Logo
  • Photographs
    • Burlesque BlokesStrippers MenXclusive interact with the female audience at ‘The Sinners Ball’, Gilligan’s, Cairns
    • Covid Vax & Ice CreamDoor to Door Covid vaccination and free ice cream program in the indigenous Yarrabah community.
    • Inside Abandoned ManusAbandoned by Australia – 600 refugees attempt to survive inside Lombrum detention centre PNG
    • Cage Dwellers of Hong KongHong Kong’s infamous lowest cost housing – the ‘Cage Home’ – and the residents who exist in them.
    • India In an AmbassadorImages from a road trip to central India in a once ubiquitous, now disappearing, Ambassador taxi.
    • Indigenous AustraliaImages from Indigenous communities on Cape York, Torres Strait and northern Australia.
    • Aak Puul Ngantam StockmanPortraits of the mustering crew as they return exhausted to their camp on Cape York Peninsula.
    • Manus Island – Heaven & Hell2016 – Manus following PNG’s High Court ruling that detaining asylum seekers is unconstitutional.
    • Life in a Coffin – Hong Kong“Coffin Homes” – a low cost housing manifestation in Hong Kong where poverty has reached above 20%.
    • Soulless in SeoulHomeless evicted from Seoul Railway Station in a battle with South Korea rail network Korail.
    • TsunamiImages from the tsunami disasters in Asia (2004 Thailand & Indonesia) & Papua New Guinea (1998).
    • India – Redux – 2016Images found during a new edit of the 2011 work from a journey through India. A fresh perspective …
    • PortraitsPortraits of characters, celebrities and people in the news – from around the planet and Australia.
    • Tram – Hong KongThe Hong Kong tram as a moving advertising canvas – seemingly at odds with it’s passengers.
    • Banyu Pinaruh – BaliThe Balinese celebration of Banyu Pinaruh – a Festival of purification and renewal in the islands waters.
    • Cattle Muster – Cape YorkThe work of APN Cape York as they muster wild cattle by helicopter, quad bike and on horseback.
    • Cyclone YasiAn essay on the massively destructive visit to north Queensland by category 5 Cyclone Yasi.
    • The Dogs of Sai KungThe dog crazy residents of HK’s Sai Kung on the Sunday promenade with their prized pooches.
    • 4th July USAIndependence Day July 4th in the small community of Half Moon Bay south of San Francisco USA
    • Bush RacesThe Almaden Races, Cape York – a local outback bush race meeting fighting but failing to survive.
    • The Other Side of ManusMore than just a detention centre, Manus, PNG is an island paradise nudging the Equator (2013)
    • Betel Nut Ban in PNGA tradition for centuries, the use and sale of betel nut is now banned despite the economic cost.
    • SinglesA selection of my favourite news, editorial, street images and more, which stand on their own.
    • SportFleeting moments from the fascinating theatre that is the world of Sport.
    • Aurukun DayAurukun indigenous community anniversary celebrations – including my APN ‘Stockman’ exhibition.
    • Portraits on a BusAn essay on the relationship between the bus passenger and the machines that convey them.
    • Animal PortraitsThe world of animals – a portrait selection of those creatures that share the planet with us humans.
  • Blog
  • Awards
  • Tear Sheets
  • Play
  • Books
  • About
  • Contact

Walkley Awards … Nikon Portrait Prize Announcement … Sydney

March 6th, 2022

It’s very short as I was too busy nattering to photographer mates and colleagues I hadn’t seen since before the pandemic, was hampered by a large glass of Shiraz in my hand whilst seated at the Nikon table and missed the start of the announcement. 🙂

However, below is a little vid of the announcement of my Nikon Portrait Prize win with the work “The Yarrick Family of Kunhanhaa” (my third win in this category in the last ten years) at the 2021 66th Walkley Awards presentation event at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Darling Harbour, Sydney last Friday eve. Click to play … and the sound is the best bit :-).

https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/WalkleyPres-PortraitPrize-1.mp4

 

Posted in Play | Tagged 66th Walkley Awards, ICC, Kunhanhaa, Mornington Island, Nikon, Nikon Walkley Awards, photographic portraiture, portraiture, sydney, The Yarrick Family of Kunhanhaa, Walkley Awards | Leave a comment

Documenting Mt Mulligan Mine Disaster 1921 for Aus Geographic …

March 1st, 2022

How do you illustrate, in the middle of a pandemic, a story of a tragedy that happened one hundred years ago in a remote part of Australia ? That was the delightful challenge that I was set by Australian Geographic for their story in the just published March/April ’22 edition on the September 1921 Mt Mulligan mine disaster on Cape York Peninsula that took the lives of seventy five miners. 

Journalist Denise Cullen initially came up with the names of several people who had strong connections to Mt Mulligan both before and after Australia’s second largest mine tragedy in 1921. A couple were in then Covid Delta locked in New South Wales so ‘out of bounds’. 

However, most were fortunately in Queensland and so began a several weeks quest around the Sunshine State to find and photograph these fascinating individuals. I found and made portraits … and listened fascinated … as they sat and told me their stories in Cairns, Mackay and the Atherton Tablelands.

Ken Best worked in the mine up until it’s final closure in 1957 and told of older miners stories of ‘ghosts’ in the mine. Pam Millett’s grandfather had a contract to cart logs to the mine to shore up the ceilings and roof, and he was delivering logs at the time of the deadly explosion. Helen Scott and her family were the last to leave the mine settlement when it was finally closed and  ‘removed’. Desley Brkic’s grandfather was the first to witness the smoke from the mine explosion. 

Arguably, though, the most emotional image for me was found at the end of a journey to Mackay to photograph an object.

Stephen Smyth of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) is the ‘keeper’ of an inanimate object that, for me, summed up the story of the disaster perfectly in a simple single frame … a battered ‘Waltham’ pocket watch that was on the person of miner George Doran James when he was killed in the explosion. The watch ‘stopped’ at the moment George, along with his son and seventy three others died at nine twenty five that morning. 

It was a pleasure to be afforded the time to portray and meet these fascinating people over a time frame that is rare these days … (Thanks AG and Editor Chrissie Goldrick) and to be involved in this story that is a part of Australia’s history.

Check out Denise’s story and my images (including two whole page pics) spanning ten pages of Australian Geographic print journal 167 March/April edition … on sale now.

Images – top – Desley Brkic reflects on the disaster at her home in Tinaroo, centre – the ‘Waltham’ watch, worn by a blast victim, that stopped at the moment of the explosion, bottom – ex miner Ken Best of Mackay.   © Brian Cassey, Magazine © Australian Geographic

Posted in Comment, Essays, Exhibitions, Images, Publications, Travel | Tagged Aus Geo, Australian Geographic, Australian Geographic magazine, coal mining, mine disaster 1921, mining, Mt Mulligan, Mt Mulligan Mine disaster, Mulligan 9.25am, photographic portraits, portraiture, queensland, Queensland disaster, Queensland history | Leave a comment

Walkley ‘Masterclass’ (and Walkley Presentation Eve) This Week … Hi Sydney !

