‘International Color Awards’ … X Four …

Great to see four of my images recognised in the 14th Edition of the ‘International Color Awards’ announced recently.

Three times ‘Honorable Mentions’ in … (from top) … ‘Photojournalism’ for “8 Minutes and 46 Seconds” … ‘Children of the World’ for “The Kids Of Ali Curung” …  and ‘Portrait’ for “Kate – Waiting For Her New Breasts”. The image “Bonn Marie – Asking The Question” (bottom) had to settle for Finalist Nominee in ‘Fine Art’.

It was the first accolades for the first two pics … “8 Minutes and 46 Seconds” – during a ‘Black Lives Matter’ protest in Cairns, US citizen Hermela Bealfan sheds tears as she lies prostrate on the ground for the 8 minutes and 46 seconds that it took police officer Derek Chauvin to kill George Floyd by kneeling on his neck in Minneapolis … and “The Kids of Ali Curung” – a kids welcome to the remote Northern Territory indigenous township of Ali Curung.

The portraits of ‘Kate’ and ‘Bonn’ are better known as they have been mentioned several times in earlier awards … see the ‘Award’ page listings here … https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/awards/

Gotta be happy with that …

Images © Brian Cassey

14th International Color Awards - Honorable Mention - Photojournalism - "8 Minutes and 46 Seconds" by Brian Cassey

14th International Color Awards - Honorable Mention - Children of the World - "The Kids of Ali Curung" by Brian Cassey

14th International Color Awards - Honorable Mention - Portrait - "Kate - Waiting For Her New Breasts" by Brian Cassey

14th International Color Awards - Finalist Nominee - Fine Art - "Bonn Marie - Asking the Question" by Brian Cassey

Covid-19 & Cairns … Economy in Freefall …

Reliant for a large part on the regular influx of now non-existent International tourists, the year long pandemic has seen Cairns suffering economically disproportionately compared with other parts of Australia.

As the Australian Government initiated JobKeeper support scheme comes to an end this month, Cairns immediate future looks bleak despite a Federal attempt at assistance via subsidised airfares and loans.

It isn’t a ‘pretty’ story for my long term home town … the current situation is dire …  but it did mean a nice gig for the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times.

Many of my images made last week were used to illustrate the effects and hardships of the current desperate financial situation in Cairns and district as a result of the total loss of International tourism.

A pic gallery of thirteen of my images ran online (the SMH link is here … https://www.smh.com.au/…/cairns-tourism-on-the-ropes…) … whilst the main story variously in print and online (by Brisbane Times journalist Matt Dennien) was accompanied by more of my pics … herehttps://www.smh.com.au/national/queensland/trouble-in-paradise-covid-leaves-a-cloud-hanging-over-the-tropics-20210312-p57a3g

It seems it is going to be a long, long time till Cairns recovers from the body blow caused by the loss of International tourists during the current pandemic and Matt’s story is well worth a read.

Below are just a few of my images the former Fairfax (now ‘Nine’) publications used … from top … a lone swimmer at the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon once crowded with International and Australian tourists … owner of Traveller Oasis backpackers Gabriel Thallon cleans his pool as lone International ‘guest’ Rina Yamauchi takes the sun … the locked and deserted Cairns International Terminal at Cairns Airport … crew of Passions of Paradise reef vessel Phoebe and Kirsty wash the boat down after a day on the GBR with few paying customers … and one of numerous closed businesses in Cairns CBD

Images © Brian Cassey

Covid-19 and the Pandemic in Cairns, Australia ... images by Brian Cassey
Covid-19 and the Pandemic in Cairns, Australia ... images by Brian Cassey
Covid-19 and the Pandemic in Cairns, Australia ... images by Brian Cassey
Covid-19 and the Pandemic in Cairns, Australia ... images by Brian Cassey
Covid-19 and the Pandemic in Cairns, Australia ... images by Brian Cassey

Urandangi … Twelve Years On …

Way back in 2008 (unbelievable !) myself and journo Peter Michael travelled ‘out west’ to the tiny little outback hamlet of Urandangi on the Queensland / Northern Territory border. It was something of an eye opener.

The Mail Online contacted me recently after seeing my Instagram post of a Urandangi image selected from my archive. Their plan was to feature my 2008 images and update the story on the ‘forgotten’ settlement. It has now been published (25th October 2020) at … https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8821909/

The article leads with my pics of Urandangi local Mark Webb, his wife and seven children, who then were existing in a battered leaky caravan with no power or ‘facilities’. One of the comments Mark made at the time was “We are out of sight, out of mind, and no one cares”. They were not on their own … most residents were living in similar circumstances in dysfunctional caravans or makeshift iron and timber ‘humpies’ with no running water, power or sanitation.

The Mail story and pics then moves to the role of Pam Forster in the community. When I visited twelve years ago Pam had just taken over as publican of the ‘Urandangi Hotel’ … the ‘Dangi Pub’. Fast forward to today and she is still there at the pub (the only substantial building) where she operates all the business in town … watering hole (literally), CentreLink office, store, petrol station, post office, flying doctor agent … and more. Now seventy years old she has become a local legend and mentor to the entire community.

