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I'd love to spend a little time telling you about how great the Greenman Chaos 10 Bike and Music Festival was this year. But I haven't the time.

There were soooo many great highlights.

The Greenman ticked one of the only remaining boxes when I noted that Wonky Donkey Real Ale had been added to the bar menu... I guarantee it'll be back as my consumption alone must have made it a success!

I'd love to tell you about the quality and variety of the music on the two stages. I'd also like to have the time to praise the lighting team for a fantastic job. Those new 'spots' are amazing.

When I have a chance I will 'wax lyrical' about the sound system... it was loud!

Then, when I am not so busy, I will praise the variety of food on offer... Fish & Chips in a field - that'll do nicely :-)

Then I will have to find the words to describe the warm and friendly atmosphere that always pervades every Greenman Chaos Festival. Who would believe a bunch of 'piss-heads' (including me) could be so well behaved!

So you can expect me (when I have the time after processing the weekends pics) to tell you all about the FANTASTIC, BEST EVER Chaos tenth anniversary.

......oh, I seem to have already done all that!!

However I reckon I'll still find a few more good things to say in my next Blog :-)

First Galleries are now on-line featuring pics of the Chaos atmosphere.

Band pics will follow... as soon as I stop talking!!
CHAOS 10 - VIEW THE FIRST PICS

2014 was a vintage year for the Greenman Chaos Bike & Music Festival.

Following on from the first nine Chaos weekends the hope and anticipations were high for Number 10.

The early pioneering festivals had improved year on year. The question was 'Could the Greenman up the ante for the tenth anniversary?'

Silly question really. Of course they could, and of course they did, big time!

Thanks guys for a festival that legends are made of. Now let's stop the talk of it being the last. I'll see you next year or you will have to make your (good) excuses to me, OK!

The first gallery of the 2014 Greenman Chaos Bike & Music Festival shows my Guernsey Press submission for the Monday morning edition.

I was chuffed to see one of the pics made the front page. There were also Chaos pics on three other pages including a fantastic double-page spread in the centre. Total number of pics was thirteen.

Chaos has really made a mark in 2014!!

The logistics of selecting, editing, captioning and submitting a select few pics for an early Sunday morning deadline were fairly challenging, particularly as I was sleeping 'on-site' in my van so as to be able to enjoy a beer or two.

I actually I lost count of the pints of White Rock Brewery 'Wonky Donkey' Real Ale that I drank but I know I went through five four-drink tokens worth + a few more. And yes, I was a Wonky Donkey!

I dreaded that I would not wake up early enough on Sunday morning... but I did and these few pics are the result.

MANY, MANY more will follow as I work through the edit. Keep checking back....
CHAOS 2014... THE PRESS EDIT

Chef Simon McKenzie had a final practice run of his menu before travelling to London to compete in the semi-final of National Chef of the Year. I was invited into his kitchen as he performed his magic.

As the three courses were plated up I was very lucky to be offered them to taste and can assure you that they were all wonderful! I hope my pictures do justice to the dishes as there was very little time to capture the shots... no it wasn't because I tucked straight in!!

All the food shots were taken directly in the kitchen using a microwave as a base and a convenient window that happened to look out over an overgrown field. A touch of flash was added to make the food glisten.

I spoke with Simon during his preparations and learnt that he is a keen photographer. I side-stepped the argument about which camera is best, Nikon or Canon. Obviously it is NIKON!

Simon talked about how he was involved with the production of food photography earlier in his career. He related a couple of stories of how the Pro 'togs 'tweak' the food to make it look great... rendering it inedible at the same time.

That wasn't a problem in this case. Everything was freshly prepared and cooked right in front of me. No tweaking played a part in the photography. It would have been a crime not to be able to eat it... yum, yum
VIEW PICS OF SIMON McKENZIE PREPARING FOR CHEF OF THE YEAR

The Pilot and his wife were able to walk away from the wreckage of their Socata TB-10 Tobago after it crashed shortly after taking off from Guernsey Airport at approx 5pm on 17th June 2014.

I was able to gain access to Mr & Mrs Brehaut's driveway which allowed me to deploy the 26 Metre mast to capture a unique view of the crash scene and aircraft.

