News / Blog

Whilst I'm sure many locals would have enjoyed two days leisure on Guernsey's beaches last weekend I was on the golden sands for work :-(

I'm not looking for any sympathy though. Far from it. I get to spend my 'work' time outside doing what I enjoy. I think I'm the lucky one here!

I also spent quite a bit of time walking around L'Ancresse golf course with my cameras slung around my neck trying to catch up with crucial moments of play in the Piccadilly Trophy and the Junior Hampshire Greenjackets Golf competitions. Again, what's so bad about doing that as my way to earn a crust (pay for the real ale)!

The beach work was capturing the action on the sands of Vazon Bay (Sand Racing) and the Autocross Banger racing on Chouet beach.

I've now added a couple of Galleries featuring the Motorsport action:
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST AUTOCROSS ACTION
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST SAND RACING ACTION

I made a short stop off at L'Ancresse golf course this morning to grab a few pics of the Piccadilly Trophy & Brymay Cup competition.

Golf is not my usual choice of sports action photography. There's not enough noise, speed.... or indeed action!

But it was a pleasant day to walk around L'Ancresse Common and I was actually assigned to take the pics - so I didn't have much choice!

Anyway, the short stop was made on my way to Vazon Bay for the Sand Racing so I still found time for some real action photography :-)

UPDATE: After shooting the Piccadilly Trophy on Saturday I returned to the links on Sunday to photograph the Junior Hampshire Greenjackets competition which was played between the Royal Guernsey Juniors and La Moye Juniors. A few pics of that competition are also online.

The golf pics are here:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE PICCADILLY TROPHY CHAMPIONSHIP
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE HAMPSHIRE GREENJACKETS

May the 9th is Guernsey's National Holiday... but I have to ask 'What National Holiday?'

Liberation Day is a day that most locals enjoy chilling out on. There are many events taking place if you need entertainment. Or you can take the chance to visit friends and family for a couple of beers.

However for a working photographer it is far from a leisurely day.

This year my first assignment on Liberation Day day was to photograph the 50th time that the Guernsey Velo Club had run their Liberation Day Road Race over the L'Eree course. There was a good size entry when you consider other events that were taking place.

After that 6.30 am start my working day didn't finish until 18 HOURS LATER!!!

Once I'd captured a few action pics of the Road Race it was back to my office to sort, edit, caption and submit the pics for publication.

Next on the list was the Guernsey Athletics running race from the Peninsular into St Peter Port. I captured the start then followed the runners around the coast until (after struggling to find a parking space) I was at the finish line just as the winners crossed. Then back to the office for another edit.

Now it was time to photograph the historic motor cavalcade along the St Peter Port seafront. This always promises lots of colour and flag waving. It produced the goods :-)

It was now time for a bit a music... and a deserved beer... up at the Vale Earth Fair stage placed in the front garden of the Last Post Pub in St Andrew. To be honest with you, I could easily have called it a day then and there as there was a lovely chilled-out vibe among the crowd of locals sitting in the closed main road.

But no, there was more on my list. So back into St Peter Port I headed to photograph some of the bands appearing on the Lib Rock stage on the Albert Pier... only stopping to take a few pics of the fireworks.

So like I've already said, Liberation Day is far from a 'chilled day off' when you're a working 'tog. But it was still great fun. I hope you enjoyed yours.

You can view my pics of the 2017 Liberation Day by following this link:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF LIBERATION DAY 2017

On Saturday I took the steps up to The Lion's Den.

This new venue on the Guernsey live music scene looks as if it has plenty to offer.

Just in case you haven't discovered it yet, you just have to head into St Peter Port... next you find Market Square. You'll be getting near. Listen out for the sound of music emanating from the upstairs room above the Golden Lion Pub and you will have found The Lion's Den.

Over the years I've enjoyed many gigs downstairs at the Golden Lion but I'm sure that the new Lion's Den Bar will prove even more popular.

My first visit offered the chance to see Chas Cole fronting a band instead of hiding in the shadows behind the mixing desk. His band called BlackTopTales received a great response. Keep an eye open for their next gig.

Headliners were Blue Mountains now expanded by a couple of friends and offering greater depth to their sound. This band is heading into my top ten of local bands.

I'm recommending The Lion's Den to you if you like your music live... of course you do!

I've added a few new pics to my Music Gallery featuring BlackTopTales and Blue Mountains:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF BLACKTOPTALES
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF BLUE MOUNTAINS

The headline to this Blog is hard to say for a photographer!

Especially one of my era who grew up with rolls of film that offered little scope for any manipulation.

Another thing that sets me up as an 'old generation' 'tog is that I really don't 'get' videoing at all. I know that all my recently purchased cameras have a setting and buttons to start a video recording but I've never explored what they can do.

