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The latest Motorsport news & updates
Another Motorsport weekend... with a special treat as well :-)
24th January 2016
The short quiet period has definitely come to an end... and I haven't even managed to catch-up with all of the backlog of edits yet!
But it was back to normal shooting over the weekend with two Motorsport events which offered me plenty of action to capture. I'm trying to complete the edits as quickly as I can as I'm really looking forward to the editing of another event I photographed on Saturday night.
That one was REALLY special :-)
The occasion was Alfie Barton's Ballroom Experience 25th Anniversary Special at The Fermain Tavern.
As expected, the night was quickly sold out. Expectations were VERY high... this can sometimes lead to a gig not quite hitting the mark!
The other outcome can be for the night/atmosphere to reach into the all-time, best-ever, top-gig short-list... and this one made it. It was that great!
So the reason I'm trying to get the Motorsport edits out of the way ASAP is that I can't wait to browse through my 'Alfie Barton' pics.
Keep a check on this website for my Ballroom Experience uploads... they won't be long ;-)
First up though, the Autocross pics:
VIEW PICS OF THE AUTOCROSS - WINTER ROUND 7
24th January 2016
In: Motorsport News
The short quiet period has definitely come to an end... and I haven't even managed to catch-up with all of the backlog of edits yet!
But it was back to normal shooting over the weekend with two Motorsport events which offered me plenty of action to capture. I'm trying to complete the edits as quickly as I can as I'm really looking forward to the editing of another event I photographed on Saturday night.
That one was REALLY special :-)
The occasion was Alfie Barton's Ballroom Experience 25th Anniversary Special at The Fermain Tavern.
As expected, the night was quickly sold out. Expectations were VERY high... this can sometimes lead to a gig not quite hitting the mark!
The other outcome can be for the night/atmosphere to reach into the all-time, best-ever, top-gig short-list... and this one made it. It was that great!
So the reason I'm trying to get the Motorsport edits out of the way ASAP is that I can't wait to browse through my 'Alfie Barton' pics.
Keep a check on this website for my Ballroom Experience uploads... they won't be long ;-)
First up though, the Autocross pics:
VIEW PICS OF THE AUTOCROSS - WINTER ROUND 7
Welcome to the 2016 Motorsport season...
10th January 2016
Motorsport in Guernsey barely pauses to take breath over the festive season before it is revving up again in the New Year.
So today I was also back in action photographing two championships.
The first of the day was a very wet affair. Round 1 of the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club's Winter Kart Championship at The Track. As I have said before, it is well worth wrapping up against the elements to capture motorsport action when the track is flooded. This adds real drama to the pics.
After that damp start things improved by the time I arrived at Chouet beach for the Autocross Clubs Banger racing championship.
It looks like 2016 is going to be another busy one. I look forward to it.
These Galleries present todays action:
VIEW PICS OF ROUND-1 OF THE WINTER KART CHAMPIONSHIP
VIEW PICS OF THE WINTER AUTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
10th January 2016
In: Motorsport News
Motorsport in Guernsey barely pauses to take breath over the festive season before it is revving up again in the New Year.
So today I was also back in action photographing two championships.
The first of the day was a very wet affair. Round 1 of the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club's Winter Kart Championship at The Track. As I have said before, it is well worth wrapping up against the elements to capture motorsport action when the track is flooded. This adds real drama to the pics.
After that damp start things improved by the time I arrived at Chouet beach for the Autocross Clubs Banger racing championship.
It looks like 2016 is going to be another busy one. I look forward to it.
These Galleries present todays action:
VIEW PICS OF ROUND-1 OF THE WINTER KART CHAMPIONSHIP
VIEW PICS OF THE WINTER AUTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Two days into 2016 and another fail, is this a trend?
02nd January 2016
Technology..... It's a Love/Hate thing for me.....
I'm about to use the word 'fail' again in a 2016 Blog and it's only the 2nd of January! Read on to have a chuckle at my expense :-)
I think I come out of the 'boys like toys' mould and have been spending on technology since I first collected pocket money. Back in those days Lego was cutting edge!
However as the years have passed I've trained myself to consider purchases more maturely.
But every few years the itch starts again and the Internet draws me to something special.
A few months ago I decided that I deserved a new cutting edge computer. Weeks were spent researching and the day came to press the 'Buy button' for a system that is now the envy of NASA. I think there might be a Blog to come later on the specs!
The thing is, past experience has shown me that computer upgrades never go quite as smoothly as you hope. These days software registrations, passwords and many other things try and trip you up at every turn.
This is why I planned on making the move over to the new speed machine a slow and measured affair. Even then there have been several hiccups and late nights. I think there's another Blog there too!
Now let me tell you this little story.... It actually relates to yesterday's Cross Country Blog.
As you may have read, I'd been asked to photograph the run for the Guernsey Press. Part of the brief was making it VERY CLEAR that there was an EARLY print deadline. I also knew that the back page layout had already been planned and my shot had to be an upright. A blank hole awaited. No problem I thought.
I spent an enjoyable hour or so taking the pics down at Mont Cuet tip whilst chatting with the Guernsey Press Sport's Editor... he really is passionate about sport and journalism in general.
When we parted my last word to Rob Batiste was that I was going straight back to the office and the pics would follow ASAP.
Forty-three minutes after my last photograph (aided my blisteringly fast Super Computer) I had selected, edited and tagged my pics ready for e-mailing.
