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After last year's wash-out of the Guernsey Race Club's Bank Holiday Horse Racing meeting the 2018 version can only be described as fantastic!

It was great to see the Club rewarded by a stunning, sunny day and there seemed to be hundreds of supporters at L'Ancresse to watch the racing.

Such a lot of effort (and money) is invested before each race day that the small number of Club members need praise for keeping up their enthusiasm after last year.

Hopefully they enjoyed a fantastic afternoon's racing like the rest of us... although I imagine they were still 'beavering away' behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly.

May I say a big 'Thank You' on behalf of all those who chilled out at Guernsey's own 'Day at the Races'

My own day was pretty hectic as, due to early print deadlines, I spent the afternoon chasing the races around L'Ancresse then hopping into my studio van between races, editing and tagging the previous race then e-mailing them into the Press.

It was all pretty tiring in the scorching heat but well worth the effort!

This picture gallery shows some of the action....
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF THE BANK HOLIDAY HORSE RACING

It was Horsepower all the way on Bank Holiday Monday.

My day started with petrol powered horsepower at the GMC&CC Hillclimb, Le Val des Terres. There was power to spare down in the pits as the competitors warmed up their machinery.

The conditions were near perfect for racing with the combination of hot tarmac and sticky rubber allowing full use the power as the racers made their noisy progress up the hill.

What a contrast it was in the afternoon.

I had to make an early exit from the 'Terres at lunchtime as the Guernsey Race Club were running five Horse races at L'Ancresse.

The sun had encouraged hundreds of spectators to the common and they were entertained by horsepower in its purest form.

I photographed the racing in my normal manner... by getting close to the action and I must confess that one horsepower in the form of a thoroughbred race horse is mighty impressive when you feel the wind as it passes at full gallop.

The pics of the mornings man-made power are now online. Tomorrow I'll upload pics of the real thing....
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE GMC&CC HILLCLIMB

The weekend so far has had some ups... but also some downs.

Thankfully the ups outnumber the downs so I'll say we shouldn't let the low points spoil the mood.

Firstly we must call the weather one of the ups. Come on, it's scorching hot. That has to be a high!

Next, it's a Bank Holiday weekend. That means a long weekend off work (at least if you're not a photographer like me)!

Next... the Guernsey Raiders won the Siam Cup when they beat Jersey Reds. Now you're not going to dispute me calling that as another up, are you? Of course I'm assuming that you don't live in Jersey!

But if you do then you have your own win to crow about. The Jersey Under 18's side beat the Guern's in the U18 football Muratti. That's a downer in my eyes.

I still managed to enjoy my Sunday though as I also photographed the GMC&CC Twisty Sprint at The Track. This was the 'warm-up' event of the Motorsport weekend ahead of the Bank Holiday Hillclimb at Le Val des Terres.

Pics of the action so far can be viewed at these links:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF THE SIAM CUP RUGBY
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF THE TWISTY SPRINT
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE UNDER 18s MURATTI

I'm counting the hours till I can say that the weekend's assignments are all completed...

This work includes the selection and editing of the pics (including the important deletion of the 'fails'). But that isn't the end of the work, in fact that is just the start!

The next job on the list is to 'tag' a few with details and then submit them for publication.

The next box to tick is the uploading of pics to this website's picture Gallery.

But the job can only be marked as complete after I've backed up the images and then added all the 'keepers' (originals and the saved edited versions) to my picture database. This is an important (vital) process to ensure nothing is lost and any picture can be found very quickly in the future with just a couple of mouse clicks!

The first parts of the above list are nearly sorted, yeah!!

The cataloguing of all the pics into my searchable database is the final chore... I must have been VERY bad in a previous life as this process is a real pain. However, once it is complete the benefit of being able to search for any shot by time, date, subject.... in fact anything you could possibly think of is absolutely essential to me as it enables a very quick and easy response to requests for my pics.

Today's updates include the first Rickety Bridge Cricket game of 2018... Elizabeth College v Wanderers/Irregulars and the Channel Islands Table Tennis Finals.

View the pics here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF THE RICKETY BRIDGE CRICKET GAME
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF THE CHANNEL ISLANDS TABLE TENNIS FINALS
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I'm keeping this short as I'm in full-on editing mode!

I know I've said it before but the 'after shoot' edit has to be the most boring part of my job. I've learnt over an extended period that the first thing to do to ease the pain is to take as few pics as possible in the first place.

This can be a challenge when shooting fast action sports but the discipline is good as you have to 'focus' on getting the best shot first time.

The pay-off is a quicker edit back at the studio.