You'll now understand that I'm proper 'old school'. Maybe this means I'm missing out on all that fun... the endless editing, the massive files.... and just how do you sell the finished video after all that effort when, if you put it online, it is essentially given away?

Of course all of the previous comment could be complete rubbish... I did say that I have no idea about video!

However, even I can see that sometimes the 'good old fashioned' photograph cannot explain what is happening as well as a moving picture could do.

Perhaps the picture at the top of this Blog is an example. In this 'frozen' form you could be forgiven for thinking that it was captured moments before a terrible accident when the Marshall is run over by the Sand Racing car.

But you'd be wrong. I'm sure that any racers are able to interpret the picture correctly. It is clear from the angle the car is leaning into the corner and the spray being thrown up that the driver is making a huge controlled slide. The Marshall in the picture is also an experienced beach racer so he clearly felt comfortable so close to the action.

Now, having explained all of that, I reluctantly have to concede that a video of the same action wouldn't have needed any explanation at all!

But is that what we want when looking at dramatic moments of action?

When a photographer is lucky to catch a special moment in a photograph there remains something for the viewer of that picture to interpret in what they see before them. So this still leaves me thinking that a carefully timed and captured 'still' picture is the finest form of recording action sport. I welcome your own comments on this subject.

You can see from my comment that this 'stills photographer' is not likely to be pressing his 'Record' button anytime soon!

A full gallery of pics taken at the last Sand Racing meeting is now online:
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST SAND RACING PICS

The official drought in Guernsey was ended over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Some of you might say good. Others will disagree.

However, thankfully, we are not yet able to control the weather - although I'm sure Donald Trump would enjoy wealding that amount of power!

In the end, for us mere mortals, we have to accept what we are given and just get on with things.

For me 'things' on a Bank Holiday usually means some sort of Motorsport event to photograph. So on Monday I found myself standing in the drought breaking rain on Le Val des Terres hill capturing some spectacular Hillclimb action through foggy lenses and rain splattered spectacles trying to tell myself this was fun!

Thankfully the misery of rain running down my back is soon forgotten whilst completing the edit of my pics. Once again it was worth the discomfort as the wet track produced some dramaatic shots.

I've now uploaded a gallery featuring some of my pics. Enjoy taking a look from the comfort of your screen.
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE DROUGHT BREAKING HILLCLIMB

Do you want a master class in how to organize a party?

Do you want to know who the experts in fun are?

Well I'll let you into the 'not so secret' formula!

You need to ask Guernsey's most popular band for dancing and partying to help you out.

During the last 30 years King Rat and the Soul Cats have been the masters of the party and they celebrated that milestone with a mega gig at Beau Sejour recently.

The word had spread that it was likely to be a lively event and the band definitely didn't disappoint. During the two sets King Rat and the Soul Cats performed many of their own songs together with the expected Motown classics.

It was a reminder that, in my opinion, nothing can replace a live band.

The Motown classics (as you would expect of such great songs) are often played by DJ's at dances and functions but they just lack that special something that a live performance has.

You could feel the love and happy memories in the haze of the Beau Sejour function room as we time-travelled back through thirty years of good times.

Thanks go to the band, the music and the loyal fans for a great night :-)
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE KING RAT 30th GIG

The Guernsey Kart & Motor Club ran very close to breaking the Trade Description Act last Sunday when they called the latest Round of their Karting Championship a 'SUMMER RACE'.

Competitors were greeted by a very wet Track and the rain continued for nearly the whole of Round-2 of the Kart Summer Championship!

The rain did ease for short periods but the racing went on regardless.

I have learnt that it is at times like this that I have to 'man up', put on the waterproofs - both on me and my cameras - and keep shooting pics. The reason for the perseverance is that the wet track offers a new opportunity to capture a unique dynamic in my pictures.

That's really all I need to say on the subject as in this case I think pictures explain better that a thousand words....
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF A VERY WET KARTING EVENT

Taking pics in the 'hear a pin drop' environment of a Snooker tournament is a challenge.

This is where I found myself last weekend after being assigned to cover the 2017 Snooker Team Inter-Insular for the Guernsey Press and the Jersey Evening Post.

The competition was held at the Gremlin Club between La Villette Hotel Gremlins v Tower Green Baize Goblins.

The problem a photographer has when taking pics of Snooker (the same can be said for Golf) is that a hush settles over the crowd of spectators as the player sets up his next play. A photographer has to be extremely careful not to fire off a sequence of exposures at the critical moment... so ruining the competitors concentration. You will soon find Security escorting you off the premises!

When I arrived at the tournament I had already sorted out in my mind how I would try to approach the job. I would take advantage of the 'Quiet' mode on my new Nikon D500. This would be combined with the new Nikon 70-200 f2.8 zoom lens. The kit performed brilliantly and I was surprised by how quiet the quiet mode actually was... I love new technology :-)

Using the zoom lens allowed me to stand well back from the tables cropping the scene using the zoom effect.