I was enjoying the warm feeling of being on top of a job.... Little did I know!
I probably qualify as a 'belts and braces' guy. This outlook means that I always submit my work to two different client e-mail addresses. I also BCC copy them into another one of my own accounts. This is checked to ensure the e-mail has 'left the building'.
It was only when I received a remarkably calm phone call from Rob that I realized something had gone wrong... he asked 'When can I expect to get the pics Andrew'?
Oh, heck. The print deadline loomed!
I told Rob the e-mails were sent nearly three hours ago to his xxxxx@guernsey-press.com e-mail address. 'But that one hasn't been active for years' he said 'there's no hyphen in there now'!
Due to my belts and braces mentality I had saved a copy of all the pics on to a USB stick (just in case of problems) and I offered to pop down to Rob's office immediately but he suggested that I simply 'try the correct e-mail' and of course this worked first time!
But what had gone wrong? I had to try and find where this ancient e-mail had appeared from.
Well, what I have found out only re-enforces my Love/Hate of technology.
I think that the move to a new computer and the installation of new e-mail systems were the problem. It seems that the 'helpful' software takes a look at your old 'Sent' folders and lifts all the e-mail addresses out into a new Contact list.
Now I'm sure you are like me, few of us remember actual phone numbers or e-mails any more as the phone/computer does that stuff for us now.
So when I started to enter the Guernsey Press e-mail addresses the 'helpful' computer finished them for me... I didn't realise that the 'old' e-mail address had been filled in - I just pressed send!
When I double-checked that the e-mailed pics had arrived back into my own backup e-mail, I enjoyed the warm feeling of success thinking that the job was done.
FAIL!
A word I hope won't feature in another Blog this year :-)
BTW, a blank back page was averted and my reputation has survived - but only just!
02nd January 2016
Technology..... It's a Love/Hate thing for me.....
I'm about to use the word 'fail' again in a 2016 Blog and it's only the 2nd of January! Read on to have a chuckle at my expense :-)
I think I come out of the 'boys like toys' mould and have been spending on technology since I first collected pocket money. Back in those days Lego was cutting edge!
However as the years have passed I've trained myself to consider purchases more maturely.
But every few years the itch starts again and the Internet draws me to something special.
A few months ago I decided that I deserved a new cutting edge computer. Weeks were spent researching and the day came to press the 'Buy button' for a system that is now the envy of NASA. I think there might be a Blog to come later on the specs!
The thing is, past experience has shown me that computer upgrades never go quite as smoothly as you hope. These days software registrations, passwords and many other things try and trip you up at every turn.
This is why I planned on making the move over to the new speed machine a slow and measured affair. Even then there have been several hiccups and late nights. I think there's another Blog there too!
Now let me tell you this little story.... It actually relates to yesterday's Cross Country Blog.
As you may have read, I'd been asked to photograph the run for the Guernsey Press. Part of the brief was making it VERY CLEAR that there was an EARLY print deadline. I also knew that the back page layout had already been planned and my shot had to be an upright. A blank hole awaited. No problem I thought.
I spent an enjoyable hour or so taking the pics down at Mont Cuet tip whilst chatting with the Guernsey Press Sport's Editor... he really is passionate about sport and journalism in general.
When we parted my last word to Rob Batiste was that I was going straight back to the office and the pics would follow ASAP.
Forty-three minutes after my last photograph (aided my blisteringly fast Super Computer) I had selected, edited and tagged my pics ready for e-mailing.
I was enjoying the warm feeling of being on top of a job.... Little did I know!
I probably qualify as a 'belts and braces' guy. This outlook means that I always submit my work to two different client e-mail addresses. I also BCC copy them into another one of my own accounts. This is checked to ensure the e-mail has 'left the building'.
It was only when I received a remarkably calm phone call from Rob that I realized something had gone wrong... he asked 'When can I expect to get the pics Andrew'?
Oh, heck. The print deadline loomed!
I told Rob the e-mails were sent nearly three hours ago to his xxxxx@guernsey-press.com e-mail address. 'But that one hasn't been active for years' he said 'there's no hyphen in there now'!
Due to my belts and braces mentality I had saved a copy of all the pics on to a USB stick (just in case of problems) and I offered to pop down to Rob's office immediately but he suggested that I simply 'try the correct e-mail' and of course this worked first time!
But what had gone wrong? I had to try and find where this ancient e-mail had appeared from.
Well, what I have found out only re-enforces my Love/Hate of technology.
I think that the move to a new computer and the installation of new e-mail systems were the problem. It seems that the 'helpful' software takes a look at your old 'Sent' folders and lifts all the e-mail addresses out into a new Contact list.
Now I'm sure you are like me, few of us remember actual phone numbers or e-mails any more as the phone/computer does that stuff for us now.
So when I started to enter the Guernsey Press e-mail addresses the 'helpful' computer finished them for me... I didn't realise that the 'old' e-mail address had been filled in - I just pressed send!
When I double-checked that the e-mailed pics had arrived back into my own backup e-mail, I enjoyed the warm feeling of success thinking that the job was done.
FAIL!
A word I hope won't feature in another Blog this year :-)
BTW, a blank back page was averted and my reputation has survived - but only just!
