Masters of Photography …

Somehow … and this was a surprise to me too … a selection of my work made in India from the “India in an Ambassador” essay has now just been featured on the “Masters of Photography” web site amidst some truly stunning company and work.

The site has for some years featured … up to now 😉 …  the best photojournalism and photojournalists from around the planet and the collection of work is really something to pore over. Gawd knows what my images are doing amongst work of the highest calibre by PJ high flying legends such as … Steve McCurry (https://mastersofphotography.wordpress.com/2013/09/29/steve-mccurry/ & https://mastersofphotography.wordpress.com/2014/01/21/portraits-of-resilience-steve-mccurry/) … Lynsey Addario (https://mastersofphotography.wordpress.com/2015/02/10/lynsey-addario-2/) … the late Tim Hetherington (https://mastersofphotography.wordpress.com/2013/06/17/tim-hetherington/) …
Daniel Berehulak (https://mastersofphotography.wordpress.com/2015/04/24/daniel-berehulak-2/ & https://mastersofphotography.wordpress.com/2014/12/18/daniel-berehulak/) … James Nachtwey (https://mastersofphotography.wordpress.com/2012/12/23/james-nachtwey/) … and many many more crackers too numerous to mention.

The site at https://mastersofphotography.wordpress.com adds work on a daily basis (mine was added six days ago) and it is a ‘must see’ for anybody even vaguely interested in photojournalism and photography.

Below is a grab of the page showing just six of the sixteen “India in an Ambassador” images that featured on “Masters of Photography”. (The total ‘India’ collection constitutes 53 pics and they may be found on my web site here.)

Images from India © Brian Cassey

Masters of Photography - Brian Cassey - India in an Ambassador

‘fotostrada’ – Best Images of 2015 …


My colleagues and I at the photojournalist collective ‘fotostrada’ have published an annual collection of our best images for several years now … and  2 0 1 5  wasn’t going to be an exception.

The ‘fotostrada’ ‘BEST Images of 2015’ collection – 40 emotive photographs from members Dean Lewins, Graham Crouch, Tracey Nearmy, Craig Greenhill, Sam Mooy, Dan Himbrechts and myself – are now up on our web site at … http://www.fotostrada.com/latest-stories/fotostrada—best-images-of-2015/

… and below is a sneak peak of the thumbnails of just three quarters of the images … clicking on the pic will take you to the full collection.

As well as images from the farthest points of Australia there is also work from India, Burma, Scotland, USA, Sri Lanka and Turkey. (We’re a well travelled lot at ‘fotostrada’)

Images © individual ‘fotostrada’ photographers

'fotostrada' BEST of 2015 image collection

Cutting Edge Work at the ‘Blunts’ …


A truly memorable evening last Friday when twenty four ‘Blunt Virgins’ displayed their various and varied works at ‘crate59 Gallery’ Cairns, vying for places in Cairns answer to the Archibald’s – the ‘Blunt Edge of Portraiture Awards’.

The gallery was packed with guests – the pavement outside was packed with guests (totalling an astonishing 450 odd) – as six artists portraiture works were selected from the sculpture, drawing, painting, craftwork, performance art and photography on display.

It’s a little while since I have been described as a ‘virgin’ … but was more than happy to be invited to take part and produce a photographic portrait of fellow artist and performer Kloe Gee for the show. On the eve Kloe – unlike my rather ‘raw’ image of her on the wall – was beautifully body painted as a bower bird – and performed her ‘portrait’ of fellow artist Maree Nicholson by gracefully moving amongst the gallery audience and ‘collecting’ items to add to her ‘nest’.

The winning half dozen or so artists were announced (or informed personally such was the racket from the enthusiastic and boisterous crowd) and both Kloe and I got a welcome ‘winner’ tap on the shoulder from Blunt organiser Dominic Johns.

For all the noise, excitement, ‘refreshment’ and other carrying on I can’t remember the complete list of winners (and the Blunt web site has yet to be updated with results) … but do remember that the evenings overall winner was a compelling portrait of Darren Blackman by fellow artist India Collins.

