gallery … which led to it being seen by multi Pulitzer winning photo ‘Royalty’ Barbara Davidson … and also lead to Carol posthumously once again spreading her message to burns survivors of the World that anything is possible …

Carol’s legacy lives on … again …

Carol Mayer Image © Brian Cassey … photos © FotoNostrum Gallery, Barcelona

 

 

‘Deadly Threads’ Comes To Cairns …

Whilst my personal exhibition “A Photographer’s Life – Part Two” has sadly finished it’s five week season at the Court House Gallery Cairns, I’m very gratified to still have (large) work ‘next door’ at the Cairns Art Gallery as an integral part of ‘Deadly Threads’.

Early this year, at the request of the State Library of Queensland, I produced a series of images in a Cairns pop up studio of a fascinating variety of prominent northern Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders wearing a creative colourful showcase of indigenous singlets, shirts, polos and jerseys.

The resulting SLQ exhibition “Deadly Threads” explores the significance of these apparel pieces as symbols of identity, celebration and unity. They have been developed to protest, commemorate special occasions and historical events and tell stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and cultures.

The exhibition drew crowds in Brisbane during an extended season at the State Library of Queensland from March to October … liberally sprinkled with massive prints of my work amongst the 190 shirts displayed. (I was fortunate to get down to Brisbane to see the exhibition on it’s very last day !)

The exhibition came ‘home’ to Cairns this month at the historic (formerly Public Curators Building) Cairns Art Gallery, with an opening eve on the 2nd of December. Very pleasingly my work again plays a prominent part … (although the actual shirts are still the real ‘stars’ of the show). Two of my works massively adorn the portico outside the gallery to alert passersby to the exhibition inside … images of South Sea Islander resident of Gimuy (Cairns), Franklin Mye (right – below) … and Conrad (CJ) Ahwang, Muluyligal-Zeandth R\Kes man also residing in Gimuy (left – below).

Inside a further half a dozen images adorned the walls … with the pick being another massive image of ‘CJ’ (pics below) unmissably greeting everyone as they entered the exhibition room.

This really is a fine exhibition … the shirts … especially those produced on Mer (Murray) Island to document Eddie Mabo and his work … are fascinating. I’m proud to be a part of it. The exhibition runs till the 23rd January and entry is free … don’t miss it !

Images © Brian Cassey

 

'Deadly Threads' - exhibition of Indigenous shirts by State Library of Queensland at Cairns Art Gallery - still image work by Brian Cassey

'Deadly Threads' - exhibition of Indigenous shirts by State Library of Queensland at Cairns Art Gallery - still image work by Brian Cassey

'Deadly Threads' - exhibition of Indigenous shirts by State Library of Queensland at Cairns Art Gallery - still image work by Brian Cassey

'Deadly Threads' - exhibition of Indigenous shirts by State Library of Queensland at Cairns Art Gallery - still image work by Brian Cassey

'Deadly Threads' - exhibition of Indigenous shirts by State Library of Queensland at Cairns Art Gallery - still image work by Brian Cassey

More For The Awards Page …

… just about recovering from personal euphoria following my exhibition opening at the Court House Gallery and the Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize win (Thanks to all for your comments, likes etc etc !) … whilst in the meantime these items about some other very pleasant ‘recognitions’ and ‘mentions in dispatches’ have also arrived … for the record as follows …

Head On Portrait Prize Semi Finalist  … “The Yarrick Family of Kunhahaa” … screening at the Head On Portrait Prize exhibition now showing at Paddington Reservoir Gardens, Sydney.

Australian Photography Awards … Two Shortlisted in ‘Documentary’ … “The Yarrick Family of Kunhahaa” & “Tears For George Floyd – 8 Minutes & 46 Seconds”.  Winners will be announced over the five days between November 29th and December 3rd.

Fotonostrum International Portrait Award – ‘Jury’s Special Selection’ by Art Streiber – “Tears For George Floyd – 8 Minutes & 46 Seconds”, “Kate – Waiting For Her New Breasts II” & “The Yarrick Family Of Kunhanhaa”.

International Photography Awards (IPA) – Highly Commended X 2 – ‘People’ – “The Yarrick Family Of Kunhanhaa” – ‘Editorial’ – “Tears For George Floyd – 8 Minutes & 46 Seconds”.

Black & White Spider Awards 16th Edition – Finalist Nominee X 4 in ‘Silhouette’ – “Charlie & the Pandemic”, ‘Portrait’ – “Ramnami” & “The Skin I’m In II’, ‘Photojournalism’ – “Tears For George Floyd – 8 Minutes & 46 Seconds”.