February 20th, 2022

Over the last couple of years since that damn virus reared it’s ugly knobbly profile, I’ve been trying to get back down to Sydney … each journey (five booked in all) very carefully planned to coincide with the ‘latest’ outbreak or lockdown. Missed out on several great events including two Head On Photo Festivals, a couple of exhibitions of my work … and the launch and exhibition of the ‘Paper Tigers’ Australian photojournalism project that I worked on with Moshe Rosenvzeig. It’s been a ‘bugger’ … (but, of course, a very minor inconvenience compared with those many more adversely effected by the pandemic.)

Don’t want to speak too soon … but Thanks to the Walkley Foundation (and Nikon Australia), in just a few days I’ll be winging my way to Sydney town to host a ‘Masterclass’ … ‘The Portrait & Photojournalism’ … and also attend the ‘delayed’ ’66th Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism’ presentation night.

The invitation to my little talk about portraiture and photojournalism in Sydney came in the wake of my win in the Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize a couple of months back (see post here) with the image “The Yarrick Family of Kunhanhaa” … my third win in the prize in the last ten years and the reason for attending this years awards eve. The promo describes the event thus … “What makes a great portrait and when is a portrait photojournalism? Award-winning photojournalist Brian Cassey will discuss this question and the power of lighting, composition and how to achieve the best results. Plus the importance of building trust and rapport with your subject”.

So … it kicks off Thursday at high noon at Macleay College, Chippendale and will run for approximately two hours (no one will be allowed to fall asleep 🙂 ).

Next day … the Friday … the Walkley presentation eve event gets underway in Darling Harbour … really looking forward to that !

If  you are are in Sydney and fancy listening to me for a couple of hours you may book and find all the details of ‘The Portrait and Photojournalism’ event here … https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/masterclass-the-portrait-photojournalism-tickets-216702070727  … and in the image below.

Portrait here by Marc Steiner ©

 

 

The Portrait & Photojournalism - Walkley Masterclass by photographer Brian Cassey - Sydney Australia February 2022

Posted in Blog, Comment, Essays, Images, Stories, Stories, Travel | Tagged 66th Walkley Awards, Australian Photography, Head On Photo Festival, Macleay College, Marc Steiner, Mornington Island, Nikon Australia, Nikon Portrait Prize, Nikon Walkley Awards, Paper Tigers, photographic portraiture, photography Masterclass, photojournalism, portrait, Portrait of Humanity, portraiture, queensland, The Portrait & Photojournalism, The Yarrick Family of Kunhanhaa, Walkley Awards, Walkley Foundation | Leave a comment

News … January is Good … 17th Pollux & More …

January 29th, 2022

… a nice start to ’22 … good news on a several fronts … (but inexplicably somewhat spoilt by Facebook).

Firstly, announced in the 17th International ‘Pollux Awards’ mid January …  two ‘Honorable (sic) Mentions’. A first recognition for the image “Veronica – Where Home Brew Kills” in the ‘Portrait’ category  … and also a ‘HM’ for “The Yarrick Family of Kunhanhaa” in the ‘People’ category, adding to it’s lengthening ‘list’ (think you’ve seen that one a few times before on previous posts). Both were made on Mornington Island.

(Astonishingly Facebook immediately REMOVED (twice) the Pollux International award image of the five year old indigenous girl Veronica (below) because it “goes against our Community Standards” … I’m enraged ! Would be interested to hear your take on this.)

Also, selected as a Finalist this month in the ‘soon to be announced’ (can’t tell you more) Maldon Photographic Portrait Prize and exhibition ‘I Be Human’ at Edge Galleries, Maldon, Victoria in February … whilst there’s also an exciting ‘first’ for another image in a big International Prize that I’m not allowed to tell you about yet on pain of death ! 😉

January is good … (despite Facebook/Meta)

Image © Brian Cassey

17th Pollux International Photography Awards - 'Honourable Mention' - People - "Veronica - Where Home Brew Kills" by Brian Casse

Posted in Awards, Blog, Comment, Exhibitions, Images | Tagged Edge Galleries, I Be Human, indigenous issues, Kunhanhaa, Maldon, Maldon 'I Be Human', Maldon Photographic Portrait Prize, Mornington Island, Nikon-Walkley, photographic portrait prize, photojournalism, portraiture, The Yarrick Family of Kunhanhaa, Veronica - Where Home Brew Kills, where home brew kills | Leave a comment

Q&A & Radio … APL2 Exhibition Launch and Nikon Walkley Win …

December 29th, 2021

Last couple of months have been eventful with the launch and five week run of my latest exhibition ‘A Photographer’s Life – Part Two’ at the Court House Gallery Cairns and a timely corresponding announcement of a win in this years Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize.

Grateful that the combined events seemed to attract a far bit of media attention … and struggled through radio interviews about the work and win with Kier Shorey at ABC Far North, Sarah Speller at Cairns FM 89.1, John MacKenzie at 4CA … (and another that won’t air till next month).

All touched on the work in the exhibition … a little on the Walkley … and the background stories to the images.

First up was Kia Shorey on drive time ABC … (not really at my best in a studio at 7am) … play here (below) if you have seven minutes of the will and patience 😉

https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/APL2-Kier-Shorey.mp3

The 4CA chat with veteran talk show host John MacKenzie was fairly short … but very useful and straight to the point as is John’s way.

Cairns FM 89.1 host Sarah Speller‘s little natter went a little longer at just on five minutes … and it can be played here …

https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/SarahSpellerEdit.mp3

However, by far the longest interview wasn’t for airing on the radio but was an integral part of the opening eve event of the ‘A Photographer’s Life – Part Two’ exhibition at the heritage listed Court House Gallery. Over a hundred folks witnessed ABC Radio’s talented senior presenter Fiona Sewell host an over forty minute Q&A ‘grilling’ (read interview) in the spacious Court Room of the gallery, where we talked in detail about eight projected images chosen from the thirty seven works that made up the exhibition. Here is all forty three minutes worth …

https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/APL2-Brian-Cassey-QA.mp3

 

Thanks all in radio land for supplying the audio files … and Thank You for listening 🙂

Posted in Play | Tagged A Photographer's Life - Part Two, A Photographers Life, ABC Far North, ABC Radio Cairns, Australia's media awards, cairns, Cairns Art Gallery, Cairns FM 89.1, Deadly Threads, Fiona Sewell, indigenous art, indigenous issues, Kia Shorey, Kunhanhaa, Mornington Island, news photography, Nikon, Nikon-Walkley, photography exhibition, photojournalism, portraiture, radio interview, The Court House Gallery, Walkley Awards | Leave a comment

‘Gold’ X Two in Tokyo …

December 24th, 2021

Early Chrissy present from Tokyo …

It was only a week ago that I shared the news on here of two successes in the Budapest International Foto Awards (BIFA) … a Gold Award for “8 Minutes & 46 Seconds – Tears For George Floyd” in Editorial and a Silver Award for “The Yarrick Family Of Kunhanhaa” in People.

Well … seems Santa has come a day or two early as I just received the news that these two images have gone one better in the Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA) with both images winning ‘Gold’ !