A really great evening … and an annual art event that Blunt organisers Dominic Johns and Roland Nancarrow … and the City of Cairns … can be proud of.

Below Is my winning portrait entry of Kloe (top and middle) and the overall winning portrait of Darren Blackman by India Collins (bottom). Works © Brian Cassey and © India Collins.

 

Blunt Edge of Portraiture Kloe Gee

Blunt Edge of Portraiture Kloe Gee
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“Eyes” in ‘Cairns Eye’ …

Many Thanks to Roz Pulley and the team at ‘Cairns Eye’ magazine for devoting the cover and a double page spread in this weekends issue to the recent win for my short film “Eyes – the Soul of a Photograph” in the Moscow International Foto Awards. Very grateful crew … !

Despite the challenge of portraying the essence of a short film about the ‘moving image’ (in more than just one sense of the term ‘moving image’) the piece in Cairns Eye looks great. On the cover and spread they used seven of the twenty six essentially portrait images – made in the USA (2), India (3), Indonesia (1), Thailand (1), Hong Kong China (1), Papua New Guinea (4) and Australia (14) – which featured in the film. Sadly there is no way they can play the haunting accompanying music in the film – a beautifully emotive piece by composer Robert Mann entitled ‘Rio Vista’. However, you can hear the music and see the complete project at … www.briancasseyphotographer.com/play

The rationale for the film – which also was a Finalist in the ‘Head On Moving Image Prize’ (amongst others) earlier this year – was to explore the axiom that that the eyes are the gateway to not only the soul but the still photograph.

For earlier news on the ‘Moving Image Essay’ win in the Moscow International Foto Awards  – and to play the work – please click on my recent post “Eyes” … a Winner in Moscow …” here.

Below I’ve posted screen grabs of the cover and relevant pages from the new Cairns Eye issue – images © Brian Cassey

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“Eyes” … a Winner in Moscow …

In news from far flung Moscow … my short film “Eyes – the Soul of a Photograph” has been selected as the inaugural Winner of the ‘Moscow International Foto Awards – Moving Image Essay’. Completely stoked … ! Originally put together for the ‘Nikon Walkley Storyology Slide Awards’ (in which it finished 2nd) the piece then went on to make the finalist cut of ten in the ‘Head On Moving Image Prize’ earlier this year.

“Eyes” is to be projected onto the big screen at the prestigious FotoLoft Gallery in Moscow (address 4-й Сыромятнический пер., 1/8, строение 6, Moscow, Russia, 105120 !!) on Tuesday November 3rd.
Just a pity I can’t get there to see it … but a nice honour to receive a win from the international award, based in Russia, that attracts a host of top photographers from around the planet.

The film can be viewed right here … (Images and Presentation © Brian Cassey)

 

Words ‘n’ Pics on Sex in PNG …

The illegality of female and male sex for sale and homosexuality in Papua New Guinea does not mean that these practises are not flourishing in our nearest neighbour … with the resulting growth of HIV/AIDS, sexual violence and rape.

To compile this story and images  – “Lives On The Line – The Risky Business of Selling Sex in PNG” – for Papua New Guinea’s Lily magazine (the first of hopefully more newspaper/magazine publications) – I spent some considerable time last year in ‘establishments’ in Port Moresby that most would politely describe as ‘questionable’ and/or ‘risky’ to say the least. However, most of those I spoke to in relation to their work selling sex did so with polite acceptance and frankness. Photographs were made that would not make their identity and involvement obvious to the authorities.

Amongst those providing me with remarkable insights were a self confessed middle aged lesbian pimp who has the health and well being of her teenage charges very much at heart, two teen girls (16 and 18) who cruise a well known Port Moresby ‘patch’, a ‘working girl’ (Pamuk Meri) who bases herself in an infamous ‘club’ and admits to half a dozen or so ‘clients’ a day … and a young gay man to whom payment for sex is just ‘normal’.