It's tradition to make a New Years Resolution, you can share mine if you like :-)
01st January 2016
3am EDIT: I've just watched the Jules Holland Hootenanny and realized how many of the artists on the show I've been lucky to photograph.... then I got hooked by the BBC coverage of Glastonbury 2015..... MASSIVE & MAGNIFICENT... and I want to photograph it :-0
So to the Blog>.................
I warn you, this is going to ramble.
It's New Years eve and inevitably, like so many of my previous Blogs, it'll be late by the time I manage to upload this update. Also, as is often the case, I've partaken in a couple of pints of Real Ale and a few glasses of red wine. (3am EDIT.... add a couple of Whisky's to that list too). What could possibly go wrong!
I'm sitting here at years end (I guess like many others) thinking both about the year that is about to become history together with the future... 2016, here we come.
These moments of contemplation will always be individual and personal. But allow me to share my own thoughts.
Inevitably my mind goes back through the previous busy year of photography. Once again I have enjoyed almost every moment of my 2015 photographic year.
But things could always have been done differently... and certainly there is always room to improve and change. So that begs the question 'What could I have done differently and where did I go wrong?'
So I will allow myself to expose (nice little photographic reference there!) some of my photographic failings to you, just as long as you promise not to tell anyone else!
So where did I fail?
Well, just yesterday, I was updating a picture gallery for one of my favorite local bands... Thee Jenerators. THIS IS A LINK TO THE GALLERY
The latest gig I photographed them at was a photographers nightmare. When you combine a band that will not stand still for a moment together with light levels akin to candlelight it will always be a challenge.
I'm pleased to say that I ended up with quite a few keepers (33 out of the 49 pics taken), but could I have done better?
My personal 'style' of photography encompasses taking as few pics as I possibly can (born lazy, eh). I try and limit the shutter presses to the peak moments of action. My belief is that you give yourself a massive editing workload by being 'trigger happy'.
This was highlighted for me during 2015 when I shot an indoor sporting event alongside an ambitious young local 'photog'. He was using his camera in machine gun mode and must have gone home with 1000+ pics. I took 251 and had 170 keepers after the cull.
I have also had this experience whilst working off-island alongside top pro motorsport and festival 'togs. Some, but by no means all, fire off endless pics - seemingly with the idea that 'One of 'em has to be a keeper'! So maybe it's me who is completely wrong on this but one thing I'm sure about is that my editing time is a lot shorter than theirs!
But back to my point. I still think that restraint is a good thing. I believe that I should consider the timing and composition of each image before I press the shutter release button.
Even after taking this stance the final part of the photographic process is still to come... the edit. This is the time extra discipline and ruthlessness is needed and I think I'm failing in this area and could complete most assignments to a better standard by taking a less 'precious' view of my pics during the edit.
Although I attempt to restrain myself at the capture stage I then go on to 'fail' when it comes to the edit. I think I'm not ruthless enough when deleting the rubbish.
So let me take one step back, I mentioned that I've just updated the Thee Jenerators Gallery. This led me to be distracted by looking through some of the old pics in the Thee Jenerators gallery. Some going back five years. This was quite enlightening.
Remember that I said that Thee Jenerators were one of my favorite bands. This is because they take 'performance' beyond simply standing behind a microphone.
This then is where my lessons started and my current 'mantra' of trying to be vicious with my picture editing revels itself as still needing a bit (OK a lot) of work!
There are quite a few pics in the gallery which, I think, capture the full character and performance of this energetic band... but too many pics have crept in that are nothing more than average... or worse. These should never have seen the light of day... or the Internet! Thankfully most of them are from several years ago, including the 5 year old example below. Maybe this proves that I am getting a bit better at what I'm doing ;-)
It's clear that I still have loads to learn but take this New Years tip from me and short-cut your own scholarship. You can borrow my own New Years resolution that 'In 2016 I will try and make my picture edits more ruthless'. The delete button on the keyboard is there for a good reason..... to help us improve the quality of our work.
I'm resisting the urge to delete my 'fails' from the Thee Jenerators gallery to give you the chance to see what I am talking about here. I'd love to know which pics you think are the 'fails'. Please let me know what you think and we can compare notes.... This is my e-mail CLICK HERE TO E-MAIL ME.
You can be as ruthless with me as I like... I need the help ;-)
Oh, and one final tip from me (for FREE).... and it's one that I use myself sometimes.
I still have some old 1GB cards that only hold 36 pictures. It really focuses your mind when you shoot with one of those - just like it did when I started taking pics on real film and it cost money with every click!!
3.15am EDIT: Time for bed I think ;-)
01st January 2016
3am EDIT: I've just watched the Jules Holland Hootenanny and realized how many of the artists on the show I've been lucky to photograph.... then I got hooked by the BBC coverage of Glastonbury 2015..... MASSIVE & MAGNIFICENT... and I want to photograph it :-0
So to the Blog>.................
I warn you, this is going to ramble.
It's New Years eve and inevitably, like so many of my previous Blogs, it'll be late by the time I manage to upload this update. Also, as is often the case, I've partaken in a couple of pints of Real Ale and a few glasses of red wine. (3am EDIT.... add a couple of Whisky's to that list too). What could possibly go wrong!
I'm sitting here at years end (I guess like many others) thinking both about the year that is about to become history together with the future... 2016, here we come.
These moments of contemplation will always be individual and personal. But allow me to share my own thoughts.
Inevitably my mind goes back through the previous busy year of photography. Once again I have enjoyed almost every moment of my 2015 photographic year.
