The Legacy and Images of Bruce Martin … ABC Far North …

One of the saddest and most difficult interviews I’ve faced …

Recently I was asked by ABC Far North ‘Breakfast’ presenter Charlie McKillop If i’d be interested in a short live radio interview on the tragic loss of Aurukun and Wik influential leader Bruce Martin at the age of thirty nine.

I first really met ‘Waal Waal’ … (respectfully ‘The Departed’ during mourning) … eleven years ago, when I covered an Aak Puul Ngantam wild cattle mustering operation on Cape York Peninsula for The Australian newspaper. The near week long coverage meant I spent time around the camp fire listening in awe as ‘Waal Waal’ held court and outlined his future vision for the Wik people of Aurukun. (It was later when I realised that we had, in fact, met fleetingly when I made very wet portraits of him during his water polo days in the mid 2000’s)

I was later honoured when he officially opened my exhibition of images of the mustering operation – “Aak Paul Ngantam Stockman” (including portraits of all the crew) – at The Tanks Arts Centre in Cairns.

Thereafter ‘Waal Waal’ Martin’s career really took off. He became a member of the Prime Minister’s Indigenous Advisory Council and served as a director of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation.

Our last meeting was an impromptu breakfast (with his home made marmalade) in an Aurukun home a couple of years back.

There are a few links here below which document much more of the potential and life cut so cruelly short … and an image of mine that has become synonymous with that life. I … and many many others … will sorely miss you.

And … Yes … the full audio of the interview with Charlie McKillop on ABC Far North is here directly below too … and runs for around six and a half minutes.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-22/far-north-queensland-remembers-aurukun-wik-man-bruce-martin/102629858

https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/play/2014/02/abc-radio-interview-fiona-sewell-aak-puul-ngantam-stockman/

https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/photographs/aak-puul-ngantam-stockman/

Image © Brian Cassey

The Legacy and Images of Bruce Martin … ABC Far North …

One of the saddest and most difficult interviews I’ve faced …

Recently I was asked by ABC Far North ‘Breakfast’ presenter Charlie McKillop If i’d be interested in a short live radio interview on the tragic loss of Aurukun and Wik influential leader Bruce Martin at the age of thirty nine.

I first really met ‘Waal Waal’ … (respectfully ‘The Departed’ during mourning) … eleven years ago, when I covered an Aak Puul Ngantam wild cattle mustering operation on Cape York Peninsula for The Australian newspaper. The near week long coverage meant I spent time around the camp fire listening in awe as ‘Waal Waal’ held court and outlined his future vision for the Wik people of Aurukun. (It was later when I realised that we had, in fact, met fleetingly when I made very wet portraits of him during his water polo days in the mid 2000’s)

I was later honoured when he officially opened my exhibition of images of the mustering operation – “Aak Paul Ngantam Stockman” (including portraits of all the crew) – at The Tanks Arts Centre in Cairns.

Thereafter ‘Waal Waal’ Martin’s career really took off. He became a member of the Prime Minister’s Indigenous Advisory Council and served as a director of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation.

Our last meeting was an impromptu breakfast (with his home made marmalade) in an Aurukun home a couple of years back.

There are a few links here below which document much more of the potential and life cut so cruelly short … and an image of mine that has become synonymous with that life. I … and many many others … will sorely miss you.

And … Yes … the full audio of the interview with Charlie McKillop on ABC Far North is here directly below too … and runs for around six and a half minutes.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-22/far-north-queensland-remembers-aurukun-wik-man-bruce-martin/102629858

https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/play/2014/02/abc-radio-interview-fiona-sewell-aak-puul-ngantam-stockman/

https://www.briancasseyphotographer.com/photographs/aak-puul-ngantam-stockman/

Image © Brian Cassey

%%excerpt%% Interview on ABC Far North with presenter Charlie McKillop and guest Brian Cassey talking about the life and Brian's images of Aurukun Wik leader Bruce 'Waal Waal' Martin following his untimely death in Townsville.

‘On the Wall’ … (Eventually) … in Kuala Lumpur …

This one I really like …

Since 2009 The Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards (KLPA) has annually selected and recognised the best in photographic portraiture from around the World. The work chosen is invariably on the cutting edge and held in the highest regard.

