News / Blog - Tallpictures News

I seem to remember... back in the day, that a week was seven days long. But the last week somehow feels like it was way more!

It was nothing like a 'normal' week... and it was fantastic for that.

It started with photographing the Guernsey Athletics Deloitte Challenge.

This was followed by Round 1 of the GVC Downhill Racing Tour of Guernsey.

Then a switch to photographing royalty at the visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla as part of the media entourage!

What next? How about popping over to Jersey for the BHC National Hillclimb... up close to the action! Those pics then needed editing for two National publications and the BHC.

Next, back to Guernsey for Rounds 17 & 18 of the Championship, complete with torrential rain at the end of the event and an edit for the Guernsey Press.

And then (surely there aren't that many days in a week) there was time to photograph Round 7 of the Adventure Cycles Tour of Guernsey!

I've not made a count of how many photos but it amounts to an edit of many hundreds and then the uploads (still a work in progress)!

So an amazing week but I'd definitely need a younger body (or lighter kit) to keep up with this pace if it was a normal schedule!!

If you are interested, my photos of Round 7 of the 2024 ToG are now online here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ROUND 7 OF THE 2024 TOUR OF GUERNSEY

The sun was shining bright when King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in Guernsey for their first visit since becoming Sovereigns.

This was in dramatic contrast to the weather the Royals had experienced in Jersey just the day before. Torrential rain was not an exaggeration!

I was working as part of the 'Royal Media Entourage' alongside fifty + visiting Royal Correspondents, Videographers and Photographers.

It was quite an interesting experience. A couple of things I learnt were how hard the Royals worked to ensure everyone they met felt that they were given attention. Making the same small talk at every event needs a special ability and they were both 'Pros' at the job!

Another aspect of covering the days events was just how much time the media spends just hanging around for the next moment of interest!

Also it was educational being in the hub of activity seeing how each Correspondent set themselves up for their own reports and broadcasts. Some were live, others were videoed.

The couple of photographers and videographers who were on the (very) short-list and were allowed to follow the Royal couple very closely were working 'live' with photos being transmitted from their camera direct to their Newspapers and Agencies the moment the shutter button was pressed!

The final take-aways from the day were probably how much love and attention Royalty still gets in this changing world. Of course those who dislike the concept of Royalty would have stayed away but the huge crowds did make some sort of statement.

The other thing was how the visiting Media felt that Guernsey had put on an amazing presentation. In fact, in the Media room at the end of the day one of the visiting Correspondents thanked the local team of organisers and stated that they would love them to organise the Media requirements at every overseas event as such a good job had been done!

So well done to all those involved.

And I've ticked another (Royal) photographic box.... maybe 'by Royal Appointment' is laying it on a bit too thick though!!

I've uploaded a Gallery of photos. If you were taking part or in the crowd take a look. You might be in one of my photos.
CLICK TO VIEW PHOTOS OF THE 2024 ROYAL VISIT TO GUERNSEY

Congratulations to the School of Popular Music Guernsey on reaching 10 years of teaching young and older students the art and skills needed to fulfil their creative musical ambitions.

During the decade many hundreds have achieved goals and enhanced their lives through the medium of music in all its genres.

I've had the privilege of capturing many of the special performances during the last decade. In fact I was there at the first open day of SoPM. It speaks well of the enthusiastic culture of SoPM that many of the original tutors still teach alongside some early students who are now part of the tutor team.

I had a chance to pop along to Delancey Park for the SoPM 10th Anniversary celebration 'Party in the Park' to take a few photos.

I also have a huge archive of SoPM photos taken during the last 10 years. These links are to some of the Galleries:
CLICK TO VIEW THE SoPM PHOTOS ON MY OLD WEBSITE
CLICK TO VIEW THE SoPM PHOTOS ON MY NEW WEBSITE

As the Chaos Festival fog clears and my beer count has been tallied (it wasn't a record year) I've started the massive edit.

Unfortunately when I combine having a great time, live music, beer and photography at some point I end up with a lot of photos!

So there's no shortcut, I just have to plod through... but its fun looking through the memories again.

I've already uploaded a load of photos which you can view if you click the link. Please share and tag to get the word out.... thanks.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2024 CHAOS FESTIVAL PHOTOS

Photos of the 2024 Haute Capelles School Charity 'Ladies Night' Catwalk Show in support of the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation are now online.

A full evening of entertainment had been organised offering the opportunity to 'Buy a Night' in one of the foundations three flats.

All the 'pre-loved' dresses were on sale after the show and combined with a meat draw and raffle draw hundreds of pounds were raised for the PPBF. What a great success.

A donation to the PPBF will be made from any picture sales made on my website.