The views show the airport runway in the background which suggests the route the aircraft must have taken after taking off. It also shows how many properties were fortunately avoided.

Aircraft crashes are extremely rare however in this case I think it is fair to comment that everyone, both on the aircraft and living in the area have been very lucky that no serious injury occurred.
VIEW A FEW PICS OF THE LIGHT AIRCRAFT CRASH SITE

Sun, Sea, Sand and Ace Action.

That was what the weekend included for me and a couple of thousand Motorsport fans in Guernsey on Saturday.

It was fantastic to see such a high class entry for the 2014 Condor Ferries ACU British Sand Ace Championship held on the sands of Vazon Bay, Guernsey. It was also fantastic to see that the event attracted the crowd of spectators that it deserved.

I have no doubt that this unique Championship is held in high regard by the top riders who have raced on our sands. I spoke with many of the guys during the well attended social evening that followed the racing and I didn't hear a word of complaint... other than it is a shame we all have to wait a year before the fun kicks off again!

This praise of the organisation, friendliness and quality of the racing is a strong recommendation when it is remembered that most of the competitors have raced all over the UK and indeed the top venues in Europe.

So once again the small Island of Guernsey has proven that it is able to mix it with the heavy-weights and come out as winners!

Massive thanks must go to the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club and the many officials and helpers who made the day run so smoothly. Also the many Sponsors who enable the event to take place.

This photographer could barely conceal his enthusiasm whilst capturing the action. This event is one of the main highlights of my Motorsport photographic year.

I've now completed the proper edit of my pics after a rather stressful and fast preparation of a Slideshow of the unedited days work that I was requested to present for all the racers to view during the evening get-together.

Any photographers who are reading this Blog should have a little understanding that you would not choose to 'open up' your unedited work for appraisal. We can all capture some crap sometimes, eh?

Sand Racing can be quite a challenging sport to photograph - particularly if you have close access to the track - and it was with relief that I viewed the slideshow of pics for the first time along with the racers. It seemed to grab a lot of attention and good comments and I think my reputation as a Pro photog survived the experience :-)

I'm relieved to say that (even in the cold light of the next day) I didn't have too many 'fails'... phew!
VIEW THE 2014 CONDOR FERRIES SAND ACE CHAMPIONSHIP

Wherever you go around the world you can almost guarantee on one thing being a part of any community.

This will manifest itself in different forms dependant on resources, facilities and of course money!

What I am talking about is Motorsport.

A few things will also play a central role in all these Motorsport 'scenes'... men, competition, petrol, a love of speed and an ability to tweak your own racing machine.

Another feature of most Motorsport scenes is an element of a perceived 'restricted' access to all the fun.

My experience of the Guernsey Clubs and Motorsport scene couldn't be more different from that.

I know that they are always looking for new membership and will offer all the help and guidance they can to any prospective new racer. But that doesn't change the fact that some people who might be keen to start racing find it difficult to make a first approach.

This one fact alone makes the establishment of annual Motorsport Charity events so important and useful to encouraging fresh faces into the Clubs.

Of course the main aspect of these Charity events is to raise money for local Charities and tens of thousands of pounds from previous years have been donated. This year the Heritage Hillclimb was raising funds for Channel Islands Airsearch & the Guernsey Motor Neurone Disease Association.

This year the days racing (legally) up Le Val des Terres was enjoyed by all the competitors who experienced first hand what it is like to be part of the Guernsey Motorsport scene. We hope the taste of the 'real thing' will get a few of you excited enough to come back again to compete in a full event.

You will then become part of a Global Club.

There is however one thing on my list of the 'certainties' of a Motorsport scene that might be on the change. For me it is difficult to imagine racing without the smell of petrol and the noise from a V8 but the special guest who opened the Heritage Charity Hillclimb also showcased the future, maybe?

Guernsey's own World Motorsport Champion and BMW Team driver, Andy Priaulx, demonstrated the new BMW i3 Electric car... and just to show he hadn't forgotten his way up the 'Terres he smashed the Electric vehicle class record! Not bad to say his last competitive race up this hill was in 1995 when he won the MSA British National Hillclimb Championship!