But, even after trying to limit the pics taken, it is still inevitable that too much time is 'wasted' looking at a monitor.

After such a busy weekend of shooting I've had more editing to do than usual but perseverance (and hours) mean the job is nearly done.

I've just added three more galleries featuring the Inter-Insular Snooker at the Gremlin Club, Inter-Insular Darts at the Peninsular Hotel and the Hockey Upton at Footes Lane.

....more updates will follow!

These are the links to view the latest uploads:
CLICK TO VIEW THE INTER-INSULAR SNOOKER PICS
CLICK TO VIEW THE INTER-INSULAR DARTS PICS
CLICK TO VIEW THE HOCKEY UPTON PICS

Guernsey was swarming with Jerseymen... and gals over the weekend.

I'm not sure if the term 'swarming' is the correct name of a large group of our Jersey ‘Toad’ cousins but the word does illustrate that they seemed to be EVERYWHERE I looked!!

My weekends work was crazy busy. In total I photographed TEN Sports! That number included another 'box tick' for me. Inter-Insular Darts... yep, you guessed it... Guernsey v JERSEY!

The Jersey Crapauds also featured in the Inter-Insular Snooker, the men's Hockey Upton and the Table Tennis Inter-Insulars.

I also know that there were several visiting teams over from the UK playing Rugby and Golf!

So you will see that 'Sports' have a huge role in making Guernsey's community vibrant and lively. They bring hundreds of people to our shores every month of the year. They enhance thousands of people's lives and widen the ambitions of our young.

I really hope that our States Department in charge of the running and promotion of Sport in Guernsey don't allow themselves to be distracted by one of their other responsibilities... namely Education. Wishful thinking I think. There doesn't seem to be anyone on the Committee flying the flag high for Sport & Culture.

I'm guessing that the Committee is 'head-in-the sand' with only one thing on their mind! The committee members need to remember the title of their department - Committee for Education, Sport and Culture.

Let's see SPORTS and CULTURE getting their fair amount of attention too, please!

My first Gallery updates feature some of the weekends Motorsport action. Pics of the Sandracing, Karting and Autocross are now online.

UPDATE: I've just searched for the group name for Jersey Crapauds (Toads) and it seems we have a choice.... a 'lump' of toads, a 'knab' of toads, a 'knob' of toads, a 'knot' of toads, a 'nest' of toads or a 'squiggle' of toads.

I guess we can make up our own minds on this one, however I'll admit that I've heard Jerseymen called many other names... but I wouldn't want to repeat them here. The children might be listening!

View the first pics here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SANDRACING PICS
CLICK TO VIEW THE KARTING PICS
CLICK TO VIEW THE BANGER RACING PICS

The latest updates include a couple more 'newbies' for me... the list of sports in the gallery gets longer!

The third update records another 'first'... well, for about ten years. Apparently it's about that long since there has been a women's Island Snooker champion. I popped along before the start of play to photograph the two contenders.

But back to my first comment. The two new sports (for me) added to the Gallery are Table Tennis and Dodgeball. The Table Tennis was great fun to photograph as the timing is critical to a fraction of a second.

Dodgeball is a bit of an odd one to capture. There is no interaction of teams as each side keeps to their side of the court and there is really only one 'action'... the throw of the ball!

OK, I'll admit that there are other possible shots... for example it would be great to capture an amazing avoidance move by a player but from what I found on this first photoshoot those moments won't come often.

The new Galleries are here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE TABLE TENNIS GALLERIES
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DODGEBALL GALLERIES GALLERIES
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE WOMENS SNOOKER GALLERIES

Bikes and boats... you don't find that mixture very often... unless you live on an island!

I suppose when so many people live on a small island whilst pursuing their separate hobbies and leisure activities we are bound to 'overlap' occasionally.

As we all (well most of us!) try and get along together there is rarely any conflict... in fact I believe it is a very healthy way for a community to live. It is a good thing to share our 'space' with others as we get a better understanding of the way our fellow Guern's spend their time.

There was a good example of this last Sunday when the Guernsey Velo Club visited Beaucette Marina for another round of the Ian Brown Cycle Shop Winter Mountain Bike Cross Country Series.

The racing took place surrounded by all shapes and sizes of cruise boats, gin palaces and yachts and as it was a Sunday morning there were quite a few boat owners preparing their vessels for the new season. I chatted with a few of them and they were enjoying watching the racing.

There was also an opportunity for me to capture a few pics featuring the unusual setting. They're now online here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE MTB RACING AT BEAUCETTE MARINA

The March edition of SOUND took place at the Fermain Tavern on the eve of the schools Easter break.

What a great reason to have a party!