“Lives On The Line” is the third story that I have had published in Lily Magazine – a quality glossy women’s print mag that would well and truly hold it’s own on Australia’s news and magazine stands. (… and Many Thanks to Lily Managing Editor Margo Nugent for her hospitality and assistance!)

If you are interested in the full story and publishing “Lives On The Line” please send me an email at … …

Below are pdf’s of the eight pages of the article in the mag …

Magazine © Lily 2015, images and words © Brian Cassey

Lily Magazine article on Sex in Papua New Guinea - words and images by Brian Cassey

Lily Magazine article on Sex in Papua New Guinea - words and images by Brian Cassey

Tropical Travels … with Tony …

A distinct pleasure to join the Canberra ‘press pack’ for a week covering the Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s northern Australia indigenous tour. This year the PM chose to grace the Torres Strait and the Northern Peninsula Area at the tip of Cape York with his presence  – and several government Ministers also decided it was a good idea and left the chilly climes of Canberra to join him.

I was one of three still photographers in the ‘pack’ – the others being talented ‘fotostrada’ colleague and AAP staffer Tracey Nearmy and Fairfax Canberra politics photographer Alex Ellinghausen. Also carting still cameras was ex Daily Telegraph snapper Brad Hunter in his new role as the PM’s media adviser and personal photographer.

As is always the story with these ‘media opportunities’ the schedule was hectic – including visits to Thursday Island and Mer (Murray) Island in the Torres Strait – and then the NPA communities of Seisia, Bamaga, Injinoo, Umagico and New Mapoon. Highlight of the week was arguably Tony Abbott’s visit to the grave of Eddie Mabo (who infamously was instrumental in overturning the legal doctrine of terra nullius) on Mer Island.

Since our return from the far far north Tracey and I have compiled a photo essay – “Tropical Travelling with Tony” – which is now published on the web site of our ‘fotostrada’ collective under ‘Latest Stories’ at http://www.fotostrada.com/latest-stories/tropical-travelling-with-tony/ .

The collection of 33 images document the week of the tour concentrating on the background picture, the pics that wouldn’t/didn’t make the press – and the people and places that were impacted by the visit of Australia’s political leader. Plus the odd ‘different’ pic of Tony himself.

Below I’ve posted just three of the large essay – the top two made by myself and the third from Tracey.

Images © Brian Cassey (top two) and Tracey Nearmy (AAP – bottom)

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TravellingWithTonyBlog2

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Everyday … Everywhere …


Have been asked to do a little spell of ‘curating’ by Seattle based photographer Peter DiCampo on the ‘EverydayEverywhere’ Instagram feed. For two weeks in August/September (specifically 23rd August to September 5th) my task will be to select a couple of the best images each day from the various ‘Everyday’ feeds around the planet … and feature them on the world wide umbrella ‘EverydayEverywhere’ feed.

‘Everyday’ feeds have taken Instagram by storm since 2012 when Peter DiCampo and writer Austin Merrill founded @everydayafrica to showcase the best documentary images of the African Continent. It now has 159K followers. Various geographic feeds have spread around the world to include @everydayusa, @everydayvietnam, @everydayasia, @everydayeasterneurope, @everydaylatinamerica, @everydaymiddleeast, @everydayiran, @everydayegypt, @everydaydprk … and many many more.

‘EverydayEverywhere’ (@everydayeverywhere) has amassed just under sixty thousand followers since launch and is a visual feast of contemporary daily life images from around our planet.

My involvement came about as a member of Australia’s own ‘Everyday’ feed – @everydayaustralia – at the initial invitation of supremely talented photojournalist Andrew Quilty about six months ago. Our Australian ‘Everyday’ feed grew steadily in members, posts and followers until about two weeks ago when Instagram decided we were worthy of a spot on their ‘Suggested Users’ feature. Instagram says their “Suggested Users List is a dynamic list that highlights some of the top community members on Instagram”. In the last two weeks we have seen our number of followers skyrocket from a modest 3000 to almost 45K !! (We’re catching up with you @everydayeverywhere !)