Once a racer, always a racer.

So are you going to join a Club? It really isn't a restricted area :-)

I have added a Picture Gallery featuring all the days racers. A donation of 25% of all picture sales will be made to the designated Charities
VIEW PICS OF THE 2014 HERITAGE CHARITY HILLCLIMB

That was quite a slog.

I attended the Full Boar Lock-In 3 at the weekend. There was a great atmosphere in the large hall at Beau Sejour. The whole show had been enhanced for 2014 with impressive lighting and a superb sound system.

The action in the ring was fast moving, the organisation was silky smooth.

With a total of twelve Bouts to photograph the work-load has been pretty intense to get everything on-line... but the job is now a good'n!

I've added Bouts 7 - 12 and an additional Gallery devoted to showcasing some of the atmosphere.

So please take a look at my pics. Also please remember that they are NOT free to copy.

I have spent many hours working on the Galleries - this is my full-time job and I have beer to buy!

Prices start from just £4. That's got to be a bargain, hasn't it?
CLICK HERE TO CHECK-OUT THE VARIOUS OPTIONS TO BUY PICS

View all the Galleries here:
VIEW THE COMPLETED LOCK-IN 3 GALLERIES

Well I guess that when you have spent months training for a fight and then you have to find the strength of character to finally step into a Cage, there has to be a reward at the end of the road?

The Sport of fighting (I use the term to include all genres of combat), must go back to the beginning of mankind. It must be a core factor that has taken the survival of our species forward to this time.

Nowadays it is also without question regarded as a controversial Sport by some.

I don't intend to start a debate on the rights and wrongs of this but can I have a moment to make my own observation... it is my Blog after all :-)

I've never been a fighter myself. If you take a look at me this will not surprise you. However I did have a couple of brawls as a schoolboy and a couple more in the teenage years. The later ones where fuelled by Vodka and girls featured in there somewhere too (if I remember correctly)!

What I am saying is that, however calm a person is, an occasional conflict seems to be part of growing up and establishing a 'pecking order'.

I'm not saying that it is right - I am saying that you will not change what is established over countless Millennia.

So what is my point?

Well if you accept what I have said, and I don't think it can be argued with, it remains a fact that men (and a few women) feel the need to exercise their 'primeval' instinct sometimes.

Given that fact we have to applaud that 'modern man' can vent this natural behaviour in a controlled, friendly and entertaining environment. This is what was on offer at the third Lock-In Guernsey event organised by The Full Boar Motorcycle Club at Beau Sejour last Saturday.

I think I can be a fair judge of the behaviour and atmosphere which permeated through-out the event... after all I probably spent more time in the Cage than any of the fighters (OK I was actually only hanging over the top taking pics)!

But the point I make is that whilst the fighting was as tough as you could wish to see there was NO aggravation between opponents, NO vicious behaviour just a respect between fighters that comes from the mutual understanding of a shared Sport and appreciation that anyone who was brave enough to step inside the cage, wait for the door to be slammed shut and then stand toe-to-toe with an opponent was a winner before the Bout even started.

But would we (the audience) have the same interest if there wasn't a winner? Maybe you would like to comment on that point? And surely a winner needs to be rewarded?

Of course they do. So to answer my question in the title of this Blog.

The winner is the one who gets the Girls! Nothing changes :-)

Now I begin to get what it is all about ;-)

The first six Bouts are now featured in my Gallery:
VIEW THE FIRST LOCK-IN 2014 GALLERIES

The Full Boar Motorcycle Club raised their standards to a new high on Saturday.

The third Lock-In Guernsey Cage Fighting night went down in a noisy, excited frenzy of non-stop action at Beau Sejour.

I was ring-side in the 'hot-spot'... up a ladder leaning into the arena trying to follow the fast action. The challenge to a photgrapher is steep, but not quite as steep as the ladder!!

You have to hang on with a leg wrapped around to prevent yourself being knocked off the tiny perch when two fighters clatter into the wire mesh ring. I think a third hand would be useful... maybe I can tempt one of the Ring Girls to hold me tight next year?

