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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Korean Photo Mag Exposes Me As A Kid …

Over the years I’ve made images of tens of thousands of people … it’s what I enjoy doing and I’m extremely fortunate that I’ve managed to eke out a meagre living doing just that. However, strangely, throughout my life there have been very very few photographs taken of myself. Even as a child I was rarely photographed and only a handful of pics remain. (Looking in the mirror I suppose that is not so surprising!)

It was, indeed then, very surprising to receive a request from South Korea’s distinguished “Monthly Photography” magazine to provide a photograph of myself as a small child. Their idea was to collect images of photographers from around the World as young children and contrast the photographs in an pic story entitled “In Memory”.

The article featured early childhood photographs of thirty two photographers including myself,  a host of Korean photographers and a selection of renowned International photographers and photo artists – Alberto Salván Zulueta (Spain), Michal Solarski (UK), Matthieu Gafsou (Switzerland), Mary Fashbaugh (USA), Sylvia Kowalczyk (Poland), John Goto (UK), Jonny Briggs (UK), Eduardo Leal (Portugal) and Eeva Hannula (Finland) – all of which are much more accomplished than I !

This – very roughly translated from the (edited) Korean text – is their rationale – “We asked photographers from Korea and around the World to send photos of themselves and their families when they were very young. Every photographer supplied a photo that told a real story of childhood in these countries in days long gone. There are a lot of real stories in these powerful family photos. Every generation has a different lifestyle and we can see that in the photographs. But time goes on …
More importantly these photographs show that family love never changes. Those old photos help us think about the real meaning of the family”.

The caption under my pic roughly translates (again edited) to – “I was about 3 years – my sister 6 years older – that day Queen Elizabeth visited our neighbourhood, went past our house and along our street .We were waiting for the Queen wearing best dressed and fancy dress. She came past our house in her royal limousine. When the Queen had gone we had a street carnival. My sister grabbed my hand during a very special moment for the neighbourhood”.

Yes – that is me on the top right! (To my right is my sister Brenda and then our two boy neighbours.)

Below I’ve posted images of the relevant pages of the 15 page article, cover of the issue of “Monthly Photography” … and a copy of the pic from my childhood. ©

 

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Rural Press Winner …

Whilst in Brisbane to talk at the launch of the Nikon Walkley Press Photography Exhibition (see post here) I also took time out to accept an invitation to attend a Rural Press Club lunch at the venerable Tattersalls Club.

A very nice lunch it was too … made even more enjoyable by the announcement that one of my images was a ‘Winner’ in the ‘Excellence in Rural Journalism Awards 2015’ in the Photography Landscape & Nature category.

The annual awards celebrate the work of journalists and photographers working on stories of a rural nature. The work of winners in Queensland then progress to Australia wide awards and, if then successful, to the IFAJ (International Federation of Agricultural Journalists) awards. (In 2012 one of my images taken after Cyclone Yasi won the Queensland, Australian and International awards in the ‘People’ category.)

The winning image this year (below) was made during the coverage of Cyclone Ita’s passage across the Cooktown area of north Queensland in April 2014 and show’s the aftermath of the cyclone’s total destruction of banana crops at the indigenous community of Hopevale. (Coincidentally I have only just returned from another trip to Hopevale where I documented the latest cyclone damage to the banana crop by Cyclone Nathan).

The pic – which shows Chief Banana Packer at the Hopevale Banana venture Phyllis Gibson carrying felled fruit watched by her grandson Dwayne Bowen – was published on page 1 of The Australian on 14th April 2014 (as shown on the newspaper grab below)

Images © Brian Cassey 2014

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Everyday, Australia and the World …

Delighted to be invited to be part of the ‘Everyday’ phenomenon currently running riot on Instagram.

The story of ‘Everyday’ Instagram feeds began in 2012 when photographer Peter DiCampo and writer Austin Merrill founded @everydayafrica to showcase the best documentary images of the African Continent. It now has a following in excess of 113,000. Since then, many other accounts have been born including @everydayasia which has amassed more than 50,000 followers and, most recently, @everydayusa which grew to a similar number in just a matter of months.

This week I received an invitation to be part of  the new ‘Everyday Australia’  @everydayaustralia feed curated by current Nikon Walkley Press Photographer of the Year and all round consummate photojournalist and good guy Andrew Quilty. I didn’t have to think twice!