But things could always have been done differently... and certainly there is always room to improve and change. So that begs the question 'What could I have done differently and where did I go wrong?'
So I will allow myself to expose (nice little photographic reference there!) some of my photographic failings to you, just as long as you promise not to tell anyone else!
So where did I fail?
Well, just yesterday, I was updating a picture gallery for one of my favorite local bands... Thee Jenerators. THIS IS A LINK TO THE GALLERY
The latest gig I photographed them at was a photographers nightmare. When you combine a band that will not stand still for a moment together with light levels akin to candlelight it will always be a challenge.
I'm pleased to say that I ended up with quite a few keepers (33 out of the 49 pics taken), but could I have done better?
My personal 'style' of photography encompasses taking as few pics as I possibly can (born lazy, eh). I try and limit the shutter presses to the peak moments of action. My belief is that you give yourself a massive editing workload by being 'trigger happy'.
This was highlighted for me during 2015 when I shot an indoor sporting event alongside an ambitious young local 'photog'. He was using his camera in machine gun mode and must have gone home with 1000+ pics. I took 251 and had 170 keepers after the cull.
I have also had this experience whilst working off-island alongside top pro motorsport and festival 'togs. Some, but by no means all, fire off endless pics - seemingly with the idea that 'One of 'em has to be a keeper'! So maybe it's me who is completely wrong on this but one thing I'm sure about is that my editing time is a lot shorter than theirs!
But back to my point. I still think that restraint is a good thing. I believe that I should consider the timing and composition of each image before I press the shutter release button.
Even after taking this stance the final part of the photographic process is still to come... the edit. This is the time extra discipline and ruthlessness is needed and I think I'm failing in this area and could complete most assignments to a better standard by taking a less 'precious' view of my pics during the edit.
Although I attempt to restrain myself at the capture stage I then go on to 'fail' when it comes to the edit. I think I'm not ruthless enough when deleting the rubbish.
So let me take one step back, I mentioned that I've just updated the Thee Jenerators Gallery. This led me to be distracted by looking through some of the old pics in the Thee Jenerators gallery. Some going back five years. This was quite enlightening.
Remember that I said that Thee Jenerators were one of my favorite bands. This is because they take 'performance' beyond simply standing behind a microphone.
This then is where my lessons started and my current 'mantra' of trying to be vicious with my picture editing revels itself as still needing a bit (OK a lot) of work!
There are quite a few pics in the gallery which, I think, capture the full character and performance of this energetic band... but too many pics have crept in that are nothing more than average... or worse. These should never have seen the light of day... or the Internet! Thankfully most of them are from several years ago, including the 5 year old example below. Maybe this proves that I am getting a bit better at what I'm doing ;-)
It's clear that I still have loads to learn but take this New Years tip from me and short-cut your own scholarship. You can borrow my own New Years resolution that 'In 2016 I will try and make my picture edits more ruthless'. The delete button on the keyboard is there for a good reason..... to help us improve the quality of our work.
I'm resisting the urge to delete my 'fails' from the Thee Jenerators gallery to give you the chance to see what I am talking about here. I'd love to know which pics you think are the 'fails'. Please let me know what you think and we can compare notes.... This is my e-mail CLICK HERE TO E-MAIL ME.
You can be as ruthless with me as I like... I need the help ;-)
Oh, and one final tip from me (for FREE).... and it's one that I use myself sometimes.
I still have some old 1GB cards that only hold 36 pictures. It really focuses your mind when you shoot with one of those - just like it did when I started taking pics on real film and it cost money with every click!!
3.15am EDIT: Time for bed I think ;-)
11 MILLION VIEWS!!!!
08th December 2015
Variety is the spice of photography... just as it is in life itself.
I am able to mix many genres of image taking into most of my working weeks and this keeps me interested and motivated... although maybe I should find a better way to describe what I do as the term 'working' doesn't really portray how I feel about my avocation.
My Blog often states how much I enjoy what I do and after more than a decade of life spent exclusively looking through a lens my luck, good fortune and opportunity to pursue photography full-time still feels as special as the first step I took on this amazing journey.
It is also rather special that so many people have joined me along the way by occasionally popping along to this web-site to see the latest updates.
Today I'm amazed to see that the total views on this web-site have reach another Milestone with ELEVEN MILLION VIEWS being logged!
May I say a BIG THANK YOU to you all.
As it has become traditional to mark these Milestones you might like to view a few previous Blogs:
CLICK TO VIEW A FEW PREVIOUS MILLION MILESTONE BLOGS
08th December 2015
Variety is the spice of photography... just as it is in life itself.
I am able to mix many genres of image taking into most of my working weeks and this keeps me interested and motivated... although maybe I should find a better way to describe what I do as the term 'working' doesn't really portray how I feel about my avocation.
My Blog often states how much I enjoy what I do and after more than a decade of life spent exclusively looking through a lens my luck, good fortune and opportunity to pursue photography full-time still feels as special as the first step I took on this amazing journey.
It is also rather special that so many people have joined me along the way by occasionally popping along to this web-site to see the latest updates.
Today I'm amazed to see that the total views on this web-site have reach another Milestone with ELEVEN MILLION VIEWS being logged!
May I say a BIG THANK YOU to you all.
As it has become traditional to mark these Milestones you might like to view a few previous Blogs:
CLICK TO VIEW A FEW PREVIOUS MILLION MILESTONE BLOGS
Hangover? What hangover?