With all twelve fights photographed I have a tidy pile of pics to edit. As this will take several days I have added a tiny preview as a taster of things to come.

Keep a check on this site during the next few days:
VIEW A SMALL PREVIEW OF LOCK-IN 3

The Full Boar Motorcycle Club are about to present LOCK-IN-3...

Following the previous two Lock-In's we know what we are about to receive, but this year is promised as being even bigger and better!

Everything is in place. The Cage is built, the uprated lighting is plugged in and the impressive sound system is connected to the Amps.

We can look forward to twelve bouts including White Collar Boxing, Kick Boxing, Muay Thai & MMA Cage Fighting.

I was at the weigh-in and can confirm the fighters are also ready for action.

I'd like to be able to encourage you to get up to Beau Sejour tomorrow night but it is pointless... it's a MASSIVE sell-out! UPDATE: a few tickets are still available... Doors open at 5.30, fights start at 7.00!

I'll be ring-side hanging over the top of the Cage capturing all the action so check back next week to see what you missed, you'll be sorry!
THE LOCK-IN 2014 FIGHTERS WEIGH-IN

Thanks for the response to my previous Blog. There has been some really interesting feedback.
READ THE ORIGINAL BLOG HERE

However I think I should qualify what I originally said. Having re-read the post I feel that it can be interpreted as a put-down to hobbiest photogs.

This was certainly not the intention. I strongly believe that many of the most creative and talented photogs are amateurs. They thrive on their passion for the subject and revel in the freedom of shooting for their own pleasure. The quality of their results prove my point.

In contrast, there is an inevitable constraint that comes with professional photography. This comes with tight deadlines, tight briefs (not the underwear kind) and the need to guarantee the reliable completion of an assignment for a client. I know my own work was more varied before I needed to work within the limits of a brief.

Getting back to the intent in my original Blog. It was aimed more as a question and observation of the changes and added pressures that fall on a pro 'tog trying to work in this modern era.

Now that thought could open another completely new debate.

The question: Has the fast move to Digital photography and the proliferation of camera phones etc. helped move things forward for Professional photographers?

I'll start the ball rolling by stating that there is no way I would like to return to the 'good old days of film and the darkroom'.

So it seems that I can't have things both ways, can I?

Please feel free to pull my statements to pieces, I love a debate.

Do you know what the best compliment you can pay to a Motor Sport photographer is?

Maybe an even greater compliment than parting with your hard earned cash to actually buy a picture!

Well let me help you. My latest updates to the Hillclimb and Karting galleries have generated quite a number of kind comments regarding my 'style' of Motorsport photography. I have been encouraged by this interest and I thank you.

It's now quite a challenge for anyone wanting to make any sort of income from photographing Motorsport. Perhaps the same can be said about all forms of photography? I also specialize in live music and festival photography and that discipline is just as challenging to make money at.

Modern technology has given anyone with a few 'bob' to spend (only people of my era - and British - will understand that quote) the opportunity to capture endless numbers of digital pictures at almost no cost.

Digital photography allows a photog to fire away almost unlimited shots and then 'cherry pick' the successes. Call me old fashioned, which at fifty-nine I probably am, but I just don't 'get' this style of photography. I'm not sure that photographing action 'machine-gun' style proves that a photographer has any level of skill... apart from in editing, and even there, a photographer who shoots into the hundreds and thousands probably reveals that they have little sense of 'timing and composition'.

Add into this the capability of everyone to upload endless free pictures to Facebook and other free online galleries and you can see how this overload of images limits the ability of a Professional photographer to survive (meaning sell) his work. Who wants to pay for a pic when something similar is available for free?

This is a massive challenge to many professional photographers and is no different in 'little old Guernsey' than anywhere else in the world!

With the UK Motorsport Clubs and MSA seemingly relaxing some of their requirements to gain access to the Track/Hill/Beach this opens the opportunity for everyone to start taking pics track-side.

So where does this leave the professional photographer? Well a pro has to 'see' what the amateur doesn't. A Pro has to take full advantage of any access that they may still be able to gain to the track-side. A Pro must also work endlessly... meaning long hours. My experience is that hard work and persistence usually have to come before any form of success. That's a shame isn't it, but true!