Much has improved since 2008 … some things havn’t … and it is all documented in the Daily Mail article here. (My work was originally published (2008) in the Courier Mail here.)

Below I have posted six of my seventeen images that appear in the new Mail Online article … jump to the link to see more here and read the text. (n.b … six of the images were part of my portfolio that won ‘Best Photo Essay’, Queensland Media Awards 2008. Also, the pic of the small child on the road graces the cover of my book ‘To Be Indigenous’ which can be found here at … https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/books/

Images © Brian Cassey 2008 … from top … Mark Webb’s family camp, a child at play at Urandangi, Pam Forster just after she took over the ‘Dangi Pub’, the town ‘drunk tank’, Norm and Mavis Wilde at their wrecked van home, local Sonny Mick at his ‘humpy’.

Urandangi Queensland Australia - forgotten indigenous community - pics by Brian Cassey

Urandangi Queensland Australia - forgotten indigenous community - pics by Brian Cassey

Urandangi Queensland Australia - forgotten indigenous community - - publican Pam Forster - pics by Brian Cassey

Urandangi Queensland Australia - forgotten indigenous community - the 'Drunk Tank' - pics by Brian Cassey

Urandangi Queensland Australia - forgotten indigenous community - the 'Drunk Tank' - pics by Brian Cassey - local Sonny Mick at his 'humpy'

Urandangi Queensland Australia - forgotten indigenous community - the 'Drunk Tank' - pics by Brian Cassey - local Sonny Mick at his 'humpy'

‘Black Lives Matter’ … Cairns …

Eight minutes and 46 seconds … a length of time that will reverberate down history. George Floyd was killed by a police officer kneeling with all his weight on his neck for 8:46. Floyds death at the hands of this Minneapolis police officer sparked massive  protests and demonstrations across America and around the World. The ‘Black Lives Matter’ and the ‘I Can’t Breath’ movement exploded across the divide of races and boundaries.

The movements brought the spotlight in Australia not only to Floyds death and the mounting death toll of African Americans at the hands of the US police … but also to the hideous numbers of Australian indigenous ‘deaths in custody’ … four hundred and thirty two since 1991.

On a Global scale last Sunday’s Cairns protest, against aboriginal deaths in custody and to show solidarity with the George Floyd protestors in the US, wasn’t Globally significant. However, to the people of Cairns … from all races and walks of life … it was worth risking Covid-19 to have their numerous voices heard.

The event in the centre of Cairns was all of … emotional, vociferous, passionate, meaningful and imperative. It was a pleasure to document despite the fact that I would rather it wasn’t necessary.

Below are a small selection of the images I made at the protest … a lot more may be found on my Instagram feed at … https://www.instagram.com/brian_cassey/

and my Facebook page at … https://www.facebook.com/brian.cassey1

Images © Brian Cassey

'Black Lives Matter' Protest Cairns - George Floyd - Aboroiginal Deaths in Custody - images by Brian Cassey

'Black Lives Matter' Protest Cairns - George Floyd - Aboroiginal Deaths in Custody - images by Brian Cassey

'Black Lives Matter' Protest Cairns - George Floyd - Aboroiginal Deaths in Custody - images by Brian Cassey

'Black Lives Matter' Protest Cairns - George Floyd - Aboroiginal Deaths in Custody - images by Brian Cassey

'Black Lives Matter' Protest Cairns - George Floyd - Aboroiginal Deaths in Custody - images by Brian Cassey

Adani and the Gond …

Great, at last, to see images and words I put together during late last years journey to India published for the first time.

The Guardian UK have published my work on their ‘The Age of Extinction’ feature page under the head “India’s Ancient Tribes Battle to Save their Forest Home from Mining”.

The ‘ancient tribe’ is the ancient Gond people, their ‘forest home’ is the Hasdeo Arand forest in Chhattisgarh … and they are battling (amongst others) the massive Indian conglomerate that is also planning to mine in central Queensland Australia … Adani.

The Hasdeo Arand forest is the largest continuous stretch of dense forest in central India, covering about 170,000 hectares of the state of Chhattisgarh – the coal mining powerhouse of the country. 

One of the last remaining remnants of the massive deciduous forests that once covered much of India, it is rich in biodiversity, contains many threatened species including elephants, leopards and sloth.  It is also home to the Gond – one of India’s original indigenous peoples or Adivasis. The tribe take their name from the mythical Gondwanaland that gave birth to India and they have a deep spiritual connection to the forest. To the Gond the forest is life itself. Every forest feature has a spiritual significance  – they see spirits in every leaf, tree, stream, river and hill. They also rely on products collected there to sustain life – flowers, fruits, grains, seeds, tubers and roots for food and medicines – and timber, leaves and grasses for ropes, mats, brooms, baskets, fires and building purposes. 