Very pleased about that. The complete list of ‘Awards’ … (shameless self promotion) … can be found here … https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/awards/

Some will be aware that lots of these images (above) have been previously recognised in other awards and splashed around a lot lately … so … here’s two from the list (Black & White Spyder Awards) that havn’t 🙂 … for  “Charlie & the Pandemic” it’s a ‘first’ … and for “Ramnami” it’s a fourth gong (but I like it 😉  … below)

Images © Brian Cassey

Black & White Spyder Awards -Nominee - Silhouette - "Charlie & the Pandemic" by Brian Cassey

Black & White Spyder Awards - Nominee - Portrait - "Ramnami" by Brian Cassey

‘A Photographer’s Life – Part Two’ at The Court House Gallery …

Now just over two weeks since the doors opened on my latest exhibition … ‘A Photographer’s Life – Part Two’ … and one week since a brilliant official opening eve event at the beautiful venue, the heritage listed Court House Gallery.

Following on from ‘A Photographer’s Life – Part One’ … exhibited at the Head On Photo Festival in Sydney and The Tanks Arts Centre in Cairns in 2017 … there was always going to be a ‘Part Two’.

Essentially a ‘Retrospective’, the ‘Part One’ exhibition featured work selected from my archives … negatives from long forgotten boxes and numerous disk drives … that charted the progression from my first roll of film as a pre-teen, through my first paid media work in London town as a teen and onto my career across the decades producing press work that was published around the planet..

‘Part Two’ is a fundamentally different exhibition of work. It contains a few images that didn’t quite make the space cut for ‘Part One’ – but most of the work is new and made from 2016 up until today. Whilst ‘Part One’ was almost exclusively ‘assigned’ media work the ‘Part Two’ images are much less so. The decline in media work and the lack of media opportunity and funding has meant that much of the new work was made independently, often self funded and sometimes just purely personally observational. The photographs emanated from India, China, Sri Lanka, the United States, Papua New Guinea, the UK … and around Australia, 

An integral part of the new exhibition is the ‘story behind the images’. Each work is accompanied by text explaining how the image came about and why. Many of them are quite personal. Feedback from exhibition visitors so far is that the ‘stories’ added a depth and dimension to the images. Gratifying 🙂

The opening eve event on November 5th was a thoroughly enjoyable big success. An individual exhibition opening record crowd of over a hundred and twenty five crammed ‘standing room only’ in the ‘Court Room’ to witness ABC Radio’s Fiona Sewell ‘grill’ me nicely about eight of the thirty seven exhibition images for about forty five minutes. Many Thanks for hosting the event Fiona.  Great to see friends and colleagues past and present .. many I hadn’t seen in years … turn up for the occasion. Thanks all …

Also launched at the event was the large format high definition limited edition collectors book ‘A Photographer’s Life – Part One & Part Two’ … containing … yes … all the images (85 in all over 88 pages) from both ‘Part One’ and ‘Part Two’. All those who order a copy during the exhibition period (till 11th December) with have their names and an acknowledgment printed in the book … and my scrawled as best I can signature too 😉 . Order at the Court House Gallery office or phone either Dayle on 07 40326621 or the office on 07 40326620.

Greatest respect and massive thanks to Curator Chris Stannard , Dayle Jordon, Megan O’Rourke and the rest of the council team who did a brilliant job hanging and presenting the exhibition. 

The exhibition continues until the 11th December Tuesdays to Saturdays 10am to 4pm … another four weeks to take it in. (If anyone would like a ‘personalised’ tour of the work I will be happy to try and do just that … just contact me.)

Below are images … (impossible in small pics to do justice to the exhibition, the work and the gallery) … of the works on the wall, the opening eve event and the book.

Images © Brian Cassey (4), Brendan Radke (2) & Stacey Carrick (1) (Many Thanks Brendan and Stacey)

 

'A Photographer's Life - Part Two' Exhibition at The Court House Gallery Cairns - by Brian Cassey

'A Photographer's Life - Part Two' Exhibition at The Court House Gallery Cairns - by Brian Cassey

'A Photographer's Life - Part Two' Exhibition at The Court House Gallery Cairns - by Brian Cassey

'A Photographer's Life - Part Two' Exhibition at The Court House Gallery Cairns - by Brian Cassey

'A Photographer's Life - Part Two' Exhibition at The Court House Gallery Cairns - by Brian Cassey

'A Photographer's Life - Part Two' Exhibition at The Court House Gallery Cairns - by Brian Cassey

'A Photographer's Life - Part Two' Exhibition at The Court House Gallery Cairns - by Brian Cassey

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize #3 … Yes !

… well, that was damn exciting and unexpected !

A few days ago received an email (proceeded by phone calls) with the great news that I’d once again won the ‘Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize’. Really stoked with that …

The Walkley’s usually announce the winners of the ‘Nikon Portrait Prize’, the ‘Nikon Photo of the Year Prize’ and the finalists of the other Nikon photographic categories during state capital evening ‘events’ … but Covid this year meant a much quieter disclosure via an 8am email.

Wasn’t expected anything … so missed the initial email and only learn’t that my pic “The Yarrick Family of Kunhanhaa” had been selected as the portrait prize winner when colleagues started ringing me !

