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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

The Kart Track saw its own share of Motor Sport action over the weekend. A long Bank holiday weekend is just too tempting to miss when you have petrol running through your veins.

Just think what a buzz the guys who substitute Methanol must get!

So for me the return to a bit of action photography was a pleasant experience after completing one of my other weekend assignments... photographing nearly 200 Brownies enjoying their 'Big Brownie Birthday Stay Away' at the Rue Mainguy Headquarters.

The Brownie Birthday was fantastic and the fun and energy that was put into making the event a great success, despite the weather, was a credit to all those involved.

The contrast between the various photo-shoots is what makes my job so much fun.

But back to the action. Sunday saw Round-3 of the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club Summer Kart Championship. I was taking pics and it was difficult to know where to look as so much was happening on track... but as I've stated, I love Motor Sport action :-)
VIEW PICS OF ROUND-3 OF THE SUMMER KART CHAMPIONSHIP

It was literally non-stop action on Le Val des Terres for the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club Bank Holiday Hill Climb.

Well, perhaps that statement should be qualified. There were a few stoppages but they were all down to competitors 'off's'... and there were a few :-(

But as far as the running of the race meeting goes it was go, go, go all the way. This year has seen the introduction of there being no lunchtime break. A sad loss as far as this photographer is concerned. However there are pay-off's. We do get a lot of racing - and even an early finish :-)

The 'negative' (I'll explain later) is that it seems to be possible to squeeze up to six timed runs (plus a practice) into the new time slot!

So the racers certainly had their money's worth. Whether this amount of timed runs will become the normal is probably unlikely judging from the amount of spaces in the pits left empty by drivers and riders who seemed to be put off by the damp start to the day. We will see as the season progresses.

The result of all this racing is that I ended up taking more pics than ever before. I don't think I have lost the discipline to take as few shot as possible - but I must learn to keep control of the trigger finger as more pics means more work but NOT necessarily better quality (note to self).

I do however have a little way to go to match one of our local amateur photographers who told me he often takes Fourteen Hundred pics at a Hill Climb... ouch!!

As with most photography (especially when shooting silly numbers of pics) the trick is to make every shot count and get the exposure, cropping and timing all right in camera. This saves a lot of time later in the edit.

I turned around the edit of my (500) selection in just a couple of hours and they are now on-line.

Take a look to see what you think of my pics:
VIEW PICS OF THE BANK HOLIDAY HILL CLIMB

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

Continuing the Sun, Sea, Sand, Speed theme I have now added a Gallery featuring pictures of the weekends Sand Racing on Vazon beach.

It was good to see Martyn Guilbert out again on his Slider. That guy is one rider who makes a great action pic... makes my job easy!

Follow the link to view the latest pics:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LATEST SAND RACING PICS

When is a boat not a boat but more like a plane?

Answer, When it's a Racing Powerboat!

Air offers less friction than water so I guess the less time you spend in contact with the wet stuff the faster you can go (potentially).

I'm sure it is a bit more complicated than that but seeing how hard the racers try to spend as much time airborne as is physically possible I can't be too far wrong.

The second Guernsey Powerboat Association race of the weekend was again treated to suberb, sunny weather. A little more swell outside St Peter Port added to the action and I captured as much as I could.

Big thanks to Chris Stonebridge for finding space on his small boat for me... (NOT 666 SLAYER that Paul Etasse races, shame)!

So I was lucky to get out on the water for a second day. However I needed all my years of shooting experience to nail the shots whilst using a 400mm lense on such a wobbly platform.

Loved the challenge though... see if you think it was worth my efforts...
VIEW PICS OF RACE-4 OF THE 2014 GPA POWERBOAT CHAMPIONSHIP

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

Sun, sea, sand, speed, sex!... now I'm getting carried away a bit

But I certainly enjoyed the first four, anyway.

Today (so far) has been a Motorsport day which included Powerboat Racing and Sandracing. (First four applied).

Later this eve it will be a bit of Metal at the Fermain Tavern.

Guernsey enjoyed a superb day of sunshine today and (for once) I was able to get out of the Studio/Van to soak up a few of the rays. The morning Powerboat race was over the Fermain/Lowerheads course and I was offered an ideal position on the Finish Line boat which gave a backdrop of Castle Cornet. That was the first box ticked :-)

In the afternoon it was the sands of Vazon beach that called. I managed to capture some of the Sandracing action. Those pics will follow.

First pics of the Powerboat pics are now online:
VIEW PICS OF POWERBOATS RACE-3

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

I'm pleased to report that (after a couple of early showers) Round-2 of the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club Summer Kart Championship resembled the title... a Summer Championship!

After the first race meeting which was held under very wet skies it was quite a nice change to have a warm sun on my back. Lets hope that this is the weather that will continue throughout the Championship. I have everything crossed - including my camera straps :-)

I managed to capture some of today's action and the pics are now on-line here:
VIEW PICS OF ROUND-2 OF THE SUMMER KART CHAMPIONSIP

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 THE FIRST TWO POWERBOAT RACES
I'm still not sure how I fitted it all in but it's now Tuesday so something must have happened for the last four days. I just can't remember :-)

Luckily I have the pics to re-assure me that I did get out of bed!

Actually, from what I remember of all the chasing around, it was all pretty good fun.

As I'm still catching up with the photoshoots this Blog is simply a quick note of the latest updates. I'll post a few more details of the busy weekend tomorrow.

The main new Galleries updated today are for the first two Powerboat Races and the GMC&CC Hill Climb on Le Val des Terres.


VIEW PICS OF THE GMC&CC HILL CLIMB

The North Sections which feature in the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club Trials Bike Championship are viewed by a few of the competitors with trepidation.

The feature of this particular event is that it consists of many sections laid out around the northern coastal rocks.

These are challenging and unforgiving at the best of times, however if the day coincides with wet weather the whole event takes on an even more perilous edge!

Luckily this years meeting was held under dry skies which eased the tension a little.

I popped along to take a few pics on what was another very busy weekend for me. They are now on-line here:
VIEW PICS OF THE PERILOUS NORTH SECTION TRIALS

Also on the list of weekend photoshoots was Round-1 of the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club Summer Kart Championship. You would be forgiven if you thought that it was just an extention of the Winter Championship (judging by the weather)!

However the changable conditions offered some great racing for competitors and spectators alike :-) View my pictures here:

VIEW PICS OF RACE 1 OF THE SUMMER KART CHAMPIONSHIP