Walkley Awards | Brian Cassey Photographer Cairns Australia

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 😉

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 …

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 …

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

Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize #3 … Yes !

October 25th, 2021

… well, that was damn exciting and unexpected !

A few days ago received an email (proceeded by phone calls) with the great news that I’d once again won the ‘Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize’. Really stoked with that …

The Walkley’s usually announce the winners of the ‘Nikon Portrait Prize’, the ‘Nikon Photo of the Year Prize’ and the finalists of the other Nikon photographic categories during state capital evening ‘events’ … but Covid this year meant a much quieter disclosure via an 8am email.

Wasn’t expected anything … so missed the initial email and only learn’t that my pic “The Yarrick Family of Kunhanhaa” had been selected as the portrait prize winner when colleagues started ringing me !

The pic was made on Mornington Island (Kunhanhaa) in the Gulf of Carpentaria in far northern Australia … an indigenous community that is experiencing multiple ‘social issues’ mostly due to the tyranny of distance and … well … being ‘forgotten’. Myself and ‘gun’ journalist Michael McKenna travelled to the island in December 2020 to document the story of massive overcrowding in the communities basic homes … and the image and story was published on page one of ‘The Australian’ (below).

Many thanks to Michael … and also to the ‘driven’ Mayor of Mornington, Kyle Yanner, who is single minded in solving the issues that have beset his community.

This portrait was also a part of my pic essay “Mornington Island – The Queenslanders Left behind” that recently won the ‘Photographic Essay’ category of ‘The Clarion Awards’ … Queensland’s media awards.

Also, huge congrats to brilliant Sydney Morning Herald colleague Kate Geraghty who scored the ‘Nikon Photo of the Year Prize’ with an evocative image of a Covid-19 patient that was also published as a page1.

Can’t forget the several of my colleagues that received the news that they are ‘Finalists’ in the remaining Nikon Walkley photographic categories who won’t now learn their fate till the big announcements at The Walkley Awards presentation night of nights in Tamworth in February 2022. I’ll be there ‘with bells on’ !

Below I’ve also posted images and links to my other two previous winning ‘Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize’ photographs in 2016 (here) and 2011 (here). Also just a couple of the links to all the Nikon Walkley winners and category finalists here and here.

STOP PRESS: Was interviewed in the days after the announcement by the Walkley Foundation’s Kate Burgess for an article in The Walkley Magazine. Kate’s work and my words may be found here … https://medium.com/the-walkley-magazine/spotlight-on-brian-cassey-1bfa58b91af8

Images © Brian Cassey

Posted in Awards, Blog, Comment, Exhibitions, Images, Publications, Stories, Travel | Tagged Abdullatif, Australian photojournalism, beaten asylum seeker, Carol Mayer, Kunhanhaa, manus island, Mornington, Mornington Island, Nikon, Nikon Photo of the Year, Nikon Portrait of the Year, Nikon Portrait Prize, papua new guinea, photo of the year, photojournalism, png, portrait prize, Tamworth, The Australian, The Yarrick Family of Kunhanhaa, walkley, Walkley Awards, Walkley's | Leave a comment

Bi ’16, Hi ’17 …

January 10th, 2017

Thanks to Murray Young for pointing this out (I was across the other side of the planet so initially missed it) … great showing in the first publication of 2017 in the Sunday Mail, January 1.

The S Mail used my image of beaten asylum seeker Abdullatif Almoftaji across the entire front page cover of their photographic retrospective special … ‘2016 Pictures of the Year’ … which also included some mind blowing and soon to be, if not already, ‘iconic’ (for want of a better term) images … including Cameron Spencer’s Getty image of Usain Bolt, Burhan Ozbilici’s startling AP image of Mevlut Mert Altintas after murdering Russian Ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov, Jonathan Bachman’s ‘Black Lives Matter’ Baton Rouge protest pic of leshia Evans … and Mahmoud Raslan’s haunting image of 5 year old Syrian child Omran Daqneesh in Aleppo. All images that will go down in history.

Real Chuffed to have my image part of such an amazing collection.

My pic of beaten 20 year old Iraqi asylum seeker Abdullatif was made at the Manus Island Papua New Guinea police watch house during a visit to document the island’s detainees. In December it was recognised as the winner of the Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize for 2016.