The pic was made on Mornington Island (Kunhanhaa) in the Gulf of Carpentaria in far northern Australia … an indigenous community that is experiencing multiple ‘social issues’ mostly due to the tyranny of distance and … well …  being ‘forgotten’. Myself and ‘gun’ journalist Michael McKenna travelled to the island in December 2020 to document the story of massive overcrowding in the communities basic homes … and the image and story was published on page one of ‘The Australian’ (below).

Many thanks to Michael … and also to the ‘driven’ Mayor of Mornington, Kyle Yanner, who is single minded in solving the issues that have beset his community.

This portrait was also a part of my pic essay “Mornington Island – The Queenslanders Left behind” that recently won the ‘Photographic Essay’ category of ‘The Clarion Awards’ … Queensland’s media awards.

Also, huge congrats to brilliant Sydney Morning Herald colleague Kate Geraghty who scored the ‘Nikon Photo of the Year Prize’ with an evocative image of a Covid-19 patient that was also published as a page1.

Can’t forget the several of my colleagues that received the news that they are ‘Finalists’ in the remaining Nikon Walkley photographic categories who won’t now learn their fate till the big announcements at The Walkley Awards presentation night of nights in Tamworth in February 2022. I’ll be there ‘with bells on’ !

Below I’ve also posted images and links to my other two previous winning ‘Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize’ photographs in 2016 (here) and 2011 (here). Also just a couple of the links to all the Nikon Walkley winners and category finalists here and here.

STOP PRESS: Was interviewed in the days after the announcement by the Walkley Foundation’s Kate Burgess for an article in The Walkley Magazine. Kate’s work and my words may be found here … https://medium.com/the-walkley-magazine/spotlight-on-brian-cassey-1bfa58b91af8

Images © Brian Cassey

 

2021 Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize - Winner - "The Yarrick Family of Kunhanhaa' - by Brian Cassey

2021 Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize - Winner - "The Yarrick Family of Kunhanhaa' - by Brian Cassey for The Australian

'Abdullatif - Beaten Asylum Seeker' - Winner 2016 Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize - image by Brian Cassey

'Carol - Burne Survivor' - Winner 2011 'Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize' - image by Brian Cassey

Judging Trinity Bay High Portrait Prize 2021 …

A distinct pleasure … for the sixth year … to be invited to judge and present at the annual Trinity Bay High School Photographic Portrait Prize for 2021.

It never ceases to amaze me the quality of portrait work that these talented teen students submit … and the passion and dedication shown by their tutors to foster that talent.

Another big year for student entries this year … the schools gallery space was crowded with some excellent portraiture. As always the case, several images stood out … the more difficult part was settling on a winner and the other prize winners.

The work of year eleven Patrick Rubambo student ‘No Face’ featuring Angelique Iradukunda … an evocative, creative, well executed, nicely composed and beautifully detailed and printed black and white portrait (top below) … left me no option but to declare it the Winner.

Patrick hails from Burundi in east central Africa and came to Australia in 2019. Now in his third year at Trinity Bay High, he has been studying Film, TV and Photography since inspired by what he saw on YouTube and Instagram. His mates seemed more excited than Patrick as he calmly accepted his prize …  a Nikon DSLR courtesy of Garricks Camera House.

Year 12 student Ipsa Bharti was selected as runner up for her beautifully lit portrait ‘Patter of my Mind’, year 11 Madi La Pira was not far behind with her candid approach to ‘EOTS’, whilst Abbey Wilson’s (year 12) creative ‘Ghost’ scored an Honourable Mention. (All shown below.)

Janelle Williams Head of the schools Visual Arts department, New Media teacher Luke Madsen, arts teacher Caroline Mudge and all others involved in fostering the students visual talents should be most gratified with the results.

You can find the winners images from previous years TBHS portrait prizes here … 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016.

Images © the students … (clockwise from top) … Patrick Rubambo, Ipsa Bharti, Madi La Pira and Abbey Wilson

Winner - Trinity Bay High School Photographic Portrait Prize 2021 - 'No Face' by Patrick Rubambo - judge Brian Cassey

Trinity Bay High School Photographic Portrait Prize 2021 - 'Ghost' by Abbey Wilson (Commended) & ‘Pattern of my Mind’ by Ipsa Bharti (2nd Place)- judge Brian Cassey

3rd Place - Trinity Bay High School Photographic Portrait Prize 2021 - 'EOTS by Made La Pira - judge Brian Cassey

Covid Vax & Ice Cream …

Every now and then there comes along a really rewarding story … and every now and then that story throws up a ‘special’ pic.
Last week, for me, this job threw up one of ‘em.

I thoroughly enjoyed being allowed to document the ‘door to door’ Covid-19 vaccination program in the far northern indigenous community of Yarrabah. Orchestrated by the Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service, the operation was startling and well organised … teams of doctors and health workers went from home to home to inform and vaccinate the indigenous population that had been lagging far behind in Covid-19 vaccination numbers.

