Canberra, Carol and the NPPP …

Despite the best efforts of devastating Cyclone Debbie, massive floods and Qantas I still managed to make it to Canberra on Friday eve for the official opening bit of the 2017 National Photographic Portrait Prize at the National Portrait Gallery … but with literally just seconds to spare.

Getting to Canberra at all was a massive drama. I spent a near week covering the Cyclone Debbie story in Bowen for Fairfax news. There was a tiny window late on Wednesday – after ‘Debbie’ battered the Whitsundays and before the ensuing massive storms – for myself and three AAP and Fairfax colleagues to attempt to get out of Bowen. Roads north had supposedly been blocked by flood waters in the cyclone aftermath – so when officers left a road block we made a move. In the little car convoy we forded flooded roads and into an almost apocalyptic thunder storm and insanely torrential rains. We eventually came out the other side with the highway surely now impassable behind us and arrived saturated and relieved back in Townsville late that night.

Then Qantas combined with the remnants of ‘Debbie’ to almost thwart the trip to Canberra. In quick succession not one but two of my flights Cairns to Canberra were cancelled. Frantic phone calls, rearranged flights and a car booked to whisk me from Canberra airport to the National Portrait Gallery … and I arrived just as the opening speeches ended.

It had been a badly kept secret … thanks to a great NPPP show preview special article in ‘The Australian Weekend Magazine’ a couple of weeks ago … that my work “The Skin I’m In – II” (below) of burns survivor Carol Mayer was in the mix as a Finalist and in the National Portrait Gallery exhibition. Once again I must sincerely thank the wonderful Carol for her patience and decision to let me make the portrait.

NPPP judge George Fetting had this to say about Carol’s image …  “It’s such a terribly powerful and courageous story and for her to let the photo be taken, presenting such beauty and pain in the same image, moves everyone who looks at it.”

Whilst in Canberra it was great to spend time with photographer colleagues … afore mentioned former Courier Mail and SMH photographer George Fetting, co NPPP Finalist Jon Reid, ex Cairns mate Sean Davey and Nikon Walkley Press Photographer of the Year 2015 Gary Ramage.

Sean has created a great photo gallery in Canberra – The Photography Room – which is currently showing Gary’s excellent work – “Afghanistan” – made during his 2011 embed with Australian forces. Gary and Sean gave me a private showing before a lunch to chew over all the industry ‘goss’. Both the gallery and the exhibition are well worth a visit …

A massive, rewarding and eventful week …

(Below – “The Skin I’m In – II” at the NPPP © Brian Cassey)

 

The 2017 National Photographic Portrait Prize: - Canberra - "The Skin I'm In II) - Carol Meyer - by Brian Cassey

The 2017 National Photographic Portrait Prize: - Canberra - "The Skin I'm In II) - Carol Meyer - by Brian Cassey

The 2017 National Photographic Portrait Prize: - Canberra - "The Skin I'm In II) - Carol Meyer - by Brian Cassey

Fragility of Home … Sydney & Bowen …

I’m writing this from a (hopefully) well constructed ‘motel’ in Bowen north Queensland as the winds and rains from approaching category 4, possibly 5, Cyclone Debbie build to a crescendo. The full destructive power of ‘Debbie’ is still about a hundred and eighty kilometres and twelve hours away. It’s going to be a long night …

Come mid morning tomorrow Bowen will be facing a different landscape of shattered homes.

Seems strangely coincidental that only a couple of days ago I was in Sydney participating in an exhibition at the Contact Sheet Gallery entitled “Home” in which I had two sets of work … “My Place” (5 prints) and “Fragility of Home” (10 prints).

The photographs that made up “Fragility of Home” were selected to illustrate the transient nature of that which we call ‘home’ … and the set includes images of homes ravaged by fire, neglect … and cyclones … that I have collected over the years.

“Home” – a group exhibition – also include some great work by artists Daniel Grendon and Isabelle Baumann (who also co-curated), Godelieve Mols,  Ivana Jovanovic, Lola Alexander, Michael Jalaru Torres, Nick Pont, Samantha Mackie and Zorica Purlija. The show runs till April 1st.

Tomorrow many residents of Bowen may well ponder the ‘fragility’ of their own homes and lives as Cyclone Debbie  leaves a trail of destruction …

Below (top) is a pic of the opening night of “Home” at Contact Sheet Gallery with my “Fragility of Home” set on the far right and the “My Place” set far left. Following that below are two images from “Fragility …” including one from Cyclone Yasi coverage in 2011 … and one from “My Place”. Images © Brian Cassey

"Home" exhibition at Contact Sheet Gallery, St Leonards, Sydney - works by Brian Cassey

"Home" exhibition at Contact Street Gallery, St leonards, Sydney - works by Brian Cassey

"Home" exhibition at Contact Street Gallery, St leonards, Sydney - works by Brian Cassey

"Home" exhibition at Contact Street Gallery, St leonards, Sydney - works by Brian Cassey