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Tanks Exhibition … From 8th December …

October 21st, 2017

The Tanks Arts Centre (Cairns) November/December program of events is hot off the press … and has brought home the reality that the time for my next exhibition is getting close.

“A Photographer’s Life – Part One” will be opening in Cairns on December 8th … and running to the 23rd December (closed for Xmas and New Year) and open again from 2nd to the 30th January.

Very much a retrospective (and in a way introspective) journey through my love affair with the camera and the photographic image from the very first day I clicked a shutter … and continuing on through the decades. It contains many images made in Cairns and tropical north Queensland … and many more from around the planet. Much of the camera and photographic ‘hardware’ from across the decades will also accompany the show. Below is the promotional page from just published ‘The Tanks’ events program.

Tank 4 at Cairns Tanks Arts Centre is a fantastic venue and my sincere thanks is more than due to venue curator Chris Stannard and his team. This will be my second exhibit at Tank 4 following the “The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman” in 2014.

“A Photographer’s Life – Part One” already enjoyed an ‘ugely successful month long showing during this years Head On Photo Festival in Sydney at the beautiful heritage listed Juniper Hall, Paddington.

You are invited on the 8th December … and more than welcome on that or any other day … so If you fancy … please whack the dates in your diary … will be great to see you there.

Image © Brian Cassey

"A Photographer's Life - Part One" - exhibition at The Tanks Arts Centre Cairns from December 8th 2017 - by Brian Cassey

Posted in Awards, Blog, Comment, Exhibitions, Images, Publications | Tagged A Photographer's Life - Part One, A Photographers Life, Bernie McAuliffe, cairns, Head On, Head On Photo Festival, jockey, Juniper Hall, moran, photo exhibition, photographic retrospective, Tanks Arts Centre | Leave a comment

Sydney Unhanging … & World Press …

June 8th, 2017

Back from a quick trip down to Sydney to ‘dehang’ the “A Photographer’s Life – Part One” exhibition at Juniper Hall … and made the most of the two and a bit days in the harbour city.

Was fortunate to score the help of not one, but two, lovely ‘assistants’ during Mondays take down and packing of the works from the exhibition walls. Both Jewel Isaacs (a great friend from my early days in Cairns who I hadn’t caught up with for several decades) and Jennifer Allison (fellow UK ‘ex-pat’ and now a passionate new full time photographer based in Sydney) turned up to lend a hand.

With the exhibition prints duly dispatched back to Cairns, Jen and I took time out to see some of the last Head On Photo Festival exhibitions of this years festival at the Gaffa Gallery … including Matthew Portch’s “Lost America”, John Dobson’s “Suburbia” and Sissy Reyes’s “The Martians Are Coming”. Some intriguing work …

However, the undoubted highlight was a several hour visit (Tuesday before the flight back home) to Australia’s oldest library – the State Library of New South Wales – to see the “2017 World Press Photo Exhibition”. If you haven’t yet made it to this years brilliant World Press exhibition I strongly suggest you do … there is nothing better than seeing these absolutely amazing images from the Planet’s best photojournalists exceedingly well lit, printed large and displayed around the library’s cavernous old walls for maximum impact. The words and stories surrounding the images also stir the emotions. The “2017 World Press Photo Exhibition” runs till the 25th June.

(If you do make it to the State Library for World Press … an added bonus is that there is another exhibition on the same floor by Sydney street portraitist Jon Lewis – “Beauty in Difference” – that is also well worth your attention.)

Posted in Comment, Exhibitions, Images, Stories, Travel | Tagged 2017 World Press Photo, Gaffa Gallery, Head On, Head On Photo Festival, photojournalism, State Library of NSW, World Press, World Press Photo Exhibition | Leave a comment

BBC 5 Live Interview

May 10th, 2017

Prior to the launch of my exhibition “A Photographer’s Life – Part One” at the 2017 Head On Photo Festival in Sydney, I was interviewed by my old mate BBC Australia correspondent Phil Mercer.

The BBC 5 Live interview, hosted by Phil and Rhod Sharp, became a rather lengthy affair and touched on my photographic work over the decades, the then pending exhibition in Sydney, various aspects of photography and photojournalism … and my life in the UK and Australia. It runs for near 22 minutes.