So … to say the least … was undeniably very happy when this years results in the Open award were announced this week … nineteen (compelling and imaginative) works selected from artists in the USA (2), Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands (2), Poland (2), India (2), UK, Italy, Serbia, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Ireland, Spain, Russia … and one selected from Australia … little old me.

Back from it’s trip ‘into space’ in 2019 my ‘Aurukun – Generations’ image was selected in the twenty strong list and will now travel to Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur for a month or so ‘on the wall’ of a prestigious gallery … dates and venue to be arranged at the whims of Covid.

’Aurukun – Generations’ has now received a raft of recognitions in awards and exhibitions … and it very nearly didn’t happen at all. The image was one of dozens made in the troubled Cape York township of Aurukun for a news story. Another was chosen for publication with the story and this pic was quietly forgotten. It was several months later when I revisited the archive, came across it again and realised it’s potential.

It was one of three of my images ‘Sent Into Space’ (literally) by ‘Portrait of Humanity’ in 2019 and it has also been exhibited and recognised widely around the planet. (You can find some of those … herehereherehere … hereherehere … and here .)

The work portrays Aurukun Wik elders Silas and Rebecca Wolmby with their great grand children Shalona and Keola. Sadly Silas has since left us. I did present his family with a large print of the Image when I made it back to the township last year.

It’s been eight years since I last made it to a Kuala Lumpur Finalist list in 2013 … coincidentally with another image made Aurukun way … a portrait of Aak Paul Ngantam stockman Perry Ward entitled ‘Roustabout’ (bottom below).

I travelled to Kuala Lumpur that year for the exhibition opening event. ‘Roustabout’ looked magnificent in a wonderful Petronas Towers gallery setting.

Very sadly (thanks covid), I’m pretty sure that this time around I won’t get to see ‘Aurukun – Generations’ on a KL gallery wall any time soon. (Still a buzz tho’ 😉 )

Images © Brian Cassey – top ‘Aurukun – Generations’, bottom ‘Roustabout’.

 

Kuala Lumpur International Photographic Portrait Prize KLPA 2021 - Finalist - 'Generations - Aurukun' by Brian Cassey

Kuala Lumpur International Photographic Portrait Prize KLPA 2013 - Finalist - 'Aak Paul Ngantam Roustabout' by Brian Cassey

Some B&W Success …

Can’t say that I’ve ever entered a Black & White photography specific award in the past … but when I noticed that Monovisions Black and White Photography Magazine was hosting their ‘First Edition’ (inaugural) Monovisions B&W International Photography Awards … I thought … what the hell … why not give it a bash!

I have just had some news today from Monovisions … and I’m a little pleased I did.

Appears I have three dispatches from the awards … winning a Second place and two Highly Commended awards in the Portrait category.

A B&W edition of my ‘The Skin I’m In – II” portrait (Thanks again due to my subject Carol … you’ve done it again!) was selected as Second Place Winner … only topped by the winning portrait work of Marco Gressler from Switzerland. Third place went to the work of Agnieszka Mac Uchman from Poland.

In fact such was the International flavour of the selected works that my two ‘Highly Commended’ images (“Mowisha from Jumbun” and “Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman – Dominic” …  below) sat amongst other acknowledged works from … Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, USA, the Netherlands, Croatia, France, China, Spain, Sweden, the UK, Slovakia, Italy, New Zealand, Germany, Lithuania, Austria, Bangladesh, Qatar, Brazil, Kenya, Canada, Romania, India, Turkey, Portugal, Argentina … and Macau ! To also grab a ‘second’ from amongst all that lot is pretty satisfying.

To the ‘film purest’ I must point out that each of my three selected images started out as full colour digital image files … and not film !!  Sorry bout that …

Images © Brian Cassey … click on each to take you to their relevant Monovisions Photography Awards pages.