The SOUND crew had invited a top line-up of bands and I was there to capture a few pics.

Tantale headlined the gig and were supported by Watercolour Matchbox and Seven Day Riot

Follow these links to view the pictures:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF TANTALE PLAYING AT THE MARCH SOUND GIG
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF WATERCOLOUR MATCHBOX PLAYING AT THE MARCH SOUND GIG
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF SEVEN DAY RIOT PLAYING AT THE MARCH SOUND GIG

The weekend offered me another varied day of photographic work :-)

First there was a Commercial shoot for pi-top at The Digital Greenhouse.

Pi-top is an international innovation award winning company which produces a build-it-yourself laptop powered by the Raspberry Pi. I photographed the pilot event which saw young people gaining access to over £10,000 of state of the art inventor equipment.

I was very impressed by how quickly the young students grasped the flexibility and power of this modern teaching aid. The Digital Greenhouse offered a fantastic, bright and modern 'backdrop' to the photo-shoot.

When that was all done and dusted it was off to the Motocross track for the latest round of the championship... I told you the day was varied!

Then to complete the day there was an evening shoot where I photographed the Guernsey Island Snooker Championship at the Gremlin Club.

Here are a few pics:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF THE MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF THE GUERNSEY ISLAND SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIP

Yes it was chilly... but if you kept ducking and diving, sheltered from the bitter wind, climbing cliff slopes, running around Trials sections... all between warming up in the studio van - it was possible to keep warm!

That was my plan of action before leaving home last weekend to capture action at several outdoor events.

Broadly speaking it all went according to plan. It was proof that if you dress for the weather you soon forget about any discomfort and just get on with the job! In fact it was thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining.

I've already put a link up to my 2-day Trials pics. I've now added a couple more picture galleries featuring the first Round of the 'Summer' (you've got to be joking, eh!) Autocross Championship together with pics of Round-2 of the Guernsey Velo Club's MTB Downhill Championship at Pleinmont.

These are the links:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF ROUND-1 OF THE SUMMER AUTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF ROUND-2 OF THE MTB DOWNHILL CHAMPIONSHIP

My Saturday schedule had to be re-jigged at the last minute when the start of the 2018 Eisteddfod Artistic Roller Skating was delayed.

I had planned to cover the first hour and a half then pop up to the Motocross Track for a few more action pics... then it was off to the Corbet Field for football - Vale Rec v St Peter.

In the end I didn't have time to get up to the cliffs for the Motocross, shame as it was a beautiful day.

However there was a plus. I had more time to spend at the Roller Skating.

I've just added a new picture gallery featuring most of the performers:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE EISTEDDFORD ROLLER SKATING

It's a known fact that only the youth have this energy and enthusiasm.

Last weekend I photographed the SOUND - The Young Ones Vol.2 gig at the Fermain Tavern. This gig was part of a series organized by a charity called SOUND Guernsey.

Specifically set up to support, promote, encourage and nurture young bands and live music in Guernsey SOUND have been working away building a new young live music scene. It is going from strength to strength with a fantastic 'ethos' playing a core part.

Young artists and bands are being 'schooled' in the correct 'behavior' when performing live. They are expected to show respect for their peers and to learn the discipline and 'professionalism' that is required to achieve success.

The gigs are often age-restricted to under 18's so allowing the junior gig-goers to grow, safely, into the live music environment.

The thing that struck me whilst I photographed the latest gig was how young people have endless energy and enthusiasm when they are out with mates doing what they most enjoy. It also reminded me what music does best... it brings people of all backgrounds together to share a good time... the smiles on the faces were proof!

SOUND The Young Ones Vol.2. had been billed as 'featuring the finest of Guernsey's young bands' and 'a night of moshing, circle pits, noise and fun' at The Fermain Tavern.

It did exactly what it said on the tin... or should that be drum kit!

View my pics of track not found, Vice, Cosmic Fish, Isle Stone and Zak Trimmer here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF SOUND - THE YOUNG ONES Vol.2

This Blog explains some challenges to photographing Motorsport… and a couple of the solutions I came up with recently.

It was whilst photographing the first Resolution-IT Guernsey Rally that I used a little ingenuity to help myself get the shots that I wanted.

After the recent tragic loss of life on Scottish Rally sections the first challenge in Motorsport photography is to acquire permission to get close access to the track. The MSA has revised and tightened up how they allocate Media access with a process that can perhaps best be described as a classic ‘chicken or egg’ puzzle.