Posted in Play | Tagged BBC, BBC Radio, BBC5, BBC5Live, Brian Cassey, Canberra, Head On, Head On Photo Festival, Head On Photo Festival 2017, interviews, National Photographic Portrait Prize, Phil Mercer, photography, photojournalism, portraiture, Rhod Sharp | Leave a comment

Tokyo International … Result …

January 8th, 2017

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

Posted in Awards, Blog, Comment, Exhibitions, Images | Tagged australia, Awards, Brisbane, exhibition, Eyes - the Soul of a Photograph, Head On, Head On Photo Festival, photojournalism, portraits, portraiture, TIFA, Tokyo, Tokyo International Foto Awards, walkley | Leave a comment

Head On Shenanigans & Finalists …

May 13th, 2015

The Head On Photo Festival continues it’s meteoric and spectacular growth.

This years month long Festival kicked off in style on May 1 at Town Hall Sydney – the Festival ‘Hub’ – and I was pleased to once again be a part of Australia’s eminent photo show thanks to Festival Directors Moshe Rosenzveig and Anita Schwartz. Opening eve was packed to the ornate Town Hall rafters with about 800 guests and nine top flight photo exhibitions – and a very welcome ‘welcome’ bar.

Described as ‘a veritable orgy of photography’ Head On Photo Festival this year consisted of over a hundred exhibitions and the work of several hundred photographers.

For me, a Highlight amongst all the brilliant exhibitions, opening nights, workshops, artist talks, award presentations, portfolio reviews, pop up studios, trivia evenings etc etc and bloody fantastic work … was a meal post Custom’s House wine and cheese which I shared with three US superstar photographers, a delightful colleague from Byron Bay and two photographers from Iran !! (I know … it’s sounding like the opening line of a ‘joke’).

Sharing pizzas, wine and photojournalism small talk that eve were Ben Lowy (renowned Getty Images photojournalist) and his partner Marvi Lacar (Facebook Pages picture editor) , Los Angeles Times Chief Photographer Michael Robinson Chávez , Iranian girls Saghar Amirazimi and Shiva Shakhesi, the gorgeous and so talented Natalie Grono, … and myself …

An extremely convivial and fascinating ‘across the divide’ few hours … ! (Pizzas weren’t bad either)

Head On Award wise I was, indeed, fortunate to have my work selected as a Finalist in two categories – the prestigious ‘Head On Portrait Prize’ and the new ‘Head On Moving Image Prize’ – and included in the Portrait Prize exhibition at the Museum of Sydney (till June 8th) and the Moving Image show at Brenda May Gallery Waterloo (till June 6th). Both exhibitions are well worth a visit and a pleasure to humbly be a part of.

Below I’ve posted my Portrait Finalist image “Disko Meri” – a portrait of a night club hostess girl in Port Moresby PNG (Thank You Julie!) – and my Moving Image work “Eyes – The Soul of a Photograph”.

Many Thanks for the wonderful hospitality afforded me by the Head On Photo Festival crew – Kat Mills, Lauran Vohmann, John Slaytor, Jon Lewis, Moshe, Anita and many others … just brilliant …

Images © Brian Cassey

HeadOn_DiskoMeri_Blog

Posted in Awards, Comment, Essays, Exhibitions, Images, Travel | Tagged Ben Lowy, Head On, Head On Moving Image, Head On Photo Festival, Head On Portrait Prize, Michael Robinson Chavez, Moving Image, Moving Image Prize, photojournalism, portrait prize, portraits, sydney | Leave a comment

5 Responses to Head On Shenanigans & Finalists …

New York, New York & Photoville ... | Brian Cassey Photographer Cairns Australia Says:
September 15th, 2015
[…] Thanks to the inclusion of the 2015 Head On Portrait Prize – and director of the Head On Photo Festival Moshe Rosenzveig – I had every reason to make the trek to Brooklyn. The 2015 Head On Portrait Prize exhibition was displayed in the centre of the Photoville site gracing the entire side of a massive shipping container … and included my image “Disko Meri”. […]
Finalists, Finalists, Semi-Finalists ... | Brian Cassey Photographer Cairns Australia Says:
October 10th, 2015
[…] bar girl Julie entitled “Disko Meri” (the same image that was appeared as part of the Head On Portrait Prize exhibition). Looking forward to a big night on presentation eve at the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino on Saturday […]
Didi S. Gilson Says:
February 10th, 2016
Just watched your fab “moving image” piece, Brian! Congrats on more stellar achievements since last we spoke. I met you @ the Head On portrait finalists exhibition back in 2013 (I think that’s the right year)… We both had work on display & yours was a second place winner if I’m remembering corectly. We were hung nearby one another & you were kind enough to text me to let me know that my portrait like yours was also part of the newspaper PR slideshow for the fest that year.