So … rather than bashing out a similar post to the one a week ago I’ve copied it below … and updated it a bit 🙂

Here goes … 🙂

More news … this time from Hungary & Tokyo …

… these two images (below) have done it yet again! Announced this week … TWO Gold Awards in the 2021 Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA) for both “8 Minutes & 46 Seconds – Tears For George Floyd” (in Editoria) and “The Yarrick Family Of Kunhanhaa” (in People) … and a few days earlier … a Gold award in the 2021 Budapest International Foto Awards (BIFA) ‘Editorial’ for “8 Minutes & 46 Seconds – Tears For George Floyd”… and a Silver in ‘People’ for “The Yarrick Family of Kunhanhaa”.

Chuffed with that …

These two pics have been good to me … and have amassed a tidy number of other recognitions over the past year or so.

Previous successes for these two images may be found at these pages … https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/blog/2021/11/more-for-the-awards-page/, https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/blog/2021/10/nikon-walkley-portrait-prize-3-yes/, https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/blog/2021/10/mornington-essay-wins-at-clarions/, https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/blog/2021/09/tears-at-the-perth-iris-awards/, https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/blog/2021/08/mornington-clarion-media-awards-finalist/, https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/blog/2021/07/silver-and-bronze-in-moscow-international/, https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/blog/2021/04/international-color-awards/, https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/blog/2021/05/carol-amongst-big-handful-at-16th-international-pollux-awards/,

Images © Brian Cassey

Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA) - WINNER - GOLD Awards X 2 - Editorial - "8 Minutes & 46 Seconds - Tears For George Floyd" ... & ... People, Family - "The Yarrick Family of Kunhanhaa" - by Brian Cassey

Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA) - WINNER - GOLD Awards X 2 - Editorial - "8 Minutes & 46 Seconds - Tears For George Floyd" ... & ... People, Family - "The Yarrick Family of Kunhanhaa" by Brian Cassey

Posted in Awards, Blog, Exhibitions, Images, Stories, Travel | Tagged 8 minutes and 46 seconds, BIFA, black lives matter, black lives matter protest, Budapest, Budapest International Foto Awards, George Floyd, George Floyd protest, indigenous issues, indigenous portraiture, IRIS Awards, Kunhanhaa, Mornington, Mornington Island, Moscow International Photo Awards (MIFA), Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize, photo awards, photography awards, photojournalism, Pollux Awards, portraiture, tears for George Floyd, TIFA, Tokyo, Tokyo International Foto Awards, Walkley Portrait Prize | Leave a comment

More For The Awards Page …

November 27th, 2021

… just about recovering from personal euphoria following my exhibition opening at the Court House Gallery and the Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize win (Thanks to all for your comments, likes etc etc !) … whilst in the meantime these items about some other very pleasant ‘recognitions’ and ‘mentions in dispatches’ have also arrived … for the record as follows …

Head On Portrait Prize Semi Finalist  … “The Yarrick Family of Kunhahaa” … screening at the Head On Portrait Prize exhibition now showing at Paddington Reservoir Gardens, Sydney.

Australian Photography Awards … Two Shortlisted in ‘Documentary’ … “The Yarrick Family of Kunhahaa” & “Tears For George Floyd – 8 Minutes & 46 Seconds”.  Winners will be announced over the five days between November 29th and December 3rd.

Fotonostrum International Portrait Award – ‘Jury’s Special Selection’ by Art Streiber – “Tears For George Floyd – 8 Minutes & 46 Seconds”, “Kate – Waiting For Her New Breasts II” & “The Yarrick Family Of Kunhanhaa”.

International Photography Awards (IPA) – Highly Commended X 2 – ‘People’ – “The Yarrick Family Of Kunhanhaa” – ‘Editorial’ – “Tears For George Floyd – 8 Minutes & 46 Seconds”.

Black & White Spider Awards 16th Edition – Finalist Nominee X 4 in ‘Silhouette’ – “Charlie & the Pandemic”, ‘Portrait’ – “Ramnami” & “The Skin I’m In II’, ‘Photojournalism’ – “Tears For George Floyd – 8 Minutes & 46 Seconds”.

Very pleased about that. The complete list of ‘Awards’ … (shameless self promotion) … can be found here … https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/awards/

Some will be aware that lots of these images (above) have been previously recognised in other awards and splashed around a lot lately … so … here’s two from the list (Black & White Spyder Awards) that havn’t 🙂 … for  “Charlie & the Pandemic” it’s a ‘first’ … and for “Ramnami” it’s a fourth gong (but I like it 😉  … below)

Images © Brian Cassey

Black & White Spyder Awards -Nominee - Silhouette - "Charlie & the Pandemic" by Brian Cassey

Black & White Spyder Awards - Nominee - Portrait - "Ramnami" by Brian Cassey

Posted in Awards, Blog, Comment, Exhibitions, Images, Stories, Stories | Tagged 8 Minutes & 46 Seconds, apa, Art Streiber, Awards, Black & White Spyder Awards, Charlie & the Pandemic, Court House Gallery Cairns, documentary, FotoNostrum Gallery, Fotonostrum Portrait Award, Head On, Head On Photo Festival, Head On Portrait Prize, International photography awards, IPA, Kate - Waiting for Her New Breasts, Kunhanhaa, Mornington Island, Nikon Portrait of the Year, Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize, photojournalism, photojournalist, portrait, portraiture, queensland, Ramnami, tears for George Floyd, The Court House, walkley | Leave a comment

One Response to More For The Awards Page …

  1. Glenys Gelzinis Says:
    November 27th, 2021

    Beautiful moving images. Recognition is well deserved.

‘A Photographer’s Life – Part Two’ at The Court House Gallery …

November 14th, 2021

Now just over two weeks since the doors opened on my latest exhibition … ‘A Photographer’s Life – Part Two’ … and one week since a brilliant official opening eve event at the beautiful venue, the heritage listed Court House Gallery.

Following on from ‘A Photographer’s Life – Part One’ … exhibited at the Head On Photo Festival in Sydney and The Tanks Arts Centre in Cairns in 2017 … there was always going to be a ‘Part Two’.

Essentially a ‘Retrospective’, the ‘Part One’ exhibition featured work selected from my archives … negatives from long forgotten boxes and numerous disk drives … that charted the progression from my first roll of film as a pre-teen, through my first paid media work in London town as a teen and onto my career across the decades producing press work that was published around the planet..

‘Part Two’ is a fundamentally different exhibition of work. It contains a few images that didn’t quite make the space cut for ‘Part One’ – but most of the work is new and made from 2016 up until today. Whilst ‘Part One’ was almost exclusively ‘assigned’ media work the ‘Part Two’ images are much less so. The decline in media work and the lack of media opportunity and funding has meant that much of the new work was made independently, often self funded and sometimes just purely personally observational. The photographs emanated from India, China, Sri Lanka, the United States, Papua New Guinea, the UK … and around Australia, 

An integral part of the new exhibition is the ‘story behind the images’. Each work is accompanied by text explaining how the image came about and why. Many of them are quite personal. Feedback from exhibition visitors so far is that the ‘stories’ added a depth and dimension to the images. Gratifying 🙂

The opening eve event on November 5th was a thoroughly enjoyable big success. An individual exhibition opening record crowd of over a hundred and twenty five crammed ‘standing room only’ in the ‘Court Room’ to witness ABC Radio’s Fiona Sewell ‘grill’ me nicely about eight of the thirty seven exhibition images for about forty five minutes. Many Thanks for hosting the event Fiona.  Great to see friends and colleagues past and present .. many I hadn’t seen in years … turn up for the occasion. Thanks all …

Also launched at the event was the large format high definition limited edition collectors book ‘A Photographer’s Life – Part One & Part Two’ … containing … yes … all the images (85 in all over 88 pages) from both ‘Part One’ and ‘Part Two’. All those who order a copy during the exhibition period (till 11th December) with have their names and an acknowledgment printed in the book … and my scrawled as best I can signature too 😉 . Order at the Court House Gallery office or phone either Dayle on 07 40326621 or the office on 07 40326620.