Persistence, reliability, sticking to the job in uncomfortable situations and always trying to learn from your 'fails', mistakes and 'missed action' must always be part of your work ethic.

Also finding new angles to cover an assignment are important defining differences between a Pro and an Amateur photographer.

This takes me back to my original point and again I thank those who have contacted me to say that my work goes beyond simply taking pics of crashes and easy panning shots.

When a racer says that he can gather useful information about his set-up from looking at how his car is 'working' through a corner or how their racing line could be 'tweaked' after studying my work it makes me feel that I have added to and become a part of the racing scene. I am capturing real racing action. I'm not just cherry-picking the unfortunate racing 'offs'!

My chosen profession might not qualify as a 'proper job' (please don't tell my missus) but when I leave the house to go to 'work' it really thrills me and I wouldn't change a thing, despite the challenges.

This makes me a very happy chappie :-)

UPDATE:
Having considered this Blog again and taking into account the fantastic feedback I have had I've added a few more thoughts... A FEW MORE THOUGHTS... THE DEBATE GOES ON

Every so often I seem to get distracted before I completely finish a job. You can ask my missus if you don't believe me!

Well I have just noticed that I had failed to complete the picture galleries for the recent (fairly) #triplestoked weekends at The Fermain Tavern.

Fear not, I might be slow, but I am reliable and my error has now been sorted :-)

The missing band was Weekend-3's headliners The Hoosiers.

Anyone who attended the #triplestoked weekends should agree with me that The Hoosiers were worthy of holding top spot on stage for the final night.

The band were a magnet to the crowd who really couldn't get any closer to the stage... making this photogs job very hard!

The plus for me was that Lloyd Hellyeah was working the lighting desk making the processing of the final pics so much easier for me.

I've also added a gallery featuring Jersey based Tadhg Daly.

I'm pleased with the results, see what you think of them:
VIEW PICS OF #TRIPLESTOKED WEEKEND-3 HEADLINERS THE HOOSIERS

It was all about the Beards at the Metal 2 the Masses Final at the Fermain Tavern.

The final saw six Bands fight it out for the opportunity to play at the 2014 Bloodstock Open Air Festival. I think that Simon Hall, the visiting judge from Razorline Music, was impressed by the standard of the six Bands who competed.

The final line-up was chosen at separate heats in Guernsey & Jersey and comprised of:

From Guernsey:
Brunt
Stone Em All
Byzanthian Neckbeard

From Jersey:
Chaos Theory
Masticated
Whitechapel Murders

After a full night of Metal the judge's choice was Byzanthian Neckbeard who were certainly a popular winner. Indeed this photog had backed them for the win but they were closely challenged by Stone Em All who are an ever-improving Band.

I've added a new Gallery of pics featuring all the Bands...
VIEW PICS OF THE METAL 2 THE MASSES FINAL

Always entertaining... but maybe the 2014 Autocross Club Fun Meeting was the best ever? There was a fantastic turn-out of cars & spectators. The weather was a special bonus :-)

If I had one disappointment it had to be that the jump wasn't used very much. I'm guessing that a 'racer is always a racer', even when doing it for fun! Why risk losing a place when taking the jump?

Shame, it can make a great pic!

But there is no argument that Chouet Beach on a sunny Sunday surrounded by maniacs driving old Bangers is a pretty exhilarating place to be.... mind your back mister.... they come at you from all directions!

I've added a new gallery of pics. Don't forget you can get any pic from as little as £4 - bargain :-) The digital file is bigger than this web-site displays, you don't have that horrible watermark... and you can sleep at night knowing you haven't nicked your pic from this photog, win, win, win.

I also promise that all funds received will be invested in Real Ale ;-)
VIEW PICS OF THE 2014 AUTOCROSS FUN MEETING

It's about ten days since the Greenman Chaos - Star Wars Gig, but the memory remains.

There were some great fancy dress outfits. There was a great line-up of Bands.

With the summer ahead (we are promised) we can look forward to a storming (not literally) Greenman Chaos Festival. If this gig counts as a taster and warm-up for the biggie... it's going to be GREAT!