Sadly for the Gond people and other Adivasis forest dwellers, the Hasdeo Arand sits atop over a billion metric tonnes of proven quality coal reserves. 

In 2006 the Hasdeo Arand was legally declared off limits from exploitation, followed by a more explicit declaration by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in 2009 that the area was a ‘no-go’ area for mining.

That all changed in 2011 when the government changed tack, the community forest rights were revoked and forest clearance and mining permissions was granted for three coal blocks in the Hasdeo Arand …  including the Parsa East and Kante Basan mine managed by Adani. The pace of new mines in the forest has escalated … thirty more newly surveyed open cut mine sites are due to go online in the Hasdeo Arand which threatens to destroy approximately eighty percent of the entire forest … and the lives of the forest dweller Gond people.

I thought that might make a decent story !!!! It is little known in Australia where passions for and against the Adani owned Carmichael mine in central Queensland are running high.

So, with friend and former pic editor Srienivas Akella in tow we travelled Mumbai to Raipur and into Chhattisgarh. We spent a total of a whole day driving over the four days covering the story. We met many Gond, documented their protests, lifestyle and the effects that the mines were having on their well being and that of the forest, resident elephants and other occupants … and saw the massive operating Adani Parsa East and Kante Basan open cut coal mine.

Pleased that The Guardian have seen the importance of this story, not only to Australians and Indians, but also to the planet in general.

Special Thanks to Srienivas and local Raipur contact Bipasha Paul.

My ‘The Guardian’ story and images may be found at … https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/10/indias-ancient-tribes-battle-to-save-their-forest-home-from-mining

Below are just a small percentage of the images (© Brian Cassey) from the project … some that didn’t make the published story. Pics of the Adani operations at their PEKB mine, Gond protests, the threatened Hasdeo Arand forest and Chhattisgarh.

STOP PRESS … seventeen of my images from this story are now published as a ‘special feature’ over a week on the planet wide instagram feed … https://www.instagram.com/everydayclimatechange/ … devoted to bringing attention to climate change issues.

Gond tribal people of India battle coal mining giant Adani to save their forest home. Words and Image © by Brian Cassey

Gond tribal people of India battle coal mining giant Adani to save their forest home. Words and Image © by Brian Cassey

Gond tribal people of India battle coal mining giant Adani to save their forest home. Words and Image © by Brian Cassey

Gond tribal people of India battle coal mining giant Adani to save their forest home. Words and Image © by Brian Cassey

Gond tribal people of India battle coal mining giant Adani to save their forest home. Words and Image © by Brian Cassey

Gond tribal people of India battle coal mining giant Adani to save their forest home. Words and Image © by Brian Cassey

Gond tribal people of India battle coal mining giant Adani to save their forest home. Words and Image © by Brian Cassey

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

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

Happenings in Perth, India … and the UK …

A lot of ‘goings on’ recently with exhibition openings in Perth, a rewarding ‘road trip’ in India, a bit of recognition from ‘Budapest’ … and an image on the walls at the Royal Photographic Society in England.

Travelled to Perth (and Fremantle) last month for two exhibition openings at two events … the ‘Fremantle International Portrait Prize’ (FIPP) one week and the ‘IRIS Portrait Awards’ at the Perth Centre for Photography the next.

Satisfyingly, both included personal works  … ‘Tomotaro on the Block’ and ‘Generations- Aurukun’ in the ‘FIPP’ … and just ‘Generations – Aurukun’ in the ‘IRIS’. Both great opening eves … first time for me in the ‘IRIS’ collection, but third time in the mix for the ‘FIPP’. Nice also to have a good opportunity to spend a little time in the West and catch up with photographer colleagues Richard Wainwright, Roger Garwood, Johannes Reinhart, Peter Ramshaw and Justin Ma… and also sparkling Nikon rep Julie Kimpton.

From Perth it was four flights to Mumbai (including a quick overnight stopover in Little India Singapore) where I met up with friend and former photo editor at the Indian Express, director of Solaris Images … and all round good bloke Srienivas Akella. ‘Srini’ had organised flights for the two of us to Raipur in the state of Chhattisgarh where I had identified one story in particular that I was keen to work on.

Srini has extensive knowledge of his home country and had also searched out a few other possible pic stories to fill any ‘blanks’ in covering my main objective. As it turned out we managed three stories over six days … my main story (which stretched over three days and involved twenty four hours of driving through Chhattisgarh – all will be revealed when the story and pics are placed and published) … pics of two (apparently of five) of the surviving full body tattooed ‘Ramnami’ – a low caste sect that once endured having the name of their god Rama etched over their entire bodies … and a continuation of my earlier ‘Typewriter Wallahs’ pic essay (this time in the city of Raipur) on the men (and woman) of India who persist in working with (and repairing) ancient manual typewriters.

The weeks work culminated back in Mumbai on a big Diwali celebration night of fireworks, colour and food with Srini, his family and his very pleasant community. Thanks Srini !