Accreditation is only offered to published photographers… forget it if you are a ‘Facebook Photographer’. Forget it if you are 'working' for a ‘Sponsor’ or competitor or simply running your own website selling pics. You have to prove that your work has already been published in ‘paid for’ media and that you have been assigned, by a publication, to take pics at this event.

This is where the ‘chicken or egg’ comes in. For your work to be accepted for publication it will need to be dynamic and immersive… this almost always requires you to be close to the action… but without accreditation you won’t be allowed that access… so how do you get published in the first place?

I’ve had many conversations over the years with enthusiastic amateurs who are VERY frustrated by this fact. I can only advise that they stick with it and a ‘lucky break’ might come along.

I’m fully aware and appreciate that I’m privileged to have MSA Accreditation. I certainly don’t take it for granted and I make sure I maximize this advantage where-ever I work… read on.

At the first Resolution-IT Guernsey Rally I was given MSA Media access to photograph the action from track side for four publications. Having attained this access it was important that I made good use of it and I’m sharing a couple of the ‘tricks’ I used to enhance my pics and make best use of my limited time - firstly making use of modern technology, then later in the day the technology couldn’t have been more basic!

The first example: I rarely enjoy having my own picture taken but on this occasion it was fun! Even with accreditation the access to photograph the Resolution-IT Guernsey Rally was still restricted and though it allowed me enhanced access I still needed to maximize that opportunity. The problem was that the competitors had just four runs through each section… so this limited the chance to take a variety of shots from different angles. This was compounded by my intention to vary my pics by moving between Sections (when the track wasn’t ‘live’). This movement between Sections meant that during the travel I'd not be capturing any action at all! Maybe a waste of valuable shooting time?

This is where a bit of technology helped me out - by doubling the shots taken at a single corner. Take a look at the ‘double’ picture above. These two shots were taken on one of the afternoon’s sections at exactly the same time by using a second radio controlled camera. By the way the photographer in the top picture is me... in my own shot. Clever, eh! Two different viewpoints for the price of one. Bargain!

The second ‘trick’ I used was as simple as it gets… at least once I had thought of it! Take a look at the picture below as it shows the problem.


The Rally stages ran into the early evening and as it’s February they finished in complete darkness. Eventually it was near pitch black as I don’t think electricity has reached the narrow back lanes in Guernsey yet! There certainly isn’t any street lighting!

So I was faced with the challenge of photographing the speeding cars with the only light coming from their powerful headlights. The problem was that flash photography isn’t permitted as it could distract the drivers. My first couple of shots after the darkness descended quickly showed that as well as coping with the speed of the cars and the high contrasts of the scene the side view of the cars were just black silhouettes. The photographs were unusable. Then I had a brainwave. I had a small LED cycle lamp in my camera bag. Would that be able to light the side of the cars?

I found a convenient twig high up on a track-side tree to attach the torch to and aimed the tiny light onto the road where I expected the cars to pass... then I continued shooting. Amazingly, and a credit must be given to the class-leading low-light quality of the Nikon D5 camera, this low level of additional light seemed to be just enough to do the job. This simple work-around enabled me to capture another range of pics adding variety to what was a long and tiring days’ work… but fulfilling too.

If you’re a photographer yourself you might be interested in the settings that I ended up using for the night-time pics. They prove to you that even with my added torch light it was still very dark! These two examples really misrepresent just how dark the scene was. But that's what photographers do... we enhance reality ;-)

Pics were shot with these settings:
Camera: Nikon D5 (the low light master!)
Lens: AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED at f2.8 and 15mm
Shutter speed: was at 100th sec
ISO 12800

It should be obvious (hopefully) which the ‘unlit’ shot is (above)!

Here are a couple (below) showing how just adding a little extra torch light to the shots turned them into keepers.





I’d love feedback to this short Blog with stories of how you have improved your chances of returning back to the studio with usable pics taken in challenging circumstances.
E-MAIL YOUR COMMENTS AND STORIES BY CLICKING HERE

We must be a bit of an odd lot in Guernsey, eh.

When I say 'We' I'm referring to Guernseymen and women... and I'll extend that to include everyone else who has moved to our little Island as I'm sure a bit of the madness and passion has rubbed off on you too!

Maybe it's because we live on such a small Island that we have to make our own entertainment. This is manifested in the huge amount of activities that islanders organize. There's no excuse to feel bored over here!

I see quite a lot of these events during my professional photography and it never fails to amaze me how much goes on. My specialism is Motorsport photography and almost every other form of Sports photography with Gig photography filling a lot of the remaining time.

But up until Saturday we hadn't managed to tick (perhaps the final) Motorsport box... there was no Rally racing in Guernsey.