 

2017 Monovisions B&W Photography Awards - Portrait - "The Skin I'm In - II" - by Brian Cassey2017 Monovisions B&W Photography Awards - Portrait - "Mowisha from Jumbun" - by Brian Cassey

2017 Monovisions B&W Photography Awards - Portrait - "Aak Puul Ngnatam Stockman - Dominic" - by Brian Cassey

Taking It Back To Aurukun …

Even before showing my collection of “The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman” portraits at exhibitions in Sydney (Head On Photo Festival), Darwin (Proof Photojournalism Festival) and Cairns I was toying with the idea of taking it back to where the photographs originated – Cape York Peninsula and the indigenous township of Aurukun.

To most of the subjects in the portrait collection, Aurukun is their home and it is also the home of APN Cape York – the indigenous corporation that is responsible for the mustering operation that I witnessed and recorded originally for stories in ‘The Australian’ newspaper.

It seemed only fair that the people involved in the venture and their families, friends and Wik clan members in remote Aurukun should get the chance to see the photographs.

A chance encounter with Juliana Doupe from the Apunipima Cape York Health Council at my exhibition at ‘The Tanks Arts Centre’ in Cairns in February set the project in serious motion. Juliana showed great enthusiasm for the idea and for the next few months was tireless in her attempts to help make it work. Nothing happens easily in the ‘fluid’ Cape indigenous communities but the hurdles were overcome one after the other.

All the work came to fruition this weekend when “The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman” went back to Aurukun as part of the 2014 ‘Aurukun Day’ celebrations.

The evening of the 110th anniversary of the founding of Aurukun by missionaries was marked in the township centre by the community launch of the excellent Apunipima ‘Hip Hop’ music video starring a wildly energetic cast of locals … and followed by the projection of my APN multimedia video (which can be found on my ‘Play’ web site page or on ‘YouTube’ here). All again followed by much camaraderie as almost the entire community partied and crowded the dusty concrete dance floor at the ‘disco’.

On the second day of celebrations the collection of APN portrait prints were displayed along the wall of the Aurukun retail store … the meeting place in the heart of township … against a colourful indigenous backdrop. Sadly there was one omission from the exhibition. Elder and real gentleman Winston Marpoondin died recently and his portrait was excluded to respect cultural sensibilities.

It was, indeed, excellent to see the photographs ‘back home’ amongst the people of Aurukun and I’m very grateful to Juliana and also Andrew Packer from Apunipima for their invaluable help.

As soon as time permits I will post a new pic essay – ‘Aurukun Day’ – which will document the days activities. In the meantime below are images showing the exhibition as hung in Aurukun (top and bottom of 3) and (middle) locals watching the projected APN multimedia video – captured at a point in transition between one frame and the next.

Images © Brian Cassey 2014

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AurukunDayBlog

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“Proof” Positive in Darwin …

Had the great pleasure to attend and be part of Darwin’s photojournalism festival premiere –  “Proof: Photo Essays from the Top End” – on the weekend.

The brain child of curators Maurice O’Riordan, Crystal Thomas and my ‘fotostrada’ colleague Glenn Campbell, the exhibition – set to be a bi-annual event – was split between two venues on the ‘Darwin Waterfront’ and the ‘Northern Centre for Contemporary Art’. The work of thirteen photojournalists including yours truly made for an impressive show.

Legendary Northern Territory PJ’s Clive Hyde and Baz Ledwidge presented remarkable samples of their work from the 1970’s and 80’s … the era of Lindy Chamberlain, Bob Hawke and Cyclone Tracey … alongside current and much younger NT  photographers Elise Derwin and Daniel Hartley Allen. Andrew Quilty showed his black and white panoramic prints made after Cyclone Yasi struck northern Queensland and Jakarta based Ed Wray his great ‘Monkey Town’ set on Indonesia’s performing monkeys. Glenn Campbell hung his work produced in the Solomon Islands of the Australian Defence Force.

The greatest pleasure, however, was catching up with fellow ‘interstate’ exhibitors Megan Lewis (now based in Sydney) and Martine Perret (now based in Margaret River WA). Megan exhibited some of her well known prints of the Martu people in the Great Sandy Desert – from the ‘Conversations with the Mob’ collection – and also took time to perform in her ambassadorial role with Fujifilm to present a slide show and talk on her work and the use of the new Fujifilm X-T1 camera. Martine presented samples of her work ‘Trans Dili’ on trans gender men in Timor-Leste. Some hours were spent with Martine, Megan and Glenn gabbing about the industry, past assignments, state of photojournalism and other meaningful ‘stuff’… including a stint on the obligatory Mindil Beach that lasted for several hours after sunset! (NB … Glenn missed the beach stint as he was stuck offshore ‘working’ on a boat – but was ably replaced by Fujifilms Kevin Cooper.)