Also received great news … an email from ‘Portrait Salon’ stating … “Dear Brian, We are delighted to tell you that our judge, Peter Dench, has selected the attached image (‘Tomotaro on the Block’ … yeah that one again) to be included in this year’s Portrait Salon selection. This year, ‘Portrait Salon’ will be exhibited at the Royal Photographic Society in Bristol, from 21 – 28 November. It will then travel up to Harrogate to be part of the Photo North Festival, from 30 November – 2 December. The images will be presented both as a slideshow, and in print.”

Of course … I am stoked …

UK based ‘Portrait Salon’ is a sort of a ‘Salon des Refusés’ and solicits work that doesn’t make the winners cut of the monumental National Portrait Gallery (London) ‘Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize’ each year. Now in it’s 9th annual edition ‘Portrait Salon’ arguably shows more interesting work than the ‘Taylor Wessing’.

‘Tomotaro’ certainly has been good for me … as well as the ‘Portrait Salon’ and ‘FIPP’ mentioned above, it has also been recognised in the Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA), the Moscow International Foto Awards (MIFA), The Australian Photography Awards (APA) and the 12th International Color Awards.

Not far behind, ‘Generations – Aurukun’ has featured in the ‘IRIS’ and ‘FIPP’ mentioned and also the 2019 Portrait of Humanity and The Australian Photography Awards (APA).

Also at the end of October both of these images were announced ‘Winners’ in their respective categories (Editorial Sports and People) in the inaugural 2019 Budapest International Foto Awards (BIFA). Nice news to arrive home in Cairns to …

Images below © Brian Cassey … as follows from top … ‘Ramnami’ Maherttar Ram Tandon at his home in Churella Village, Chhattisgarh, India. Maherttar is covered all over his body with tattoos repeating the name of his God Rama … D. N. Verma amongst old manual typewriters that he is repairing at his Chhattisgarh Typewriter Works company in Raipur … my ‘Generations – Aurukun’ work at the ‘IRIS Awards‘, Perth Centre for Photography … ‘Tomotaro on the Block’ on the wall of the ‘Fremantle International Portrait Prize’, Moore’s Gallery, Fremantle (the same pic as selected for the ‘Portrait Salon’ in the UK’) … ‘Generations – Aurukun’ at the ‘Fremantle International Portrait Prize’, Moore’s Gallery, Fremantle.

 

'Ramnami' from Chhattisgarh, India - image © by Brian Cassey

D. N. Verma - typewriter technician and owner of Chhattisgarh Typewriter Works in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India - image © Brian Cassey

Image 'Generations - Aurukun' - finalist IRIS Awards, Perth Centre for Photography - © by Brian Cassey

'Tomotaro on the Block' 0 Fremantle International Portrait Prize (FIPP) - Finalist © Brian Cassey

'Generations - Aurukun' - Fremantle International Portrait Prize (FIPP) - Finalist © Brian Cassey

 

A Portrait ‘Treble’ at the Australian Photography Awards …

At the risk of sounding monotonous and repetitive … my apologies for once again featuring these three of my portrait images … but …

… all three have just been selected as ‘Honourable Mention’ Finalists in the Portrait category of the 2019 ‘Australian Photography Awards’ … pretty gratified with that.

Each of the three images have been really good for me … previously and variously being ‘mentioned in dispatches’ in the ‘Portrait of Humanity 2019’, ‘Moscow International Foto Awards’, ‘Tokyo International Foto Awards’, ‘Head On Portrait Prize’, ’12th International Color Awards’ … and the soon to be officially opened ‘Fremantle International Portrait Prize’ and  ‘IRIS Portrait Prize’ in Western Australia.

Below are the three … “Generations Aurukun” featuring Aurukun elders Silas and Rebecca Wolmby with their twin great grand children … “Tomotaro on the Block’ of Japanese paralympic swimmer Tomotaro Nakamura at the 2018 Pan Pacific Para Games in Cairns … and “Victim of Sorcery – Dorcas” of ‘Sanguma’ (sorcery) victim Dorcas Numbi Nunugi recovering from a near fatal attack at a ‘safe house’ in Goroka, Papua New Guinea.

The ‘Australian Photography Awards’ exhibition opens at Sun Studios Melbourne on October 12th and runs until October 20th. Sadly, will miss the opening as have already committed to the ‘FIPP’ exhibition event in Fremantle on the same day.

Promise that I’ll soon shut up about these three pics … and concentrate on producing some new work 😉 .

Images © Brian Cassey

 

Three Honourable Mentions in Portrait Category of the Australian Photography Awards 2019 by Brian Cassey

Cairns School Climate Strike in South Korea …

Last Friday school children around the planet once again took to the streets in their millions to protest against their respective governments refusal to instigate meaningful plans to combat the effects of climate change … and save the only home we have from possible extinction.

The ‘Global Youth Strike for Climate Action’ was the second World wide youth strike this year … and numbers this time far out-numbered the earlier event in March. I covered both events in Cairns for the Everyday Climate Change Global Instagram feed ( @everydayclimatechange ) which now has around a hundred and forty thousand followers.