29th November 2015
The day after the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club's Annual Dinner Dance can be quite a fragile place to be. Motorsport guys know how to party!
I guess that after a bacon roll for breakfast the next thing you need to effect a full recovery is a dose of fresh air.
As it happened, the fresh air was supplied in over-dose levels by gale-force winds. Maybe this was the amount of medication the doctor had ordered?
Anyway, the remedy was having affect on the Trials boys who were down at Petit Bot for the latest GMC&CC meeting!
All the sections were quite close together meaning that things were wrapped up nice and early... now that's what I call good planning. I reckon a few competitors were heading back to bed to complete their recovery ;-)
Pics are now online:
VIEW THE LATEST TRIALS PICS
29th November 2015
In: Motorsport News
The day after the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club's Annual Dinner Dance can be quite a fragile place to be. Motorsport guys know how to party!
I guess that after a bacon roll for breakfast the next thing you need to effect a full recovery is a dose of fresh air.
As it happened, the fresh air was supplied in over-dose levels by gale-force winds. Maybe this was the amount of medication the doctor had ordered?
Anyway, the remedy was having affect on the Trials boys who were down at Petit Bot for the latest GMC&CC meeting!
All the sections were quite close together meaning that things were wrapped up nice and early... now that's what I call good planning. I reckon a few competitors were heading back to bed to complete their recovery ;-)
Pics are now online:
VIEW THE LATEST TRIALS PICS
Cars, bikes and beach... Motorsport Guernsey style!
15th November 2015
Guernsey seems to be almost unique in allowing Trials bikes to ride around on its beaches. This helps to make the Guernsey 2-Day Trials Open events so popular with Jersey, UK and French riders.
Today I just managed to get to a section of the Trials meeting laid out on rocks in the pretty Bordeaux Harbour.
The rocky sections were a challenge as the Guernsey granite takes no prisoners. Its not a fair fight between Guernsey's finest 'hard stuff' and a bike frame... or worse, a riders bones!
However there were no mishaps whilst I was there :-)
That was not the case at the Autocross meeting at Chouet. We had roll-over after roll-over including a 'hospital run' for one unlucky passenger. All this drama meant the meeting had to be cut short and was also the reason I was late getting to the Trials.
But that's Motorsport, eh.
Pics are now on-line:
VIEW PICS OF THE AUTOCROSS
VIEW PICS OF THE TRIALS
15th November 2015
In: Motorsport News
Guernsey seems to be almost unique in allowing Trials bikes to ride around on its beaches. This helps to make the Guernsey 2-Day Trials Open events so popular with Jersey, UK and French riders.
Today I just managed to get to a section of the Trials meeting laid out on rocks in the pretty Bordeaux Harbour.
The rocky sections were a challenge as the Guernsey granite takes no prisoners. Its not a fair fight between Guernsey's finest 'hard stuff' and a bike frame... or worse, a riders bones!
However there were no mishaps whilst I was there :-)
That was not the case at the Autocross meeting at Chouet. We had roll-over after roll-over including a 'hospital run' for one unlucky passenger. All this drama meant the meeting had to be cut short and was also the reason I was late getting to the Trials.
But that's Motorsport, eh.
Pics are now on-line:
VIEW PICS OF THE AUTOCROSS
VIEW PICS OF THE TRIALS
Motocross madness?
07th November 2015
Why do they do it?
What possible enjoyment can there be?
When the Motocross season arrives, so does the wet and windy weather!
The riders who enter the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club's Motocross events must know what's in store... but they still arrive, keen and eager to mix it in the mud.
Perhaps my question should have been... Why does a photographer turn up, get wet, get blown about by the cliff-top winds and get covered in mud?
Well, of course, I happen to think it is great fun also!
So that is the scene set for last weekends GK&MC Motocross race at Pleinmont.
I did my wet and windy duty and took a few pics :-)
Check 'em out here:
VIEW PICS OF THE MOTOCROSS RACING
07th November 2015
In: Motorsport News
Why do they do it?
What possible enjoyment can there be?
When the Motocross season arrives, so does the wet and windy weather!
The riders who enter the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club's Motocross events must know what's in store... but they still arrive, keen and eager to mix it in the mud.
Perhaps my question should have been... Why does a photographer turn up, get wet, get blown about by the cliff-top winds and get covered in mud?
Well, of course, I happen to think it is great fun also!
So that is the scene set for last weekends GK&MC Motocross race at Pleinmont.
I did my wet and windy duty and took a few pics :-)
Check 'em out here:
VIEW PICS OF THE MOTOCROSS RACING
Motorsport updates from the weekend...
04th November 2015
It's always surprising how quickly we forget what the weather was like just days before.
I've been sat in my office today looking out at a very miserable and wet day. I was quite pleased to be tucked away in the dry.
But it is only a couple of days ago that we were revelling in the glorious Guernsey weekend weather. The sun was out and the very last place anyone wanted to be was indoors!
However I suppose today's nasty turn has encouraged me to catch up with some work!
The end of month accounts have all been sent and a couple of major assignments have received their final edit. And now the evening has arrived I've completed the edit of the weekend's Motorsport.
Two new Galleries are now on-line. One features the final Round of the GK&MC Summer Kart Championship. The other is of the GMC&CC Trials meeting at The Pines.