I've just added a few pics of some of the Bands (Static Alice will follow).

Pics uploaded feature The Doomsday Project, One Mind to Lose & Brunt. Find them here:
VIEW PICS OF THE DOOMSDAY PROJECT
VIEW PICS OF ONE MIND TO LOSE
VIEW PICS OF BRUNT

You can't beat a firework display to bring a celebration to a colourful and noisy end.

A picture can say much more than words..... :-)
VIEW A FEW COLOURFUL PICS OF THE LIBERATION DAY FIREWORKS

Music is always at the centre of any celebration.

So it was a fitting and expected part of Guernsey's celebration of the 69th year of Liberation from the occupying forces during World War 2.

May 9th has established itself as a special Bank Holiday for all true Guernseymen (and Ladies). All generations flock to St Peter Port and are entertained by a variety of attractions. These include novelty shows, various stalls and performers.

But as I stated before, music takes a major role. Without doubt the Military Bands endorse the authenticity of the day and they are loved by all ages.

However there is also a tradition that modern bands are given a stage to add a younger side to the entertainment.

LibFest took place on the Albert Pier and it was here that I captured pictures of few of the acts.

I've added Picture Galleries for Blakalaska, Jacques Evans, JoMaLi, The High Tides and the DJ Sessions. Take a look here:
VIEW PICS OF BLAKALASKA
VIEW PICS OF JACQUES EVANS
VIEW PICS OF JOMALI
VIEW PICS OF THE HIGH TIDES
VIEW PICS OF THE LIBFEST DJ SESSIONS

The last week has been quite a blur. I have chased around to give coverage to so many events.

It has been very enjoyable. However I guess that most people (including 'casual' photographers) have little concept of how long the full processes take from the actual 'capture' of an image to the end result of having it published in Magazines, Newspapers and this Web-site. When all aspects are taken into account it is easy to see where the time goes.

You start by planning ahead. I have contacts with business clients and picture editors. Their requirements are noted and the day is planned. Simples, eh!

Then it is a case of keeping to the timetable hoping that everything runs on time. Having completed the days shoot the edits can start. Priority has to go to the print deadline work. This means a dash back to the office and a quick edit through maybe hundreds of shots to select the required pics. These have to fit the brief. Maybe specific action or subjects, upright or landscape format, close crop or wide view. All pics then have to be tagged with relevant details.

Often the first edit allows you only twenty minutes or so. You learn to work fast. All the time avoiding getting too many sandwich crumbs in the keyboard as you as you multi-task. Not bad for a man, eh!

Once the immediate edits are complete and e-mailed to the picture desks/client I turn the attention to the web-site updates. Once again speed is of the essence and the efforts taken to capture the best image 'in camera' will pay off as this greatly reduces the edit and processing time.

Next there is more captioning of pics. Then the uploading. Followed by the vital backing up and detailed cataloguing of all the days work. Why bother taking a picture if you can't find it in a few clicks when required?

In the analysis of this work-flow it is clear that the actual capturing of an image probably only takes twenty-five percent of the total time.

All the above processes have been in action during last week's work and I'm relieved to say that another job 'bites the dust' (sand).....

The latest update is for the GMC&CC Sand Race Championship. Pictures are now on-line:
VIEW PICS OF SAND RACING - RACE-2

VIEW PICS OF FRANKIE DAVIES & HER BAND
The second of the #triplestoked events had a tall mountain to climb if it was to top the first night when the line-up consisted of Buffalo Huddleston, The Recks and Yes Sir Boss.

So I was not surprised when that peak wasn't quite conquered second time around.

That isn't to say that the night failed to generate an atmosphere in The Fermain Tavern. In fact there was another good turn-out and those that attended certainly had their moneys worth.

Nothing in life maintains the ultimate high and perhaps that is a good thing as when they come along we appreciate them even more. It also keeps us 'hunting' for the next big one :-)

I photographed a couple of the line-up at #triplestoked-2. You can view pics of the beautiful Frankie Davies and her band and Brother & Bones here:

VIEW PICS OF BROTHER & BONES