At a (well timed) event in the city of Seongnam in South Korea the day before last Friday’s youth marches, an exhibition officially opened on the same subject of climate change … and it features my images made at the March climate action protests by school students in Cairns.

I was invited to participate (the only oversees exhibitor) in the exhibition ‘Every Day for Tomorrow’ … ‘ 내일을 위한 매일 ‘ … by event organiser and artist Yoa Eunkyung K, alongside three other South Korean artists with a variety of works and messages.

Hoseob Yoon ( 윤호섭 ) is an environmental activist and creative designer … the most well known artist working on environmental issues in South Korea.

Jeeyoung Lee ( 이지영 ) is a visual artist dedicated to spreading the word on climate change to the children of South Korea.

Joo Yangseob is a graphic artist who produces posters on the subject of climate change and social injustice.

Exhibition co-ordinator Yoa ( 좋아은경 ) uses wire in creative ways to make statements in her artworks.

So … it was a distinct pleasure to be asked to participate alongside such talent … and help showcase the plight of our planet to South Koreans. According to Yoa the subject of climate change is not a big issue in South Korea so it is gratifying to think the my images of Cairns school children may make a difference. The event was also an opportunity to showcase the work of our talented bunch of @everydayclimatechange photographers.

Below is the poster (top and bottom) for the exhibition which runs until the 27th October at the majestic Pangyo Eco Center in Seongnam … and just two of my images (© Brian Cassey) which grace the gallery wall made at the March schools climate action rally in Cairns.

Oh yes … apparently … my name in Korean is … ‘ 브라이언 캐시 ‘ … it’s on the poster (top) ! (at least I hope that’s what it says !).

Honorary Canadian at Para Pan Pacific Games …

Born in England, live in Australia … so have never thought I would be considered ‘Canadian’.

However, I found myself part of the wonderful Canadian paralympic swim team last week … in the role of team photographer … at the 2018 Pan Pacific Para Games over five days in Cairns. I was presented … and wore … the tee shirt emblazoned with a large red maple leaf to prove it.

The Canadian team is full of charming characters and great competitors and it was a delight to watch and photograph their combined efforts against teams from the United States, Japan, India, Brazil, Costa Rica, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia. The Canadians collected forty medals, twenty four personal best times … and one World record to Aurelie Rivard in the 400 metre freestyle S10 …  over the championships.

It was an uplifting, sobering and emotional few days … and brilliant to be involved with so many true athletes and watch the wonderful camaraderie between nations and competitors.

Arguably, however, the most emotionally charged images I made were quick grabs … whilst the Canadians were not swimming … of Japanese swimmers Tomotaro Nakamura and Takayuki Suzuki.

I had just finished photographing Aurelie Rivard win another medal when I noticed Nakamura mount the starting block for his 50 metre freestyle final … and look skyward as if to steel himself as the light bathed him. Just made a couple of frames before the moment was over. The image of Suzuki was made at the moment he lost contact with his starting block during his heat swim.

Below, © Brian Cassey, are the images of Nakamura (top), Suzuki (middle) … and Canadian Aurelie Rivard during her World record swim (bottom).

 

Pan Pacific Para Games - Tomotaro Nakamura - image by Brian Cassey

Pan Pacific Para Games - Takayuki Suzuki - image by Brian Cassey

Pan Pacific Para Games - Aurelie Rivard - World record 400 metre freestyle - image by Brian Cassey

“A Photographer’s Life – Part One” at The Tanks …

It has been an absolute pleasure to bring my “A Photographer’s Life – Part One” exhibition back to Cairns. More than half the featured works were made in the Cairns or north Queensland region (the remainder from various parts of the planet).

The work was originally collated as a ‘featured exhibition’ in the 2017 Head On Photo Festival earlier this year and was hosted by the Moran Foundation at the heritage listed Juniper Hall in Paddington, Sydney. The exhibition was selected by eminent photography journalist Alison Stieven-Taylor as one of the top five exhibitions in the festival  (from a total of 147).

When I approached The Tanks curator Chris Stannard with the idea of showing the work in Cairns he didn’t hesitate … and he and his team has worked a miracle to get it up and launched before the years end. I owe Chris and his team … Ulys, Lou, Ivan and the team … a massive vote of ‘Thanks’. Indeed … the exhibition has been ‘tweaked’ since Sydney and, in all honesty, looks significantly better than it did in the gracious surrounds of historic Juniper Hall.

In particular, the camera hardware referred to in the exhibition is featured more prominently at The Tanks … and there also a few ‘kit’ additions. Thanks to a donation by fellow photographer David Hancock, the exhibit now includes the first ever usable digital photojournalist camera from the 90’s … the then massively expensive Kodak Nikon AP NC2000 … and a long forgotten United Press International ‘wire’ drum photo transmitter from the 70’s to the 80’s. These sit alongside a collection of my very used and battered Nikon kits … and examples of my earliest cameras from the very first plastic VP Twin way back when I was a pre teen.