My fellow contributors to @everydayaustralia are … Simone De Peak @simonedepeak, Nick Moir @nampix, Raphaela Rosella @raphaelarosella, Neda Vanovac @bookhopper, Glenn Campbell @glenn_campbell, Michael Wilson @michaelwwilson, Justine Muller @_justine_muller … and Dean Sewell @dean_sewell. My ‘handle’ is @brian_cassey.

Below I’ve posted current phone screen shots of both @everydayeverywhere and @everydataustralia .

© IG and the individual photographers.

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EDABlog1A

 

 

Head On Shenanigans & Finalists …

The Head On Photo Festival continues it’s meteoric and spectacular growth.

This years month long Festival kicked off in style on May 1 at Town Hall Sydney – the Festival ‘Hub’ – and I was pleased to once again be a part of Australia’s eminent photo show thanks to Festival Directors Moshe Rosenzveig and Anita Schwartz. Opening eve was packed to the ornate Town Hall rafters with about 800 guests and nine top flight photo exhibitions – and a very welcome ‘welcome’ bar.

Described as ‘a veritable orgy of photography’ Head On Photo Festival this year consisted of over a hundred exhibitions and the work of several hundred photographers.

For me, a Highlight amongst all the brilliant exhibitions, opening nights, workshops, artist talks, award presentations, portfolio reviews, pop up studios, trivia evenings etc etc and bloody fantastic work … was a meal post Custom’s House wine and cheese which I shared with three US superstar photographers, a delightful colleague from Byron Bay and two photographers from Iran !! (I know … it’s sounding like the opening line of a ‘joke’).

Sharing pizzas, wine and photojournalism small talk that eve were Ben Lowy (renowned Getty Images photojournalist) and his partner Marvi Lacar (Facebook Pages picture editor) , Los Angeles Times Chief Photographer Michael Robinson Chávez , Iranian girls Saghar Amirazimi and Shiva Shakhesi, the gorgeous and so talented Natalie Grono,  … and myself …

An extremely convivial and fascinating ‘across the divide’ few hours … ! (Pizzas weren’t bad either)

Head On Award wise I was, indeed, fortunate to have my work selected as a Finalist in two categories – the prestigious ‘Head On Portrait Prize’ and the new ‘Head On Moving Image Prize’ – and included in the Portrait Prize exhibition at the Museum of Sydney (till June 8th) and the Moving Image show at Brenda May Gallery Waterloo (till June 6th). Both exhibitions are well worth a visit and a pleasure to humbly be a part of.

Below I’ve posted my Portrait Finalist image “Disko Meri” – a portrait of a night club hostess girl in Port Moresby PNG (Thank You Julie!) – and my Moving Image work “Eyes – The Soul of a Photograph”.

Many Thanks for the wonderful hospitality afforded me by the Head On Photo Festival crew – Kat Mills, Lauran Vohmann, John Slaytor, Jon Lewis, Moshe, Anita and many others … just brilliant …

Images © Brian Cassey

HeadOn_DiskoMeri_Blog

 

Good Weekend at 30 …

Fairfax’s weekend colour magazine Good Weekend is celebrating an anniversary – “Three decades of great story telling” – by reprising thirty of the very best features re-published in a special ‘Classics’ series “Good Weekend at 30”.

Pleased to report that a story that I worked on with mega talented journalist John van Tiggelen is amongst them.

“Another Country” was originally published in the mag as the cover feature on the 15th of May 2008 (blimey – was it really that long ago) … and told the story of, in Johns incisive wonderfully descriptive words and my images, the plight of the residents of the troubled Cape York Peninsula indigenous community of Aurukun.

The publication of the story stirred the pot somewhat and it was an important catalyst for change in conditions in far too long neglected aboriginal communities. Certainly some of the observations made just six years ago are not as appropriate or apparent now.