Click here to view the Gallery:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2024 PPBF CATWALK PHOTO GALLERY

We all know that time flies. Certainly as I get older whole decades seem to pass with the blink of an eyelid!

And it is the passage of time and the continued progress with technology that has made me think that I needed a new project.

The Internet has become the dominant resource for a photographer to present his work to interested people. Tagged on the back of that is the opportunity to sell a few pics. Even a photographer needs to eat and buy beer!

So I'm announcing here that this website won't be where my new work is uploaded in the future. I have a new website under development... more on that later.

But the good news is all the Photos, Blogs and Information that features here will remain just as it is. I have built this massive record of Guernsey life... Sports, Motorsports, Gigs, Bands and Social Life and I'm keen for it to still be available. This 'old' website is now thirteen years old and has accrued nearly 50 MILLION picture views!

However with the improvement of mobile phone screens, faster download speeds and expectations of how photos display I will be uploading all new work to a new website. It still carries a title that regulars will be familiar with... TALLPICTURES.com

This is a major project for me as I hope to carry some of the old Galleries across too, but that all depends on time. Yes time gets a mention again!

I wonder what the next blink of the eye brings?

TAKE A LOOK AT THE NEW WEBSITE HERE:
CLICK TO VIEW THE NEW TALLPICTURES WEBSITE

What does summer mean for you?

Well one of the favourite things for me is that with the sun comes the Festival season 🍺🎪🥁

Sadly my diary doesn't include Download Festival like my grandson's ( lucky *****) but there are still the 2023 Chaos and Vale Earth Fairs for me!

We've also already enjoyed the 2023 Guernsey Together Festival.

The weather stayed dry for the GTF and whilst it wasn't 'blazing hot' the festival field was buzzing with relaxed and happy folk. There is something special about a festival as most people seem to chill and have more time to chat. Great therapy away from the weekday rush and pressures!

I've just uploaded my pics from day 2 of GTF 2023. Check them out and remember to book Chaos and VEF for your own dose of Festival therapy!

This is a link to the 2023 GTF Galleries:
CLICK TO VIEW THE GUERNSEY TOGETHER GALLERIES

As time passes and memories fade Guernsey's Liberation Day celebrations have changed. And for 2023, May the 9th felt more like a traditional Bank Holiday.

Parishes took different approaches to how they would mark the day. Some made an effort, others didn't.

St Andrews left the entertainment to The Last Post and that is where I headed. A tradition has been established by the Pub to promote a lineup of live acts on May 9th and this has proved to be a popular draw for music lovers.

The 2023 edition featured some of the recent new local favorites.

It was a shame the weather was dull and at times damp but the hardcore of the local music scene are not easily put off!

I've added a small gallery featuring some of the performances:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2023 LIBERATION DAY BANDS

Once again Ronez opened Les Vardes Quarry for a charity event titled 'MTB Mayhem'. What a great name!

The guys had certainly been busy laying out multiple features in the Quarry including the biggest berm I've ever seen, huge piles of gravel, twisting routes through piles of boulders and much more!

I came away from the event impressed and pleased that such a thing can still be organized in this Health and Safety dominated world.

It was satisfying and a pleasure to see - predominantly young (and many young at heart) people having fun in what was certainly a potentially dangerous environment. I saw a couple of people 'stack it' but they got up, dusted themselves off (there was a lot of dust!) and carried on!

Some of the features were definitely a bit risky but the youngsters were trusted to know their own limits and supervision was minimal.

I realized that this event offered a look back to how things used to be for people of my generation (born in the fifties). Back then as kids we jumped on our bikes and explored our limitations. Of course we sometimes got home with blooded knees and elbows but our parents just accepted it as something that happens.

They trusted us to know how far we pushed our luck... and it was fun and character building. It's nice to know that the youth of today, when given the chance, haven't changed a bit!

Thank you Ronez... you make the best playgrounds ever!!
I captured some of the fun. Take a look here:
CLICK TO VIEW RONEZ MAYHEM 2023

Cage & Stage Productions returned to Beau Sejour after a few years break with another Lock-in event. This one was No.7 and the best yet!

The evening consisted of fourteen bouts in front of a capacity - and noisy crowd.

The action was non-stop and I was as fatigued as the boxers after chasing the best action shots all night - both up the ladder and through the cage. This was both a challenge and great fun!

These Galleries feature all the Bouts and a feel for the atmosphere. I hope you like them.

PLEASE NOTE that these pics are here for you to LOOK AT - NOT copy/steal for your profiles.

There are options to purchase Digital files which will be higher resolution than the Gallery pics and without the big watermark.

Another way to remember the night is with a print or an amazing Canvas!

Photography is my only income. Please respect that, thanks.