Greatest respect and massive thanks to Curator Chris Stannard , Dayle Jordon, Megan O’Rourke and the rest of the council team who did a brilliant job hanging and presenting the exhibition. 

The exhibition continues until the 11th December Tuesdays to Saturdays 10am to 4pm … another four weeks to take it in. (If anyone would like a ‘personalised’ tour of the work I will be happy to try and do just that … just contact me.)

Below are images … (impossible in small pics to do justice to the exhibition, the work and the gallery) … of the works on the wall, the opening eve event and the book.

Images © Brian Cassey (4), Brendan Radke (2) & Stacey Carrick (1) (Many Thanks Brendan and Stacey)

 

'A Photographer's Life - Part Two' Exhibition at The Court House Gallery Cairns - by Brian Cassey

'A Photographer's Life - Part Two' Exhibition at The Court House Gallery Cairns - by Brian Cassey

'A Photographer's Life - Part Two' Exhibition at The Court House Gallery Cairns - by Brian Cassey

'A Photographer's Life - Part Two' Exhibition at The Court House Gallery Cairns - by Brian Cassey

'A Photographer's Life - Part Two' Exhibition at The Court House Gallery Cairns - by Brian Cassey

'A Photographer's Life - Part Two' Exhibition at The Court House Gallery Cairns - by Brian Cassey

'A Photographer's Life - Part Two' Exhibition at The Court House Gallery Cairns - by Brian Cassey

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Awards, Comment, Essays, Exhibitions, Images, Radio & TV, Stories, Travel | Tagged A Photographer's Life - Part One, A Photographer's Life - Part Two, A Photographers Life, ABC Radio, Adani, Aurukun, australia, cairns, Cairns Regional Council, China, Chris Stannard, Court House Gallery Cairns, Gond, india, manus island, Mornington Island, photography exhibition, photojournalism, png, portraiture, Ramnami, Sri Lanka, The Court House, The Court House Gallery, USA | Leave a comment

Judging Trinity Bay High Portrait Prize 2021 …

October 24th, 2021

A distinct pleasure … for the sixth year … to be invited to judge and present at the annual Trinity Bay High School Photographic Portrait Prize for 2021.

It never ceases to amaze me the quality of portrait work that these talented teen students submit … and the passion and dedication shown by their tutors to foster that talent.

Another big year for student entries this year … the schools gallery space was crowded with some excellent portraiture. As always the case, several images stood out … the more difficult part was settling on a winner and the other prize winners.

The work of year eleven Patrick Rubambo student ‘No Face’ featuring Angelique Iradukunda … an evocative, creative, well executed, nicely composed and beautifully detailed and printed black and white portrait (top below) … left me no option but to declare it the Winner.

Patrick hails from Burundi in east central Africa and came to Australia in 2019. Now in his third year at Trinity Bay High, he has been studying Film, TV and Photography since inspired by what he saw on YouTube and Instagram. His mates seemed more excited than Patrick as he calmly accepted his prize …  a Nikon DSLR courtesy of Garricks Camera House.

Year 12 student Ipsa Bharti was selected as runner up for her beautifully lit portrait ‘Patter of my Mind’, year 11 Madi La Pira was not far behind with her candid approach to ‘EOTS’, whilst Abbey Wilson’s (year 12) creative ‘Ghost’ scored an Honourable Mention. (All shown below.)

Janelle Williams Head of the schools Visual Arts department, New Media teacher Luke Madsen, arts teacher Caroline Mudge and all others involved in fostering the students visual talents should be most gratified with the results.

You can find the winners images from previous years TBHS portrait prizes here … 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016.

Images © the students … (clockwise from top) … Patrick Rubambo, Ipsa Bharti, Madi La Pira and Abbey Wilson

Winner - Trinity Bay High School Photographic Portrait Prize 2021 - 'No Face' by Patrick Rubambo - judge Brian Cassey

Trinity Bay High School Photographic Portrait Prize 2021 - 'Ghost' by Abbey Wilson (Commended) & ‘Pattern of my Mind’ by Ipsa Bharti (2nd Place)- judge Brian Cassey

3rd Place - Trinity Bay High School Photographic Portrait Prize 2021 - 'EOTS by Made La Pira - judge Brian Cassey

Posted in Awards, Comment, Exhibitions, Images | Tagged high school photography, photographic portraiture, portraiture, TBHS, TBHS photography teachers, Trinity Bay high Arts, Trinity Bay High School, Trinity Bay High School Photographic Portrait Prize | Leave a comment

‘Deadly Threads’ at State Library of Queensland …

October 17th, 2021

Nice bonus travelling to Brisbane last weekend for The Clarions … when I accidentally came across my portrait work (massively printed) at the State Library of Queensland’s ‘Deadly Threads’ exhibition . 

Was of the believe that It had already closed and I’d missed it … but an impromptu walk through SLQ and there was the big sign  (accompanied by one of my large images) … ‘Deadly Threads – Where Did You Get That Shirt?’ … enter.

‘Deadly Threads’ is a showcase of singlets, shirts, polos and jerseys (over a 190) created by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from across Queensland. It explores the significance of these pieces as symbols of identity, celebration and unity. They have been developed to protest, commemorate special occasions and historical events and tell stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and cultures.

My part was to produce portraits of significant indigenous personalities wearing a range of these shirts for display around the exhibit and for promotional purposes. Around a dozen of my large portraits adorned the exhibition printed (in one case) up to a massive near four metres. I made the pics back in Cairns earlier this year in a little home made pop-up studio.

What I didn’t yet know was, that the day I stumbled into the exhibition last Sunday was it’s LAST day. When I returned next day with camera in hand to record the work, the staff were in the process of taking the exhibition down (hence the limited pics here 🙂 ).

The best news is that the ‘Deadly Threads’ exhibition is coming to Cairns very soon (you heard it first here) and will be open at the Cairns Regional Gallery in November/December. 

Here’s links to the State Library of Queensland’s ‘Deadly Threads’ … https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/deadlythreads … and … https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on/deadly-threads-where-did-you-get-shirt

It will be well worth catching when it opens at the Cairns Art Gallery where my large portraits will again feature.