The one remaining problem was the tables... note the plural here.

The play was taking place on two adjoining tables at the same time so I had to shoot with both eyes open. One watching play on table one, the other eye watching play on the second table. It can be done!

That was the only way to avoid clicking the shutter whilst a crucial play was being made on the other table.

I'm pleased to say that it seemed to work as the security let me stay in the room. Job done with the help of my Nikon kit.

I've added a few pics to a new gallery.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF THE SNOOKER INTER-INSULAR

MTB got all technical at the weekend's MTB racing.

I was photographing Race-2 of the Guernsey Velo Club's 2017 Downhill Series on a twisting track laid out on the wooded slopes below Pleinmont headland.

This particular discipline needs a rider to be smooth and committed. It is essential to build up a flow through the corners without scrubbing off too much speed. The complete course only took around a minute so every fraction of a second lost would drop you down the order.

I enjoyed trying to get the best angles to show off the riders skill and speed. As usual this meant getting in quite close. It was only after I returned home that I realised how dusty the race track had been as everything was covered in a thick layer of dust!

The pics I managed to capture will hopefully illustrate some of the fantastic competition and skills. Follow the link to see the Gallery:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DOWNHILL MTB PICTURES

The first Mower Racing event of 2017 saw a grid made up of a mix of tweaked and modified chassis. Many were re-fitted with powerful motorbike engines. Suspensions and dampers had been replaced, tyre choices had been evaluated.

It seems that a racer will always try to find a way to go faster... and seeing the results of the winters work proved that they were successful.
Some of the mowers were seriously fast. Shockingly fast!

Mower racing is heading to the top of my 'best fun in Motorsport' list :-)

I only had a short time available to take my Mower pics - the Snooker Inter-Insular was the next job on my list. Sadly it didn't get my adrenaline pumping in quite the same way as the Mower Racing :-(

My pics are now online here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MOWER RACING PICS

A Bank Holiday Monday usually means Motorsport :-)

So why break the habit!

The first GMC&CC Hillclimb of 2017 was held at Le Val des Terres on Monday.

I was on the hill taking pics (between doing a bit of gardening and deadheading the daffodils)!

What am I on about I hear you say?

Well I've learnt to be fussy about the scene in front of me (before taking a single picture). Experience has shown me that spending five minutes tidying up the area that I will use as a setting for my subject can save me hours of cloning out litter, stray branches, leaves... etc, etc.

I've even been known to carry a pair of pruning shears in my kit. Yes I really am that fussy!

I often have the piss taken out of me (excuse the language) when people see me fiddling with a few blades of grass that are in the wrong place.

But last weekend the humour hit a new height... and I love it. Adrian 'Attenborough' Gabriel was sitting at his mid-hill commentators post when he saw me preparing for the next run of competitors up the hill.

I was unaware that he had started to video me as I concentrated on setting up the scene. It turns out that Guernsey's version of the famous wildlife observer is also a talented narrator as he added a fitting commentary to his work which (I'm embarrassed to say) is spot on!!

Check out Adrian Gabriel's video... there's a link on my Facebook page.
It certainly made me laugh - a lot! I hope it has the same effect on you :-)
https://www.facebook.com/andrewlep

Meanwhile, I've now finished updating my picture galleries of the days Hillclimbing - complete with deadheaded daffs :-)
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LATEST (TIDY) HILLCLIMB PICS

The broad sands of Vazon bay are the home to the long-running Sand Racing organized by the Guernsey Motor Cycle and Car Club.

There is no doubt that the annual highlight of this form of motorsport is the National Sand Ace meeting. That prestigious event attracts a high class field of Solo riders and Sidecar outfits from the UK, Europe and beyond.

It is a shame that the Sand Ace racing is just once a year... it is so spectacular to watch!

But that doesn't mean that the local competitors can't have a bit of fun whilst waiting for the Sand Ace to come along again.

So that's why I was down on the Vazon sands on Saturday - it was the first of the local championship series.

There was a good turnout of cars. The Junior Bike Class was the biggest that I can remember and the MX Class was well supported. All these produced good racing.

The small number of Solo Bike Sliders and Sidecar outfits was a disappointment. Hopefully the numbers will improve over the next few meetings.

Overall it was good to be back.... and we have the Sand Ace meeting to look forward to in June :-)
CLICK TO VIEW THE FIRST SAND RACING MEETING OF 2017

The Intertrust 36th Guernsey Easter Running Festival 2017 started on Easter Friday with the 5km Road Run.

There will be no rest for the competitors until the end of the Easter holiday as races are planned for Saturday, Sunday and Easter Monday.

I popped down to Footes Lane for the 5km race which had attracted a few more runners than last year who enjoyed near perfect conditions for the opening race.

