News / Blog

It's tradition and these two events are now established in the 'warm-up' to Christmas.....

Perhaps the Guernsey School of Popular Music should be re-named as 'Guernsey's Popular School of Popular Music' as each year sees it increase in size as new students join those who were there at the start.

This years Christmas Concert (the first of a two-night double-header) was held again at the Church on the Rock which is now barely big enough to hold all the parents and friends who want to see and hear the progress of the students.

The SoPM Concerts specifically showcase the schools newest students whilst the SoPM Gig Nights give the more experienced a chance to play a real venue complete with professional sound and lighting.... and photographer ;-)

This link will take you to the Christmas Concert:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2017 SoPM CHRISTMAS CONCERT

The following evening it was the turn of the old school ;-)

This gig has now become one of my favorite gigs of the year.

Guernsey's School of Popular Music organize a couple of 'show-case' gigs each year where they offer their more experienced students the opportunity to play at a professional venue with the benefit of full stage sound and lighting.

I've photographed most of the SoPM events and have had the pleasure of seeing young solo artists and bands develop their talents and confidence when playing live.

Every year a new star is born... the local music scene of the future was on show at The Doghouse for the 2017 SoPM Christmas Gig.

Follow this link to view the Christmas Gig pics:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF THE 2017 SoPM CHRISTMAS GIG

It's official. The word is out.

After 'track not found' played last Friday night at The Fermain Tavern with The Recks, Flexagon and Dolmens the buzz is that this young band is one of the most exciting new bands on the Guernsey music scene.

I have to agree :-)

track not found pen most of the songs in their set which features an edgy punk sound. I can remember the first time I saw the band play back in the summer. Even then I thought they showed promise but the speedy development of their own sound together with a growing confidence and individuality in their stage presence and style has been surprising.

And I think this band has a lot to come yet. They are really contemporary and will capture a growing fan base the more they play.

It was notable among the crowd at The Fermain Tavern that many people hadn't seen the band before and the general comments where all positive and suprised.

Indeed the whole of the night showcased the Guernsey/Sark music scene really well. Also on the bill were Dolmens... another fairly new (but maybe not quite so young!) band fronted by Stace Blondel who had his usual antics of climbing and hanging off anything near the stage restricted by the guitar hanging off his shoulder.

I must say that this bands performance was most enjoyable and (maybe) benefited from Stacey being stuck to the spot as his vocals showed more tone and complexity. Another great addition the the local music scene.

Flexagon filled the space between bands with weird and quirky sounds and samples. A great effort Sir.

Headliners were The Recks. They produced what we have come to expect together with new tracks. The crowd loved them and they certainly haven't lost the magic. In fact I think their set had more sparkle, rhythm and 'bounce' then recent gigs.... not very well explained I know. I'll leave the technical review stuff to Tom Girard!

I only know what I know and like... and this lineup at the 'tav ticked most of my boxes.

I've added a few pics of the gig here:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF TRACK NOT FOUND

CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF DOLMENS

CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE RECKS

We can't avoid it. Christmas is on the way and present ideas are in short supply!

So why not think about buying a CUSTOM DESIGNED MONTAGE for a family member or friend.

Or, if you don't know what to add to your own Christmas list why not request a MONTAGE of your own special memory?

These can still be supplied for Christmas... just don't leave it too long!

Details of how to order your INDIVIDUALLY DESIGNED MONTAGE can be found here:
CLICK TO VIEW HOW TO ORDER A MONTAGE

If you have any questions or if you prefer to have a chat about a design don't hesitate to contact me here:
E-MAIL ANDREW LE POIDEVIN
Or phone my Mobile: 07781 144525

A cause for celebration.....

Well I know I can’t expect you to get quite so excited as I am today as this celebration is personal to me and this website.

But you might like to enjoy the moment too as the fact you are here reading this Blog means that you are actually part of this occasion… without even knowing it!

The special event is the achievement of another significant number of views of THIS WEBSITE.... but just missing 5,000,000 views in the last twelve months, maybe next time, eh!

I know I sound like a ‘cracked record’ if you read through some of my previous ‘Landmark’ Blogs but my enjoyment of the interest so many people take in my photographic work never fails to surprise and humble me.