The Fairfax promotional image for “Good Weekend at 30” is below … and my cover is bottom row third from left (indigenous children with wallaby). You can read John’s excellent “Another Country” and see some of my accompanying pics (in some cases badly cropped by online subs) at … http://www.smh.com.au/good-weekend/gw-classics/another-country-20140828-109ira.html . You may read all the excellent selected “Good Weekend at 30” feature stories by visiting … http://www.smh.com.au/good-weekend/gw-classics/ 

Also below is my favourite image from the Aurukun set (before being savagely hacked by subs !). It was used on page 1 of the Sydney Morning Herald to promote the original publication of “Another Country” back in 2008.

Aurukun images © Brian Cassey

GoodweekendAt30Blog

AurukunKidsBlog

 

Gordon Parks Awards US of A …

A nice little bit of recognition recently when one of my images from South Korea was awarded “Honorable Mention” (i.e. 4th!) in the “26th Annual Gordon Parks International Photography Awards”. The awards celebrate the work of the eminent coloured US photographer Gordon Parks who not only produced brilliant photo essays as a staffer for ‘Life Magazine’ but also directed the 1971 movie ‘Shaft’. (Who doesn’t remember Isaac Hayes great ‘Theme from Shaft’ which won an ‘Academy Award’.)

Gordon Parks died in 2006 aged 93 but the Gordon Parks Center  continue to promote his work, make it available to the public through exhibitions, books etc and support artistic and educational activities that advance his ideal of  “the common search for a better life and a better world.”

The theme for this years awards and exhibition was “The Face of Poverty” … a subject covered prominently by Gordon Parks own work. Amongst the winners and finalists were entries from the US, Bangladesh, Japan … and Australia (me!). My image (below) was made in Seoul South Korea whilst documenting the many homeless individuals that exist around the main railway station and at the time facing eviction by National rail network Korail. I made the pic as s small boy stopped to stare at a homeless man preparing his cardboard box bed for a nights sleep in a station underpass.

Details of all the prize winners can be found at http://www.gordonparkscenter.org/photocontest/items/WinnersFinalists%202014.pdf

Image © Brian Cassey

pic by Brian Cassey

“Eyes” Image Presentation …

Prepared a presentation for inclusion in tonights Nikon Walkley ‘Storyology’ slide night event at the Brisbane Powerhouse.

The Nikon Walkley events in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney are a great window for photographers to present their work to a excellent audience of their peers and others.

My presentation explores the axiom that the eyes are the ‘soul’ of many a photograph.

If you are lucky enough to be present this evening at the Powerhouse and enjoy “Eyes” please consider a vote for ‘best in show’.

“Eyes … the Soul of a Photograph” is also presented below … and on my web site in the ‘Play’ section at https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/play/

UPDATE:  “Eyes … the Soul of a Photograph” was awarded a close count ‘runner up’ by the audience on the evening – full news on the Walkley web site at http://walkleys.com/winners-photo-highlights-brisbane-slide-night/

 

New Essay … Aurukun Day …

A new photo essay I made last weekend – “Aurukun Day” – has now been posted to the web site of the photojournalism collective ‘fotostrada’ in ‘Latest Stories’.

The images document the celebrations in the Cape York Peninsula indigenous community to mark the 110th anniversary of the founding of Aurukun by Presbyterian missionaries. The weekend was also an opportunity to ‘take back’ to Aurukun my work completed locally – “The Aak Puul Ngnatam Stockman”. A multimedia piece was projected on the wall of the local store before the ‘disco’ and my portrait prints were also displayed on the store in the township centre.

Full details of the new essay can be found on the ‘fotostrada’ site here.

Below are just two images from the essay of 23 – top Elder Jock Eundatweakin – and below local kids at the disco event.

Images © Brian Cassey 2014

BCAurukunDayBlog1

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South Korea – ‘Monthly Photography’ …

How’s your Korean? I have absolutely no idea what the text says (which is a little disconcerting) but I must say I’m a little pleased with the six page spread of my images in the soon to hit the streets (in South Korea) edition of “Monthly Photography” – the oldest and most respected photography magazine in Korea.