Take a look at the pics here:
VIEW PICS OF ROUND 9 OF THE SUMMER KART CHAMPIONSHIP
VIEW PICS OF THE TRIALS AT THE PINES
04th November 2015
In: Motorsport News
It's always surprising how quickly we forget what the weather was like just days before.
I've been sat in my office today looking out at a very miserable and wet day. I was quite pleased to be tucked away in the dry.
But it is only a couple of days ago that we were revelling in the glorious Guernsey weekend weather. The sun was out and the very last place anyone wanted to be was indoors!
However I suppose today's nasty turn has encouraged me to catch up with some work!
The end of month accounts have all been sent and a couple of major assignments have received their final edit. And now the evening has arrived I've completed the edit of the weekend's Motorsport.
Two new Galleries are now on-line. One features the final Round of the GK&MC Summer Kart Championship. The other is of the GMC&CC Trials meeting at The Pines.
Take a look at the pics here:
VIEW PICS OF ROUND 9 OF THE SUMMER KART CHAMPIONSHIP
VIEW PICS OF THE TRIALS AT THE PINES
Headline news at the latest Autocross meeting....
26th October 2015
When Ozzy Ozanne is beaten in a straight fight on the sands of Chouet beach it is the stuff that makes headlines!
Ozzy is a multiple champion and seems to be almost unbeatable.
The multi-champ combines his talent for beach racing with a knack of selecting and preparing fast, competitive and reliable cars.
There is no doubt that Ozzy has earnt his championships and it is not for him to slow down but for his competitors to raise their own game to his level.
Well, just maybe, we have the first signs that there is a driver and car combination that can challenge Ozzy?
Tony Le Prevost has found himself a four-wheel-drive Subaru that is clearly fast enough as he took the top spot in Sunday's Race of Firsts - well ahead of Ozzy.
As a spectator this is great news. I think we will see some great racing for the rest of the season. I recommend that you make a diary date for 15th November when the fight continues.
My pics are now on-line:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LATEST AUTOCROSS PICS
26th October 2015
In: Motorsport News
When Ozzy Ozanne is beaten in a straight fight on the sands of Chouet beach it is the stuff that makes headlines!
Ozzy is a multiple champion and seems to be almost unbeatable.
The multi-champ combines his talent for beach racing with a knack of selecting and preparing fast, competitive and reliable cars.
There is no doubt that Ozzy has earnt his championships and it is not for him to slow down but for his competitors to raise their own game to his level.
Well, just maybe, we have the first signs that there is a driver and car combination that can challenge Ozzy?
Tony Le Prevost has found himself a four-wheel-drive Subaru that is clearly fast enough as he took the top spot in Sunday's Race of Firsts - well ahead of Ozzy.
As a spectator this is great news. I think we will see some great racing for the rest of the season. I recommend that you make a diary date for 15th November when the fight continues.
My pics are now on-line:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LATEST AUTOCROSS PICS
High-flying action... on a bike!
24th October 2015
The conditions were near perfect for Round-6 of the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club's 2015 Motocross Championship at the Pleinmont track.
The racing was close in most of the Classes making sure the spectators were kept entertained :-)
The conditions also allowed the more confident riders to get a bit of air... I guess the theory is that there is less resistance to slow you down when your head is in the clouds!
Or maybe it's just a bit more fun?
This pic shows just how close some of the racing was!
Check the full Gallery here:
VIEW PICS OF ROUND-6 OF THE GK&MC MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
24th October 2015
In: Motorsport News
The conditions were near perfect for Round-6 of the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club's 2015 Motocross Championship at the Pleinmont track.
The racing was close in most of the Classes making sure the spectators were kept entertained :-)
The conditions also allowed the more confident riders to get a bit of air... I guess the theory is that there is less resistance to slow you down when your head is in the clouds!
Or maybe it's just a bit more fun?
This pic shows just how close some of the racing was!
Check the full Gallery here:
VIEW PICS OF ROUND-6 OF THE GK&MC MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Two more from the weekend....
19th October 2015
On Sunday I decided to have a change... it's as good as a rest they say :-)
It's been a while since I have managed to get along to the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club's Sunday morning Trials.
Normally I photograph the Senior riders in the afternoon but the mornings are saved for the Youth, Sportsman and Pre 65 riders. So it was off to the Dos D'Ane on Sunday morning for me.
The atmosphere was great... busy and friendly.
The sections were close together as everything has to be fitted within the steep slope at Dos D'Ane as the junior riders aren't licensed to ride on the road. I had to have eyes in the back of my head to make sure I didn't wander into the tight sections. The juniors really enjoy the riding and I think many more youngsters would love the chance to take up the sport.
Then, in the afternoon, I made another rare visit to a Motorsport event.
The GMC&CC Autotests are very low-key. They 'pop up' in various car parks around the island. This time it was at Ronez quarry.
An Autotest meeting takes the form of a few mates driving near-wrecks of cars around tight circuits marked simply by traffic cones. The layout is changed several times and involves lots of tight turns, reversing, hard stops in the 'gates'... and lots of tyre smoking.
This is Motorspor fun on a budget. Yeah, it's a boys thing!
I've updated the Galleries here:
VIEW PICS OF THE JUNIOR TRIALS
VIEW PICS OF THE AUTOTEST
19th October 2015
In: Motorsport News
On Sunday I decided to have a change... it's as good as a rest they say :-)
It's been a while since I have managed to get along to the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club's Sunday morning Trials.