There are also two large TV screens continuously showing five of my video features including the multi award winning “Eyes – the Soul of a Photograph”.

Exhibition opening eve last Friday was wonderful … and I’d like to thank the many who arrived and made it such a great night. TA !

“A Photographer’s Life – Part One” is showing at The Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns till January 30th 2018 … with a short break for Xmas festivities between 23rd December to January 2nd.

Finally … on the day of the exhibition opening I was interviewed on ABC Radio Far North by affable breakfast presenter Kier Shorey … about the exhibition, work and life … and, if you fancy, the near thirteen minute audio is below.

 

 

Images at The Tanks © Brian Cassey

"A Photographer's Life - Part One" - The Tanks, Cairns by Brian Cassey

"A Photographer's Life - Part One" - The Tanks, Cairns by Brian Cassey

"A Photographer's Life - Part One" - The Tanks, Cairns by Brian Cassey

 

Ravenshoe Blast Survivor …

Sometimes good things just happen … sometimes very bad things just happen …

The Courier Mail journalist Peter Michael and myself were on the Atherton Tablelands covering the story of the virus that had killed four elderly patients at Herberton Hospital. On the very off chance we also dropped into an address that we had for one of the most badly injured of the survivors of last June’s appalling and unfathomable ‘Serves You Right Cafe’ explosion in Ravenshoe. (For the few that may not remember – an out of control ute inexplicably careered into a large gas bottle at the rear of the cafe – causing a massive explosion that killed two and injured twenty more).

Noeleen Avenell answered her door to us dressed in one of her full pressure suits – a fact of her life since the explosion – and invited us in. We then sat enthralled as she regaled us with her story over the months since the accident.

Noeleen was the chef at the cafe that day and told us of the the moment the vehicle smashed into the gas bottle followed seconds later by the massive explosion that, mixed with the burning cooking oil she was working over, engulfed her. She was dragged from the smouldering cafe by her ankles – the only parts of her body that weren’t burnt – and remembers being placed into the ambulance. She woke up from a coma a month later in the Royal Brisbane Hospital with burns to near sixty percent of her body and rated only a five percent chance of survival, spent four months in intensive care and has so far endured eighteen operations – but it was evident from her talk with us that she has not lost her sense of humour.

More of Noeleen’s saga … and evidence of her wicked sense of humour … can be found in Saturdays The Courier Mail story here (possibly only to News Ltd subscribers unfortunately).

Thank You Noeleen for your incredible story, allowing me to make your portrait … and for showing truly amazing strength and dignity.

Below is one of the portraits made … and grabs of page 1 and page 12 of Saturdays The Courier Mail.

Images  © Brian Cassey

Noeleen Avenell - survivor of the Ravenshoe 'Serves You Right' cafe blast - portrait by Brian Cassey

 

Noeleen Avenell - survivor of the Ravenshoe 'Serves You Right' cafe blast - portrait by Brian Cassey

Wet But Fine Exhibition Opening …

It was raining of course … it is the wet season after all. But that didn’t stop people turning up in droves to the launch of my “The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman” exhibition at The Tanks Arts Centre in Cairns on Friday evening.

It was brilliant to see so many friends, colleagues, fellow photographers (many of whom I don’t catch up with often enough!), new acquaintances and faces from years long past, brave the elements to attend, share stories and down the odd drink.
Many Thanks must also go to charismatic indigenous leader Bruce Martin who took time out from his manic schedule to open the exhibition.

The Tanks exhibition space is expansive, full of character, versatile … and  wonderful. In addition The Tanks crew of curator Chris Stannard, Olivia, Gio, Belinda and Lisa – have done a wonderful job of curating, hanging and letting the world know about my work.

Spread around the huge space are my thirty two images – fourteen large portraits of the Aak Puul Ngantam crew each on their own floating wall and eighteen prints of the APN mustering operation. It all looks fantastic.

The images in the exhibition were made at the Cape York Peninsula mustering operation whilst working on a story for ‘The Australian’ … and have since, gratifyingly, received some critical acclaim and awards.

If you did miss the opening night ‘launch’ the exhibition will run till March 2nd in tank 4 of The Tanks Arts complex Cairns.

Below are three images of the exhibit at The Tanks – the top two show the character of the space with some of my prints in place, whilst the third is from the opening night celebrations.

ABC Radio was just one of several media outlets to publicise the exhibition and opening eve and you can listen to Fiona Sewell’s great work in interviewing yours truly on the ‘Play’ page of my web site – or alternatively here below …

 

Images © Brian Cassey – Audio courtesy ABC Far North ©

The Tanks APN Exhibition

The Tanks APN Exhibition

20140207_APNExhibitionTanks4Blog

 

QMMA’s …

A very enjoyable and bitter sweet evening last Saturday at the QMMA’s  – the “2013 Queensland Multi Media Awards” – which honours the work of members of the media and advertising community from (almost) all of the State of Queensland.