Following behind the vaccination teams was a pink ice cream van … complete with musical ‘Green Sleeves’ tones … dispensing free ice cream to the newly vaxed and the communities numerous children.
In my favourite image of the day (top below), 67 year old Leanne Bulmer sits in her home with her ‘vaccination ice cream’ after receiving her shot of Pfizer from a doctor on her verandah. I nearly missed it … a health worker spirited Leanne a choc coated soft serve … and I overheard him casually mention it. Leanne was delighted to allow this portrait before her ice cream melted in the tropical heat.

In the second image Dr Peter Roach vaccinates elderly Yarrabah resident Raymond Davidson in his home assisted by health worker Belita Kynuna. The bottom pic shows 19 year old Sherrie Bligh as she is vaccinated by nurse Susie Jarman and enjoys her free ice cream at her Yarrabah home, watched by 2 year old Cleo Costello.

The story and two of my images (including Leanne’s) was published in Thursday’s ‘The Australian’ newspaper under the great head “Jab Blitz Proves As Easy As Pie With Ice Cream”.

The later publication of seven of my images and story link on The Australian’s Instagram account accrued over a thousand ‘likes’ …but, sadly. also led to a stream of readers ‘comments’ (inexplicably to me) highly critical of the vaccination program and the newspapers coverage.

Nevertheless, the ‘door to door’ program proved to be a big success with many residents having their fears allayed and taking the vaccination plunge. All that ice cream just sweetened the deal.

Images © Brian Cassey

 

'Covid Vax & Ice Cream' - images of the covid vaccine door to door rollout in the indigenous community of Yarrabah, north Queensland - by Brian Cassey ©

'Covid Vax & Ice Cream' - images of the covid vaccine door to door rollout in the indigenous community of Yarrabah, north Queensland - by Brian Cassey ©

'Covid Vax & Ice Cream' - images of the covid vaccine door to door rollout in the indigenous community of Yarrabah, north Queensland - by Brian Cassey ©

 

 

‘Deadly Threads’ at State Library of Queensland …

Nice bonus travelling to Brisbane last weekend for The Clarions … when I accidentally came across my portrait work (massively printed) at the State Library of Queensland’s ‘Deadly Threads’ exhibition . 

Was of the believe that It had already closed and I’d missed it … but an impromptu walk through SLQ and there was the big sign  (accompanied by one of my large images) … ‘Deadly Threads – Where Did You Get That Shirt?’ … enter.

‘Deadly Threads’ is a showcase of singlets, shirts, polos and jerseys (over a 190) created by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from across Queensland. It explores the significance of these pieces as symbols of identity, celebration and unity. They have been developed to protest, commemorate special occasions and historical events and tell stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and cultures.

My part was to produce portraits of significant indigenous personalities wearing a range of these shirts for display around the exhibit and for promotional purposes. Around a dozen of my large portraits adorned the exhibition printed (in one case) up to a massive near four metres. I made the pics back in Cairns earlier this year in a little home made pop-up studio.

What I didn’t yet know was, that the day I stumbled into the exhibition last Sunday was it’s LAST day. When I returned next day with camera in hand to record the work, the staff were in the process of taking the exhibition down (hence the limited pics here 🙂 ).

The best news is that the ‘Deadly Threads’ exhibition is coming to Cairns very soon (you heard it first here) and will be open at the Cairns Regional Gallery in November/December. 

Here’s links to the State Library of Queensland’s ‘Deadly Threads’ … https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/deadlythreads … and … https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on/deadly-threads-where-did-you-get-shirt

It will be well worth catching when it opens at the Cairns Art Gallery where my large portraits will again feature.

Images © Brian Cassey

'Deadly Threads' at State Library of Queensland, Brisbane - Mural Photographic Prints by Brian Cassey

'Deadly Threads' at State Library of Queensland, Brisbane - Mural Photographic Prints by Brian Cassey

'Deadly Threads' at State Library of Queensland, Brisbane - Mural Photographic Prints by Brian Cassey

'Deadly Threads' at State Library of Queensland, Brisbane - Mural Photographic Prints by Brian Cassey

 

 

 

Mornington Essay Wins At Clarions …

Scored a nice tidy hangover … and Best Photographic Essay gong … at ‘The Clarions’ (Queensland’s media awards) presentation event at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre on Saturday eve.

A great evening honouring the best work of Queensland’s media industry over the last troubled year, it was also a brilliant opportunity to catch up with media mates and colleagues for a drink or two (honest!). To win the award for Best Photographic Essay with my work documenting the dire strait of the Mornington Island indigenous community in the Gulf of Carpentaria for The Courier Mail and The Australian was a very pleasant bonus.

The judges (for whom I have the greatest respect 😉 ) commented thus on my work ‘Mornington Island – The Queenslanders Left behind’ … “This series of images beautifully captures and communicates the plight of a forgotten community. Brian has included both dramatic candid moments and evocative portraits to tell the subjects story while seamlessly using a variety of techniques to create a moving connection to both people and place.

You will get a better look at the entire pic essay on my ‘Awards’ page at … https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/awards/

Huge Thanks to all at the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance for once again hosting the awards and the evening … and to the wonderful people of Mornington for their hospitality.

