Still On … “A Photographer’s Life” & Head On …


There is still time left to visit “A Photographer’s Life – Part One” … my featured Head On Photo Festival 2017 exhibition in Sydney.

Despite the dual events of my exhibition opening and the festival opening now well over two weeks ago, both events are still going strong for yet another couple of weeks.

The launch of “A Photographer’s Life – Part One” on the beautiful walls of historic Juniper Hall (completed by convict settler Robert Cooper in 1824) surpassed expectations. Really special was the attendance of bloody brilliant news photographer colleagues Phil Hillyard, David Gray, Rick Stevens, Glenn Campbell, Dean Lewins, Michael Amendolia and Paul Blackmore (there’s an astonishing number of ‘Walkleys’ amongst that lot!).

The following day, Sunday, saw the obligatory exhibition ‘artist talk’ … and a couple of surprises. As the crowd gathered two old friends materialised that I had not seen for many years. Turning up unannounced in support (or to heckle) were … old mate from the Brisbane years way back – Jules Kovacs … and the eternally lovely Barbara Sotiriadis from the early days in Cairns. Wonderful …

Apart from the obvious exhibition opening, visiting amazin’ exhibitions and catching up with a host of great photographers and friends that I don’t see often enough or at all … a highlight of my week at Head On was to take a place on the panel in the festival key debate on the topical subject “Does photojournalism facilitate or counteract fake news?”.

Felt distinctly honoured to take a place on the panel alongside US documentary photographer Maggie Steber, Israeli photographer Natan Dvir,  social media expert Kyla Woods, photojournalist and founder of Everyday Climate Change James Whitlow Delano and founder of Everyday Japan Q. Sakamaki … whilst Melbourne photography journalist Alison Stieven-Taylor took on the ‘moderation’ task. The top floor of The Beauchamp Hotel venue was packed for the vigorous and constructive hour plus of discussion. Great fun …

Perhaps it’s timely to say a huge ‘Thanks’ to Head On driving forces Moshe Rosenzveig and Anita Schwartz, Lauran Vohmann and the rest of the HO crew … also the great team at the Moran Foundation’s Juniper Hall headed by Cathy Brown and Craig Brush  … and Sonja and Chris at Arthead Mossvale for their brilliant work printing the exhibition. Really appreciate all your collective efforts to make it such a success.

“A Photographer’s Life – Part One” continues at Juniper Hall, 250 Oxford St, Paddington 10am to 4pm Wednesdays to Sundays till June 4th.

Pics … from top … “A Photographer’s Life – Part One” opening event at Juniper Hall (top two), a bunch of very talented photojournalists (and me) at the exhibition opening (l to r – David Gray, Rick Stevens, Michael Amendolia, myself, Dean Lewins, Glenn Campbell and Phil Hillyard), Head On director Moshe Rosenzveig opens my exhibition, the photojournalism debate panel at the Beauchamp Hotel (l to r – Alison Steven-Taylor, Natan Dvir, Q. Sakamaki, Maggie Steber, James Whitlow Delano, myself and Kyla Woods), a couple of the walls of my exhibition at Juniper Hall … and a promotional work outside the Moran offices in the Sydney CBD.

Images © Brian Cassey (6), Michael Amendolia (1) and John Swainston (1)

"A Photographer's Life - Part One" - Head On Photo Festival 2017 - Moran Prizes - Juniper Hall - Brian Cassey

"A Photographer's Life - Part One" - Head On Photo Festival 2017 - Moran Prizes - Juniper Hall - Brian Cassey

"A Photographer's Life - Part One" - Head On Photo Festival 2017 - Moran Prizes - Juniper Hall - Brian Cassey

"A Photographer's Life - Part One" - Head On Photo Festival 2017 - Moran Prizes - Juniper Hall - Brian Cassey

"A Photographer's Life - Part One" - Head On Photo Festival 2017 - Moran Prizes - Juniper Hall - Brian Cassey

"A Photographer's Life - Part One" - Head On Photo Festival 2017 - Moran Prizes - Juniper Hall - Brian Cassey

"A Photographer's Life - Part One" - Head On Photo Festival 2017 - Moran Prizes - Juniper Hall - Brian Cassey

"A Photographer's Life - Part One" - Head On Photo Festival 2017 - Moran Prizes - Juniper Hall - Brian Cassey

Bi ’16, Hi ’17 …

Thanks to Murray Young for pointing this out (I was across the other side of the planet so initially missed it) … great showing in the first publication of 2017 in the Sunday Mail, January 1.

The S Mail used my image of beaten asylum seeker Abdullatif Almoftaji across the entire front page cover of their photographic retrospective special … ‘2016 Pictures of the Year’ … which also included some mind blowing and soon to be, if not already, ‘iconic’ (for want of a better term) images … including Cameron Spencer’s Getty image of Usain BoltBurhan Ozbilici’s startling AP image of Mevlut Mert Altintas after murdering Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov, Jonathan Bachman’s ‘Black Lives Matter’ Baton Rouge protest pic of leshia Evans … and Mahmoud Raslan’s haunting image of 5 year old Syrian child Omran Daqneesh in Aleppo. All images that will go down in history.

Real Chuffed to have my image part of such an amazing collection.

My pic of beaten 20 year old Iraqi asylum seeker Abdullatif was made at the Manus Island Papua New Guinea police watch house during a visit to document the island’s detainees. In December it was recognised as the winner of the Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize for 2016.

Below is a grab of the January 1st three page Sunday Mail special ‘In the Frame – Pictures of the Year’ (Abdullatif image © Brian Cassey)

Pictures of the Year 2016 - Abdulaftif Almoftaji - Manus Island by Brian Cassey

Pictures of the Year 2016 - Abdulaftif Almoftaji - Manus Island by Brian Cassey

 

Tokyo International … Result …

A very welcome email arrived just a day or two before Christmas with the news that two of my works had been selected as winners in the inaugural edition of the Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA’s).

‘TIFA’ …  a new event on the calendar … aims “to recognize, reward and expose talented photographers from around the world and introduce them to the creative community in Japan”.

My works selected were … Gold (First Place) in ‘Editorial Personality’ for the portrait ‘The Skin I’m In’ of burns survivor Carol Mayer … and Silver (First Place) in ‘Moving Image Essay’ for my short film ‘Eyes – the Soul of a Photograph’. Both works have featured previously in other awards.

They will be shown alongside other works during the winners exhibition at the Owada Gallery, Shibuya Cultural Center Owada, 23-21 Sakura-gaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo … with the grand opening eve on February 25th. Sadly, I doubt I will be able to take up the invitation.

All Images © Brian Cassey

'The Skin I'm In' - portrait of Carol Mayer - Winner - 'Editorial - Personality', Tokyo International Foto Awards 2016 - image by 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

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

DominicMAPBlog

DominicHeadOnBlog

 

 

ABC Radio Interview with Fiona Sewell – The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman

Before the opening of my exhibition “The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman” at “The Tanks Arts Centre” Cairns in February 2014, I was interviewed on the subject by ABC Radio’s talented Fiona Sewell.

Fiona took the time to visit the exhibition and see the images in the last stages of set up (and it shows in the interview) … and it went to air on the morning of February 6th … the day before the ‘launch’ evening.

Many Thanks Fiona !

 

Audio courtesy ABC Far North ©

Wet But Fine Exhibition Opening …

It was raining of course … it is the wet season after all. But that didn’t stop people turning up in droves to the launch of my “The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman” exhibition at The Tanks Arts Centre in Cairns on Friday evening.

It was brilliant to see so many friends, colleagues, fellow photographers (many of whom I don’t catch up with often enough!), new acquaintances and faces from years long past, brave the elements to attend, share stories and down the odd drink.
Many Thanks must also go to charismatic indigenous leader Bruce Martin who took time out from his manic schedule to open the exhibition.

The Tanks exhibition space is expansive, full of character, versatile … and  wonderful. In addition The Tanks crew of curator Chris Stannard, Olivia, Gio, Belinda and Lisa – have done a wonderful job of curating, hanging and letting the world know about my work.

Spread around the huge space are my thirty two images – fourteen large portraits of the Aak Puul Ngantam crew each on their own floating wall and eighteen prints of the APN mustering operation. It all looks fantastic.

The images in the exhibition were made at the Cape York Peninsula mustering operation whilst working on a story for ‘The Australian’ … and have since, gratifyingly, received some critical acclaim and awards.

If you did miss the opening night ‘launch’ the exhibition will run till March 2nd in tank 4 of The Tanks Arts complex Cairns.

Below are three images of the exhibit at The Tanks – the top two show the character of the space with some of my prints in place, whilst the third is from the opening night celebrations.

ABC Radio was just one of several media outlets to publicise the exhibition and opening eve and you can listen to Fiona Sewell’s great work in interviewing yours truly on the ‘Play’ page of my web site – or alternatively here below …

 

Images © Brian Cassey – Audio courtesy ABC Far North ©

The Tanks APN Exhibition

The Tanks APN Exhibition

20140207_APNExhibitionTanks4Blog

 

Exhibition at ‘The Tanks’ …

Less than two weeks to the launch of my “The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman” exhibition of images at a great venue – ‘The Tanks’ in Cairns.

Curator Chris Stannard and The Tanks crew are now putting together the exhibit which consists of the large ‘stockman’ portraits, smaller collected prints of the APN Cape York mustering operation, video, audio and a slide show of images.

The large portraits of the APN crew – taken of every member at the bush camp as they returned from an exhausting muster – will each be hung on their own individual ‘wall’ arranged around the interior of one of the massive WWII fuel tanks . Will look sensational I’m sure.

The driving force behind the indigenous APN Cape York operation – Bruce Martin – has confirmed his attendance at the opening eve event … and hopefully more members of the crew.

You too are also more than welcome on the opening eve – Friday February 7th from 6pm – and your invitation can be found here.

Below is The Tanks promotional poster for the event. The exhibition will run from opening eve February 7th till March 2nd.

Stockman Image of Dominic Ngakyunkwokka © Brian Cassey

APNTanksExPosterBlog

Cairns to Sydney to Kuala Lumpur …

An event filled week ! Travelled back to Sydney to take in more of this years ‘Head On Photo Festival’, a bit of the ‘Reportage Photography Festival’, the first ‘Walkley Slide Night’ of 2013 … and … the opening at Global Gallery Paddington of my exhibition “The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman”. 

Straight after exhibition opening eve it was off to Kuala Lumpur Malaysia for the exhibition and winners announcement at Galeri Petronas of the “2013 Kuala Lumpur International Portrait Awards”.

“The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman” exhibition was obviously a highlight … and Global Gallery was chockers with media photographer colleagues, friends and many others enjoying the ‘hospitality’. Moshe Rosenzveig from Head On kindly arrived to give the opening address.

The exhibition comprised fourteen near metre high prints of the entire mustering crew of the indigenous operated APN Cape York operation … including stockmen young and old, helicopter pilot, cook, junior Jillaroos, teacher … even newcomer stockman journalist Michel McKenna (who made the trip from Brisbane for the opening to admire his ‘visage’ !)

The “2013 Kuala Lumpur International Portrait Awards” was also a fantastic exhibition … well worth the effort and some fantastic work adorning the walls of Galeri Petronas under the twin towers … including my selected finalist image “Roustabout” of APN’s versatile do-it-all guy Perry Ward.

Printed almost two metres high on beautiful canvas and displayed spotlighted on a massive black wall, “Roustabout” certainly had the ‘wow’ factor as you entered the gallery! (see image below). Unfortunately it wasn’t selected as a top three winner. The winning image of a street band certainly was a very special image. Not so sure about second and third selected images tho’!

Below is a pic of the “Roustabout” image as it was displayed in KL … and a couple of pics from the Global Gallery  APN exhibition opening eve in Paddington.

© images Brian Cassey

Ex Cairns Australia pic by Brian CasseyPic by Brian Cassey

APNEx3s copy

APNEx2s copy

Sydney Exhibition – Head On

Only a few weeks till my collection of images – “The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman” – opens at the Global Gallery in Paddington Sydney as a ‘featured’ exhibition in the massive ‘Head On Photo Festival’.

All are welcome to the opening function at the gallery on the eve of Wednesday 29th May from 6ish  (with a little drink or two offered – but no obligation!)

The exhibit consists of 14 large portraits – all made ‘in situ’ at the base camp of the mustering operations on a remote property out from the indigenous township of Aurukun, Cape York Peninsula. The cattle venture by indigenous APN Cape York is an attempt to provide sustainable employment and a sense of pride in the troubled township – and break the cycle of booze, drugs, violence and welfare dependency.

The subjects included in the exhibition are a mix of elder experienced former aboriginal stockman, young indigenous men from Aurukun keen to learn the ropes, a white family of head stockman, wife and cook and two daughter Jillaroos, a teacher for the kids and a ‘roustabout’ – all of whom are directly involved in the day to day hands on mustering operation.

The crew are mustering – by horseback, quad bike and helicopter – about 5000 head which are the remnants and descendants of a failed cattle venture in the 1990’s.

The work was originally made for  ’The Weekend Australian’ newspaper and accompanied by text from journalist Michael McKenna (who is also one of the subjects).

The exhibition runs at Global Gallery till the 9th June … looking forward to seeing you there.

Below is just one of fourteen portraits that make up the exhibition.

Image of Winston Marpoondin – © Brian Cassey

APNBlog

 

A Win … and a Third … in the US …

Just received the great news that TWO of my images featured in last nights presentation of awards at the “2012 Kellicutt International Juried Photo Show” in California. My image of Carol Mayer – “Carol – Burns Survivor” – was judged the overall Winner (very gratifying!), whilst my image from Udaipur India – “Rajasthan Dancers” gained a Third place!!!

The theme of this years show was “Vibrant” and it is indeed an honour to have two images selected by the judges from a large contingent of amazingly vibrant and accomplished works from around the World.

The jurors made some very nice comments in regards to my images … and I will ensure that Carol gets to see the comments made about the image of her below …

From juror Kate Jordahl – “Difficult to look at, but as the eyes are the windows to the soul, we see a soul strong and loving, sad and knowing. We are drawn into the tragedy and triumph of this women’s life. The photographer truly connected with Carol and allows us to see her with empathy and understanding.”

From juror Scott Atkinson – “At first I looked away from this print, but it’s impossible to escape the spirit in those eyes! The face, like a windswept landscape, is now burnished to a swirling patina by both time and the camera’s selective focus. The slightly smudged lipstick adds a touch of normal. But it’s those eyes, those sharply focused blue eyes, that show the vibrant world that lives behind the skin. They’ll follow you throughout the gallery.”

From juror Michael Collopy – “The deep blue calm of her eyes accented by her red lips provides the viewer a direct connection to her apparent triumph over tragedy that is written in her textured face. Her eyes follow you throughout the room. This is a visually arresting photograph that is beautifully and simply achieved. It has a profound result. I liked the fact the photographer chose natural light to illuminate this beautiful portrait. It is a tight crop that continues the honest, revealing and direct dialogue between the photographer and subject. The stunning result conveys the trust and connection that the photographer has achieved.”

Kate Jordahl also commented on the Rajasthan pic – “Movement and color join in a literal dance of light and life. This image captures the swirling dancers at the peak moment of this event showing us as only as photography can what we can feel but not actually see with our eyes.”

Seems like I get a very nice trophy (image below) and a little cheque … and the exhibition of the 45 Finalist images will continue at the Coastal Arts League Gallery in Half Moon Bay CA  before the exhibition moves to the Calumet Gallery in San Francisco in August.

Would have been very nice to have been at the awards presentation in the U S of A on Saturday night … c’est la vie …

Below the pic of the trophy are my Winning and Third placed images – “Carol – Burns Survivor” and “Rajasthan Dancers” – © Brian Cassey

 

Global Gallery and ‘Bus’ Portraits …

An excellent evening last week at the Global Gallery in Paddington Sydney for the ‘opening’ of our ‘fotostrada’ collaborative exhibition – “Portraits on a Bus”.

