Moran Prize …

When I first arrived in  India I received the pleasant news that two of my images made the semi-finals of the Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize 2011.

A few days later whilst well into our Rajasthan road trip the news got even better and  that yet another of my images was selected as a Finalist and a contender for the huge $100,000 prize. (Not that I have any illusions that it will be successful in that regard!)

The Moran is the richest and one of the most regarded photographic prizes in Australia (indeed the World) and it is indeed an honour to be selected alongside the work of some amazing photographers.

The three images selected are below … top is the ‘Finalist’ … an image entitled ‘Cyclone’ taken in the wake of category 5 Cyclone Yasi. Below are the two semi-finalists … ‘Carol – Burns Survivor’ and ‘Ivan Bamboo – Meths Drinker’.

All images © Brian Cassey

India …

The road trip through Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh India by myself and two News Ltd colleagues Rob Maccoll and Peter Wallis went almost without a hitch and produced some nice images.

First small hiccup of the trip was in Jodhpur when we were told our long booked and requested Ambassador car (a clone of the 1950’s Morris Oxford) could not be supplied – “It is not possible Sir” we were told by the company several times.

Well it was possible. On the way to the Jodhpur Fort I meet Kishore and his beautifully maintained Morris lookalike. ‘Kish’ is as proud as punch of his white Ambassador and apparently he is the only remaining licensed Ambassador driver in Jodhpur. Despite having a previous booking ‘Kish’ was keen to take on our 7 day trek through Rajasthan and on to Agra. Fee negotiated and we had our transport.

So began our sedate (max 85 kph) road trip … and we only had two flat tyres in the first three days to slow us down further! Kish was a brilliant font of local knowledge and a great character – a priceless find. Our cruise through the amazing colours of Rajasthan took us from Jodhpur to Udaipur, Pushkar and then on to Jaipur for the World famous Elephant Festival and Holi.

As Kish was rightly concerned about damage to his precious Ambassador during Holi we hired a local tuk-tuk for the morning. The driver quickly understood that we were not tourists and took us way into the Jaipur suburbs where the locals were really celebrating the Holi Festival in earnest. We even shared whisky – and ‘colours’ – at his brothers house with the extended family. Obviously the locals saw us as prime targets for ‘colours’ , dousing of water and the odd ‘dance’ or two !

After a very long shower to wash of the myriad of coloured dyes we left Jaipur. Whilst Rob and Pete continued on to Agra with Kish I took a side trek to the Holy City of Vrindavan  for a few hours where I met up with Syam and his motorbike. Syam gave me the most exhilarating ride of my life – flashing through the tiny alleys and lanes of the busy little town from temple to temple and gripping tightly to two Nikons. Vrindavan would have been worth the visit for Syam’s ride alone !

On to Agra … where we did the tourist bit and visited the Taj Mahal … nice building. The plan was to take the train from Agra to Varanasi, however, we found the trains booked out for several days and arranged a speedy car transfer instead.

Varanasi and the Ganges provided many images in beautiful light and we had a great view from our hotel rooms right on the ghats. Couldn’t bring myself to have a swim though! After 3 nights in Varanasi it was back to Delhi, then Kuala Lumpur and home.

A truly memorable trip and our first publication is already arranged – a spread in the next edition of the  Walkley Magazine.

Below I’ve posted a few pics from the many I made on the trip. I’ll let you know here, on Facebook or Twitter when the full pic essays are up.

All images © Brian Cassey – from top – Jaipur, Wedding in Jodhpur, Holi in Jaipur, Sari’s drying on the Ganges at Varanasi, Dancers in Udaipur, The Ganges Varanasi.

 

National Library of Australia …

My gratitude goes to Craig Hodges of ACT who sent me a message today with the welcome information that my volume of indigenous images – “To Be Indigenous” – is currently featured and on display in the reading room of The National Library of Australia in Canberra.

A bit pleased about that …

The volume is 64 pages landscape, hardcover and 13″x11″ on premium stock – features a forward by Walkley winning journalist Tony Koch and images from many north Queensland indigenous communities.

Below is a cover image and a selection of pics from inside the volume. More info on books can be found here.