The continued and increasing visits to my picture galleries encourages me to continue this work and as time goes by the widening selection of events and occasions that I photograph grows the awareness among Islanders of just how many Sports, Gigs, Events and Places we have available to all Guernsey residents to have fun at and take interest in. There is never a weekend without something to attend.

You’ll never find me moaning about having nothing to do on our beautiful, but small, Channel Island. If you are ever tempted to make such a comment I’d encourage you to look through a few of my picture galleries… you’ll soon see what you have been missing!

Now I’ve allowed myself to get side-tracked, again. What this Blog should be stating is that the viewings of this website have just passed another very significant number.

TWENTY MILLION VIEWS…. That’s 20,000,000 if you like your numbers with noughts on the end. I’m not fussed. I’ll take it either way!

So thank you for your continued interest in my work. This really is a LANDMARK number 😊

I’m also proud of the fact that these views are all on my own self-run website. The viewings and interest are all generated without the benefit and help available when photographers enroll into one of the big, but anonymous, picture gallery sites.

I’d like to take this chance to recommend the website provider and admin that I use to run this site. They are called Photium and I wholeheartedly endorse them to you. This provider has hosted my website for many years with VERY little downtime or other problems. Their tech support if needed is usually - literally - just minutes in responding. They also offer a good choice of packages and even a Trial to see if the options suit your needs.

If you have been considering starting a website of your own it’s well worth having a look at: CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PHOTIUM WEBSITE

Please continue making occasional visits to view the latest updates to my Galleries… maybe even buy an occasional print or two! You can then be part of the next MILLION MILESTONE.

I hope to see you out and about at one of Guernsey’s many varied events sometime soon. Remember... NEVER SAY THAT NOTHING GOES ON IN GUERNSEY, you just haven’t opened your eyes and made the effort to find out!

You can view a few of my previous MILESTONE BLOGS here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW SOME OF MY PREVIOUS MILESTONE BLOGS

Half full or Half empty?

Maybe the question should be more like 'Half complete of Half incomplete?'

That would be more accurate when referring to the latest Gallery update featuring the Guernsey Dinner Boxing Club's latest fight night pics.

You see, I've only managed to find time to process 5 out of the 10 Bouts so far!

I must reveal now that I'm an optimist by nature. I always consider my glass of beer to be half full... although that state never lasts long. Never worked that out!

So, optimistically' I'm pleased to announce that the Dinner Boxing Gallery is half complete... which means I've still got a few hours to go to finally sign off the job. A full glass of beer will aid the conclusion :-)

These Bouts are now online:
BOUT-10 Billy Poullain v Jamie Way
BOUT-9 Henrique Jesus v Tyler Stretch
BOUT-8 Jimmy Lesbirel v Stephen Phillips
BOUT-7 Rhys Jordan v Brandon Jones
BOUT-6 Harry Bertram v Dale Johns

For now the first pics are here. They will be followed by the rest as soon as I have time. This may not be until next week as I'm stacked out with work at the moment:

UPDATE: All bouts have now been added to the gallery.

BOUT-5 Cris Rodrigues v Luke Phillips
BOUT-4 Niall Adams v Ricky Wheatly
BOUT-3 Charlie Watson v Hamza Pervez
BOUT-2 Rory Sullivan v Billy Johnson
BOUT-1 Luke Roberts v Kaci Joseph

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FIRST DINNER BOXING PICS

I had the evening all planned. There are several lengthy edits waiting for my attention... that was where I intended to spend my time this evening. But the best made plans sometimes have to wait.

After being called out at short notice to photograph a couple of Snooker games I'll now have to tackle those edits tomorrow.

However the time wasn't wasted as it made a change to photograph snooker again. It's actually quite difficult to capture the atmosphere as the clatter of a shutter is not appreciated and you have to restrict your movement too.

I'm quite pleased with the results of the shoot and the edit. I've already submitted the pics for publication and they are also online here.

Maybe tomorrow I'll have more luck with the backlog of editing :-)
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF THE SNOOKER

I mentioned in yesterday's Blog what a wonderful mild autumnal weekend we have enjoyed in Guernsey.

I also commented how I passed a father and son making the best of the weather by building sand castles on Chouet beach, in the middle of November!