Below is a grab of the January 1st three page Sunday Mail special ‘In the Frame – Pictures of the Year’ (Abdullatif image © Brian Cassey)

Pictures of the Year 2016 - Abdulaftif Almoftaji - Manus Island by Brian Cassey

Posted in Awards, Blog, Comment, Exhibitions, Images, Publications, Stories, Travel | Tagged asylum seekers, Awards, exhibition, manus island, Nikon-Walkley, papua new guinea, png, portrait, portraits, publication, refugees, Sunday Mail, walkley, Walkley Awards | Leave a comment

Walkley Portrait Prize …

December 5th, 2016

The announcement at the 2016 Walkley Awards … a win in the Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize for my image “Beaten Refugee” of Iraqi asylum seeker Abdullahtif Almoftaji battered in the Lorengau, Manus Island police watch house in Papua New Guinea.

Posted in Play | Tagged Iraq, Lorengau, manus island, Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize, Nikon-Walkley, papua new guinea, png, portraiture, walkley, Walkley Awards | Leave a comment

Sensational Walkley’s …

What a night … and a what a result … !

The 2016 Walkley Awards on Friday eve at the Brisbane Exhibition Centre heralded an historic ‘first’ … the mega talented and great guy photojournalist Andrew Quilty the first photographer to ever take out the biggest prize – the ‘Gold Walkley’.

Nobody deserves it more …

Andrew is totally dedicated to his craft and gave away a job at Fairfax to move to Afghanistan as a freelance. His work is extraordinary.

I was fortunate – by way of my Nikon-Walkley Portrait win – to be seated at the same table 55 as Andrew on Friday eve … along with the incredibly legendary war photojournalist Tim Page and partner Marianna Harris, Walkley advisory board member and photographer Michael Amendolia, prolific photography journalist Alison Steven-Taylor (‘Photojournalism Now’), my Cairns photographer mate Marc McCormack and Mrs Sandra, Tanie Harris Sansey … and Andrew’s delightful mum Ann.

Definitely the best table of the night !

Before the evenings events commenced Andrew had already bagged the Nikon-Walkley ‘Photo of the Year’ award … and soon added the ‘News Photo’ award … before thrilling the scores of media photographers – and everyone else in the room – with the final award of the night – the ‘Gold Walkley’. Magic …

A absolute pleasure to chat with Tim … and delighted that he suggested we swap prints … my Portrait Prize pic for one of his amazing historic combat images. Pretty stoked about that …

The rest of the Nikon-Walkley photography awards were also ‘spot on’ … with Alex Coppel taking out ‘Press Photographer of the Year’, Cameron Spencer the ‘Sports Photography’ award and David Maurice Smith the ‘Feature/Photographic Essay’ award … all against some amazing ‘Finalist’ opposition.

Well done Walkley’s and Nikon … truly memorable !

Below is top … Tim Page watching the announcement of my ‘Nikon-Walkley Portrait Prize’ win from our table … and below … the older PJ legend Tim chats with the newer legend Andrew Quilty after his ‘Gold Walkley’ win.

Images © Brian Cassey 2016

2016 Walkley Awards - Nikon-Walkley Awards - Gold Walkley, Andrew Quilty - Portraiture, Brian Cassey

Walkley Awards 2016 - Nikon-Walkley Awards - Winner Gold Walkley, Andrew Quilty - Portraiture, Brian Cassey

Posted in Awards, Blog, Comment, Essays, Exhibitions, Images, Publications, Travel | Tagged Andrew Quilty, australia, Awards, Brisbane, Gold Walkley, media, Nikon Walkley Awards, photo of the year, photojournalism, portrait, press awards, press photography, Tim Page, Walkley Awards | Leave a comment

October … Great Month … !

October 14th, 2016

It’s not even half way through the month of October … but it’s already been a cracker !!

As the month turned I received news that five of my images had been selected as Finalists in four categories of the ‘Queensland Multi Media Awards’ … the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino Cairns on November 12th. Looking forward to that one …

That was followed by the announcement of selected finalists in the rich and prestigious ‘Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize’ … and my work ‘Number 55’ is one of the short listed images. The announcement of the $50,000 winner and the opening of the exhibition displaying all the Finalists work at Juniper Hall, Oxford Street, Paddington takes place on October 26th … and I’ll be choofing off to Sydney for that one!

Then … Thursday eve (the 13th) … the shock (to me) announcement, but wonderful news, that one of my images from the work on Manus Island PNG – of twenty year old Iraqi asylum seeker Abdullatif battered in the Lorengau police watch house – was selected as the Winner of the 2016 ‘Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize’. Magic … and now really looking forward to Australia’s media ‘night of nights’ – ‘The Walkley Awards’ – in Brisbane on Friday December 2nd. It’s the second time I’ve been lucky enough to snare the ‘Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize’ … the other being in 2011 with the portrait of Cairns burns survivor Carol Mayer.