How on earth had that happened? Well this has now been sorted after the first running of the Resolution-IT Guernsey Rally! It was run with the enthusiasm and passion that us Guerns are known for and was a great success... I think it was the first of many, fingers crossed.

I was out taking pics in the very chilly wind and a gallery of my Rally pictures can be viewed here:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE FIRST EVER RESOLUTION-IT GUERNSEY RALLY

Last Saturday Nessi Gomes played at a special Guernsey homecoming concert as part of the bicentenary celebrations of the St James Concert and Assembly Hall. I was there to capture the atmosphere of this special occasion.

Nessi featured a classical adaptation of her debut album Diamonds & Demons and she had brought together a band that included her select musicians who helped record her album together with some of her elite Guernsey based musician friends.

This well promoted gig was a near sell-out, there were only a few limited view seats left empty. Inevitably expectations were high but I don't think anyone left the imposing auditorium disappointed.

Everything seemed to come together perfectly. The supporting act, Blue Mountains, rose to the opportunity of playing to an attentive audience... their next gig in a noisy pub will never match the ambience of St James!

But, fittingly, it was Nessi Gomes who stole the night with a slick, professional and endearing performance that will leave her friends, family and all that saw her with the impression that she is one of Guernsey's finest song writers and musicians.

I've just uploaded a gallery of my pictures. Follow this link to view them:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF NESSI GOMES PLAYING AT ST JAMES

Tantale launched their latest Album 'Tightrope' on a night filled with the best of the Guernsey Live Music scene.

The band had asked Lord Vapour, The Recks and Flexagon to support them. Anyone who has followed the local scene... even on the fringes... will know that this was a night full of headliners.

Now it is just a great memory for those who were there. For the rest of you - take a look at my pics to see what you missed!

The first Gallery online features Tantale... that's just how things should be! The Recks and Lord Vapour will follow ASAP :-)
CLICK TO HERE VIEW PICS OF THE TANTALE TIGHTROPE LAUNCH GIG

This is where I got my soaking over the weekend.... Guernsey Football Club v Thamesmead Town at Footes Lane.

A 2-2 draw on this very miserable, windy and wet afternoon was probably a fair result. Resilience was needed by both the teams and the 'tog's!

It was the worst kind of damp - a heavy drizzle driven by a strong wind. This is a real challenge to keep the lenses clear so you don't loose too much contrast in the pics.

I know I've complained before about working in these conditions and I don't really know why as in fact I like the challenge and the 'dynamics' can add something to the record that us pro 'togs are trying to record.

Also, the discomfort is soon forgotten when you have a beer in your hand!

So I'm all happy (and dry) again and looking forward to the next downpour!

My pics are now online here:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF A SOGGY FOOTBALL GAME

Only the Vale Earth Fair Collective would be able to line up such a mix of 'Unplugged' Bands on the stage at The Fermain Tavern.

In fact they had set up two stages for the stripped back bands to play on in support of the 2018 Vale Earth Fair which is the headline event for the VEF Collective.

The night began with a new local band (they have to be local with their name) The Cor Damme Lars!

The night then, nearly seamlessly, swapped between stages with a lineup that included Savage Sons, Between the Signs, Rectory Hill Skillet Lickers, Ramblin' Nick Mann, Space Pirates of Rocquaine, Blue Mountains and Richie Powers.

I think you'll agree that was a lineup guaranteeing a busy and entertaining night... and it was all for a good cause.

Follow this link to view the pics:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF THE VEF UNPLUGGED 2018 AT THE FERMAIN TAVERN

The first event of the 2018 GVC Downhill MTB series took place in Petit Bot valley on a very muddy and slippery course which challenged the best of the riders.

This was confirmed when I was almost wiped out by a rider who lost control at the bottom of the hill! I was soaked from the waist down by muddy water!

In the end everything (including the rider) was OK... the mud splashes over my clothing disappeared after a visit to the washing machine and the cameras and lenses were fine after a more gentle wash!

That's the price a 'tog pays when getting close to the action ;-)

My weekend involved plenty more action in the form of the Guernsey Raiders Rugby against Sidcup - a 69-5 win for the Raiders produced plenty of the afore mentioned action!

I also covered the Guernsey Athletic's Junior Cross Country at L'Ancresse. This was run in a strong and bitterly cold wind making it a real challenge to the willpower and determination of the very young competitors. Well done guys 'n gals.

There was more ' gig action' on Saturday evening at the Vale Earth Fair's 'Unplugged' fund raiser at the Fermain Tavern.

All the edits are in work. Keep a check on this News Blog for updates to the Galleries.

First up are the MTB Downhill pics:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE MTB DOWNHILL RACE