Normally I photograph the Senior riders in the afternoon but the mornings are saved for the Youth, Sportsman and Pre 65 riders. So it was off to the Dos D'Ane on Sunday morning for me.
The atmosphere was great... busy and friendly.
The sections were close together as everything has to be fitted within the steep slope at Dos D'Ane as the junior riders aren't licensed to ride on the road. I had to have eyes in the back of my head to make sure I didn't wander into the tight sections. The juniors really enjoy the riding and I think many more youngsters would love the chance to take up the sport.
Then, in the afternoon, I made another rare visit to a Motorsport event.
The GMC&CC Autotests are very low-key. They 'pop up' in various car parks around the island. This time it was at Ronez quarry.
An Autotest meeting takes the form of a few mates driving near-wrecks of cars around tight circuits marked simply by traffic cones. The layout is changed several times and involves lots of tight turns, reversing, hard stops in the 'gates'... and lots of tyre smoking.
This is Motorspor fun on a budget. Yeah, it's a boys thing!
I've updated the Galleries here:
VIEW PICS OF THE JUNIOR TRIALS
VIEW PICS OF THE AUTOTEST
All things come to an end....
17th October 2015
Every season comes to an end.
In the case of summertime the final days are marked by the colours of Autumn taking charge.
When a Motorsport season ends it happens in the only way that racers know.... with smoke, burn-outs, speed and noise!
That was exactly how the Guernsey Kart and Motor Club said adieu to the 2015 Hillclimb and Sprint seasons... until they return again in 2016.
It has been a busy year of Motorsport in Guernsey. Maybe the additional new events have satisfied some of the racers 'need for speed' as the entry was quite small for the Vazon Sprint?
But every cloud has a silver lining. In this case it allowed loads of runs for those who had signed in.
That should keep 'em satisfied until the racing starts again in 2016!
I've updated the Gallery with todays racing:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE FINAL SPRINT OF 2015
17th October 2015
In: Motorsport News
Every season comes to an end.
In the case of summertime the final days are marked by the colours of Autumn taking charge.
When a Motorsport season ends it happens in the only way that racers know.... with smoke, burn-outs, speed and noise!
That was exactly how the Guernsey Kart and Motor Club said adieu to the 2015 Hillclimb and Sprint seasons... until they return again in 2016.
It has been a busy year of Motorsport in Guernsey. Maybe the additional new events have satisfied some of the racers 'need for speed' as the entry was quite small for the Vazon Sprint?
But every cloud has a silver lining. In this case it allowed loads of runs for those who had signed in.
That should keep 'em satisfied until the racing starts again in 2016!
I've updated the Gallery with todays racing:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE FINAL SPRINT OF 2015
Motocross 2-Day pics on-line....
14th October 2015
I hope you haven't been counting, but it is several days since the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club's 2-Day Motocross meeting :-)
As you might note from that statement I'm not someone who likes to exaggerate. Quite the opposite I think!
I'll leave it up to you to check how many 'several' days it has been since the 2-Day event.
Or you might just like to look at the pics now that they have arrived on-line?
It's your choice :-)
VIEW PICS OF THE MOTOCROSS 2-DAY MEETING
14th October 2015
In: Motorsport News
I hope you haven't been counting, but it is several days since the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club's 2-Day Motocross meeting :-)
As you might note from that statement I'm not someone who likes to exaggerate. Quite the opposite I think!
I'll leave it up to you to check how many 'several' days it has been since the 2-Day event.
Or you might just like to look at the pics now that they have arrived on-line?
It's your choice :-)
VIEW PICS OF THE MOTOCROSS 2-DAY MEETING
Mud + Bikes = Motocross...
12th October 2015
Another one from the weekend...
This time it is Motocross racing at Pleinmont... and it was very nice up there on the cliffs :-)
The track looked in fantastic condition. However I did manage to place myself in the firing line of mud thrown up by one of the racers. Yes, I was totally 'filled-in' together with my two cameras.
I've now made a mental note to check-out the muddy spots before leaning over the track for the best angle!
Thankfully everything is now clean and the kit is ready for the next muddy encounter.
The pics are now online:
VIEW THE LATEST MOTO-X PICS
12th October 2015
In: Motorsport News
Another one from the weekend...
This time it is Motocross racing at Pleinmont... and it was very nice up there on the cliffs :-)
The track looked in fantastic condition. However I did manage to place myself in the firing line of mud thrown up by one of the racers. Yes, I was totally 'filled-in' together with my two cameras.
I've now made a mental note to check-out the muddy spots before leaning over the track for the best angle!
Thankfully everything is now clean and the kit is ready for the next muddy encounter.
The pics are now online:
VIEW THE LATEST MOTO-X PICS
One more off the list...
11th October 2015
Whilst making the Guernsey Press edit I've gone all the way and finished the Autocross Gallery for today's racing.
This was Race 2 of the new Winter Championship. There seemed a shortage of roll-overs today but that didn't spoil some really close racing.
Things look good for the rest of the season :-)
The pics are now on-line here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST AUTOCROSS PICS
11th October 2015
In: Motorsport News
Whilst making the Guernsey Press edit I've gone all the way and finished the Autocross Gallery for today's racing.
This was Race 2 of the new Winter Championship. There seemed a shortage of roll-overs today but that didn't spoil some really close racing.