Below is the 2016 ‘Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize’ Winner “Beaten Refugee”.

UPDATE … The Guardian has now published a great online gallery of ‘the best of’ this years Nikon Walkley winners and finalists – including my “Beaten Refugee” – at … https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2016/oct/17/nikon-walkley-awards-2016-the-best-photographs

Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize 2016 - "Beaten Refugee" - by Brian Cassey

Posted in Awards, Blog, Comment, Exhibitions, Images, Travel | Tagged manus island, Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize, Moran Foundation, moran prize, Nikon Walkley Awards, Nikon Walkley Portrait Prize, photojournalism, png, QMMA, Walkley Awards | Leave a comment

Nikon Walkley’s In Brisbane …

March 31st, 2015

Thanks to Nikon Australia and the Walkley Foundation I last week again travelled to Brisbane to help launch the ‘2014 Nikon Walkley Press Photography Exhibition’ at the Brisbane Powerhouse.

Great to catch up with colleagues and mates once again but first I had to do the ‘official bit’ on stage and wax (probably not so) lyrical – to an audience of about 70 guests – about the work of Australia’s press photographers and the wonderful images collected into this years exhibition displayed on the textured and colourful walls of the Powerhouse. I then joined forces on stage with Nikon Walkley News category finalist – Courier Mail staffer and mate – Peter Wallace … and we talked about how he worked to obtain his great image of now convicted murderer Gerard Baden-Clay.

A great evening that I hope everyone enjoyed … and ‘Thanks’ to the Walkley’s, Nikon and all at the Powerhouse.

If you get the chance to see the exhibition – either in Brisbane or in other touring venues – you will not be disappointed. The work is extraordinary (as is usual every year) and a testament to the talent of Australia’s press photographers.

Below a pic – courtesy of Nikon’s Chris Dalton – of yours truly hiding behind the microphone at the Nikon Walkley exhibition launch with the work of Sport finalist Brett Costello on the big screen . Image © Chris Dalton

NikonWalkleyBrisbaneBlog

Posted in Awards, Comment, Exhibitions, Images, Travel | Tagged Brian Cassey, Brisbane Powerhouse, Chris Dalton, Nikon, photojournalism, portraiture, walkley, Walkley Awards | Leave a comment

Walkley Storyology …

December 16th, 2014

The first week of December saw the Walkley Foundation’s biggest week of the year – the ‘Storyology’ four day media event and – showcasing the pinnacle of Australian journalism’s in 2014 – the annual ‘Walkley Awards‘ presentation night. I was very pleased to travel to Sydney to be a involved in both – as a speaker (twice) at ‘Storyology’ and as a guest of Nikon at the ‘Walkley’s’.

The ‘Storyology’ event at the Chauvel Cinema Paddington attracted a host of respected and exciting speakers from around the planet and Australia … and I was very humbled to see my name amongst the long list which included such stellar media luminaries as (to name just a few) Laurie Oakes, Quentin Dempster, Wendy Hamer et al.

My involvement at ‘Storyology’ was two fold. On the Wednesday I was tasked with giving a ‘powertalk’ in the ‘Listen Up: Getting Back To The Story’ segment where, at the Walkley Foundation request, I told the story and showed the images from the photographers involved in the ‘Genesis Project’ exhibition that I co-curated with Moshe Rosenzveig for the Head On Photo Festival earlier in 2014.

The real honour for me, however, was being a part of Thursday’s ‘Show and Tell’ panel talk on photojournalism alongside three fellow photographers that each have my utmost respect … John Donegan, David Dare Parker and Andrew Quilty. For an hour in front of a very interested and inquisitive audience we talked about our careers, our lives and our images … and answered some very well put questions from the floor.

Thursday evening saw this years ‘Walkley Awards’ unfold on the water at Darling Harbour. The Nikon crew were once again fine hosts and it was excellent to catch up with many many photographers and journalist friends whilst this years award winners were recognised. My colleague from the ‘Storyology’ panel talk – Andrew Quilty – deservedly added the “Nikon Walkley Press Photographer of the Year” prize (presented to him by our fellow panelist David Dare Parker) to his earlier announced “Press Photo of the Year” award. Nice to see … and I certainly enjoyed the evening more than last years (for me) stress filled event. (The ‘after party’ became a bit of a blur and I do believe I did get to bed before sun rise.) Congratulations to all this years winners … and a big ‘Thanks’ to the Walkley Foundation and Nikon for the invitations.