Follow this link to view the very best of Lock-in 7.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF LOCK-IN 7

The 2022 School of Popular Music Christmas Showcase was a busy night packed full of Live Music and young talent.

Once again SoPM treated their students to the opportunity to play at one of Guernsey's most famous live music venues on a stage that many music legends have stood. There have been a lot... but how about Elton John and Wilko Johnson for starters!

The SoPM team did an amazing job organising fourteen bands (I lost count of how many musicians!). That adds up to a LOT of change overs!

I was really impressed by the standard of talent on show. But also the 'professional' attitude that has been instilled into the youngsters. They were ready on time for the switches, they got straight on with the 'job', they worked through occasional issues with equipment and clearly loved their moment in the spotlight.

All together the resulting show was a great tribute to the work the tutors have done with their young proteges.

These Galleries showcase all the acts...
CLICK TO VIEW THE SoPM 2022 CHRISTMAS SHOWCASE

Christmas must be just around the corner again as the Guernsey School of Popular Music has just produced its annual Christmas Concert!

This event features some of the youngest students as they start their musical journeys. The 2022 concert was held in front of a packed audience of families and friends at Vale Church Hall.

There were smiles all around and the seasonal smell of Mince pies and mulled wine.

It usually takes a bit of an effort for me to get into the Christmas spirit (I know I'm a miserable old git) but seeing all the young beaming faces of the performers has started the magic working!

Enjoy this gallery which features some of the performances...
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2022 SoPM CHRISTMAS CONCERT

OK, a simple question, but one that would take a week to try and answer.... and I certainly don’t have the time to do that!

And the question is... ‘What makes a great photo?’

I said it was a simple question. Just five words!

Of course if you are thinking about trying to answer you will soon realize that there are endless variations/situations/subjects/intentions/preferences etc. etc. etc. that make capturing every photo different from the next.

So, did I say a ‘simple’ question? You now see that it is far from that.

But perhaps I should explain why I was faced with this quandary. Today it was reported that the legendary rock guitarist Wilko Johnson has died.

I have been fortunate to photograph Wilko on several occasions so I thought I would look through my pics of his performances to post a couple as a tribute. As I looked at the gallery I kept finding pics that I really liked. I began to pat myself on the back for doing such a great job... until it dawned on me why so many of the pics had a bit of extra ‘magic’ when compared to my other gig photography.

It was nothing to do with me. It was ALL to do with Wilko Johnson!

My part in taking the pics was simply to ‘record’ what was in front of me. It is proof that if a photographer is ‘assisted’ by having a distinctive and dynamic character as a subject the job is half done before it starts!

I have amazing memories of Wilko’s performances. He dominated the stage and entranced the audience to the extent that you didn’t want to blink in case you missed something!

What a legend. One of the true greats. RIP Wilko. Thanks for the memories.

If you fancy looking at some of the Wilko magic this is a link to a Gallery:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF WILKO JOHNSON

Like many 'old school' photographers I started my career shooting on black & white film.

Now more than five decades later I find that my 'first love' has stayed with me throughout life. It seems that there always remains a place in our heart for the 'first one'.

So having completed the edit of the 46th Guernsey Chess Festival (in colour) I allowed myself to indulge in a little nostalgia by selecting a few of the images to develop into black & white.

I have to admit that I loved the exercise and I could so easily give up on colour for the clarity, focus and purity that a mono-tone image produces.

Seeing these images has re-awakened the young photographer in me... from fifty-three years ago. You can expect more B&W pics from me in the future...

Take a look at this small edit of Black & White Chess pics. I hope they grab your attention as much as they do for me:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE BLACK & WHITE CHESS EDIT

Local musicians gathered at St James to celebrate the life, the music and the friendships they shared with Andy Coleman in a night titled 'Jazz for Andy'.

Many good memories were shared by the musicians as they took to the stage. Some chose to tell us what was so special in their friendship with Andy. They often repeated how he would always offer support and encouragement. Also his natural talent playing such varied genre's of music impressed many.

I think that what touched me on the night was the fact that Andy had almost always played a 'supporting' role in the bands he was in. He wasn't a 'frontman' or 'pushy' to take the spotlight but his wonderful personality shone through and he clearly made a lasting impression on all those around him... without even trying!

It's such a loss that he is gone - but what a way to celebrate such a lovely persons life. Rest at peace in our memories Andy. xx

I've added a gallery of pics featuring some of the performances:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE JAZZ FOR ANDY NIGHT AT ST JAMES

This was a new event organized by the School of Popular Music in 2022.

SoPM have already established a tradition of offering aspirational musicians and singers the chance to perform on the 'bigger stage' but the 'Music for Everyone' somehow re-invented what has gone before.