All Images © Brian Cassey

Cyclone Yasi Pic Essay …

The massive clean up continues in the wake of category 5 Cyclone Yasi.

As hinted at in the earlier post below “Cyclone, Cyclone”, I’ve now posted a pic essay to the ‘fotostrada’ web site in “Latest Stories” –  on the passage of the cyclone and it’s destruction through northern Queensland Australia. There may well be more images added as the weeks progress.

(Update – As of late February this essay is also included in my main Photojournalism website at www.briancasseyphtographer.com .)

Below are a small selection of images from the essay – the complete work may be found on ‘fotostrada’ here and on my main site here .

All images © Brian Cassey

Cyclone, Cyclone …

A jam packed, eventful and sad week …

It began with a 600 kilometre road chase from Cairns to Bowen to catch category 2 Cyclone Anthony crossing the coast and giving the town (famous for being the site where the movie “Australia” was filmed) a bit of a shake up. Nuthin’ too serious and a challenge to get newsy frames.

However, all that was about to change as the massive storm system of Cyclone Yasi moved across the Coral Sea from the Fiji area and strengthened to category 5.

Weather experts warned that Yasi was on target to cross the coast somewhere between Cooktown and Bowen on the far north east coast of Queensland with catastrophic results.

The Queensland Government line was even more pessimistic … calling Yasi the worst ever cyclone to grace Australia in modern times. Lives would be lost …

By Monday the City of Townsville was deemed to be at the point of Cyclone Yasi’s arrow. After documenting Bowen’s damage from Anthony we drove up the coast to find a suitably strong, tidal surge proof hotel room in Townsville to await the tempest.

However, first light next morning brought the news that Yasi had turned it’s attention further north and was now targeting my home town of Cairns. So … back in the car for the near 400 km drive home stopping off at various spots en route to do a few ‘preview’ pics.

The priorities back in Cairns were two fold … plan where and how to photographically document the worse case scenario of massive destruction … and to do as much as we could to save our beautiful old timber Queensland style house and all that it contains.

After boarding up, packing up and kissing the house good bye, attention turned to the photographic plan. Rooms were booked at the Hilton Hotel on the waterfront in Cairns and car parks acquired above storm surge level on the second floor of the building next door. Helicopters were placed on standby to be available as soon as the cyclone passed.

Dawn of Cyclone Yasi’s arrival saw thousands of families stream into cyclone rated evacuation centres in shopping centres and schools … they filled quickly and some were turned away. By early afternoon the streets were completely deserted and an eerie calm settled over the town. Major hotels, including our Hilton, had plans in place to lock all guests up for the duration. A bit of polite negotiation with hotel management and we were free to come and go “at our own risk”.

Luckily for Cairns Yasi took a late final twist to the south and zeroed in on the small seaside town of Cardwell … half way between Townsville and Cairns.

Overnight category 5 Yasi, punching winds up to 300 km an hour, smashed it’s way through the Cassowary Coast area from Silkwood in the north, El Arish, Mission Beach, Tully, Hull Heads, Tully Heads, Dunk Island and Cardwell. A storm surge metres high destroyed beach side properties and islands.

For over 7 hours after Yasi crossed the coast we flew around the disaster areas in our chopper documenting the damage and tribulations of the shell shocked residents from the air and on the ground. The next day we returned by helicopter to the remains of famous Dunk Island Resort and spoke to traumatised staff and management.

Out of the many published pics in News Ltd mastheads I made in the early days following, the most striking, I feel, were these two which made it to the front pages of two consecutive days ‘The Courier Mail” …

When time permits I will put together a photo essay of images from this disastrous event.

‘fotostrada’ …

As many of you may know I am one of nine that constitute the photojournalist collective ‘fotostrada’.

Formed in Sydney in 2008 the collective membership now extends geographically around Australia and to India and Malaysia. We are a varied lot – a mix of wire and newspaper staffers and freelancers and all very experienced – but we all have one (at least!) thing in common … Photojournalism and a real passion for the photographic image.

You will find on the ‘fotostrada’ site individual photographers portfolios and biographies, a ‘Latest Singles’ section which is updated with members new single images every month … and a ‘Latest Stories’ section where new photographic essays are introduced.