The HeadOn website redesign is a little wonky for me, but I’m planning on entering… probably landscapes not portraits this year.

Warm regards from Anna Bay, NSW,
Didi
Brian Cassey Says:
February 10th, 2016
Hi Didi … YES … remember we had a chat at the State Library in 2013. Many Thanks for your kind words !
Hope we have the opportunity to catch up again this year … fingers crossed Didi … !!
Brian
Brian Cassey Says:
February 10th, 2016
Hi Didi … YES … remember we had a chat at the State Library in 2013. Many Thanks for your kind words !
Hope we have the opportunity to catch up again this year … fingers crossed Didi … !!
Brian

Two In For Head On Prizes …

March 31st, 2015

Amongst the mass of mostly annoying or pure spam emails received lately were two that were especially welcomed. Both were from the crew at the Head On Prizes and contained the excellent news that my work had been selected as finalist in two categories of the prestigious awards – ‘Portraits’ and ‘Moving Image’.

I have previously had work selected in the ‘Portrait’ category … but this is a ‘first’ for me in the ‘Moving Image’ category.

Ten finalists have had their work selected in ‘Moving Image’ which is for small moving pieces (movies) combining any combination of multimedia, visual art, sound art, still or moving images or other media. Certainly isn’t my speciality so I’m incredibly gratified just to be amongst the ten!

The Head On Portrait Prize, now in its 12th year, is one of Australia’s most critically acclaimed photographic portrait prizes and has also received World wide recognition. In 2014 the Portrait Prize exhibition toured Internationally and it is expected that the 2015 Portrait exhibition will do the same.

So it’s particularly pleasing to make the Portrait finalist cut once again. (for news on my Head On Portrait Prize successes in previous years go to here and here.)

I’m not allowed to name or identify either of the finalist works at this time … but all will be revealed at the opening night of the ‘2015 Head On Photo Festival’ in Sydney on Friday 1st May. The ‘Portrait Prize’ exhibition will then run from the 2nd May till the 8th June at Sydney Living Museums … whilst the ‘Moving Image’ work will be displayed at the Brenda May Gallery Sydney from the 5th May till 6th June.

To keep abreast of the happenings at the Head On Photo Festival and Head On Prizes on social media use these tags … Hashtag – #headon15, Facebook – @Head On Photo Festival, Twitter – @HeadOnPhotoFest, Instagram – @headonphotofestival .

Posted in Awards, Comment, Exhibitions, Images, Travel | Tagged Awards, Head On, Head On Photo Festival, Head On Portrait Prize, Moving Image, portrait, prizes, sydney | Leave a comment

‘Genesis’ Story in Walkley Mag …

December 17th, 2014

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

WalkleyGenesisBlog1

WalkleyGenesisBlog2

WalkleyGenesisBlog3

Posted in Comment, Exhibitions, Images, Publications | Tagged australia, exhibitions, Genesis, Genesis Project, Head On Photo Festival, photography exhibitions, sydney, walkley, Walkley Magazine | Leave a comment

Genesis – to France and the World …

May 23rd, 2014

… 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.

Posted in Comment, Exhibitions, Images, Publications | Tagged "L'Oeil de la Photographie", Genesis, Head On, Head On Photo Festival, the Genesis Project | Leave a comment

‘The Genesis Project ‘ … in Great Company

May 21st, 2014

… well that went orf well then !! .M Contemporary Gallery, Sydney, was packed to the rafters last eve for the launch of “The Genesis Project” exhibition … my little project that has been a year in the making and a featured exhibition at the massive and currently rocking ‘Head On Photo Festival’ in Sydney.

Twelve of the nineteen photographers involved in the project – Ben Lowy, Murray Fredericks, Peter Solness, Fiona Wolf, Glenn Campbell, John Donegan, Sam Harris, Phil Hillyard, Craig Golding, Jon Lewis, Moshe Rosenzveig – (and me , of course) – turned up to see their work on the walls and talk ‘stuff’ … along with a score of other photographers and photographic personalities amongst a crowd of about a hundred. The crew at .M Contemporary were fabulous hosts and spoiled their guests with some top wines – Thank You’ hugely’ Louise, Michelle and Candice.