The mag (established in 1966) was keen to showcase my work covering Cyclone Yasi from a couple of years ago in a special edition “Eyes of the World” featuring photographers and their work from around the planet (which surprises me immensely considering the mind blowing work that other photojournalists managed to make in the aftermath of the much more disastrous and more recent Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines).

Still – it’s a very nice compliment, it’s always good to see your work gain exposure (especially in countries where your work is not generally seen) …  and it is a nice simple layout.

Now … can anyone out there send me a translation please !?

Below are grabs of the six pages containing Korean text and my images … and also one of the “Eyes of the World” special edition magazine cover.

Images © Brian Cassey

레이아웃 1

레이아웃 1

레이아웃 1

10월호표지1-4(확정OK).qxp

 

Two Days With Nikon …

Thanks to Steve Merrin and Andrew King of Nikon Australia I spent a great two days last week in that other northern Queensland city of Townsville.

At Nikons invitation I gave a ‘lecture’ to Townsville’s pro photographers on photojournalism and surviving therein over the decades and in todays media climate … joined the Nikon crew in an extreme low light workshop which highlighted the performance of Nikons FX large sensor cameras including the D4s and the brand new Nikon D810 … and joined the sales crew at Garricks Camera House for a special Nikon promotion and sale day. it was Nikon’s first … and hopefully not the last … event in the far north of Queensland.

A full on and enjoyable couple of entertaining days …

The numbers in attendance at my little chat (which ran well over the time optimistically allotted by Steve at 90 minutes) surprised me … and according to the feedback … was well received by the audience of ‘pros’  – portrait, wedding, commercial and the odd PJ. Accompanying my natter was a visual show of over a hundred of my images from across the decades … and a few pieces of past photographic kit.

Below are just two of the hundred odd images from last Fridays Townsville presentation. The first is an emotion charged image from that most competitive game of lawn bowls which I made in the 80’s … and secondly an image I made in the far west of Queensland in the dysfunctional indigenous community of Urandangi in 2008.

Images © Brian Cassey

Australia - Cairns - 1987

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July 4th Times Two …

Have now had a chance to post my new “July 4th USA” pic essay to my personal website at … https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/photographs/4th-july-usa/

… in addition to the earlier post on the web site of our photojournalist collective ‘fotostrada’ in ‘Latest Stories’ at … http://www.fotostrada.com/#/latest-stories/july-4th/ .

The pic essay was made in the US coastal community of Half Moon Bay, just south of San Francisco, California. It is a small community Independence Day Parade chockers with local enthusiasm and involvement. Traditional small town parades such as this are becoming rarer in the US as community values and finances change.

Below I’ve posted another couple of images from the large essay which may now be found here and here .

Images © Brian Cassey 2014

 

July 4th & San Francisco …

Thanks to the organisers of “The Kellicutt International Photo Show” (of which I am honoured to be one of this years three judges) I found my myself in the coastal community of Half Moon Bay California on the most important day of the year for most Americans – July 4th Independence Day.

Just south of the San Francisco metropolis, Half Moon Bay is a pretty satellite community based around agriculture and fishing. The main street – Main Street (surprisingly) – comes alive on July 4 with a colourful traditional local parade. All can join in the fun …

Parades of this type are becoming rarer as community and family values fade over time.

I greatly enjoyed the atmosphere on the day and making the images and have now posted a pic essay “July 4th” to “Latest Stories” on the ‘fotostrada’ web site at http://www.fotostrada.com/#/latest-stories/july-4th/BC_USAJuly4_31

Tonight (July 5th) I will be attending the big presentation of awards evening at “The Kellicutt International Photo Show”. Fellow judges and photographers Scott Atkinson, Oliver Klink and myself have now selected the winners and place getters from the forty five hanging in the exhibition which were whittled down from the initial circa twelve hundred entries from around the planet. The prize winning works are a diverse selection from all forms of photography including portrait, landscape, wildlife and photojournalism. More about the winners later … ! I’m also deeply appreciative of the invitation and hospitality provided by the photo show organisers Jeff and Kirsten Klagenberg … Thanks Guys!

