Finalists, Finalists, Semi-Finalists …

Seems it’s the time of year for very welcome emails regarding a variety of photographic awards … although the eventual outcome of each is still very much up in the air. Over the last few weeks I have received news of ‘short list’ inclusions in each of the Fremantle International Portrait Prize, the Queensland Multi Media Awards … and the Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize.

Two of my portraits have been selected as Finalists in the Fremantle International – one of Cape York indigenous legend Tommy George (“The Last of the Kuku Thaypan”) – and the other of young Cape York sisters (“Jillaroos”). The results will be announced and the exhibition of Finalists work opened at the Moores Building Contemporary Art Gallery in Fremantle on Saturday October 24th – and I will be making the cross country trek to catch up with exhibiting colleagues.

The Queensland Multi Media Awards reach an impressive milestone this year … with the presentation evening marking twenty years of rewarding the work of Queensland’s media professionals. This week the three Finalists for each category were announced for the twentieth anniversary event – and my work was selected as a contender in ‘Best News Photograph’ with an image made whilst covering the horrific Murray Street massacre “Mourning Our Dead Brothers and Sisters” … and in ‘Best Editorial Image/Photograph’ for the pic of PNG bar girl Julie entitled “Disko Meri” (the same image that was chosen 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 November 7th.

The image from the Murray Street massacre coverage of the surviving brother and sister mourning next to the murder scene has also been selected as a Semi-Finalist in the prestigious Moran Prize. The announcement of the selected thirty ‘Finalist’ images that will make up the Moran exhibition at Juniper Hall in Paddington Sydney and each receive a cheque from the $80,000 prize pool, will be made shortly. Fingers crossed on that one but realistically not holding my breath.

Below I’ve posted – top to bottom and © Brian Cassey – the images mentioned above – “The Last of the Kuku Thaypan”, “Jillaroos”, “Mourning Our Dead Brothers and Sisters” and “Disko Meri”.

 

"Tommy - Last of the Kuku Thaypan" Tommy George is the last of the Kuku Thaypan aboriginal tribe from Laura far north Queensland Australia. He is the last remaining speaker of his tribal language and the last full blood of his tribe. When he dies his language and 42000 years of history will die with him..

"The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman" - Jillaroos Nina Willmann 5 - Junior Jillaroo - Shae-Anne Willmann - Jillaroo ... at the indigenous pastoral company APN Cape York

Murray Street Cairns massacre - the last remain siblings after the murder of 9 children - Norena Warria and Lewis Warria (with Norena's son Cassius) mourne at the Murray Street shrine next to the murder scene.

"DISKO MERI" - PNG Bar Girl Julie - in Port Moresby's 'Diamond Club''