Images © Brian Cassey (pages The Courier Mail & The Australian)

 

2021 Clarion Awards (Queensland Media Awards) - Winner - Best Photographic Essay - 'The Queenslanders Left Behind' by Brian Cassey (The Courier Mail and The Australian)

2021 Clarion Awards (Queensland Media Awards) - Winner - Best Photographic Essay - 'The Queenslanders Left Behind' by Brian Cassey (The Courier Mail and The Australian)

2021 Clarion Awards (Queensland Media Awards) - Winner - Best Photographic Essay - 'The Queenslanders Left Behind' by Brian Cassey (The Courier Mail and The Australian)

Veronica … Mornington Island … Where Home Brew Kills …

Thrilled, but also saddened to once again travel to remote Mornington Island (Kunhanhaa) in the tropical Gulf of Carpentaria in northern Australia … the third visit in the past year.

Mornington is a delightful destination populated by delightful people … but the community are grappling with many social ills mainly caused by the tyranny of distance and basically, being ‘forgotten’.

New young Kunhanhaa Mayor Kyle Yanner is determined to raise awareness about the many issues that have beset his community … and has managed to get the attention of the Queensland Government near two thousand kilometres distant in Brisbane.

I again made many images during last weeks visit to the island … but this pic of five year old Veronica Barnes is the one I’m most fond of. I was concentrating on portraying a 16 year old who was a ‘home brew’ imbiber when I glanced Veronica and her tiny puppy. A couple of frames later and I had what I think is a ‘special’ image (sorta ‘Bill Henson style’ 😉 ). (NB … her father gave permission for the pic to be seen.)

Veronica’s community is experiencing the ravages of a wide spread ‘home brew’ alcohol epidemic … and this was the main thrust of our story. She is growing up in a community where many of her extended family members and friends are suffering the consequences of alcohol induced diabetes and untimely death. The community … ‘dry’ for twenty  years … has seen a rapid rise of dangerous home brewed alcohols … and children as young as ten years old have been imbibing and adversely effected. Diabetes cases have skyrocketed and the cemetery is littered with the graves of those who have succumbed to alcohol related issues in their teens, twenties and thirties. 

Mayor Yanner and the council are reaching out for urgent assistance to stem the scourge and are proposing the introduction of regulated mainstream mid strength alcohol products to the island, controlled at a Tavern. Queensland Minister for the Environment Meaghan Scanlon MP made the trek to Mornington last week to listen first hand to Yanner’s plans.

Veronica’s image was just one of the many made whilst covering the story (by journalist Domanii Cameron) in The Courier and Sunday Mail newspapers … below is a also page grab of the spread as published in Saturdays ‘Weekend’ edition.

My recent previous visits to Mornington documented severe overcrowding in the community’s housing (The Australian, December 2020) … and numerous issues in ‘The Queenslanders Left Behind’ (The Sunday Mail, May 2021)

 

Images ©Brian Cassey – publication © Courier Mail

 

'Veronica - Mornington Island - Where Home Brew Kills' - image by Brian Cassey for Courier Mail story on alcohol abuse and home brew on Mornington Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

 

'Veronica - Mornington Island - Where Home Brew Kills' - image by Brian Cassey for Courier Mail story on alcohol abuse and home brew on Mornington Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

 

‘Tears’ At The Perth IRIS Awards …

The ‘IRIS’ awards exhibition … an International biennial art prize acknowledging outstanding contemporary portraiture … opened in Perth on Friday eve at the Perth Centre for Photography Gallery. So pleased to see my ‘Finalist’ selected image “Tears for George Floyd … 8 Minutes and 46 Seconds” (top below) make it’s ‘on the wall’ debut in the fantastic exhibition. (Image © Brian Cassey @brian_cassey)

The award prides itself for “selecting revealing portraits that are unique, original and conceptually stimulating”.

Normally I’d be there at the opening … but no way could I travel early to endure a costly 14 day quarantine on top of airfares etc etc. 

The exhibition works were in the main, indeed, unique in many ways … a great exhibition to be part of.

As I couldn’t attend (thanks to covid), loverly Perth based photographer Andrea Vose very, very kindly sent me pics from the opening eve (below) illustrating my work as it sat on the exhibition walls. Thank You heaps Andrea !!

Images below … “Tears for George Floyd … 8 Minutes and 46 Seconds” © Brian Cassey … Images at Perth Centre for Photography Gallery © Andrea Vose

IRIS Award - for Contemporary Photographic Portraiture, Perth - 'Finalist' - 'Tears for George Floyd ... 8 Minutes and 46 Seconds' by Brian Cassey

IRIS Award - for Contemporary Photographic Portraiture, Perth - 'Finalist' - 'Tears for George Floyd ... 8 Minutes and 46 Seconds' by Brian Cassey

IRIS Award - for Contemporary Photographic Portraiture, Perth - 'Finalist' - 'Tears for George Floyd ... 8 Minutes and 46 Seconds' by Brian Cassey

 

The Book … International Portrait Photographer of the Year …

Back in June I posted on this blog the news of the winners of ‘The 2021 International Portrait Photographer of the Year’ award and the selection of a couple of my portraits amongst them.