The exhibit consisted of thirty prints by ‘fotostrada’ members Dean Lewins, Tracey Nearmy, Sam Mooy, Graham Crouch, Mark ‘Crusty’ Baker and myself – from geographically as far afield as India, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, all around Australia and even Antarctica – all of them portraying the bus passenger and the machines that convey them.

Gratifyingly it seemed that almost every photographer in Sydney had come along to have a look at the work (and down a free drink or two!) and it was excellent to spend just a little time with media imaging colleagues that I don’t get to catch up with too often!

The entire “Portraits on a Bus” work is now available – for those who were unable to get to Global Gallery – on the ‘fotostrada’ web site at http://www.fotostrada.com/#/latest-stories/portraits-on-a-bus/

In addition my own “Portraits on a Bus” essay, consisting of my exhibition images and a number that just missed out on the exhibition cut, are now on my personal web site at https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/images.php?imagefolder=bus 

The “Portraits on a Bus” exhibition was held in conjunction with the “2012 Head On Photo Festival”. Below is a quick pic of the exhibition opening eve at Global Gallery.

© image Brian Cassey

Portraits on a Bus …

The ‘fotostrada’ photojournalist collective – of which I am one member of a total of eleven  – is showing a group exhibition entitled “Portraits on a Bus” as part of the “2012 Head On Photo Festival” .

The exhibition runs at the Global Gallery, Paddington, Sydney from Tuesday, 29th May to Sunday 3rd June with the grand opening eve on Wednesday 30th May from 6pm. All are welcome to attend.

Here’s the exhibit description from the Head On Festival program and web site …

“The bus is ubiquitous. Every country on the planet has some form of bus transportation.

From cramped roof top rides on dishevelled buses in India … to tiny ‘bemos’ in Indonesia, mundane mass transport in Hong Kong, luxury express buses in Australia … even a work bus in Antarctica – the ‘fotostrada’ collective team has captured all in images which convey the very essence of the travelling bus passenger and the machines that carry them.”

Several of my images made during visits to India, Hong Kong and Indonesia are featured in the exhibition alongside other great work by colleagues Dean Lewins, Tracey Nearmy, Graham Crouch, Sam Mooy, Renee Nowytarger, Mark ‘Crusty’ Baker and Melanie Russell.

I’ve put together my own personal extended version of “Portraits on a Bus” from all my images that made the short list for the exhibition collection … and this essay has been added to my personal web site at https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/images.php?imagefolder=bus.

Posted below is a small selection of my “Portraits on a Bus” images.

Look forward to seeing you at the exhibition …

Images © Brian Cassey – from Hong Kong, Rajasthan India and Sukawati Bali Indonesia.

 

Nikon-Walkley Comes to ‘Brissie’ …

Thanks to the Walkley Foundation, the MEAA and – not least of all – Nikon Australia, I travelled ‘down south’ to Brisbane last week to attend the opening of the 2011/2012 Nikon-Walkley Photographic exhibition at the Powerhouse – and the Australian Institute of Professional Photography “Hair of the Dog” conference.

It was excellent to attend the Nikon-Walkley opening eve and to catch up with colleagues and friends – and an honour to give the opening floor talk and to receive an embarrassingly over the top introduction by MEAA Federal Secretary Chris Warren ! Thanks Chris!

It was also an honour to have my image “Carol – Burns Survivor” exhibited amongst some truly fantastic work from Australia’s best press photographers.

(Something I was not so excited about was the ABC radio and TV interviews I was required to do – a learning curve.)

The Powerhouse is a fantastic exhibition space oozing character, all the works were all very well lit … and the staff were super attentive and efficient.

The exhibition runs to February 27th and is very well worth a visit.

Below is an iPhone pic of my image nestled in the Powerhouse’s beautiful exhibition space.

Image © Brian Cassey 2012