Below are just a few selected images from our members latest pic essays – you can find the essays in full at ‘Latest Stories’.

Our members are : Dean Lewins and Tracey Nearmy (AAP – Sydney), Sam Mooy (The Australian – Sydney), Kelly Barnes (The Australian – Adelaide), Dean Saffron (Freelance – Brisbane), Mark ‘Crusty’ Baker (AP – KL Malaysia), Melanie Russell (Freelance – Sydney), Graham Crouch (Freelance – Delhi India) and myself … freelance based in Cairns northern Australia.

From “Condamine” – © Dean Saffron

From “An Indian Wedding” – © Graham Crouch

From “Canonisation Of Mary McKillop” – © Kelly Barnes

From “Banyu Pinaruh – Bali” – © Brian Cassey

From “A Day In Old Delhi” – © Sam Mooy

Stairway To Heaven …

One of my favourite images of late … and a nice publication … featured in The Australian Weekend Magazine “Heart Of A Nation” section on the 15th January 11.

© Image – Brian Cassey


“A Paradise Of Sorts“

“Cairns based Photographer Brian Cassey was down at the Gold Coast on a job for the London newspapers – trying to snap celebs who’d been evicted from the British reality TV series I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, being filmed in the nearby Springbrook National Park – when he found himself one day in Surfers Paradise.

It was Schoolies Week. He’s no fan of the institution – “I usually try to stay away… all you’re going to get is trouble,” he says wisely – but after managing to avoid all the boozing and carousing youngsters he stumbled across this strange scene in the Centro Shopping Centre. The girls dressed as angels were going around collecting money for Paradise Kids – a Gold Coast charity that helps children deal with the heartache of losing a loved one.

Cassey couldn’t resist the image of a bunch of angels ascending a stairway – not to heaven, you’ll notice, but to a bowling alley on one side and the Australian Shooting Academy on the other. Despite the name, the “Academy” doesn’t offer educational courses exactly; rather, punters come in and pay money for the thrill of firing weapons – everything from a big-game hunting rifle to a Smith & Wesson 500 magnum, the most powerful production revolver on earth. It’s a strange old world.”                 Ross Bilton

Rooftop Oasis …

This image was taken from near the top of the Hilton Hotel Sydney tower on a recent visit. I was especially drawn to the saturated colour of the pool area contrasting with the colourless, drab and stark urban landscape.

One can only assume that the swimmers were unaware of their surroundings outside the pool walls … or didn’t care.

An image that shows we are capable of manufacturing our little perfect places almost anywhere we choose.

© Image – Brian Cassey

Banyu Pinaruh …

Very fortunate to arrive in Bali the day before one of the biggest festivals on the Hindu calendar. Held every very 210 days (based on the Balinese Pawukon Cycle), Hindu Balinese celebrate ‘Banyu Pinaruh’ – a day of ritual cleansing and celebration in the waters of the Indonesian island.

Balinese flock to beaches, rivers, lakes and springs before dawn to greet the sun, bathe to purify the body and soul, say prayers and make offerings to celebrate the coming of knowledge to the world.

‘Banyu Pinaruh’ (Banyu means ‘water’, Pinaruh ‘wisdom’) is held the day following Saraswati Day which celebrates Sanghyang Saraswati, the manifestation of God, the goddess of knowledge, science and the arts.

Below is just one image from the essay – the complete work may be found on my website here or alternatively on the ‘fotostrada’ web site here .

This essay was made at Sanur Beach whilst I was staying at the sublime Tandjung Sari hotel.

© Image – Brian Cassey

Tram – Hong Kong …

Whilst in Hong Kong documenting the plight of the ‘Cage Dwellers’ I was struck by the ‘capitalist’ advertising art work adorning the former British colony’s  century old trams. The most proletariat from of transport possible – a fare costs a mere few cents – the trams sported garish messages, sometimes subtly and sometimes less so, imploring viewers to consume, consume. The many happy smiling advertising faces depicted in paint on the side of the rattly old vehicles contrasted strikingly with the ordinary Hong Kong inhabitants going about their daily lives.

Below is one image from the essay. The complete work can be found on my website here, or alternatively on the ‘fotostrada’ website here .

© Image – Brian Cassey