The venue was the theater stage at Beau Sejour which offers professional sound and lighting. New talent performed with the full support of SoPM tutors allowing them to enjoy the big stage. I have to say that I thought the concept was fantastic.

But there was more to the show. After each artist finished their act they were invited down in front of the stage for a short interview. This was both a way of allowing time for the change between acts but was much more than that as we were able to enjoy the personality behind the performance and what inspired it.

This was a really great format. Well done to all the SoPM tutors and the support they gave to their students.

This is a massive gallery of pics.... you can tell that I was impressed!!
CLICK TO VIEW THE SoPM MUSIC FOR EVERYONE SHOW

OK, I think we can all agree that Triathlon is a Sport.

What's more, I don't think anyone will argue that it is a sport that requires commitment, training, strong mental resilience and endeavour.

However I was left a little confused whilst photographing the Guernsey Triathlon Club's Granite Man yesterday. So confused that I had to lift the dictionary down from the shelf to try and understand what I had experienced 'track side'... especially in the depths of the energy sapping Ronez Quarry section.

Let me explain. I looked up the definition of 'Sport'... this is what I read. ' Sport: an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another'

So Triathlon is most definately a Sport. So what's my problem?

Well I investigated a little further.

The above quote states that when taking part in a Sport you 'compete against others'. So what is the definition of compete?

Quote: 'Compete: to strive to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others'.

Now this is what was troubling me as this simply isn't what I was seeing as competitors faced the gruelling climb and heat in the quarry as they neared the end of the three disciplines of the Granite Man Triathlon.

By dictionary definition each competitor should have been trying to beat down their opponents. They should have been pressurising them into failure in the pusuit of a win.

But instead the atmosphere was of huge support between competing Triathletes. Encouragement was given to others in the knowledge that maybe each competitor wasn't actually competing against the other but only against themself. There was a respect for all others who were also facing the same challenge.

So my summary of Triathlon as a Sport... at least at our local level is that it is perhaps unique in offering competitors a competition where they don't leave the start line with a win as their outright goal. And it is all the better for that!

I've added a new gallery featuring my Granite Man pics. You will see a surprising amount of smiles too! How do they still have the energy for those? I don't know!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2022 GRANITE MAN TRIATHLON

I guess it is one of those unspoken rules of photography that when a photographer attends a Mega-sized (interesting) event he will be left with a Mega-sized edit to work through when he returns to the studio!

At least that seems to be how it works for me!

I've already posted a Blog commenting on how fantastic the 2022 Vale Earth Fair was for the sell-out crowd who flocked to Vale Castle.

Well I managed to take around 600 pics of the festival during the twelve hours I was there! This is quite impressive I think as I also found time to drink MANY pints of ale too!

The easy part was actually taking all those pics as the atmosphere was amazing... and who wouldn't feel lucky to be able to call standing in front of a live band on stage whilst drinking and taking pics their actual 'day job'!! That's me. Yes I know I'm pretty lucky.

However the actual edit can be a drag, but once I get into a rhythm I seem to be able to fly through the pics. The tip is to only use the tools that Lightroom offers and not to get too 'fancy' with the edit.

Even then a 600 pic edit takes hours and I'm pleased to say all VEF pics are now online, yeay!

I hope you like them.... they can be purchased online - hint, hint!

This is a link to all VEF 2022 Galleries:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2022 VALE EARTH FAIR GALLERIES

Today was a sad occasion. My good mate Andy Coleman was laid to rest after passing away much too young.

Andy was an incredibly talented musician - but far more than that.

He adored his family above all else but he had room in his heart for a huge group of friends too.

Andy affected and charmed all those who got to know him. He was generous and caring by nature and such great fun.

It can be said that some people never fulfill their potential in life. That certainly can't be said of Andy. He faced up to the challenges before him and always maintained his sense of humour.

Now his family have amazing (and happy) memories to help them through these hard times.

I will always remember how much fun Andy was be be with. He always had a story to tell but was also there for anyone who needed a friend.

Rest in peace Andy with Tracey. I hope you can handle arranging the music score for the harps!!

Who’d have thought that so many people would be into looking at pictures of hardcore action?

Those pictures are some the most recent ones that I’ve taken and they feature guys and gals in hardcore slippery action.

And before you get too worked up let me be clear. I’m talking about the weekends Petit Bot hill climb... the one raced in torrential rain!!

I’m commenting about this as my website has been taking a lot of hits in the last 24 hours... over 35,000 picture views!!

Not all visitors have been looking at the hardcore racers as there are thousands of other pics in the Galleries but thanks for the interest.

If you want to see what you have been missing follow this link:
CLICK TO VIEW THE PETIT BOT HARDCORE RACING