My contribution to the exhibition was “The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman” set … at the curators request … not mine.

The festival is a great initiative and I look forward to seeing it once again in Darwin in 2016.

Below are pics of the two venues … top is the ‘Darwin Waterfont’ exhibit featuring the work of Megan Lewis, Clive Hyde, Elise Derwin and Baz Ledwidge … below is a pic from the ‘Northern Centre for Contemporary Art’ which shows my exhibit. Also at the NCCA is the work of Martine Perret, Glenn Campbell, Andrew Quilty, Ed Wray, Daniel Hartley-Allen, Regis Martin, Frederic Mit and Made Nagi.

images © Brian Cassey

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He’s Everywhere … Name is Dominic … !

Dominic Ngakyunkwokka …

Hot of the heels of Dominic’s starring role as the ‘hero’ image on the poster for my “The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman” Exhibition now showing at The Tanks Arts Centre Cairns (see previous post below) … he’s now also the headline act in two further publications.

Dominic’s image graces the whole front page of the 160th and current edition of the glossy Brisbane magazine “MAP”  (Motivated Australian People) – a great mag published by “purveyors of pop culture”. The same pic also graces the top half of page 15 above an article “A Series of Immortalised Moments” on the subject of the Brisbane Powerhouse exhibition of the “Nikon Walkley Press Photography Exhibition”.

The “Head On Photo Festival’ crew are also using the same Dominic image – once again full page – to promote the just announced “2014 Head On Photographic Prizes”.

The image has really been good for me … and I’m extremely grateful for the patience and understanding shown by Dominic – and,  indeed, the rest of the APN mustering crew – when I rocked up out of nowhere and chose to take their individual portraits as well as the pics of the guys and gals working out bush. I thank them all …

Would dearly like to take the exhibition up ‘home’ to Aurukun where Dominic and all the rest of the crew can take it in … but freely admit that this does present some logistical problems.

My photo of Dominic was also judged a winner in the “2013 Head On Portrait Prize”, a winner in the “2013 Queensland Multi Media Awards” in the “Best Editorial Image/Photograph” category, a finalist in the “2013 Fremantle International Portrait Prize“… and was part of my portfolio that made one of three finalists in the “2013 Nikon Walkley Press Photographer of the Year”.

Below are ‘grabs’ of the MAP mag cover and the Head On ‘Call for Entries’ … (Sincerely hope you’re not that bored with the image yet!!)

Image of  Dominic Ngakyunkwokka  © Brian Cassey

DominicMAPBlog

DominicHeadOnBlog

 

 

ABC Radio Interview with Fiona Sewell – The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman

Before the opening of my exhibition “The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman” at “The Tanks Arts Centre” Cairns in February 2014, I was interviewed on the subject by ABC Radio’s talented Fiona Sewell.

Fiona took the time to visit the exhibition and see the images in the last stages of set up (and it shows in the interview) … and it went to air on the morning of February 6th … the day before the ‘launch’ evening.

Many Thanks Fiona !

 

Audio courtesy ABC Far North ©

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

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Exhibition at ‘The Tanks’ …

Less than two weeks to the launch of my “The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman” exhibition of images at a great venue – ‘The Tanks’ in Cairns.

Curator Chris Stannard and The Tanks crew are now putting together the exhibit which consists of the large ‘stockman’ portraits, smaller collected prints of the APN Cape York mustering operation, video, audio and a slide show of images.

The large portraits of the APN crew – taken of every member at the bush camp as they returned from an exhausting muster – will each be hung on their own individual ‘wall’ arranged around the interior of one of the massive WWII fuel tanks . Will look sensational I’m sure.

The driving force behind the indigenous APN Cape York operation – Bruce Martin – has confirmed his attendance at the opening eve event … and hopefully more members of the crew.

You too are also more than welcome on the opening eve – Friday February 7th from 6pm – and your invitation can be found here.