I was fortunate indeed to come away from the evening at Pullman Reef Casino Hotel with two wins (in “Best Sports Photograph” and “Best Editorial Image/Photograph”) – but the highlight was the posthumous induction into the inaugural  “Hall of Fame” of my old mate and advertising legend Bob Hale. Son and friend Ben Hale made a touching acceptance speech … and the memories – and drinks – flowed. Great to share the evening with fine friends and colleagues … and thanks for the hard working event organising committee, judges and sponsors.

All the results from the evening can be found here at http://www.queenslandmultimediaawards.com/winners-2013 (Click on ‘Photography’ etc …)

Below are my selected successful images – “A Win At Last – On Siren” (Best Sports Photograph) and “Stockman” (Best Editorial Image/Photograph). Three of my other images also made the finalist cut in “Best News Photograph” and “Best Photographic Image”.

Images © Brian Cassey

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Aurukun and the Grog …

With Queensland Premier Campbell Newman’s decision to roll back the indigenous alcohol management plans the excrement hit the proverbial fan! I travelled to Aurukun (via Weipa and a two hour drive each way) on the western tip of Cape York with Brisbane based journalist Jamie Walker for ‘The Australian’ last week – where we covered not only the alcohol issue but also the final declaration of the Wik Native Title Determination.

We were only able to stay in the indigenous township for a matter of a few hours so there was little time for a social ‘chit chat’!

However, our efforts were well rewarded  in Saturday’s Weekend Australian edition with a Page 1 story and large pic (of the very gracious Rebecca and Silas Wolmby), a spill to page 6 with another large image … and the whole of page 21 of the ‘Inquirer’ section with another two photos … all on the alcohol issue. We also scored page 3 and two pics in the Friday edition with the Wik Determination story.

Below I’ve posted a screen image of page 1 of Saturday’s Weekend Australian and also of Fridays page 3 of the Australian (with the image of delightful Aurukun school children and presiding Justice Andrew Greenwood). If you subscribe to the Australian you will be able to view these stories and pics online at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/

© Images by Brian Cassey

Good Weekend … The Last Days of Eden …

The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald weekend mag “Good Weekend” featured Saturday a four page story by Susan Chenery, accompanied by my images, on Restoration Island castaway and all round good guy David Glasheen.

Entitled “The Last Days of Eden” the story told of David’s life of isolation and his current battle to avoid eviction from his island paradise off the northern tip of Cape York Peninsula. I’ve been, indeed, fortunate to visit David several times on ‘Resto’  and he has made me most welcome every time.

Below I’ve posted a screen shot of the “Good Weekend” double page spread … and Susan’s story and more of my images can be found on the Sydney Morning Herald web site at … http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/the-last-days-of-eden-20121008-277yi.html

David’s fight to stay on the island has spread around the planet and much interest has been forthcoming from diverse parts and publications. My images have featured in some interesting countries … also below are just two screen shots of pages from opposite sides of the World … Colombia and Switzerland.

Images of David Glasheen © Brian Cassey

“The Seventh Second” at the Clarions …

Queensland’s media congregated at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre last Saturday eve to recognise their collective achievements over the past twelve months … courtesy of the MEAA and The Walkley Foundation.

Approximately 300 attended “The Clarions” and celebrated awards across the spectrum of the states media – TV, radio, online and print. As is usually the case when the media congregate – the drinks flowed rather well.

Half way through the evening I was summoned to the stage to collect the award for “Best Sports Photograph” for the image I made last year at the Mareeba Rodeo – “The Seventh Second”.  A little pleased about that!!!

Here’s the caption for the image –

“It’s The shortest ride in sport. Eight seconds is all it takes to record a ‘ride’ in the rodeo saddle bronco event.

Indigenous Bull riding specialist Elroy Josiah was a fraction of a second from ‘scoring a ride’ at the Mareeba Rodeo in far north Queensland when … at the 7 second mark … he gave his mount ‘Arrow’ a little too much respect and rein !

It was all that ‘Arrow’ needed and … sporting an dastardly evil grin … ‘Arrow’ dispatched Elroy and he was eating the Mareeba dirt.

For Elroy, who hadn’t been on a horse for 5 years as he usually is content to just ride bulls, you’d think it would have been a salutary warning. But Elroy is ‘hooked’ on the pain! “I love the riding,” he says, and adds, “I love feeling the pain, too. I’m not just saying that. Pain is my middle name.”

Then Elroy couldn’t wait to jump back on a bull … ”

The image was published as a double page spread in The Australian Weekend Magazine “Heart of a Nation” feature section with great text by journalist Ross Bilton.

The “The Seventh Second” image (© Brian Cassey) is below …

 

Finalist in the Clarions …

In gratifying news just announced two of my entries have been selected as Finalists in the “2012 Clarion Awards” – Queensland’s prestigious annual awards for the media industry.

The Finalist entries are “The Seventh Second” in the ‘Sports Photography’ category and “Soulless in Seoul” in the ‘Photographic Essay’ category.