So now … arrived in the post this week  ‘The 2021 International Portrait Photographer of the Year’ book  … and very stoked to have three page entries in this great hard cover collection.

“Bonn Marie … Asking the Question” (left below) makes two appearances, one in the award ‘Winners’ section (a 3rd Place) and one in the main body of the book alongside my second portrait “Kate Yeoman – Waiting For Her New Breasts” (right below). 

‘The 2021 International Portrait Photographer of the Year’ is a classy quality book printed by Momento Pro in Sydney and contains all the award winners work and also includes the top 101 photographs. It’s a great collection of diverse portrait work from around the planet. You may order a copy if you fancy (two different sizes to choose from) by visiting the Momento wed site at … https://www.internationalportraitphotographer.com/…/awa…

Huge Thanks to my brilliant subjects  Bonn Marie and Kate    !

( Received a nice little trophy for Bonn’s pic too … bottom pic )

Images X 2  © Brian Cassey … book © International Portrait Photographer the Year and the artists.

2021 International Portrait Photographer of the Year ... the Book ... with works by Brian Cassey

2021 International Portrait Photographer of the Year ... the Book ... with works by Brian Cassey

2021 International Portrait Photographer of the Year ... the Book ... with works by Brian Cassey

Aus Paralympians Off to Tokyo Olympics …

… a large chunk of the Australian Paralympic team left Cairns last night for Tokyo to compete in the Olympic Games… and I had the distinct pleasure of working with these great athletes on their last training sessions on Thursday. Thanks to Delly Carr who ‘dobed’ me in and Athletics Australia for the work.

These are just a small selection of ten of those many images made at these training sessions at Barlow Park, Cairns … the evening session especially challenging as the ‘light’ can only be described as atrocious !

I can’t stress how wonderfully down to earth and receptive these athletes are … many World Champions and previous Olympics Gold winners amongst them … despite circumstances which would floor most all of us. 

In these ten images we have (top to bottom… I wish space would allow me to post more) … Vanessa Low – long jump World record holder & Olympic Gold Medalist … James Turner – 800 metre World Record & Olympic Gold Medalist (left) – and Scott Reardon – 100 metre Gold Medalist (right) … Robyn Lambird – wheelchair racer … Samantha Schmidt – Discuss … Ari Gesini – long jump … Chad Perris – 100 & 200 metres … Vanessa Low – long jump World record holder & Olympic Gold Medalist … Even O’Hanlon – 100 metres (front)  – and Chad Perris – 100 & 200 metres (rear) … Sarah Edmiston – discuss … Robyn Lambird – wheelchair racer.

Wish all the team the greatest success … (as long as they don’t embarrass Great Britain 😉 )

Images © Brian Cassey, Athletics Australia 

Australian Paralympic team members - off the the Tokt=yo Olympics - images by Brian Cassey

Australian Paralympic team members - off the the Tokt=yo Olympics - images by Brian Cassey

Australian Paralympic team members - off the the Tokt=yo Olympics - images by Brian Cassey

Australian Paralympic team members - off the the Tokt=yo Olympics - images by Brian Cassey

Australian Paralympic team members - off the the Tokt=yo Olympics - images by Brian Cassey

Australian Paralympic team members - off the the Tokt=yo Olympics - images by Brian Cassey

Australian Paralympic team members - off the the Tokt=yo Olympics - images by Brian Cassey

Australian Paralympic team members - off the the Tokt=yo Olympics - images by Brian Cassey

Australian Paralympic team members - off the the Tokt=yo Olympics - images by Brian Cassey

Australian Paralympic team members - off the the Tokt=yo Olympics - images by Brian Cassey

 

 

Mornington … Clarion Media Awards Finalist …

… it’s always a pleasure … a once a year excuse to trek to Brisbane and spend a very pleasant eve with southern media colleagues that I far too infrequently get to socialise with.

The ‘Finalists’ in the Clarion Awards … Queensland’s prestigious awards which recognise the best of the Sunshine States media for their work across the year … were announced this week … and very pleased to be selected as one of three photographers in ‘Best Photographic Essay’.

So … if the Covid virus plays nicely (i.e. elsewhere) … will be off to Brissie in October to enjoy another year of the Clarion Awards ‘presentations’ … this time at a cocktail function at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Greatly looking forward to catching up with photographers Darren England and Evan Morgan (co-finalists in ‘Essay’), David Clark, Annette Dew and Tertius Pickard (finalists In ‘News Photograph’) and ‘Regional’ finalists Rob Maccoll and Cairns colleague Brendan Radke. Big congrats guys n gal. Not forgetting the wonderful journalists, scribes, blunts (whatever you choose to call ‘em) that pen the words that fill the spaces between our photographs.

My selected work is a pic essay compiled from images made for The Sunday Mail and The Australian, documenting the plight of the indigenous residents of the remote Gulf of Carpentaria township of Mornington Island. Entitled “The Queenslanders Left Behind”, it comprises eleven images made during two journeys to the island, concentrating on the issues of housing overcrowding and other social ills.