I'll be photographing the Keith Falla Memorial Full Course Cross Country race tomorrow. Fingers crossed that the weather gives us more of the same!

The 5km pics are now online here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 5km ROAD RACE PICS

UPDATE:
The Keith Falla Memorial Full Course Cross Country race pics are now online here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE KEITH FALLA MEMORIAL CROSS COUNTRY PICS

Spring has sprung, the winter rest is well and truly over and the sports events are coming thick and fast.

With a busy Easter weekend on the horizon I've made sure the picture galleries have been updated with last weekends shoots.

These include my coverage of another of the Velo Club's MTB XC series. Then there are pics of Round 1 of the GK&MC Summer Karting Championship followed by Banger racing pics from Chouet beach.

Never a dull moment around here, eh!!

Find the new pics here:
CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST MTB XC PICS

CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST KARTING PICS

CLICK TO VIEW THE LATEST AUTOCROSS PICS

Yesterday the first tarmac Motorsport event of the year was held by the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club at Vazon coast road.

There was a really good entry that featured everything from exotic Lambo's and McLarens to family saloons... with the children's safety seat removed!

The usual suspects on two wheels were there with FTD firmly in their sight.

When it was clear that we were going to enjoy a dry... even sunny meeting the hopes were high that a few records would tumble.

In the end it might have been the strength of the wind that robbed a few hundredths here and there proving that long-standing records require absolutely everything to be perfect to beat.

In the end most of the racers went home with a smile. They had given their chosen ride a blow-out ahead of the next tarmac event... a hillclimb at Le Val des Terres. See you there.

I've added a full gallery of pics. Follow this link to view them:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF THE FIRST 2017 SPRINT

A day at the races.... Guernsey style.

In this case that meant that sun and sand were included in the deal ;-)

Of course it goes without saying that noise and speed are always part of any Motorsport Championship!

Today it was the Guernsey Autocross Club's Banger racers who provided the entertainment... and they didn't disappoint us.

The beach seemed in pretty good condition for racing and the meeting was very well organized as always with barely a break between races... apart from the times the Ambulance crew took to the sand to check that the occupants of a 'roll-over' were unhurt.

Happily, everyone returned home in one piece. That's more than could be said about some of the cars!

My pictures are now online here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LATEST AUTOCROSS PICS

The Annual 2-Day Trials meeting was organized by the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club last weekend.

I managed to get down to some of the sections but was limited for time this year. There seemed to be a good turnout of riders including visitors from Jersey, France and the UK.

It was a shame that the weather wasn't warmer with less wind as some of the conditions at exposed sections were pretty grim for the Marshalls. I hope their grit and stamina was praised by the competitors... it's never much fun sheltering from the wind and rain when you aren't taking part in the Trials action.

Even though the obvious, comfortable option was to stay at home there were good numbers of spectators spread around the sections and they were rewarded by some great riding.

An early springtime date for this meeting always runs the risk that it might be spoilt by inclement weather. But I've taken a look in previous years galleries and sometimes we've been treated to fantastic conditions. You really never know what you'll get with British weather!

I've just added a new gallery featuring pictures of the 2017 2-Day Trials meeting. Follow this link to view the pics:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF THE 2017 2-DAY TRIALS

Here we go then... I've added a new picture gallery featuring the 2017 Inter-insular Squash between Guernsey v Jersey.

Guernsey came out on top but it went right down to the wire in a very close competition.

Squash is played at very high speed. That fact alone makes photography a challenge.

When you add to the mix that most basic courts can only be seen from above - looking at the back of the head of competitors - it is almost impossible to capture a great image.

Just two of the courts at Beau Sejour have glass backs. Now that is an improvement but it still makes photography a struggle. The majority of time during a game, spectators and photographers are still just looking at players backs.

Then the other major factor is that the glass is usually far from crystal clean. No, it is usually smeared with grease and sweat... in fact is makes a perfect 'soft focus' filter!

But all of this isn't enough to put off a dedicated photog so I actually made two visits to Beau Sejour during the day. These were split by another sports photography job.

My congratulations go to the Guernsey and Jersey Squash teams as your joint efforts produced a great competition.

My pics are now online. Hopefully they aren't too far into soft focus!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF THE 2017 INTER-INSULAR SQUASH

Now who am I kidding? Summer is not here yet :-(

It might have been Round-1 of the Guernsey Autocross Club's summer Banger racing championship today but unfortunately one summer race doesn't make a summer.

So I'll have to wait a bit longer for the long hot summer days but there's no need wait for Motorsport action.... Beach Banger Racing supply's it by the beach bucket full.

When a photographer is offered so much action to capture there's no problem filling a gallery with pics. The proof is now online here:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF RACE-1 OF THE SUMMER BANGER RACING CHAMPIONSHIP