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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

My work-time has been a bit disrupted recently as I've had to commit more and more hours to the care of my father.

It has been a challenging time trying to fit everything from a 'normal' work and home life around the substantial hours spent caring for my dad.

My father is now over 90 and up until recently he has managed to look after himself... with a lot of support from me. But as time marches on things change and during the last few weeks he has had several falls which have knocked his (and my) confidence in his ability to live alone.

However I'm really pleased to say that after I've stayed with him nearly 24/7 for the last week he is now getting back to normal and is getting stronger again. We have also had fantastic support from all the Guernsey Social Services... from Carers, Fast Response Nurses, Social Workers, St Johns Ambulance, A&E, Doctors.... the list could go on. Thank you all.

This whole episode has caused me to step back and re-asses what is important in life... what is really important to me. I have realized that spending so much time with my father has meant we have strengthened our love and friendship in a very special way. It has been very rewarding.

But, away from that commitment life has to go on and whilst it has been challenging in every way I think a care plan is now in place. I think dad will be able to remain at home - which his wish.

The lack of free time and the stress of trying to keep dad safe are now the main factors that we have to address going forward.

What this ramble is leading to is explaining why it has taken more than a week to update a gallery featuring Round-6 of the GVC Winter MTB XC. I've now sorted this out and you can view the pics by following the link.

Going forward is a bit of an unknown. I'm intending to stay fully committed to the caring of my father and fit as much photography around this as I can. You'll maybe have to be a bit patient if the updates are a little slow sometimes.

Thanks to everyone for the continued support and interest in my pics... life goes on... it's just a little different :-)
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF ROUND 6 OF THE GVC MTB XC SERIES

On Saturday the Guernsey Amalgamated Boxing Club held 'Rampage on the Rock' at Beau Sejour... offering twelve bouts of Amateur Boxing.

This time it was a Guernsey Select who went toe-to-toe against the visiting England Universities Select.

As always the evening was well organized and supported by a vocal crowd of followers.

There was barely time to catch your breath between bouts as the action was non-stop. It was fantastic to see how well matched the opponents were as nearly every bout used the full three rounds with several being judged as split results.

Photographing boxing from ring-side is a real challenge as the action is fast moving. Combine that with the twisting and turning of the fighters and the referee walking in front of you at just the critical time you are grateful to get just a couple of 'keepers'.

However Saturdays shoot was one of the easiest I have covered as the ring lighting setup was very good. It was even across the whole canvas and perhaps most importantly it was fairly bright and the colour was consistent. The Dinner Boxing at St Pierre Park Hotel is plagued by strip lighting that varies in colour across the ring... that edit is a nightmare.

But the Rampage on the Rock edit is a piece of cake... a simple case of setting your colour balance, tones and exposure and a relaxed batch process did the job. Thank you Mr lighting manager!

I've just added the first seven bouts to a new Gallery featuring:

BOUT-12_Billy Le Poullain v Conner Fanning
BOUT-11_Casey De La Mare v Zohaib Hanif
BOUT-10_Jimmy Lesbirel v Jordan Awale
BOUT-9_Nathan Green v Mo Bakr
BOUT-8_Sam Masterman v Jordan McIntosh
BOUT-7_James Woolnough v River Watson-Bent
BOUT-6_Steve Traynor v Dhiren Mohan Kapur

All the remaining bouts will be added shortly.

Follow this link to view my pics:
CLICK TO VIEW PICS OF RAMPAGE ON THE ROCK

It's only Saturday and my weekend of sports photography has already been action packed... proving that you don't need to be on the court or pitch to build up a sweat ;-)

The sports 'togging started on Friday evening at Beau Sejour where I photographed two close and exciting Basketball games - MUG v Le Mont Saint Used & Heritage Falcons v Mayside Recycleballers.

After that it was into town to catch some live music then a quick edit of the evenings work before bed.

The two Basketball galleries are already online. Follow the links below to view them.

Saturday morning started with a Guernsey Womans Hockey League Division 1 game at Footes Lane between Indies Ladies v Vantage Puffins. I'll spare the blushes of the Puffins by not quoting the score but it was still enjoyable for me to photograph a Hockey game again, the first for a while.

As usual it was fast paced and played with good spirits - despite the cold.

That Gallery is also already online as I try to keep ahead of the curve as the weekends sport photography still has some way to go!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF MUG v LE MONT SAINT USED
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF HERITAGE FALCONS v MAYSIDE RECYCLEBALLERS
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF INDIES LADIES v VANTAGE PUFFINS