The idea of the collected works is to explore at what point do photographers become photographers? What were 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 – to make photographs, become a photographer and … to capture life’s moments”.

The stories that the photographers have told about their lives, careers and images are fascinating, sometimes poignant and honest … and the words are as much a part of the success of the show as the great photographic works.

If you missed last nights goin’s on you can still catch the exhibition till the 8th of June at .M Contemporary Gallery, 37 Ocean Street, Woollahra. (if nothing else I have now worked out how to spell ‘Woollahra’!)

Below are a couple of quickies of the ‘Genesis’ photographers and other photographers and guests at the opening –

Top – left to right – Mike Bowers, Craig Golding, Ben Lowy, Fiona Wolf (with Phil Hillyard hiding over the rear right)

Centre – left to right – Murray Fredericks, John Donegan (kneeling), Craig Golding, Ben Lowy, Moshe Rosenzveig (kneeling), Glenn Campbell (rear), Jon Lewis (rear), Phil Hillyard (rear), Peter Solness (kneeling), Fiona Wolf, Sam Harris and myself.

Bottom – view of work and peoples heads … !

20140520_GenesisExhibition1Blog

20140520_GenesisExhibition2Blog

20140520_GenesisExhibition15

Posted in Blog, Comment, Exhibitions, Images | Tagged Genesis, Genesis Project, Head On, Head On Photo Festival, photography exhibitions, photojournalism, sydney | Leave a comment

Curating ‘The Genesis Project’ …

May 6th, 2014

In just two weeks I will officially lose my ‘curatorial virginity’ when “The Genesis Project” – a feature and headlining exhibition event of the ‘2014 Head On Photo Festival’ – opens on May 20th at the ‘M Contemporary Gallery’ in Woollahra Sydney.

‘Genesis’ is the result of the germ of an idea, persistence and a lot of hard work … and the faith of ‘Head On’ director Moshe Rosenzveig.

The concept of the exhibit is to examine ‘at what point do photographers become photographers’ ?

What were the catalysts that transformed a child, teen, 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”.
I have asked renowned photographers from a range of photographic disciplines to delve back into their individual photography archives from childhood and onwards – and rediscover some of their first photographs taken on their first, sometimes primitive, cameras – images from their first rolls of colour – their first pics on an SLR – their first published photograph – and the moments that moved or excited them.
To tell the stories of those formative creative moments that helped mould them into the experienced passionate photographers that they have now become.

We have assembled fabulous unseen images and previously untold stories from our photographers who share their insights into their compelling work from their earlier days experimenting with or developing as a photographer and the pivotal moments in their careers.

Here is our impressive list of contributing photographers – Ben Lowy, Roger Ballen, Murray Fredericks, Chris Rainier, David Dare Parker, Fiona Wolf, Jackie Ranken, Katrin Koenning, Martine Perret, Sam Harris, Glenn Campbell, Jon Lewis, Peter Eastway, Craig Golding, John Donegan, Peter Solness, Phil Hillyard, Moshe Rosenzveig … and then there’s me too …

I thank them all.

All are more than welcome to attend the opening eve of a very different and engaging photographic exhibition, Tuesday May 20th from 6.30pm at ‘M Contemporary Gallery’, E37 Ocean Street, Woollahra, Sydney.

You may bag yourself a real photographic collectors item.

Below is one of my two personal ‘seminal’ images – made many many decades ago in Portugal on the first roll of colour transparency film I ever shot – that will be one of the works on sale at “The Genesis Project”. The image has been scanned directly from the original faded, mouldy and dusty Agfa slide. To see the full story behind behind it and the similar works of our contributing photographers please come to the exhibition that will run from opening night May 20th till June 8th.

GenesisBrianCasseyPortugalBlog

Posted in Comment, Exhibitions, Images, Travel | Tagged Head On, Head On Photo Festival, images, photographers, photography, photojournalism, sydney, the Genesis Project | Leave a comment

Interview with Head On Photo Festival …

February 10th, 2013

Following a win in the Head On Portrait Prize at the 2013 Head On Photo Festival Sydney with my image “Stockman” I was interviewed by the festivals Steve Marshall. The video interview covered my reaction to the win with the portrait of Aak Puul Ngantam stockman Dominic Ngakyunkwokka and my photography career to date. It runs for approximately two minutes.

Posted in Play | Tagged Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman, Head On, Head On Photo Festival, Head On Portrait Prize, portraiture, stockman | Leave a comment

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