However I didn't have time to join them as I was already late arriving at the Autocross meeting after photographing the MTB XC in Talbot Valley. Those pics are here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF THE MTB XC

I'm pleased to say that I did have time to capture some of the Banger action and it is those pics that are the next uploads to the Gallery.

Take a look at them here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF ROUND 5 OF THE AUTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

What a fantastic November day in Guernsey.

The perfect illustration was when I walked down onto Chouet beach to photograph the Banger racing and I passed a father making sand castles with his son... the day was just too good to waste!

It's been a busy weekend of 'togging for me including GFC football (a great 5-2 win lads) at Footes Lane, Ten bouts of dinner boxing at St Pierre Park Hotel. A gig - for a change!

The first round of the Guernsey Velo Club's Winter MTB XC in a seasonal Talbot Valley.... and then on to the Autocross racing at Chouet. Love it!

All the pics will follow, but for now the MTB XC gallery is online here:
CLICK TO VIEW ROUND 1 OF THE GVC WINTER XC SERIES

The Phoenix Flames had a final practice session at Beau Sejour before they left for the International Roller Skating competition in China.

The team was made up by Kirsty Bell, Emilia Bianco, Chloe Dyke and Monica Dekker. I popped along to capture a few images of their last training session.

The pics can be viewed by following this link:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE PHOENIX FLAMES TRAINING SESSION

I've covered three motorsport events over the weekend together with Cross Country running and a gig.

The mucky part of the weekend was definitively the Trials event!

I'll be honest with you here, I found myself hovering around a rather slippery muddy pit filled with water (make that sticky wet mud). My hope - sorry guys - was that one unfortunate rider would drop into the pit and struggle to get out... I'd capture the picture. Job done. A guaranteed back page shot!

In the end the drama didn't unfold... however that doesn't mean the riders avoided getting wet and dirty and I did get some dramatic pics.

I've now added the first pics to my picture galleries. Take a look here at the Trials, Autocross and Karting pics:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MUDDY TRIALS PICS
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE KARTING PICS
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE AUTOCROSS PICS

It's become a tradition... and one that grows each year.

Daz and his mates organize a Halloween Party at The Fermain Tavern where no amount of effort is spared to decorate the stage to make a spectacular setting for the bands.

Inevitably this encourages them to raise their game and this then rubs off on the gig-goers. You get the idea. Bring out the fake blood and costumes. Let the fun begin!

The 2017 edition of the Halloween Party saw all the old props come out of the shed (it must be a big one!). These were supplemented by new scary additions.

This gig is a 'must do' each year and 2017 was a vintage one.

The line-up included Dolmens... a very promising new band made up of several old faces that we all know from past bands. They were followed by something heavy... that'll be Byzanthian Neckbeard's slot.

One of Guernsey's regular headliners completed the gig in style and fancy dress. Static Alice topped the memorable night.

View my pics by following this link:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE 2017 HALLOWEEN GIG

Today I enjoyed the crisp but windy afternoon down at L'Ancresse as I photographed some of the 2017 FNB Stonecrusher Cross Country.

There was a great turnout of competitors - no doubt encouraged by what one of the the course marshals described as perfect XC weather!

I've completed a quick Press edit and I've now added a new picture gallery featuring some extra pics:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE STONECRUSHER CROSS COUNTRY

At this time of year I normally have time to catch up with some of the system administration and organization... but not this year!

Somehow the work keeps coming in this year. This is great but it has left me with a pile of editing and digital asset management to complete!

But first I need to catch up with some gallery updates that have been waiting for my attention.

I've just finished one of the years larger and interesting picture edits. This update is of all the action from the recent 'OKTOBER SLUGFEST' that was organized by the Guernsey Amalgamated Boxing Club at Beau Sejour.

These latest updates can be viewed here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST OKTOBER SLUGFEST PICTURES

I've updated the Motorsport Gallery with the latest event pics.

Follow this link to view action from Saturdays Motocross racing, Round-7.

The track looked to be in great condition so it was a bit disappointing to see the A-Group MX 2 Class with so few riders. I reckon that the day offered just about perfect racing... it was dry and the wind-chill was easily sorted by an extra layer of clothing!

Let's hope the turnout improves for the next race.