Andrew’s creation of @everydayaustralia makes it the sixth continent to be covered by the official ‘Everyday’ network. DiCampo and Merrill have both been very enthusiastic about the launch of @everydayaustralia, as has Teru Kuwayama – Facebook’s photo community manager – who made the account name available.

Since late 2014 all the various ‘Everyday’ feeds have been loosely connected under a Global umbrella feed “Everyday Everywhere” @everydayeverywhere which acts as a World wide “Best Of” window. The @everydayeverywhere feed on Instagram is controlled by a central curator who searches for recent hash tagged #everydayeverywhere images from the various ‘Everyday’ feeds and reposts at least one every day.

At the moment the contributing photographers to @everydayaustralia are Oculi collective members Andrew, Dean Sewell and Raphaela Rosella, WA based Michael Wilson … and myself. STOP PRESS – two more contributors have just been announced – Darwin’s Glenn Campbell (‘fotostrada’ collective) and Newcastle based Simone De Peak. Look out for their first @everdayaustralia posts.

Generally speaking, depicting daily life in Australia is ‘raison d’être’ for @everydayaustralia. Work is documentary in style but also not excluding portraits, news, events etc.

Please take the time to find some great mobile device photojournalism and daily life work on @everydayaustralia and @everydayeverywhere.

Below are my first couple of contributions to @everydayaustralia
 … a click on them will take you to the feed to see the stories behind these two images and more from the other contributors. My personal Instagram feed is @brian_cassey.

Instagram iPhone images © Brian Cassey

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“After The Wave” – Tsunami 10 Years On …

Seems impossible that the horror of the Boxing Day Asian tsunami is now ten years past today. Still hard to believe – even after working on the aftermath in Banda Aceh Indonesia, Phuket Thailand and Myanmar – that nearly a quarter of a million died that day.

For those who worked documenting the Worlds (possibly) largest ever natural disaster, including myself, the images of death and destruction are indelibly etched.

I was tasked to cover the tsunami alongside the tough as nails and supremely talented UK journalist Susie Boniface for a British Sunday tabloid. Our immediate objective was to find the youngest UK victim and in Phuket we discovered battered survivor Patrice Fayet searching for his British wife and 6 month old Ruby-Rose. With the permission of Patrice and his family we documented his search amongst the temple morgues around Koh Lak Thailand. A eye opening unenviable task. The remains of Patrice’s wife Samantha were identified by DNA some months later. Ruby-Rose has never been found.

Ten years on and I was approached by a production company to provide my images of Patrice and the search for Ruby-Rose for use as an integral part of a 90 minute commemorative documentary film “After the Wave”. The film has already aired on SBS and the UK Discovery Channel to mark the tenth anniversary of the disaster.

“After the Wave” tells the untold story of the epic forensic operation in Thailand to identify and return home the bodies of over 5,000 victims. It has received great reviews in the Australian media. The SMH described it as ‘Haunting and Beautiful’ …  SBS stated  “The 90 minute film ‘After The Wave’ features heartbreaking first-person accounts of families torn apart when the tsunami struck. It also tells the story of the Australian Federal Police officers who led what became the world’s biggest forensic identification operation – returning a staggering 4000 bodies to families in 40 different countries”.

Around a dozen of my images from ten years ago are used in the production (with Patrice’s permission) and a further two of Patrice during his search for Ruby-Rose are being used on promotional material for “After the Wave” … and these can be viewed below (pics 2 and 3).

A collection of my tsunami photographs from both the 2004 Asian event (including those of Patrice’s search) and the Papua New Guinea tsunami in Sissano and Aitape 1998 can be found at … https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/photographs/tsunami/

Patrice Fayet images © Brian Cassey

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‘Genesis’ Story in Walkley Mag …

The latest edition of the Walkley Magazine has hit the streets … and within is published (at the request of the Walkley Foundation) “In the Beginning” … my story on the ‘Genesis Project’ exhibition.

‘Genesis’ developed from an a germ of an idea I had … to explore the early images of now experienced photographers …  the catalysts that transformed a child, teen or young adult into a potential devoted pro photographer. The moments when through creating an image they realised “this is what I want to do – become a photographer and make photographs – to capture life’s moments”.

