exhibitions

‘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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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

Kellicutt …

The job is done …  and the winners announced in the “2014 Kellicutt International Photo Show”.

Myself and fellow judges Scott Atkinson and Oliver Klink had a very difficult task whittling down the final 45 images (from 15 different countries) on the exhibition walls in San Francisco to the final places.

We finally awarded first place to a great image by photojournalist Goran Jovic from Croatia.

Below I’ve posted Goran’s winning image (top) and a couple of the distinguished place getters – ‘Parenting’ by Edward L Rubin (USA) and ‘J.R. Roselio’ by Larry Louie (Canada). All the final 45 images can be found at http://www.kellicutt.org

Images © Goran Jovic, Edward L Rubin, Larry Louie

Home Alone Goran Jovic

Parenting Edward L Rubin

J.R. Roselio Larry Louie

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

 

Sunshine Coast … & Nikon-Walkley …

Just returned from three days ‘down south ‘at Mooloolaba southern Queensland, courtesy of  the Walkley Foundation and the University of the Sunshine Coast.

My (rather pleasant) tasks over the three days were to ‘talk my head of’ on the subject of photojournalism at the ‘Ord Minnett Art & Architecture Lecture’ series, host five classes of University journalism students … and perform as ‘guest speaker’ at the Sunshine Coast opening of the ‘Nikon Walkley Press Photography Exhibition’.

Despite torrential rain and flash flooding (Sunshine Coast ?) all the events were extremely well attended. The ‘Nikon Walkley Press Photography Exhibition’ was hung by the charming USC Gallery curator Dawn Oelrich and the prints were very well presented and lit in the campus Gallery ‘space’. Well over a hundred braved the lousy weather on Thursday eve to attend, view the work selected as Australia’s best press pics of 2013 and listen to myself rabbit on about photojournalism and my and the other finalists work. CEO of the Walkley Foundation and MEAA Federal Secretary – Chris Warren – was also in attendance to address the throng.

On the previous night over thirty five souls were brave enough to withstand over an hour of my ‘Ord Minnett’ lecture. To support my words on the subject of photojournalism I also projected over a hundred images and demonstrated some obscure pieces of camera kit. Some of the pics and some of the kit dated back … well … a few decades.

I also spoke to five classes of journalism students … almost a hundred in total … on the press photography in the gallery (including mine of course) and the fragile  future of photojournalism. Several young students were, however, determined to continue along the PJ path.

Still, it made a pleasant change to spend my time talking about pictures rather than making them.

In case you missed it you can find my selected ‘Nikon Walkley Press Photographer of the Year’ portfolio here … http://www.flickr.com/photos/walkleyfoundation/sets/72157636407740096/

Below are two quick pics from the exhibition opening eve of guests checking out the wall with my selected ‘Nikon Walkley Press Photographer of the Year’ print portfolio.

All images © Brian Cassey

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