Below is a pic made (by Jenny from the Walkleys) during the ‘Storyology’ ‘Show and Tell’ panel talk with – left to right – John Donegan, myself, David Dare Parker and Andrew Quilty – whilst one of my Hong Kong cage home images is the subject of discussion (above). © Image

StoryologyBlog

Posted in Awards, Comment, Exhibitions, Images, Travel | Tagged Nikon-Walkley, photojournalism, Press Photographer of the Year, Storyology, sydney, walkley, Walkley Awards, Walkley Foundation | Leave a comment

“Nikon Walkley Press Photographer of the Year” …

November 30th, 2013

It’s very hard to pace yourself at a glittering free alcohol media event over five long hours (not including the obligatory ‘after party’) … but that’s “The Walkley’s” for you!

Thursday night at the Royal International Convention Centre in Brisbane was the setting for this years Walkley Awards black tie media extravaganza … and if you weren’t lucky enough to score a ‘rare as hens teeth’ invitation in person it was screened live on ABC TV.

I was fortunate to be selected to attend as one of the three finalists in the “Nikon Walkley Press Photographer of the Year” award … indeed an honour to be so selected from Australia’s fantastically talented press photographer contingent. My contenders for the major photographic award of the evening were the extremely talented Quinn Rooney from Getty Images and Kate Geraghty from Fairfax. I would like to say that I really enjoyed the entire show… but that would be stretching it! In truth the stress of waiting, waiting, waiting for several hours for the relevant “Press Photographer of the Year” result to be announced wasn’t pleasant … despite the good humoured attention and support of all the Nikon Australia crew – Kylie, Julie, Steve, Andrew et al – at our table. (They even let me play with a brand new Nikon Df to take my mind of it all – very nice camera !)

The end result ? … you can find out ALL the finalists and winners and watch the entire Walkley event on ABC’s iview here at http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/program/78313946 … I’m still far too ‘stressed’!

The fantastic work of all the Nikon Walkley photographic finalists was arrayed strategically around the dining and awards venue for all to see and comment on. Indeed, broadcaster and journalist Mike Carlton (@MikeCarlton01) was moved enough on the night to ‘tweet’ thus – “Australian photographers are brilliant. Tragic that newspapers have punted so many of them”. Political journalist Amy Remeikis (@AmyRemeikis) also waded in on #walkleys with her ‘tweet’ – “Seriously media companies – invest in photographers. They reach people our words can’t or don’t. And my iPhone shots are shit.”

If you weren’t there on the big night all the Finalists images can also be found here at http://www.flickr.com/photos/walkleyfoundation/sets/ and my nominated “Nikon Walkley Press Photographer of the Year” portfolio is here at http://www.flickr.com/photos/walkleyfoundation/sets/72157636407740096/ .

Below is a screen shot of my Finalist portfolio from the Nikon Walkley Press Photography Flickr web site.

The Nikon Walkley Press Photography Exhibition hits the road over the next 6 months or so … and you will be able to catch my work and the brilliant work of all the other finalists at shows in Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle and Brisbane … see here for dates and venues … http://www.walkleys.com/photography-events

Posted in Awards, Blog, Comment, Exhibitions, Images, Radio & TV | Tagged australia, Awards, Brisbane, photojournalism, Press Photographer of the Year, walkley, Walkley Awards | Leave a comment

Wow … Walkley News … !

October 15th, 2013

Completely stunned and shocked but bloody happy to receive the news last evening that my work has been selected as one of three finalists in the 2013 “Nikon-Walkley Press Photographer of the Year Award”.

The news was announced in simultaneous Walkley events in Sydney and Melbourne whilst I was watching the tele back home in Cairns … gawd bless Twitter !

Feel humble to have been chosen alongside the other two finalists – and with With Kate Geraghty and Quinn Rooney the competition I’ll happily leave it at that!!

My portfolio consists of ten images and they can be found here at … http://www.flickr.com/photos/walkleyfoundation/sets/72157636407740096/ … whilst all the Nikon-Walkley photographic finalists work may be found here at … http://www.flickr.com/photos/walkleyfoundation/sets/

Many Thanks to the Walkley Foundation and Nikon – and I’m looking forward to the big night Walkley ‘bash’ in Brisbane town on November 28th.