The exhibition was a major featured event at this years Head On Photo Festival in Sydney. Was pretty chuffed when contacted by the Walkley Foundation and asked to contribute the ‘Genesis’ story to their prestigious magazine. Posted below are grabs of the three pages as published where you may read the story and see some of the images. (As mentioned in the previous post I was also asked to present a ‘power talk’ and visual presentation on the project at the Walkley ‘Storyology’ event in Sydney.)

There is more on the ‘Genesis Project’ on my blog at … https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/blog/2014/05/genesis-project-great-company/ … and … https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/blog/publications/2014/05/genesis-france-world/ … and … https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/blog/travel/2014/05/curating-genesis-project/

Images in these pages © Fiona Wolf, Katrin Koenning, Ben Lowy, Glenn Campbell, John Donegan, Chris Rainier and Brian Cassey

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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

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QMMA’s ‘Best Image’ …

QMMA – Queensland Multi Media Awards …

The QMMA’S are now in their nineteenth year … not an insignificant achievement. The catchment area for the awards is basically the entire state of Queensland – but minus Brisbane – and it attracts entrants from all regions and from a wide spectrum of media and advertising organisations and individuals.

Last Saturday eve at the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino Cairns this years presentations were made and I was fortunate to take home the ‘gong’ for “Best Photographic Image”. The pic “The Betel Nut Trader” (below) was made in Papua New Guinea late in 2013 as part of an essay on the ban in Port Moresby of the trade in the natural and traditionally chewed mild narcotic betel nut (buai). It was published by the Sydney Morning Herald.

Image © Brian Cassey

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Digging Up a Croc …

Recently received a call from the Museum of Tropical Queensland Townsville asking if they could purchase some of my crocodile images (from ‘Animal Portraits’ on my web site) to promote their massive new exhibition ‘Croc Country’.

No problem … except that their favourite pic, that they had selected as the ‘signature’ image for all their signage, invitations and promotions, was well … old … dating back way before the advent of digital photography in the work flow.

A desperate search of my (not so well organised) film archive eventually turned up the original pic which was shot on transparency stock way, way back. Luckily it was in surprisingly good nick.

Have now seen the proofs of the promotional and exhibition material from the Museum of Tropical Queensland and the old photo is now earning it’s keep and seeing the light of day once more (see below).

‘Croc Country’ runs from the 15th November till the 1st of March 2015 at the Museum of Tropical Queensland, Flinders Street, Townsville.

image © Brian Cassey (sometime last century)

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Footy …

Twas last Friday lunch time … and the pool and bar area at Gilligan’s Backpackers in Cairns was packed with bikini clad backpackers only outnumbered by numerous Australian Rules footy players on their traditional ‘end of season tour’.

My unenviable task was to make some images to accompany a story on the ‘end of season footy tourists’ for the Sunday Mail. Seemed like every half drunk (or more) backpacker/footy player either wanted to get involved in the pics or pass colourful judgement on the proceedings … but eventually all the usual formulaic pics were in the can.

As I was about to take my leave I grabbed this frame of travelling footy players around the bar – just as one decided to check out the ‘features’ of one of the available ‘talent’. The image was ‘filed’ with the others made at Gilligan’s … but I was later reminded by the SM ‘desk’ that they are a family newspaper …

image © Brian Cassey 2014

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Up The Mekong …

Very very pleasant to visit Vietnam even if it was just for ten days! Worked on a few stories … some more successfully than others.

Made a great trip into the Mekong Delta and travelled as far as Châu Đốc in An Giang Province adjoining the Cambodian border collecting images for a larger story in Australian Geographic magazine. Met some wonderful people on the way but the one that made the most impression was the serene and remarkable 65 year old Nguyen Thi Luy. She has been rowing boats on the Mekong tributaries out of Châu Đốc for 35 years – originally working boats but now more frequently tourists are her bread and butter (or rice bowl).

Nguyen Thi Luy took me on a personal tour through the floating villages that are scattered along the river banks neighbouring Châu Đốc … and also just up river to visit a village populated by the picturesque Muslim Cham ethnic minority.

She performed her task with amazing grace and dignity … and an apparent ease (although I’m sure that I couldn’t have lasted five minutes let alone the two hours plus that she was at the helm and the driving force of our tiny craft).

I made these two images as she quietly moved us along the the Hâu River – a branch of the Mekong.