Five of those eleven pics are here below … from top … Shaylene Yarrick and her children bed down in the lounge of their overcrowded house … Mum Cheree Loogatha and daughter Arizona outside their Gununa house …  Shaylene Yarrick sheds a tear outside her tiny overcrowded home … The Loogatha family yarn around the fire outside their house … Mornington Island sisters Yvonne Wilson (17) and Corrin Wilson (13) suffer from type 2 diabetes. Corrin also has rheumatic heart disease, whilst their mother is receiving dialysis following renal failure.

Very pleased to once again have the chance (it’s now twelve years of ‘Finalists’ with a fair few ‘Wins’ over the last decade and a half) to enjoy Queensland’s media ’Night of Nights’.

Covid-19 … please don’t stuff it up !

Images © Brian Cassey

Clarion Media Awards Finalist - Photographic Essay -“Mornington Island – The Queenslanders Left Behind” by Brian Cassey

Clarion Media Awards Finalist - Photographic Essay -“Mornington Island – The Queenslanders Left Behind” by Brian Cassey

Clarion Media Awards Finalist - Photographic Essay -“Mornington Island – The Queenslanders Left Behind” by Brian Cassey

Clarion Media Awards Finalist - Photographic Essay -“Mornington Island – The Queenslanders Left Behind” by Brian Cassey

Clarion Media Awards Finalist - Photographic Essay -“Mornington Island – The Queenslanders Left Behind” by Brian Cassey

Covid Lockdown in Cairns …

… seemed inevitable that it would happen sometime … and will likely happen again … a coronavirus pandemic lockdown in Cairns. Our tropical city has led a charmed life since last years initial lockdown in March and April … and we’ve watched as lockdowns have been instituted regularly around the rest of the country.

It took a mariner who had contracted the virus on an offshore ship before travelling back to Cairns and passing it on to a taxi driver to change all that and spark a (thankfully only) three day total lockdown.

These are just a few of the many images I made for Australian Associated Press (AAP) this week. More of my lockdown pics may be found on the AAP site here. (I also spent time covering the lockdown for News Ltd and you may have seen some of those in the local media.)

From top we have … 9 year old Lexie Barlow is tested by QML staff for covid-19 at a testing centre on the Cairns Esplanade … the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon empty and closed for the lockdown duration … masked indigenous children Isiah Bligh and Jakian Costello play in the rain during the Yarrabah lockdown … with occupancy down to seventeen percent a housekeeper patrols the empty corridors of the Cairns Hilton Hotel … Cairns residents queue for covid-19 testing at a QML test centre on the Esplanade … a girl exercises on the Cairns Esplanade during the lockdown.

Cairns has been fortunate since the pandemic began early in 2020 … and fingers crossed these are the last images of a local lockdown.

Images © Brian Cassey and AAP

Covid-19 Lockdown in Cairns - images by © Brian Cassey, AAP

Covid-19 Lockdown in Cairns - images by © Brian Cassey, AAP

Covid-19 Lockdown in Cairns - images by © Brian Cassey, AAP

Covid-19 Lockdown in Cairns - images by © Brian Cassey, AAP

Covid-19 Lockdown in Cairns - images by © Brian Cassey, AAP

Covid-19 Lockdown in Cairns - images by © Brian Cassey, AAP

‘On the Wall’ … (Eventually) … in Kuala Lumpur …

This one I really like …

Since 2009 The Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards (KLPA) has annually selected and recognised the best in photographic portraiture from around the World. The work chosen is invariably on the cutting edge and held in the highest regard.

So … to say the least … was undeniably very happy when this years results in the Open award were announced this week … nineteen (compelling and imaginative) works selected from artists in the USA (2), Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands (2), Poland (2), India (2), UK, Italy, Serbia, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Ireland, Spain, Russia … and one selected from Australia … little old me.

Back from it’s trip ‘into space’ in 2019 my ‘Aurukun – Generations’ image was selected in the twenty strong list and will now travel to Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur for a month or so ‘on the wall’ of a prestigious gallery … dates and venue to be arranged at the whims of Covid.

’Aurukun – Generations’ has now received a raft of recognitions in awards and exhibitions … and it very nearly didn’t happen at all. The image was one of dozens made in the troubled Cape York township of Aurukun for a news story. Another was chosen for publication with the story and this pic was quietly forgotten. It was several months later when I revisited the archive, came across it again and realised it’s potential.

It was one of three of my images ‘Sent Into Space’ (literally) by ‘Portrait of Humanity’ in 2019 and it has also been exhibited and recognised widely around the planet. (You can find some of those … herehereherehere … hereherehere … and here .)

The work portrays Aurukun Wik elders Silas and Rebecca Wolmby with their great grand children Shalona and Keola. Sadly Silas has since left us. I did present his family with a large print of the Image when I made it back to the township last year.