“The Seventh Second” is an image (below) made at the Mareeba Rodeo in north Queensland, whilst “Soulless in Seoul” documents the plight of homeless in Seoul the capital of South Korea (one image from the set is shown below).

Winners of all the various categories across the media spectrum will be announced at a spectacular dinner event, organised by the Queensland MEAA, at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre on the night of Saturday the 25th of August.

Images © Brian Cassey

Rural Press Awards …

… not a biggie – but gratifying nevertheless. Received the news that an image I made in the aftermath of Cyclone Yasi has been selected as the winner of the ‘People’ category of the “2012 Queensland Rural Press Photography Awards”. It will now be a Queensland representative in the Australian Council of Agricultural Journalists “2012 Australian Star Prize for Rural Photography” and if successful there it will be an Australian entry in the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Photography Awards.

The image (below) of Atherton Tablelands farmer Shane O’Brien was made at the end of a day of clearing trees felled by Yasi’s power. Falling trees killed hundreds of head of Shane’s stock and the felled trunks made traversing and operating his cattle farm impossible. Despite the quick response to cyclone damage on the coastal strip of north Queensland, farmers inland from the coast on the Tablelands received little or no support.

It was published in The Australian newspaper on February 14th 2011 … full text of the story here.

Image © Brian Cassey 2011

 

Instagram, The Australian, and me …

I’ve spent my entire career making images of other people from the back side of a camera.   So it was a little daunting and very different to be asked to supply an image of myself “Instagramming” for an article in The Australian newspaper on the rise of the social media photography application.

“Instagram” has quickly grown to 27 million iPhone users in just 17 months … and a version for Android users is due to be realised any day now.

It is widely used on a daily basis by a growing number of Australia’s top photojournalists who delight in the creativity and competition that the app invites.

The article in The Weekend Australian – written by journalist Chris Griffith and published across the entire top half of page 7 on Saturday March 24th – tells of the rapid rise and the possible future for the “Instagram” app, and my experiences using it.

The main pic in the spread was an image I (reluctantly!) shot of myself using the iPhone at beautiful Mission Beach … and this was surrounded by some of my most ‘liked’ “Instagram” images. (I promise not to get into the habit of taking pics of myself!)

Below I’ve posted an image of the top half of page 7 showing how The Weekend Australian ran the story.

The text of the article can be found here … and The Australian’s gallery of some of my “Instagram” images – all taken on a now ageing iPhone4 –  is here.

If you wish to follow my work on “Instagram” look for … @brian_cassey

Clarion Award …

Great night at the “Clarion Awards” – Queensland media’s night of nights – at the Brisbane Convention & Entertainment Centre on Saturday eve.

Was indeed fortunate to pick up the award for ‘Best Photographic Essay’ for a series of eleven images from the passage and destruction of category 5 Cyclone Yasi in north Queensland.

A night of celebration, sadness and emotion included a poignant tribute to Brisbane ABC cameraman John Bean – who was killed in a helicopter crash just weeks ago – the award for ‘Most Outstanding Contribution to Journalism’ to legendary ‘The Australian’ journalist Tony Koch who recently retired – and a ‘Journalist of the Year’ award for the Courier Mail QWeekend journalist Trent Dalton.

A great event organised by the MEAA and the Walkley Foundation – and some amazing work by talented individuals on show receiving recognition as Queensland’s finest.

Winning images from my ‘Best Photographic Essay’ entry – just one of which is shown below –  can be found on my main web site at Photographs/Cyclone Yasi here.

Image – ‘Shocked evacuees emerge as Cyclone Yasi passes’ – © Brian Cassey 2011

Clarion Awards …

The Finalists in the 2011 Queensland “Clarion Media Awards” were announced last Thursday eve and the nice surprise is that my work covering category 5  Cyclone Yasi’s vicious onslaught on far north Queensland has been selected in both the major photographic categories – “Best News Photograph” and “Best Photographic Essay”.

Rounding out the other finalists in each category are Neville Madsen (image from the Toowomba floods) and Rob Maccoll (image from Cyclone Yasi coverage) in “Best News Photograph” – and in “Best Photographic Essay” – once again Rob Maccoll (for state wide disaster images) and Harrison Sarogossi (for images from a night in Brisbanes’ Valley).

Rob Maccoll, staffer at the Courier Mail, and I have been friendly rivals over many years … and the ribbing will be on again this year for sure!

The big media awards presentation night and dinner is on Saturday 10 September at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre and is organised by the hard working crew at the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) and the Walkley Foundation.

For the list of all finalists from all the media categories across Print, TV, Radio and Online – and details of how to book for the big evening – go to the “Clarion Awards” page.

Below is just one image from my finalist entries – “Lives Laid Bare” – an aerial image of just one of the residences destroyed by Cylone Yasi at the luxury resort island of Bedarra. Clicking on the image will take you to the full Cyclone Yasi essay on my web site proper.

Image © Brian Cassey