Thank You Nguyen Thi Luy … you are a treasure …

Images © Brian Cassey 2014

Ex Cairns Australia pic by Brian CasseyPic by Brian Cassey

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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

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50th Anniversary – The Australian …

Very gratified to be included at number three out of thirty in ‘The Australian’ newspapers 50th anniversary ‘Heart Of The Nation’ collection today.

The blurb on the title page of the collection reads thus … “Heart Of The Nation – Our best of …
As part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, we present this gallery of the best of The Weekend Australian Magazine’s photo-feature page, ‘Heart Of The Nation’. A weekly snapshot of modern Australian life, Heart Of The Nation is a showcase for the country’s best photographers.”

Excellent to have my work included amongst a stellar line up of Australia’s top photographers … and many thanks to ‘Heart Of The Nation’ editor Ross Bilton for the inclusion. Would also like to take this opportunity to again thank my subject – David Glasheen – who is still doing it tough on remote Restoration Island off the coast of northern Cape York Peninsula.

Below is a screen shot of my image as displayed in todays ‘The Australian’ 50th anniversary collection.

Image © Brian Cassey

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Genesis – to France and the World …

… interest in “The Genesis Project” (see the previous post below) has been immediate … in particular a great article published in the excellent online daily World focused photography mag “L’Oeil de la Photographie” (“The Eye of Photography” if – like me – your French is a little rusty).

The article by photography journalist Alison Stieven-Taylor (Thanks Alison) can be found here … http://www.loeildelaphotographie.com/2014/05/22/festival/24961/sydney-head-on-2014-genesis-project … and below in a screen grab.

‘Genesis’ also gets a mention and some praise from “Head On Photo Festival” Director Moshe Rosenzveig in Alison’s story on the festival and Moshe’s work, also on “L’Oeil de la Photographie” at … http://www.loeildelaphotographie.com/2014/05/22/festival/24941/sydney-head-on-festival-moshe-rosenzveig-director

“The Genesis Project” is showing at the .M Contemporary Gallery, Ocean Street, Woollahra, Sydney until 8th June.

 

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Travel Portraiture Spread in Digi Mag …

… about to hit the newsagents any day now … the new edition of ‘Digital Photography’ magazine features a seven page spread of my work under the title “The Art of Portraiture”.

The renowned enthusiast and pro photographer mag saw fit (for some reason) to use fifteen of my photographs accompanied by twenty of ‘my tips on travel portraiture’.

Not that I’m complaining … they have used a nice selection of my pics and the layout is neat and eye catching … and there are a few images on the pages that have not seen the light of day in a publication previously. The twenty ‘tips’ are all pretty obvious and I’ve probably left out the most important ones!

Please do the publisher a favour and go buy a copy … but if that’s not on …

Below are screen shots of the ‘Digital Photography’ seven page spread. All images (and my tips!!) © Brian Cassey

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He’s Everywhere … Name is Dominic … !

Dominic Ngakyunkwokka …

Hot of the heels of Dominic’s starring role as the ‘hero’ image on the poster for my “The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman” Exhibition now showing at The Tanks Arts Centre Cairns (see previous post below) … he’s now also the headline act in two further publications.

Dominic’s image graces the whole front page of the 160th and current edition of the glossy Brisbane magazine “MAP”  (Motivated Australian People) – a great mag published by “purveyors of pop culture”. The same pic also graces the top half of page 15 above an article “A Series of Immortalised Moments” on the subject of the Brisbane Powerhouse exhibition of the “Nikon Walkley Press Photography Exhibition”.

The “Head On Photo Festival’ crew are also using the same Dominic image – once again full page – to promote the just announced “2014 Head On Photographic Prizes”.

The image has really been good for me … and I’m extremely grateful for the patience and understanding shown by Dominic – and,  indeed, the rest of the APN mustering crew – when I rocked up out of nowhere and chose to take their individual portraits as well as the pics of the guys and gals working out bush. I thank them all …

Would dearly like to take the exhibition up ‘home’ to Aurukun where Dominic and all the rest of the crew can take it in … but freely admit that this does present some logistical problems.

My photo of Dominic was also judged a winner in the “2013 Head On Portrait Prize”, a winner in the “2013 Queensland Multi Media Awards” in the “Best Editorial Image/Photograph” category, a finalist in the “2013 Fremantle International Portrait Prize“… and was part of my portfolio that made one of three finalists in the “2013 Nikon Walkley Press Photographer of the Year”.