Below I’ve posted just a couple of teaser images from the pic essay “July 4th”.

Images © Brian Cassey

 

‘Proof: Photo Essays From the Top End’ …

Very pleased to be one among the excellent compliment of thirteen photojournalists showing their work next month in Darwin’s new festival of photojournalism  – ‘Proof: Photo Essays From the Top End’.

The festival has not one but two openings in two venues. Friday May 2nd sees work unveiled on the Darwin Waterfront from 6.30pm whilst Saturday May 3rd sees the opening of the display at the Northern Centre for Contemporary Art at noon.

The other dozen photographers exhibiting in ‘Proof’ are Megan Lewis, Clive Hyde, Andrew Quilty, Ed Wray, Martine Perret, Elise Derwin, Daniel Hartley-Allen, Baz Ledwidge, Madi Nagi, Regis Martin & Frederick Mit … and my ‘fotostrada’ colleague Glenn Campbell who is also helping curate the exhibition.

My work on display will be the portraits collection from my “The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman” set, which has previously been shown at the Global Gallery in Paddington Sydney during the Head On Photo Festival and The Tanks Arts Centre in Cairns.

It promises to be a fantastic show … so if you’re in the ‘Top End’ between the first week in May and the end of the show on June 1st … please do come along to see some excellent photojournalism.

 

Proof Darwin invitation blog

Pecha Kucha? … What The Hell Is That … ?

“Pecha What ?”  That was the question I asked of ‘The Tanks Arts Centre’ curator Chris Stannard over a beer after the Degree South collective exhibition “PEACE” about a year ago.

Turns out that ‘Pecha Kucha’ – ‘the art of concise presentations’ – is a world wide phenomenon.

The idea is that you present and comment on twenty of your images in a slide show in front of a live audience … each slide changes automatically after twenty seconds. Quick bit of maths gives you a presentation time of six minutes and forty seconds. Apart from that there are no rules. Just entertain your audience with your pics and words.

Apparently the format was devised by a couple of architects in Tokyo in 2003 … and has now spread around the planet to over seven hundred and twenty cities in over a hundred countries. Now one of those 700 plus, Cairns showed it’s first Pecha Kucha at the wonderful ‘The Tanks’ venue in 2011. It has been steadily growing in popularity since.

Sounded a fair idea … so I lost my Pecha Kucha virginity last May with “The Dogs of Sai Kung” in Cairns volume #7.

Next Wednesday eve sees the first Tanks Cairns Pecha Kucha presentation for 2014 – Cairns volume #10 – and I am once again amongst the presenters – over a dozen for the night. I have selected images made in our closest neighbour Papua New Guinea and the subject is “The Impossible Ban on Betel Nut” selected from my “Betel Nut Ban in PNG” essay.

A Pecha Kucha evening is a great opportunity to network, catch up with friends, fellow artists and photographers, share a beer or three, promote your work and see the images of others – and The Tanks is a great venue.

Below is just one of the images from my presentation next Wednesday. The image shows betel nut (buai) traders with their produce at Eight Mile on the outskirts of Port Moresby following the ban on trade and sale. Come along from 6.30pm and see all the imaginative and creative work on show.

Image © Brian Cassey

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Betel Ban – Words and Pics in SMH …

Making Images is one thing … but putting words together is a little more problematic.

So, I’m more than a little gratified that the Sydney Morning Herald has today published my 1000 word story “Chewing Over a Betel Ban” (and three pics) on page 8 of their News Review section. They are also running the story online and an accompanying pic gallery of seventeen images.

The story and images are the result of a recent (self funded) visit to Papua New Guinea to document the story of the just imposed ban on the sale and public use of the habitual carcinogenic betel nut – or ‘buai’ as it is called locally. The social implications of the ban and it’s effect on the betel nut trade that is a bread winner for a massive proportion of PNG residents will be immense.