Images © Brian Cassey

'Deadly Threads' at State Library of Queensland, Brisbane - Mural Photographic Prints by Brian Cassey

'Deadly Threads' at State Library of Queensland, Brisbane - Mural Photographic Prints by Brian Cassey

'Deadly Threads' at State Library of Queensland, Brisbane - Mural Photographic Prints by Brian Cassey

'Deadly Threads' at State Library of Queensland, Brisbane - Mural Photographic Prints by Brian Cassey

 

 

 

Posted in Comment, Exhibitions, Images, Stories, Travel | Tagged aboriginal art, Brisbane, Cairns Art Gallery, deadly exhibition, Deadly Threads, Deadly Threads exhibition, indigenous, indigenous art, indigenous portraiture, indigenous shirts, photography, portraiture, queensland, SLQ, SLQ exhibition, State Library of Queensland | Leave a comment

Mornington Essay Wins At Clarions …

October 11th, 2021

Scored a nice tidy hangover … and Best Photographic Essay gong … at ‘The Clarions’ (Queensland’s media awards) presentation event at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre on Saturday eve.

A great evening honouring the best work of Queensland’s media industry over the last troubled year, it was also a brilliant opportunity to catch up with media mates and colleagues for a drink or two (honest!). To win the award for Best Photographic Essay with my work documenting the dire strait of the Mornington Island indigenous community in the Gulf of Carpentaria for The Courier Mail and The Australian was a very pleasant bonus.

The judges (for whom I have the greatest respect 😉 ) commented thus on my work ‘Mornington Island – The Queenslanders Left behind’ … “This series of images beautifully captures and communicates the plight of a forgotten community. Brian has included both dramatic candid moments and evocative portraits to tell the subjects story while seamlessly using a variety of techniques to create a moving connection to both people and place.

You will get a better look at the entire pic essay on my ‘Awards’ page at … https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/awards/

Huge Thanks to all at the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance for once again hosting the awards and the evening … and to the wonderful people of Mornington for their hospitality.

Images © Brian Cassey (pages The Courier Mail & The Australian)

 

2021 Clarion Awards (Queensland Media Awards) - Winner - Best Photographic Essay - 'The Queenslanders Left Behind' by Brian Cassey (The Courier Mail and The Australian)

2021 Clarion Awards (Queensland Media Awards) - Winner - Best Photographic Essay - 'The Queenslanders Left Behind' by Brian Cassey (The Courier Mail and The Australian)

2021 Clarion Awards (Queensland Media Awards) - Winner - Best Photographic Essay - 'The Queenslanders Left Behind' by Brian Cassey (The Courier Mail and The Australian)

Posted in Awards, Blog, Comment, Essays, Images, Photographers, Publications, Travel | Tagged 2021 Clarion Awards, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Clarion Awards, documentary, Gulf of Carpentaria, Lardil, MEAA, media awards, Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance, Mornington Island, photojournalism, portraiture, Queensland Media awards, Queensland Queensland media, The Australian, The Courier Mail | Leave a comment

Veronica … Mornington Island … Where Home Brew Kills …

October 1st, 2021

Thrilled, but also saddened to once again travel to remote Mornington Island (Kunhanhaa) in the tropical Gulf of Carpentaria in northern Australia … the third visit in the past year.

Mornington is a delightful destination populated by delightful people … but the community are grappling with many social ills mainly caused by the tyranny of distance and basically, being ‘forgotten’.

New young Kunhanhaa Mayor Kyle Yanner is determined to raise awareness about the many issues that have beset his community … and has managed to get the attention of the Queensland Government near two thousand kilometres distant in Brisbane.

I again made many images during last weeks visit to the island … but this pic of five year old Veronica Barnes is the one I’m most fond of. I was concentrating on portraying a 16 year old who was a ‘home brew’ imbiber when I glanced Veronica and her tiny puppy. A couple of frames later and I had what I think is a ‘special’ image (sorta ‘Bill Henson style’ 😉 ). (NB … her father gave permission for the pic to be seen.)

Veronica’s community is experiencing the ravages of a wide spread ‘home brew’ alcohol epidemic … and this was the main thrust of our story. She is growing up in a community where many of her extended family members and friends are suffering the consequences of alcohol induced diabetes and untimely death. The community … ‘dry’ for twenty  years … has seen a rapid rise of dangerous home brewed alcohols … and children as young as ten years old have been imbibing and adversely effected. Diabetes cases have skyrocketed and the cemetery is littered with the graves of those who have succumbed to alcohol related issues in their teens, twenties and thirties. 

Mayor Yanner and the council are reaching out for urgent assistance to stem the scourge and are proposing the introduction of regulated mainstream mid strength alcohol products to the island, controlled at a Tavern. Queensland Minister for the Environment Meaghan Scanlon MP made the trek to Mornington last week to listen first hand to Yanner’s plans.

Veronica’s image was just one of the many made whilst covering the story (by journalist Domanii Cameron) in The Courier and Sunday Mail newspapers … below is a also page grab of the spread as published in Saturdays ‘Weekend’ edition.

My recent previous visits to Mornington documented severe overcrowding in the community’s housing (The Australian, December 2020) … and numerous issues in ‘The Queenslanders Left Behind’ (The Sunday Mail, May 2021)

 

Images ©Brian Cassey – publication © Courier Mail

 

'Veronica - Mornington Island - Where Home Brew Kills' - image by Brian Cassey for Courier Mail story on alcohol abuse and home brew on Mornington Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

 

'Veronica - Mornington Island - Where Home Brew Kills' - image by Brian Cassey for Courier Mail story on alcohol abuse and home brew on Mornington Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

 

Posted in Blog, Comment, Essays, Images, Publications, Stories, Travel | Tagged aboriginal, Alcohol, alcohol abuse, Cape York, Courier Mail, diabetes, Gulf of Carpentaria, Gunana, indigenous, Kunhanhaa, Lardil, Mornington, Mornington Island, news, portraiture, prohibition, queensland, remote Queensland, Sunday Mail | Leave a comment

Silver and Bronze in Moscow International …

July 16th, 2021

… yippee … at the risk of overdoing it … announced last week  … two Silver Awards and a Bronze Award in the 2021 Moscow International Foto Awards (MIFA).

‘The Yarrick Family of Kunhanhaa’ (Mornington Island) won ‘Silver’ in the People category (the images first International recognition) … whilst ‘Tears For George Floyd (8 Minutes and 46 Seconds)’ also won ‘Silver’ in Editorial (it’s third International recognition). ‘The Kids of Ali Curung’ … made in the remote township of the Northern Territory last year … was awarded the ‘Bronze’ award in the People category (it’s second International recognition).

The images will be shown at Russian and international art communities in galleries and art centres. (TBA) and can also be found in an expansive online ‘E- Book’ at … https://www.moscowfotoawards.com/2021_MIFA_eBook.pdf

The Moscow awards has been a rewarding regular over the years since 2014.