Below is The Tanks promotional poster for the event. The exhibition will run from opening eve February 7th till March 2nd.

Stockman Image of Dominic Ngakyunkwokka © Brian Cassey

APNTanksExPosterBlog

Fremantle Portrait Prize …

Had the pleasure on the weekend of being a guest at the opening eve of the ‘2013 Fremantle International Portrait Prize’ at the Moore’s Contemporary Art Gallery in … uuumm … Fremantle.

An excellent array of the finest examples of photographic portraiture, I was indeed fortunate to have two of my images amongst the 2013 collection – “Stockman” and “Carol – Burns Survivor”.

Enjoyed the evening’s events with photographic colleagues David Dare Parker, Richard Wainwright, Peter Ramshaw and others as we were entertained by a string quartet (nice touch!).

The exhibited work was of an exceptional standard and a testament to the organisers of the Prize which is in only it’s second year. Work from thirty countries around the Planet were amongst the entries which totalled near two thousand and, indeed, the winning photographer hailed from Croatia! The exhibition runs at Moore’s until September 1st. The next ‘Fremantle International Portrait Prize’ will be in 2015.

Below are pics of the Moore’s gallery space and my two images as they were hung – “Stockman” and “Carol – Burns Survivor” (©Brian Cassey).

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Cairns to Sydney to Kuala Lumpur …

An event filled week ! Travelled back to Sydney to take in more of this years ‘Head On Photo Festival’, a bit of the ‘Reportage Photography Festival’, the first ‘Walkley Slide Night’ of 2013 … and … the opening at Global Gallery Paddington of my exhibition “The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman”. 

Straight after exhibition opening eve it was off to Kuala Lumpur Malaysia for the exhibition and winners announcement at Galeri Petronas of the “2013 Kuala Lumpur International Portrait Awards”.

“The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman” exhibition was obviously a highlight … and Global Gallery was chockers with media photographer colleagues, friends and many others enjoying the ‘hospitality’. Moshe Rosenzveig from Head On kindly arrived to give the opening address.

The exhibition comprised fourteen near metre high prints of the entire mustering crew of the indigenous operated APN Cape York operation … including stockmen young and old, helicopter pilot, cook, junior Jillaroos, teacher … even newcomer stockman journalist Michel McKenna (who made the trip from Brisbane for the opening to admire his ‘visage’ !)

The “2013 Kuala Lumpur International Portrait Awards” was also a fantastic exhibition … well worth the effort and some fantastic work adorning the walls of Galeri Petronas under the twin towers … including my selected finalist image “Roustabout” of APN’s versatile do-it-all guy Perry Ward.

Printed almost two metres high on beautiful canvas and displayed spotlighted on a massive black wall, “Roustabout” certainly had the ‘wow’ factor as you entered the gallery! (see image below). Unfortunately it wasn’t selected as a top three winner. The winning image of a street band certainly was a very special image. Not so sure about second and third selected images tho’!

Below is a pic of the “Roustabout” image as it was displayed in KL … and a couple of pics from the Global Gallery  APN exhibition opening eve in Paddington.

© images Brian Cassey

Ex Cairns Australia pic by Brian CasseyPic by Brian Cassey

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Head On Festival and Portrait Prize …

Travelled down to Sydney for the launch of the five week long “Head On Photo Festival” and the announcement of the 2013 “Head On Portrait Prize” winners.

The Turner Hall at Sydney TAFE Institute was packed to it’s (very beautiful) rafters for the Festival launch, the “Head On Portrait Prize” winners announcement and also the announcements of the new “Head Off Landscape Prize” and the “Head On Momento Photobook Awards”.

Absolutely thrilled when Head On director Moshe Rosenzveig announced that I was ‘Winner of Second Prize’ in the portrait award for my image “Stockman”. I was joined up on stage by Jonathan May who made the amazing winning image and third place winner Matthew Reed.

“Stockman” (Dominic Ngakyunkwokka) is just one image from the series “The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman” originally made for a story by ‘The Australian’ journalist Michael McKenna (who also features in the series). You can see the entire “The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman” collection of prints at the Global Gallery in Paddington Sydney from the 29th May till the 9th June, as a “Head On Festival” featured exhibition. Please come along for opening night celebrations and a drink or two from 6pm.