The results of my journalistic torment can be found here in the SMH at http://www.smh.com.au/world/chewing-over-a-betel-ban-20131108-2x6ra.html … and the image gallery here at http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/world/the-betel-nut-20131108-2x6hb.html (update: unfortunately SMH have now – as at Oct 2015 – removed these.)

The complete essay of 27 images on the betel nut story can be found on my website at https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/photographs/betel-nut-ban-png/ and on the web site of the  ‘fotostrada’ collective at http://www.fotostrada.com/brian-cassey/betel-nut-ban-hard-to-chew/BCBetelNut12/

Below is a screen grab of the SMH story as published on the printed paper page.

Images/Words © Brian Cassey

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PNG Ban Hard to Chew …

Have now posted a new pic essay made during a recent visit to Papua New Guinea to “Latest Stories” on the web site of our collective ‘fotostrada’. The essay is entitled “Betel Nut Ban Hard to Chew” and it documents in pics (and words) the curious situation following the contentious imposition of a ban by the city of Port Moresby on the sale or public use of the traditional, natural but carcinogenic stimulant betel nut – known locally as ‘buai’.  The city cites the expense of the constant clean up of the bright red betel nut spittle stains and husk refuse and a concern for citizens health as the reason for the ban. (Betel nut use has been linked to mouth and other cancers and the spread of tuberculosis).

However, the betel nut trade is lucrative and large – and an entire underclass of PNG residents derive their total income from ‘buai’ sales.  Tensions are running high with opponents of the ban predicting social unrest, an increase in crime and prostitution (and therefore AIDS) and a break down in law and order.

The images were made at local markets (at least at those still allowed to sell betel nut until a November 1st deadline), at sellers and users communities and homes – and in Port Moresby city centre where ‘Rangers’ now search the streets for elicit ‘buai’.

Am hoping for a publication of the images and a comprehensive story in the next week or so.

Below I’ve posted just two of the images from the set which can be viewed in it’s entirety here at http://www.fotostrada.com/brian-cassey/betel-nut-ban-hard-to-chew/BCBetelNut12/

Images © Brian Cassey 2013

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Fancy Banana Leaf Curry Then … ?

Have posted a new pic essay – “Aravind’s” to the ‘fotostrada’ web site in ‘Latest Stories’.

The essay evolved as more of a personal challenge during a quick stopover in Singapore … and an excuse for a nice lunch.

Whenever I visit Singapore I try to find time to visit Little India for a banana leaf curry. For some bizarre reason it is said that the best banana leaf curry dishes are not in India but tucked away in the back streets around the Hindu Sri Veeramakaliamman temple on the main drag of Little India Singapore. ‘Aravinds Curry’ is one such banana leaf restaurant …

This essay is just a small window on the life of a little every day local eatery in one of the planet’s great multicultural cities …

Below is just one image from the essay – the complete twenty one image set and text can be found here – http://www.fotostrada.com/#/latest-stories/aravinds/BCAravinds1

Image © Brian Cassey 2013

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The Other Side of Manus …

“The Other Side of Manus” essay – documenting life on the Papua New Guinea Island near the Equator that is more than just an Australian detention centre for asylum seekers – is now up on my personal web site at … https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/photographs/side-manus/

In addition it can also be found on the web site of the collective ‘fotostrada’ in ‘Latest Stories’ at … http://www.fotostrada.com/#/latest-stories/the-other-side-of-manus/

The essay was originally made for News Ltd, was published in full in the ‘Australian’ and can be found here.

Below is just one of the images from the full essay.

Image © Brian CasseyBCManusBlog

More Manus …

As flagged in the last post below, the ‘Courier Mail’ did, indeed, use my new images from  Manus Island Papua New Guinea in a ‘spread’ in Saturday’s print edition.

The entire essay is now also on the web site of my collective ‘fotostrada’ in ‘Latest Stories’ at … http://www.fotostrada.com/#/latest-stories/the-other-side-of-manus/ … also can still be found at ‘The Australian’ online here … and will soon be added to my personal website.

An image of the ‘Courier Mail’ spread is below …

All images © Brian Cassey

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