Happy Days …

Images © Brian Cassey

Moscow International Foto Awards (MIFA) - Silver Award - 'The Yarrick Family of Kunhanhaa' by Brian Cassey

Moscow International Foto Awards (MIFA) - Silver Award - '8 Minutes & 46 Seconds - Tears For George Floyd' by Brian Cassey

Moscow International Foto Awards (MIFA) - Silver Award - 'The Kids of Ali Curung' by Brian Cassey

Posted in Awards, Blog, Comment, Exhibitions, Images, Travel | Tagged 8 Minutes & 46 Seconds, Ali Curung, Editorial photographs, George Floyd, indigenous issues, Kunhanhaa, MIFA, Mornington Island, Moscow International Foto Awards, Northern Territory, NT, photography awards, photojournalism, portraiture, queensland | Leave a comment

Vale Carol … My Best Subject … ABC Far North

December 20th, 2020

 

Carol Mayer … heroic burns survivor, subject of my some of my most successful images and all round great lady … very sadly died in December 2020 after a fight with the Big C. Carol fought for her life and won after a house fire left her near death with burns to 85% of her body … but cruelly cancer eventually beat her.

Carol allowed me to make memorable images of the results of the fire on her body.  They gained recognition in Australia and around the World. Carol’s rationale in allowing me to make them was that she hoped the work would empower other burns survivors. The pictures not only resonated with other burns survivors but also gave Carol a boost in self confidence helped her embark on many speaking events.

In the days following her death in December 2020 I was asked to share my thoughts about Carol and my images of her in an interview on ABC Radio Drive with presenter Adam Stephen.

The interview (below) runs for 8 minutes and 43 seconds.

https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Carol-MayerABCInterview.mp3
Posted in Play | Tagged ABC, ABC Cairns, ABC Drive, ABC Radio Cairns, Adam Stephen, Big C, Brian Cassey Photographer, burns survivor, cancer, Carol Anne mayer, Carol Mayer, portraiture, radio interview Brian Cassey | Leave a comment

‘Kate’ … The Good News Continues …

November 5th, 2020

The best news is … Kate … who has been waiting over eight years for breast reconstruction following a double mastectomy …  is now well on the way to having her ‘assets’ back.

Following the publication of my pic (below) on page 1 of the Sunday Mail with a story about insane Queensland hospital waiting lists, Kate Yeoman and dozens of other Queensland women had their long awaited surgeries ‘expedited’ at the direction of State Premier Annastacia Pałaszczuk and Health Minister Dr Steven Miles. Covid-19 caused a little hiccup and further delays … but Kate has now had several of her set of reconstructive breast surgeries.

Recently I had the pleasure of making some more images of a fit and fabulous Kate which will feature with an update to her story in this weekends The Sunday Mail (weekend of 7th-8th November).

(Stop Press -1 ! Below is a grab of the double page Sunday Mail spread featuring Kate’s story and my images published the weekend of the 7th-8th November.)

The other piece of ‘Kate’ news is that my image “Kate – Waiting For Her New Breasts” has been awarded a further accolade to add to a growing list. The pic has just been awarded an ‘Honorable Mention’ in the ‘Editorial – Contemporary Issues’ category of the 2020 ‘International Photography Awards’ (IPA). Thanks IPA ! (Image below)

Previously the work has also been recognised in … the 2020 ‘Moscow International Foto Awards’ (MIFA – Honorable Mention – Portrait) … the 2020 ‘Clarion Awards’ (Finalist – Best News Photograph) … and the 2020 ‘Percival Photographic Portrait Prize’ (Finalist).

(Stop Press -2 ! Just learnt the news the the image “Kate – Waiting For Her New Breasts” has managed another ‘gong’. It has been selected as an ‘Honorable Mention’ in the 2020 International “Black & White Spider Awards” in the ‘Portrait’ category.)

Image © Brian Cassey

International Photography Awards (IPA) - Honorable Mention - Editorial Contemporary Issues - 'Kate - Waiting For Her New Breasts' - image by Brian Cassey

Sunday Mail - Kate Yeoman - Breast Reconstruction Story - images by Brian Cassey

Posted in Awards, Blog, Comment, Essays, Exhibitions, Images, Publications, Stories | Tagged breast cancer, breast reconstruction, breasts, cancer, Contemporary Issues, International photography awards, IPA, Kate Yeoman, mastectomy, portraiture, reportage, Sunday Mail, surgery, Waiting For Her New Breasts | Leave a comment

… They Did It ! Pics in Space X 3 …

October 7th, 2020

… PICS IN SPACE! … They did it (and included THREE of my portraits !)
Released overnight as promised by the British Journal of Photography (1854 Media) with the help of ‘Sent Into Space‘ … the film of the ‘Portrait of Humanity’ (2019 & 2020 projects) shortlisted images and their screening twenty four and a half miles ABOVE the planet in the stratosphere with the backdrop of space.

VERY pleased to have three portraits screened … ‘Aurukun – Generations’ (selected in the 2019 POH), ‘The Skin I’m In’ and ‘Ramnami’ (both selected in the 2020 POH) … as planet Earth rotates in the blackness of space. All the photographs were also transmitted out across the Universe and beyond as binary files … just in case there is anyone/anything ‘out there’ wondering about life on our little blue planet .

Here is a short video of my three portraits ‘in space’ with a few introductory pars from ‘Portraits of Humanity’ on broadcasting a message of peace and unity from humankind onto, well … infinity.
You can watch the entire 42 minute film of the exhibition of 400 images as the earth turns below … and how they did it … here … https://access.bjpsubs.com/portrait-of-humanity-sent-into-space/

Images X 3 © Brian Cassey, film © Portrait of Humanity & 1854 Media

Posted in Awards, Comment, Exhibitions, Images, Travel | Tagged 1854, 1854 Media, Aurukun, BJP, British Journal of Photography, Caro Mayer, photo exhibition in space, photographic portraiture, photographs in the stratosphere, pics in space, POH, Portrait of Humanity, portraiture, Ramnami, Sent Into Space, The Skin I'm In | Leave a comment

The Portrait Photographers of Trinity Bay High School …

September 14th, 2020

A pleasure once again to be faced with the task of judging the work of the extraordinary visual arts students at Trinity Bay High School in their annual photographic portrait prize. This is the fifth year I’ve had the privilege of being the arbiter of their collective efforts at portraiture. Would have to say that this years overall collection well exceeds the standards of the previous four years.

Although slightly down on numbers from last year (not surprisingly during a year when their school curriculum has been adversely impacted by Covid-19) approximately fifty portrait prints lined the walls at the Trinity Bay school.

Standout ‘Best in Show’ winner was a somewhat controversial exceptional image entitled ‘Dysthymia’ by grade 12 student Kayla Allan of her sister Keira. I must confess that that I was unfamiliar with the term ‘Dysthymia’ and had to look it up.

A form of clinical depression, dysthymia is from the Greek word meaning “bad state of mind” or “ill humour”. Symptoms include depressed mood, disturbed sleep, low energy, poor concentration, poor appetite, low self-esteem, and hopelessness.

Once seen, the image (top – below) doesn’t let you go … the irresistible eyes follow you around … and it vividly tells ‘a story’ commensurate with it’s title. I won’t forget the work … or the meaning of the word ‘Dysthymia’.

Kayla deservedly received a Nikon DSLR camera for her work courtesy of sponsor Garricks Camera House.