Below is just one image from my finalist portfolio of ten. Bim Atkinson allowed me to make this image in his home. As a young schoolboy he was serially raped by the head master of his school – a man who continued to abuse children throughout his high profile career in the church up until his death a few years ago. The photograph was made to accompany a story in “The Australian”.

Posted in Awards, Comment, Images, Publications | Tagged Nikon, photojournalism, Press Photographer of the Year, walkley, Walkley Awards | Leave a comment

Nikon-Walkley Comes to ‘Brissie’ …

February 14th, 2012

Thanks to the Walkley Foundation, the MEAA and – not least of all – Nikon Australia, I travelled ‘down south’ to Brisbane last week to attend the opening of the 2011/2012 Nikon-Walkley Photographic exhibition at the Powerhouse – and the Australian Institute of Professional Photography “Hair of the Dog” conference.

It was excellent to attend the Nikon-Walkley opening eve and to catch up with colleagues and friends – and an honour to give the opening floor talk and to receive an embarrassingly over the top introduction by MEAA Federal Secretary Chris Warren ! Thanks Chris!

It was also an honour to have my image “Carol – Burns Survivor” exhibited amongst some truly fantastic work from Australia’s best press photographers.

(Something I was not so excited about was the ABC radio and TV interviews I was required to do – a learning curve.)

The Powerhouse is a fantastic exhibition space oozing character, all the works were all very well lit … and the staff were super attentive and efficient.

The exhibition runs to February 27th and is very well worth a visit.

Below is an iPhone pic of my image nestled in the Powerhouse’s beautiful exhibition space.

Posted in Awards, Essays, Exhibitions, Images, Travel | Tagged australia, award, Brisbane, exhibition, image, images, photographs, walkley, Walkley Awards | Leave a comment

2 Responses to Nikon-Walkley Comes to ‘Brissie’ …

Wade Says:
February 14th, 2012
Congratulations Brian. Looks like a novel space too – what, no plain white walls? 🙂
Brian Cassey Says:
February 14th, 2012
Thanks Wade … yeah … great space … If ever I get my act together for my own exhibition … !!!!

A Little Chat at the Walkley Media Conference …

November 29th, 2011

Last week I was fortunate (and honoured) to be invited to be a part of the Walkley Media Conference – “What’s the Story? Inventing the Future” – in Brisbane. Felt rather humble to be part of a great list of speakers that included the ABC’s Mark Scott, Greg Hywood (CEO of Fairfax Media), well known humourist and journalist Wendy Harmer – and many distinguished others – all of whom, I’m sure, had more experience in this ‘speaking’ lark than I !

My session was scheduled for three and a half hours … (and went for four! – didn’t realise I could talk that long!) and touched on the changes in media photography over the last decades, the state of play today, how to handle the difficulties encountered and what we may expect in the future. A mix of about two dozen journalists, photographers and students patiently listened and asked a myriad of thoughtful questions over the session. I thank them for their attention ! (‘Thanks’ is also due to Nikon’s Quentin Visentin who demonstrated the new Nikon 1 kit to the audience.)

My congratulations and ‘Thanks’ also to the MEAA and the Walkley Foundation for a fantastic conference!

Of course … my highlight of the Brisbane visit was the 2011 Walkley Awards presentation at the Convention & Exhibition Centre on Sunday eve. A brilliant night to be a part of – very gratified to receive the recognition of the Nikon Walkley Best Portrait Award for my image ‘Carol – Burns Survivor’ – and to share the evening with talented press photographers Glenn Campbell, Craig Greenhill, Stuart McEvoy, Rob Maccoll, Nev Madsen, the Getty guys, 2011 Nikon Walkley Press Photographer of the Year Phil Hillyard … as well as many journalist and industry colleagues. Great Night!

Whilst searching for material for my conference session I came across one of the very first photographs I ever took … at the age of about ten or eleven … and my first ever camera that made that image – a bakelite VP Twin camera that was bought (begrudgingly by my parents) from Woolworths in the Isle of Wight for two shillings and six pence ! (about fifty cents). I’m NOT telling anybody how long ago that actually WAS … but below I’ve posted the image (of the Cunard liner “RMS Queen Elizabeth” in the Solent UK – I was a boy into ships and trains at that stage!) and a pic of the camera. I used both images at the commencement of the Walkley Conference session.

Posted in Awards, Comment, Exhibitions | Tagged Brian Cassey, Brisbane, photojournalism, teaching, Walkley Awards, Walkley Media Conference | Leave a comment