It’s been eight years since I last made it to a Kuala Lumpur Finalist list in 2013 … coincidentally with another image made Aurukun way … a portrait of Aak Paul Ngantam stockman Perry Ward entitled ‘Roustabout’ (bottom below).

I travelled to Kuala Lumpur that year for the exhibition opening event. ‘Roustabout’ looked magnificent in a wonderful Petronas Towers gallery setting.

Very sadly (thanks covid), I’m pretty sure that this time around I won’t get to see ‘Aurukun – Generations’ on a KL gallery wall any time soon. (Still a buzz tho’ 😉 )

Images © Brian Cassey – top ‘Aurukun – Generations’, bottom ‘Roustabout’.

 

Kuala Lumpur International Photographic Portrait Prize KLPA 2021 - Finalist - 'Generations - Aurukun' by Brian Cassey

Kuala Lumpur International Photographic Portrait Prize KLPA 2013 - Finalist - 'Aak Paul Ngantam Roustabout' by Brian Cassey

Aussies Off To Tokyo Olympics …

A pleasure to have the opportunity to document … for Australian Associated Press (AAP) … the departure of just on half Australia’s Olympic squad as they left the country for the Tokyo Games at Cairns International Airport on Saturday. Sadly I wasn’t on the flight with them …

The QANTAS charter aircraft was chokers with about 280 face masked athletes and officials from the swimming, rowing, hockey, water polo, beach volleyball, table tennis, weightlifting and badminton teams on board. Amongst the masked throng was Australia’s ‘Madam Butterfly’ Gold medalist Susie O’Neill (fourth image below) … currently Deputy Chefs de Missions for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Disturbingly, shortly after the aircraft lifted off from the Cairns runway the news dropped that an official had tested positive for COVID-19 at the Tokyo Olympics athletes’ village. A worrying development for the team.

Below are just over a handful of the pics I made of the athletes departure for the (2020 or 2021 ?) Tokyo Olympic Games … the complete set of 45 images may be found on the AAP site HERE.

Images © AAP/Brian Cassey

The Australian Olympic team departs Cairns for the Tokyo 2021 Games - Images by Brian Cassey for AAPThe Australian Olympic team departs Cairns for the Tokyo 2021 Games - Images by Brian Cassey for AAP

The Australian Olympic team departs Cairns for the Tokyo 2021 Games - Images by Brian Cassey for AAP

The Australian Olympic team departs Cairns for the Tokyo 2021 Games - Images by Brian Cassey for AAP

The Australian Olympic team departs Cairns for the Tokyo 2021 Games - Images by Brian Cassey for AAP The Australian Olympic team departs Cairns for the Tokyo 2021 Games - Images by Brian Cassey for AAP

The Australian Olympic team departs Cairns for the Tokyo 2021 Games - Images by Brian Cassey for AAP

Images of Dead People … ‘Lenin’ and ‘Charlie Chaplin’ …

On two occasions over the last couple of weeks have had the pleasure to document ‘dead people’ – two infamous characters from the last century – one a political figure who changed the World … the other a silent film actor who forever changed the film industry.

Of course … I didn’t dig ’em up. Both were highly convincing re-creations by talented Cairns artists.

‘Lenin’ (Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov) survived assassination attempts before dying of a brain haemorrhage in January 1924 (a little before my time 😉).

However, a portrayal of the Marxist and father of the Soviet Union and the Soviet Communist Party by vastly experienced Cairns actor Peter Merrill brought him back from the grave. Peter plays the ’Lenin’ lead in ‘Petrograd Express’ … a new play by Ken Cotterill which opens in Cairns at the Rondo Theatre this month. The title ‘Petrograd Express’ refers to Lenin’s 1917 train journey from exile in Switzerland, across hostile Germany, back to Russia to seize power from the government and declare a ‘dictatorship of the proletariat’. The train journey by the architect of the Bolshevik Revolution set in motion events that forever changed Russia and modern history.

I made this portrait (top) of Lenin/Peter for the local Cairns Post newspaper.

A week later I found myself portraying ‘Charlie Chaplin’ … brought back to life by amazin’ Kuranda performer (and friend) Danny Simony.

Englishman Chaplin … a comic actor, filmmaker and composer during the silent film era … became a World wide icon through his screen persona. A perfectionist … Chaplin wrote, directed, produced, edited, starred in, and composed the music for most of his many films.

My portrait of Charlie/Danny (bottom) was made for the now regular Sunday Mail newspaper feature ‘Larrikins of Queensland’. Danny … also a perfectionist and an exceptional talent at comedy, mime, pick pocketing and more … told the story of how he travelled from his birth place of Paris to Australia via India and Nepal decades ago and then forged a career in Cairns as the cities favourite entertainer and ‘Queensland Larrikin’.

Images © Brian Cassey

Portraits of Dead People - Lenin (Peter Merrill) and 'Charlie Chaplin' (Danny Simony' by Brian Cassey.

Portraits of Dead People - Lenin (Peter Merrill) and 'Charlie Chaplin' (Danny Simony' by Brian Cassey.
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