The Seniors Prize (for grades 11 and 12) went to Kelli Baker (grade 11) for an eerie self portrait ‘A Watery Veil’ (below – second from top). The Juniors Prize (grades 7 to 10) I awarded to Sam Williams (grade 10) for his equally atmospheric portrait entitled ‘Isolation’ of his mum Kylie (third row – right). Each were awarded vouchers to spend on photo kit at Garricks.

Also handed out several well deserved ‘Highly Commended’ awards to Juniors … Shaun McIntyre (grade 10) for ‘Thoughts’ of subject Layla Johnson (pensively looking remarkably like a young actress Genna Davis – below – bottom), Imogen Toohey (grade 7) for an ‘Untitled’ work … and Seniors … Madison Robinson (grade 11) for ‘Expectations’ (below – third row left), Chantelle Nolan (grade 12) for ‘Behind’ and Hanna Browning (grade 11) for ‘Secluded Minds’. (NB – My apologies to Hanna, Chantelle and Imogen – unable to present your work here due to ‘space’ issues.)

The visual arts teachers at Trinity Bay also deserve their own award for fostering these photographic talents amongst their student numbers. Again, a distinct pleasure to be involved.

Links to previous years winners and works can be found here … 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016.

Images © the Artists … from top … Kayla Allan, Kelli Baker, Madison Robinson (left), Sam Willams (right), Shaun McIntyre.

Trinity Bay High School Photographic Portrait Prize - Winner Kayla Allan - judged by Brian Cassey

Trinity Bay High School Photographic Portrait Prize - Winner Kelli Baker - judged by Brian Cassey

Trinity Bay High School Photographic Portrait Prize - Winners Madison Robinson & Sam Williams - judged by Brian Cassey

Trinity Bay High School Photographic Portrait Prize - Winner Shaun McIntyre - judged by Brian Cassey

Posted in Awards, Comment, Exhibitions, Images | Tagged judging photographs, photography prize, phphotographic portrait prize, portraiture, school students and visual arts, TBHS, Trinity Bay High School, Trinity Bay High School Photographic Portrait Prize, visual artists, visual arts | Leave a comment

Moscow, Moscow, Moscow …

June 10th, 2020

Pleased to have three images selected to each receive an ‘Honorable Mention’ in the just announced 2020 ‘Moscow International Foto Awards’. Especially pleasing is that all three are relatively ‘new’ images … two made in February and the other made in India last October.

It is the first ‘accolade’ for the portrait of Bonn … “Bonn Marie – Asking the Question” … made at a social gathering in the studio shed of fellow Cairns photographer Marc Steiner. It was Bonn’s first real time seriously in front of the camera … she’s a talented little red head and done very good ! (it’s also the first time one of my pics has been mentioned in a ‘Fine Art’ category.)

Kate … my subject in “Kate – Waiting for Her New Breasts” … is one of the very nicest and most resilient women I’ve met. To cut a long story short … Kate had a double mastectomy eight years ago after being diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer and expected to have reconstructive surgery soon after. Thanks to the inadequacies of the hospital wait list system she is still waiting …

The image ran front page of the Queensland Sunday Mail and prompted the Queensland Health Minister to fast track her surgery … than along came covid-19. She’s still again (patiently) waiting …

This is the second mention for Kate’s image following it’s selection as a Finalist in the Percival Photographic Portrait Prize currently exhibiting at the Perc Tucker Gallery in Townsville.

“Ramnami” is a image I made in Chhattisgarh, India whilst on a day off from covering the story of Indian coal mining giant Adani’s continued destruction of the Hasdeo Arand forest and it’s tribal Gond peoples. Maherttar Ram Tandon is member of the Hindu sect Ramnami Samaj and his entire body is covered with the tattooed text of their god रामराम – Ram Ram – making him one of the only five still surviving ’Naksikh’.

This image has also just been selected on the shortlist of the global and prestigious ‘Portrait of Humanity’ 2020 collection and will be, amongst other things, projected on a screen in the stratosphere and then transmitted as a digital binary file through space on a (possibly) never ending journey. More details about the Image and it’s space journey are here … https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/blog/stories-blog/2020/06/pics-in-space-out-of-this-world-with-portrait-of-humanity/

The Moscow International Foto Awards have become something of an annual habit and have clocked up a fair few mentions since the first win in 2014. Check through the years here if so inclined …

Images © Brian Cassey

 

Moscow International Foto Awards 2020 - winning images by Brian Cassey x 3

Posted in Awards, Blog, Comment, Exhibitions, Images, Publications, Travel | Tagged Adani, breast reconstruction, breast surgery, Chhattisgarh, culture, fine art, freckles, Gond, Hindu, Hindu sect, india, MIFA, Moscow, Moscow International Foto Awards, photo awards, photography awards, portraits, portraiture, ram-ram, Ramnami, tattoo | Leave a comment

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

June 3rd, 2020

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

 

 

Posted in Awards, Comment, Exhibitions, Images, Stories, Travel | Tagged British Journal of Photography, burns survivor, Carol Mayer, Chhattisgarh, exhibition in space, images in space, india, Magnum, pics in space, Portrait of Humanity, Portrait of Humanity 2020, portraits, portraiture, Ramnami, Sent Into Space, The Skin I'm In | Leave a comment

Three … Percival Photographic Portrait Prize

May 26th, 2020

Really pleased to have three portraits selected, physically printed, framed and hung on the walls of the Perc Tucker Gallery in Townsville … finalists in the biennial ‘2020 Percival Photographic Portrait Prize’ … but … strangely no one is allowed to see them there !

Due to the Covid-19 virus the gallery is still firmly closed. The gallery is hoping that they will be able to open after Queensland’s Stage 2 round of restriction lifting on the 12th June, but that is far from certain. The exhibition runs until 19th July.

In the meantime will have to make do with a ‘virtual tour’ of the work as hung in the cavernous Perc Tucker Gallery. The photographic portraits are mixed on the walls with the generally larger works of the portrait painting prize … so finding specific works is ‘virtually’ problematic. Not a fan of the mixture of painting works and photographic images sharing the walls that’s for sure. Many … if not most … of the photographic works are dwarfed by massive (sometimes gaudy) paintings … but it is nice knowing they are ‘there’.

To save you searching ‘virtually’ … here are my three works that made the cut … ‘Generations – Aurukun’, (bottom) ‘Tomotaro on the Block’ (centre) … and great to see it getting it’s first recognition … ‘Kate … Waiting For Her New Breasts’ (top). (Massive Thanks again Kate !) Both ‘Generations … ‘ and ‘Tomotaro … ‘ have received a lot of recognition previously … just check back through my blog or go to my ‘Awards’ page here.

If you are up for the challenge and would like to attempt see the works that make up the combined Percival exhibitions try here … https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/facilities-and-recreation/theatres-and-galleries/perc-tucker-regional-gallery/percival-portrait-painting-prize#top … best of luck.