The pics can be viewed here:
CLICK TO VIEW ROUND-7 OF THE MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

A new Blog as short as I can make it... I've got lots more editing to do!

Pics of the weekends Creasey's Open Junior Badminton held at the Badminton Halls in the Rohais are now online.

Follow this link to view the pictures:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE 2017 CREASEYS JUNIOR OPEN BADMINTON

International Basketball arrived at St Sampsons High at the weekend when the Sierra Leone champions Cannon Royals visited to play the Guernsey men's team.

The home side managed an impressive win with the final result being 64-59. I went along to take pics of this historic event and they can now be viewed in a new picture gallery.

Follow this link to see the pics:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE GALLERY OF BASKETBALL PICS

I'm sorry to say that occasionally I am reminded that I'm only a couple of years away from my theoretical retirement. I call it theoretical as at the moment I don't think for a minute that I could possibly give up on a working day!

Maybe I'll mellow and slow down as time passes by for now I seem to be working as hard as any other time in my life.

But... there's always a but! I can't deny that after a prolonged period of work my body simply doesn't recover from the effort as well as it used to. Sad but true.

I'm currently in that 'zone' after a very busy weekend which included a sixteen hour day on Saturday!

The workload has included coverage of:
Creasey's Junior Open Badminton Championship at the Rohais
St Martins v St Pauls football at Blanche Piere Lane
Columbians v Indies Hockey at Footes Lane
Guernsey v Cannon Royals Basketball at St Sampsons High
Twelve bouts of Boxing Guernsey ABC v England UNI at Beau Sejour
Round 8 of the GK&MC Summer Kart Series at The Track
Round 3 of the Autocross Club Winter Championship at Chouet
and GMC&CC Trials at Corbiere.

All these assignments are only 'half done' once the pics are taken as they then need to be sorted, edited, tagged and sent off to the particular clients. And I haven't even mentioned the updates needed on this website and the processing of the orders for prints and files as they come in!

Phew, no wonder I'm knackered!

However there's no slacking yet as the main editing and updating has only just begun. You can check out the results so far in these new Galleries:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF ROUND 8 OF THE SUMMER KART SERIES

CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF ROUND 3 OF THE WINTER AUTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP

CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE TRIALS EVENT AT CORBIERE

I photographed three sports at the weekend.

Each one involved racing with the fastest movers taking the podium spots.

The difference was the how competitors got from start to finish.

On Saturday the first racers had the benefit of an engine... they were riding Motocross bikes and they literally flew!

I photographed the action until the lunch break and then I headed north to Delancey Park where competitors had to rely on their own 'horse power' as they ran around the Cross Country course in the first race of the 2017/18 FNB XC Series.

On Sunday there was more racing to photograph... again on two wheels but this time it was only man-power getting the riders to the finish line. A course had been set up in the Guet for round 3 of the Guernsey Velo Club's Mini Enduro Series.

Photographing the three events made up just a part of another busy weekend and they are the first galleries that are online. Follow these links to view the pics:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MOTOCROSS RACING
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FNB XC RACE
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MINI ENDURO RACING

Guernsey seemed an unlikely tour stop for a rock band that emanated from Switzerland, but somehow the guys had heard of our small island and found themselves at Guernsey's most famous venue for live music... The Fermain Tavern.

Once again 'The Tav' added to the local live gig history by offering a stage to bands from near and far. I've been able to photograph many of the varied performers and this website now stands as an historic record in its own right of the depth of talent to grace the small but famous stage.

I've added a new gallery of pics featuring Daxx & Roxane on stage at The Fermain Tavern. Take a look at the pictures here:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF DAXX & ROXANE PLAYING AT THE TAV

In a twist of the norm I'm going to recommend to you that dialing 999 might get you more than just the emergency services.

I only found this out when I popped into The Doghouse in Guernsey to watch a band that had been recommended to me.

The band is called Ketones and the members are all Health Care professionals who find time between conflicting shifts to get together to enjoy their love of live music.

Of course I didn't go to the gig just to listen to the music, I took my cameras along too. That's what I do!

The lighting at The Doghouse is always challenging but I think I captured a few keepers.

Look out for the next Ketones gig. They will get you on your feet and dancing... that's got to be good for your health :-)
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF KETONES