The day after the Global Gallery exhibition launch I’m orf to Kuala Lumpur where another image from “The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman” – “Roustabout (Perry Ward) – is a finalist in the “2013 Kuala Lumpur International Photography Awards” and will be exhibited at “Galeri Petronas” in the Petronas Towers KL from the 23rd May till 23rd June. Winners announcement is 5pm June 1st.

The exhibition of the “Head On Portrait Prize” winning images and thirty seven other Portrait Prize Finalists can be seen at the State Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney until the 23rd June.

There are galleries of winning and finalist images from the Portrait, Landscape and Book Prizes on the web here at ‘TimeOut’ ,  here at “Fairfax News” and here at “Photojournalism Now”

Here (below) is how my “Stockman” image is displayed in the State Library of NSW – image © Brian Cassey

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Sydney Exhibition – Head On

Only a few weeks till my collection of images – “The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman” – opens at the Global Gallery in Paddington Sydney as a ‘featured’ exhibition in the massive ‘Head On Photo Festival’.

All are welcome to the opening function at the gallery on the eve of Wednesday 29th May from 6ish  (with a little drink or two offered – but no obligation!)

The exhibit consists of 14 large portraits – all made ‘in situ’ at the base camp of the mustering operations on a remote property out from the indigenous township of Aurukun, Cape York Peninsula. The cattle venture by indigenous APN Cape York is an attempt to provide sustainable employment and a sense of pride in the troubled township – and break the cycle of booze, drugs, violence and welfare dependency.

The subjects included in the exhibition are a mix of elder experienced former aboriginal stockman, young indigenous men from Aurukun keen to learn the ropes, a white family of head stockman, wife and cook and two daughter Jillaroos, a teacher for the kids and a ‘roustabout’ – all of whom are directly involved in the day to day hands on mustering operation.

The crew are mustering – by horseback, quad bike and helicopter – about 5000 head which are the remnants and descendants of a failed cattle venture in the 1990’s.

The work was originally made for  ’The Weekend Australian’ newspaper and accompanied by text from journalist Michael McKenna (who is also one of the subjects).

The exhibition runs at Global Gallery till the 9th June … looking forward to seeing you there.

Below is just one of fourteen portraits that make up the exhibition.

Image of Winston Marpoondin – © Brian Cassey

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Interview with Head On Photo Festival …

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

Aak Puul Ngantam Portraits …

The complete portrait set – “The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman” – is now up on the web site of my collective ‘fotostrada’ at “Latest Stories”.

The set includes portraits of all the individuals involved in the cattle venture on Cape York Peninsula,  indigenous and otherwise, made as they returned from a morning muster.

I’ll let the portraits speak for themselves …

Another photo essay on the work of APN including mustering on horseback, helicopter and quad bike and other images, will be posted on ‘fotostrada’ soon.

Both essays will be added to my personal web site when the current site refresh is completed any week now.

Below I’ve posted just two of the set which also link to the full set.

Images © Brian Cassey 2012

 

Off to Sweden …

Unfortunately its not me off to Sweden but one of my images! Several posts ago on this blog I mentioned one of my images was selected as the winner of the ‘People’ category of the “2012 Queensland Rural Press Photography Awards”. Since then the image has gone on to represent Queensland in the Nation wide “2012 Australian Star Prize for Rural Photography” where it also won the “People” category. Cool.

The image will now whisk it’s way to Sweden to represent Australia (along with two other Aussie representatives in the “Production” and “Nature/Landscape” categories) in the “2012 IFAJ WORLD Star Prize for Photo Excellence”. (I kid you not – Grand Title!)

Winners will be announced in August at the ‘International Federation of Agricultural Journalists Congress’ at Lake Mälaren just outside of Stockholm.

Lucky Image … !

It was made in the aftermath of Cyclone Yasi at a cattle property on the Atherton Tablelands and features stockman Shane O’Brien attempting to clear felled trees (that killed many of his cattle) from his farm. The Australian published the image on the 14th February 2011 and the text of the story can be found here.

Below is another look at the winning image …

© Brian Cassey