Images © Brian Cassey

'Kate - Waiting For Her New Breasts' - Finalist - Percival Photographic Portrait Prize 2020 - image by Brian Cassey'Tomotaro on the Block' - Finalist - Percival Photographic Portrait Prize 2020 - image by Brian Cassey'Generations - Aurukun' - Finalist - Percival Photographic Portrait Prize 2020 - image by Brian Cassey

Posted in Awards, Comment, Exhibitions, Images, Stories, Travel | Tagged Perc Tucker Gallery, Percival Photographic Portrait Prize 2020, Percival Prize, Percival's, photographic portrait prize, photographic portraiture, portraits, portraiture, Townsville | Leave a comment

‘Aurukun – Generations’ and Tokyo International (TIFA) …

December 28th, 2019

A nice little Xmas present … another little bit of recognition for my ‘Aurukun – Generations’ image … this time an ‘Honourable Mention’ in the Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA) in the People/Family category.

The pic … of Aurukun Wik elders Silas (90) and Rebecca Wolmby (83) with their twin great grand children Shalona and Keola … seems to have attracted a lot of attention with other selections over the months of 2019 in the UK based Portrait of Humanity, the Budapest International Foto Awards (BIFA), the Australian Photography Awards (APA) , the IRIS Portrait Awards in Perth and the Fremantle International Portrait Prize (FIPP).

Very sadly, Silas … a wonderful gentleman … passed away before his portrait gained such International recognition. I have a print ready to present to Rebecca on my next visit to Aurukun.

Image © Brian Cassey

'Aurukun - Generations' - Honorable Mention - Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA) - image by Brian Cassey

Posted in Blog | Tagged aboriginal, Aurukun, australia, families, great grand children, indigenous, photography awards, portraits, portraiture, queensland, TIFA, Tokyo International Foto Awards | Leave a comment

Winning Portraits By Trinity Bay HS Students …

September 10th, 2019

Once again … for the fourth year … had the pleasure last week of judging the work of photography students at the Trinity Bay High School Cairns annual portrait photography prize.

This year the exhibition walls at the school were covered in around seventy works … significantly more than previous years … made by students from grades 7 through to 12. For the first time more than one major prize was on offer … an overall ‘Best in Show’ and Junior (grades 7 to 10) and Senior (grades 11 and 12) Winners prizes.

‘Best in Show’ was a ‘no brainer’ … Lou Vang’s brilliant and highly technical portrait “True Self” (top below) demanded your attention with a mesmerising stare which followed you around the room. Lou focused critically on the most important point of the image … the eyes. A portrait that would stand on it’s own anywhere. Lou was awarded a Nikon D3500 courtesy of Garricks Camera House.

The Junior and Senior prizes, however, were a lot harder to decide upon. Following a fair bit of agonising I settled on the Junior winner … Kelli Baker’s creative “Fragmented” (bottom below) just getting the nod over Holly Koch’s dark brooding “Arinar in Shadow” (second from top below). The Senior decision was just as difficult but eventually settled on Marcus Pedro’s “Time to Destroy” (right – third from top) over Kayla Allan’s “Kales” (left – third from top).

Two others received ‘Highly Commended’ awards … Georgia Willis for “Windswept” in the Juniors and Tarik Clarke for “Denied” in the Seniors. Visitors to the exhibition voted “Saturated Vibrance” by Chantelle as the ‘Peoples Choice’ winner.

Another great exhibition by photography students at Trinity Bay … and a testament to the quality of the arts and photography teaching staff of Dan, Jim, Nina, Ian et al. Refreshing to see this dedication to the photographic arts.

Links to previous years winners and works can be found here … 2018, 2017, 2016.

Images © the artists … Lou Vang, Holly Koch, Kayla Allan, Marcus Pedro and Kelli Baker.

Trinity Bay High School Photographic Portrait Prize - Winner - Mugshot by Lou Vang

Trinity Bay High School Photographic Portrait Prize - Arinar in Shadow by Holly Koch

Trinity Bay High School Photographic Portrait Prize - Images by Kayla Allan and Marcus Pedro

Trinity Bay High School Photographic Portrait Prize - Junior Winner - Fragmented by Kelli Baker

Posted in Awards, Comment, Exhibitions, Images | Tagged cairns, high school photography, photography students, portrait prize, portraiture, school photography, TBHS, Trinity Bay High School | Leave a comment

One Response to Winning Portraits By Trinity Bay HS Students …

  1. Ian Whittaker Says:
    September 10th, 2019

    Thanks yet again, Brian! We are lucky to have a master such as yourself providing feedback and insight! Great blog, too!

‘On the Wall’ at Fremantle International …

August 17th, 2019

Nice to learn that two of my images have been ‘short listed’ and selected as ‘Finalists’ in the bi-annual Fremantle International Portrait Prize. The two pics will be amongst the other ‘Finalists’ on the walls of the FIPP exhibition and vying for some tasty worthwhile prizes (courtesy of Nikon Australia and others) due to be announced on the opening eve at the historic Moores Building Contemporary Art Gallery , Fremantle on the 12th of October.

A total of over seventeen hundred entries were received from around the planet … and the selected ‘Finalist’ works hail from as far afield as Croatia, Hungary, the UK, the USA, Indonesia, Vietnam … as well as from across Australia.

My two works selected are … ‘Tomotaro on the Block’ (a portrait of Japanese paralympic swimmer Tomotaro Nakamura which has been mentioned in dispatches a few times previously … here, here, here and here) … and ‘Generations Aurukun’ (a portrait of Aurukun elders Silas and Rebecca Wolmby with their great grand children Shalona and Keola Wolmby … which was also previously selected as a ‘Finalist’ in the massive World wide ‘Portrait of Humanity’ printed collection and awards).

I’ve attended the Fremantle International Portrait Prize exhibition opening and awards eve on a couple of occasions in the past in 2015 and 2013 … and it’s always a great well presented and thoroughly enjoyable event. Hoping I can make the trek across the continent for it again his year as well …

After the big bash opening eve the exhibition of the selected works will be open at the Moores Building Contemporary Art Gallery, 46 Henry St, Fremantle, from the 13th to the 27th October. I’m sure it will be very much worth a visit.

Proceeds from this years FIPP go to help the Arthritis and Osteoporosis WA Foundation and to the Kai Eardley Foundation for Youth Mental Health.

Below are my two selected ‘Finalist’ works … ‘Generations Aurukun’ and ‘Tomotaro the Block’ (images © Brian Cassey)

'Generations Aurukun' - Fin almost Fremantle Portrait Prize 2019 - image of Aurukun elders Silas and Rebecca Wolmby with their great grand children - Shalona and Keola Wolmby by Brian Cassey

"Tomotaro on the Block' - Finalist Fremantle International Portrait Prize 2019 - image by Brian Cassey

Posted in Awards, Comment, Essays, Exhibitions, Images, Publications, Travel | Tagged Aurukun, fipp, Fremantle, Frematle International Portrait Prize, Moore's Gallery, Perth, photographic portrait prize, photography awards, photojournalism, portraiture, West Australia | Leave a comment

Portrait of Humanity …

May 9th, 2019

… 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
Posted in Awards, Comment, Exhibitions, Images, Publications, Stories | Tagged 1854 Media, Aurukun, australia, British Journal of Photography, Cape York, humanity, Magnum, Magnum Photos, North Queensland, photography, portraits, Portraits of Humanity, portraiture, twins | Leave a comment
← Older posts

Back to Top of portraiture

© Brian Cassey. All rights reserved - see terms and conditions
Site by Julian