Below are ‘grabs’ of the MAP mag cover and the Head On ‘Call for Entries’ … (Sincerely hope you’re not that bored with the image yet!!)

Image of  Dominic Ngakyunkwokka  © Brian Cassey

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“My Nikon Life” …

Nice publication in the very latest just hit the streets edition of Nikon’s “My Nikon Life” magazine.

The mag used six pages to showcase eight of my images and an article about my work entitled “Instant Memory”. Looks great …

Had some nice distinguished company in the magazine too …  gracing the other pages is work by legendary rock (music not stones) photographer Bob King, Nikon Ambassador Rocco Ancora and ‘Nikon Walkley Press Photo of the Year’ winner Barat Ali Batoor … and much more.

A very stylishly produced magazine “My Nikon Life” is well worth a look.

Below are grabs of the six pages featuring my work and story.

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Betel Ban on Web …

Have now added the pic essay “Betel Nut ban in PNG” to my personal web site at … https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/photographs/betel-nut-ban-png/

It is already in place on the web site of the photojournalist collective ‘fotostrada’ in “Latest Stories”at … http://www.fotostrada.com/#/latest-stories/betel-nut-ban-hard-to-chew/BCBetelNut12

The essay was the result of a recent (self funded) visit to Papua New Guinea and it was published, along with the result of my dodgy written word skills, in the Sydney Morning Herald. You can see the story here … http://www.smh.com.au/world/chewing-over-a-betel-ban-20131108-2x6ra.html … and the online SMH pic gallery here … http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/world/the-betel-nut-20131108-2x6hb.html .

The story/pics is also due for publication this month in PNG magazine “Lily”.

Below is just one of the images from the essay … “City Rangers” scour the central business district of Port Moresby on the lookout for the now illegal betel nut.

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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Wow … Walkley News … !

Completely stunned and shocked but bloody happy to receive the news last evening that my work has been selected as one of three finalists in the 2013 “Nikon-Walkley Press Photographer of the Year Award”.

The news was announced in simultaneous Walkley events in Sydney and Melbourne whilst I was watching the tele back home in Cairns … gawd bless Twitter !

Feel humble to have been chosen alongside the other two finalists – and with With Kate Geraghty and Quinn Rooney the competition I’ll happily leave it at that!!

My portfolio consists of ten images and they can be found here at … http://www.flickr.com/photos/walkleyfoundation/sets/72157636407740096/ … whilst all the Nikon-Walkley photographic finalists work may be found here at … http://www.flickr.com/photos/walkleyfoundation/sets/

Many Thanks to the Walkley Foundation and Nikon – and I’m looking forward to the big night Walkley ‘bash’ in Brisbane town on November 28th.

Below is just one image from my  finalist portfolio of ten. Bim Atkinson allowed me to make this image in his home. As a young schoolboy he was serially raped by the head master of his school – a man who continued to abuse children throughout his high profile career in the church up until his death a few years ago. The photograph was made to accompany a story in “The Australian”.

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

‘Lost Boy’ in The New Republic …

Great magazine with imaginative layouts and excellent writing – ‘The New Republic” – published in the US and covering politics, culture and the arts, is a breath of fresh air in magazine publishing. Great shame there isn’t a mag like it in Australia.

Have just received a hard copy of the latest September edition with several of my images of Restoration Island ‘stowaway’ David Glasheen accompanying a great piece of writing by journalist Kent Russell. The story – entitled “The Lost Boy of Restoration Island – Is It Possible to Disappear Completely” and scrawled over the pages with crayon – runs over all of twelve pages and utilises one of the nicest and most creative layouts I’ve seen in a magazine. The remainder of the issue is full of similarly great reading again using great layouts. Kudos to ‘The New Republic’.

Kent’s words brilliantly capture the character and essence of island loner David Glasheen and his lifestyle on tiny Restoration Island off the coast of Cape York Peninsula near Lockhart River. Six of my images of David, made on the island, accompany the text.

Although the article is best viewed in the print edition to appreciate the fantastic layout, you can also read Kent’s words and see my images online at http://www.newrepublic.com/article/114549/dave-glasheen-lost-boy-restoration-island

Below is a grab of the first two title pages of the twelve page article in the print edition showing the imaginative layout with just one of my images of David.

Image © Brian Cassey

NewRepublics

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

2013.08.03CMOtherSideOfManus18_19Blog