Things look good for the rest of the season :-)
The pics are now on-line here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST AUTOCROSS PICS
Petit Bot is beautiful in the sun....
05th October 2015
Everyone must know the the name of the famous French painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
Renoir spent time in and enjoyed our beautiful Channel Island of Guernsey and painted the pretty beach situated below the southern cliffs of Guernsey named Petit Bot.
Indeed Petit Bot bay is a wonderful place to be... and I have Renoir on my side when I state this.
Renoir's paintings of Petit Bot will stand the test of time and promote this lovely corner of our small isle to many people for decades to come.
I'm guessing that my own contribution to the Petit Bot area won't remain as quite such an important 'work of art'... but I have done my (little) bit too!
In my case it is a photographic record of the place. Or maybe I should add that it is a photographic record of the Motorsport of the place!
Whatever the distinction, I've added to the history of Petit Bot by making a record of the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club's annual Hillclimbs.
My pics are now on-line... hopefully they add another small chapter to the story of this historic bay nestling below the Guernsey cliffs :-)
My pics can now be viewed online:
VIEW PICS OF THE 2015 PETIT BOT HILLCLIMB
05th October 2015
In: Motorsport News
Everyone must know the the name of the famous French painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
Renoir spent time in and enjoyed our beautiful Channel Island of Guernsey and painted the pretty beach situated below the southern cliffs of Guernsey named Petit Bot.
Indeed Petit Bot bay is a wonderful place to be... and I have Renoir on my side when I state this.
Renoir's paintings of Petit Bot will stand the test of time and promote this lovely corner of our small isle to many people for decades to come.
I'm guessing that my own contribution to the Petit Bot area won't remain as quite such an important 'work of art'... but I have done my (little) bit too!
In my case it is a photographic record of the place. Or maybe I should add that it is a photographic record of the Motorsport of the place!
Whatever the distinction, I've added to the history of Petit Bot by making a record of the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club's annual Hillclimbs.
My pics are now on-line... hopefully they add another small chapter to the story of this historic bay nestling below the Guernsey cliffs :-)
My pics can now be viewed online:
VIEW PICS OF THE 2015 PETIT BOT HILLCLIMB
....update two, I'm on a roll :-)
04th October 2015
Whilst I had todays folder of pics open I thought that it might be a good idea to clear the days work. At least it ticks another of those digital boxes:-)
Now that I've added a Gallery featuring the GMC&CC Twisty Sprint at The Track I can say it's 'job done' as far as today goes Motorsport events go.
Tomorrow the catch-up begins :-(
VIEW PICS OT THE TWISTY SPRINT AT THE TRACK
04th October 2015
In: Motorsport News
Whilst I had todays folder of pics open I thought that it might be a good idea to clear the days work. At least it ticks another of those digital boxes:-)
Now that I've added a Gallery featuring the GMC&CC Twisty Sprint at The Track I can say it's 'job done' as far as today goes Motorsport events go.
Tomorrow the catch-up begins :-(
VIEW PICS OT THE TWISTY SPRINT AT THE TRACK
Lots of photoshoots, where to start?
04th October 2015
The last couple of weeks have left me with a load of pics to edit and upload!
So where to start?
Well it has to be the smallest photoshoot, doesn't it?
That way I get to knock one job off the list... just like that :-)
As I only spent about twenty minutes right at the end of todays GMC&CC Trials meeting I only saw about ten riders. So that's an easy update.
Job done!
VIEW PICS OF THE TRIALS MEETING
04th October 2015
In: Motorsport News
The last couple of weeks have left me with a load of pics to edit and upload!
So where to start?
Well it has to be the smallest photoshoot, doesn't it?
That way I get to knock one job off the list... just like that :-)
As I only spent about twenty minutes right at the end of todays GMC&CC Trials meeting I only saw about ten riders. So that's an easy update.
Job done!
VIEW PICS OF THE TRIALS MEETING
You're never short of Motorsport action in Guernsey...
30th September 2015
I've said it before but it's worth repeating.
Guernsey offers an incredible array of Motorsport for those who like to partake or be a spectator. Or photograph, in my case :-)
Last weekend I only managed to get to two events. Actually that isn't quite true as the third one on my list (Trials) had just finished by the time I arrived after photographing a Rugby game for the Guernsey Press.
However I did get to photograph two Motorsports. The GK&MC Summer Kart Championship at The Track and the continuation of the Autocross Championship at Chouet after their summer break.
So I had my regular Motorsport 'fix' :-)
I've now completed the edit and the pics are on-line:
VIEW PICS OF THE SUMMER KART CHAMPIONSHIP
VIEW PICS OF THE AUTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
30th September 2015
In: Motorsport News
I've said it before but it's worth repeating.
Guernsey offers an incredible array of Motorsport for those who like to partake or be a spectator. Or photograph, in my case :-)
Last weekend I only managed to get to two events. Actually that isn't quite true as the third one on my list (Trials) had just finished by the time I arrived after photographing a Rugby game for the Guernsey Press.
However I did get to photograph two Motorsports. The GK&MC Summer Kart Championship at The Track and the continuation of the Autocross Championship at Chouet after their summer break.
So I had my regular Motorsport 'fix' :-)
I've now completed the edit and the pics are on-line:
VIEW PICS OF THE SUMMER KART CHAMPIONSHIP
VIEW PICS OF THE AUTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP