Magnum

‘Pics in Space’ … Out of This World with ‘Portrait of Humanity’ …

I mentioned a few weeks ago in a Facebook post that I had some exciting news that I couldn’t at the time reveal … I can now !

Announced last eve … the ‘Shortlisted’ images in the second edition of ‘Portrait of Humanity’ … a planet wide selection of the best photographic portraiture co-hosted by 1854 media (publisher of the British Journal of Photography) and Magnum. This project aims to create one of the most ‘far-reaching’ … literally in more ways than one … portrait photography exhibitions in history.

The two hundred ‘Shortlisted’ portraits will be exhibited in outer space … and then transmitted as code through the Universe for (possibly) eternity !

Portrait of Humanity organisers elaborate … “In the ultimate celebration of humankind and the home we share, Portrait of Humanity 2020 will be exhibited in Space. In a feat never before achieved with a photographic exhibition, 200 shortlisted images will be used to broadcast a message of peace and unity from humankind to infinity. Our partner, ‘Sent Into Space’, will launch a screen into the stratosphere with a 360° camera, so photographers can see their images displayed against the extraordinary backdrop of Space. The images will then be beamed onwards in binary code, travelling unimpeded through the solar system at the speed of light. These messages could continue on an infinite journey — or until another civilisation receives and decodes them.”

May seem like bit of a ‘stunt’ but it seems like pretty damn cool stunt to me.

The best bit is that they have selected TWO of my images to make the journey into the stratosphere and beyond … “Ramnami” (a portrait of tattooed Maherttar Ram Tandon in Chhattisgarh, India) … .. and … “The Skin I’m In” (a portrait of the wonderful Cairns burns survivor Carol Anne Mayer). The portrait of Carol has attracted lost of ‘interest’ previously, whilst it’s very rewarding to see the portrait of Maherttar receive it’s first recognition.

All the ‘shortlisted’ images have also been collected into a ‘Portrait of Humanity Volume 2’ book. If you are interested in this wonderful volume of the best photographic portraiture from around our planet you can order a copy from the British Journal of Photography book shop here … https://www.thebjpshop.com/product/portrait-of-humanity-vol-2/ . (Carol … I have one on order for you !).

Great to be part of this exciting ‘out of this World’ initiative by 1854 Media and the British Journal of Photography … as was being selected in the shortlist of the inaugural ‘Portrait of Humanity’ collection back in 2019.

Images © Brian Cassey (@BJPhoto)

 

portrait of Humanity 2020 - Shortlist - Ramnami by Brian Cassey . Chhattisgarh, India

 

Portrait of Humanity - 'The Skin I'm In' - shortlisted - by Brian Cassey

 

 

Silas & Rebecca … Now at the IRIS Awards …

Last post I related that two of my images have recently been selected as Finalists in the Fremantle International Portrait Prize …

Now I have just learnt that one of the two has also been selected as a Finalist in the Perth Centre for Photography “IRIS Award” for portraiture … and that is bloody satisfying as it’s a ‘first’ for me.

Here’s how the IRIS Award describes itself … “The Award is an international prize recognising new and outstanding portraiture in photographic art. The criteria for selection focuses on portraits that are unique, compelling and engaging whilst maintaining excellence in photography. Concept, meaning and depth are equally as important as well executed work. Originality is essential and the award encourages work that is evocative and provocative and in some ways may be relevant to the current global cultural landscape.”

This year the award was judged by the highly esteemed and Internationally distributed GUP Magazine (Guide to Unique Photography) based in the Netherlands.

It seems this pic (below) met their criteria … “Generations – Aurukun” of Silas and Rebecca Wolmby and their great grand children. That in itself is rewarding, as the pic … originally made in 2016 during a News Ltd job in the Cape York indigenous township … thereafter languished forgotten and unloved in my archive until I again chanced upon it a few months ago. Since then it’s been around. The pic was Shortlisted and book published in the Magnum and British Journal of Photography ‘Portrait of Humanity’ project … and selected as a Finalist in the FIPP.

Very sadly, the wonderful gent Silas has since passed on. However, I hope to be travelling to Aurukun again in the near future and will make sure that Rebecca and the Wolmby family receive a big copy of the image.

The exhibition opening and prize announcement of the IRIS Award is on Friday 18th October at the Perth Centre for Photography Gallery, 357 Murray Street, Perth … just one week after the opening and prize announcement of the FIPP in Fremantle. WA friends … you are warned … 🙂

Image © Brian Cassey

IRIS Awards - Perth Centre for Photography - Finalist - "Generations - Aurukun' by Brian Cassey

Portrait of Humanity …

… very, very, very pleased to learn that one of my lesser known images has been selected for the ‘Shortlist’ of the massive and prestigious “Portrait of Humanity” World Wide portrait photography project and exhibition … and will be published in the hard cover book collection of the same name.

The grand stated aim of “Portrait of Humanity” … a collaboration between Magnum Photos and 1854 Media (the publishers of the ‘British Journal of Photography’) … is to “create one of the greatest collaborative photography exhibitions in history”. The 200 short listed images from all around the planet were chosen for their “expressions of individuality, community and unity”.

Photographers were initially asked to document “the universal expressions of life … laughter, courage, moments of reflection, journeys to work, first hellos, last goodbyes, and everything in between.” Tens of thousands of submissions came from every corner of the globe.

In news released this week “Portraits of Humanity” said that “Together the winning and shortlisted images create a powerful and diverse Portrait of Humanity. Fifty photographs will tour the world as part as an exhibition and 200 images will be featured soon in a 322 page volume published by Hoxton Mini Press”. (My image graces page 272.)

(Sadly there was only one other Australian based photographer amongst the two hundred selected … indigenous photographer Wayne Quilliam with his image from the Tiwi Islands.)

The selection of my work … of Aurukun indigenous elders Silas and Rebecca Wolmby with their twin great grand children Shalona and Keola and entitled “Generations” … was a very pleasant surprise.

I’ve photographed Silas and Rebecca in Aurukun many times over the decades … they have always been wonderfully polite and obliging and they were a voice of sanity in their ‘unsettled’ remote Cape York community. Sadly Silas died recently and Shalona and Keola will be unlikely to grow up with a memory of their respected great grandfather.

As a ‘short lister’ I receive a copy of the “Portrait of Humanity” book filled with truly wonderful portraiture. If you wish to invest in this great collection you can do so here at the Hoxton Mini Press web site.

Image of Silas and Rebecca (top) ©Brian Cassey … and book publication (below … mine is on the left page 🙂 ) is ©1854 Media & Hoxton Mini Press

"Portraits of Humanity" - International Portrait Photography Project 2019 - Aurukun elders Silas and Rebecca Wolmby with their great grand children Shalona and Keola Wolmby - Image by Brian Cassey, Cairns
"Portraits of Humanity" - International Portrait Photography Project 2019 - Aurukun elders Silas and Rebecca Wolmby with their great grand children Shalona and Keola Wolmby - Image by Brian Cassey, Cairns