News / Blog

This Blog is brief and to the point... like the last one :-)

The word is that I have now added a new picture gallery featuring the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club's recent 2-Day Motocross meeting at Rue de la Trigale, Pleinmont.

That's it. Please take a look if you have been waiting for the update - and don't forget that you can use the 'Like' buttons beneath any of your favourite pics to share it with friends.
VIEW PICS OF THE 2-DAY MOTOCROSS MEETING

The back-log of work is getting smaller :-)

Today sees another Gallery completed after more than two weeks wait. I really am that much behind. I guess that is what happens when so many events and sports use the summer months. Of course this years long sunny period has proven why that choice is made.

I'm not making anything special of this blog. It is simply going to do 'what it says on the tin'. That is, it announces that Race-10 of the Guernsey Powerboat Associations racing is online.

Next up will be the 2-Day Motocross action then Race-11 of the Powerboat Championship.

Hang in there with me... it'll get there!
VIEW RACE-10 OF THE POWERBOAT CHAMPIONSHIP

Today has been another busy one. I'm not complaining, you understand. In fact I would be quite bored if there wasn't always something to do!

It seems that my nature is 'programmed' to always load myself with work... I hate doing little or nothing. That's probably why I very rarely take a holiday. In fact when I do, it is usually to go somewhere to take pics ;-)

The problem this sometimes causes is that I am forever catching up with work. So it is a pleasure today to tick the box against another new Gallery update.

This time it is for one of the recent Hill Climbs. This was the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club Hill on 26th August (you see what I mean about having to catch up)!

But the Gallery is now on-line if you want to check it out....

I have also made a few improvements to the visuals on this web site. I hope you like them.
VIEW PICS OF THE 26th AUGUST HILL CLIMB

I tossed a coin, and Jersey Live won!

My list of photo-shoots awaiting new gallery updates is long...
There are eight more Events (Motorsport & Gigs) awaiting my attention plus six Commercial assignments.

It might not be the best way to decide upon where to begin but at least it has got me past the start-line. Next job must be the Commercial shoots as it is these that pay my way.

But for now you can view 21 (yes twenty-one) picture galleries featuring the two days of Jersey Live's 10th Anniversary...
VIEW 21 PICTURE GALLERIES FROM JERSEY LIVE 2013

All the regulars who support Jersey Live every year have now returned to their day jobs, schools and the routine of normal life.

As much as we would like the 'good times' the Festival season brings to on for a bit longer, its a fact that our usual week is a rather mundane affair in comparison.

But for me 'the day job' allows me to re-live and remember the days that were spent working on the Festival sites (and there have been a few this year). That's one of the nice things about being a Music photog :-)

I've now spent two days editing the pics from Jersey Live's 10th Anniversary Festival and I am loving some of the moments I captured. The pictures taken on the Saturday are already on-line. The Sunday's pics have been edited and just await the tagging and the addition of new galleries on this web site... won't be long now.

You to can enjoy Jersey Live for a second time by viewing the pics, it'll help you get through the mundane return to routine :-)
VIEW PICTURES OF JERSEY LIVE 2013

Just back from a few days working in Jersey at the 10th Jersey Live Festival.

This was my sixth time working for the two Warren's who's brainwave it was to establish a 'top notch' Music Festival in Jersey. During the six years I have spent taking pics in Jersey I have notched up many, many days on the Festival site on the public days but also the build and strip-down days.

With this privileged access I have been left in no doubt about the unbelievable amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to present two full days of entertainment.

Now I'm back home looking though the pics remembering the highlights and recalling some fantastic moments. I was even told by Warren Le Sueur that I am now 'part of the furniture'.... does that mean that I'm put in a dark corner, forgotten about, never polished and sat on occasionally? We'll see :-)

It was great to re-acquaint myself with friends I have made over the years. Many of the Crews (UK based photographers, stage hands, builders and security teams) return each year and always speak highly of just how well run Jersey Live is. I party and breakfast with them, believe me when I say that there are some memorable characters!

The Festival site layout had, once again, been 'tweaked' and I think it was the best yet.

The 2013 Festival was made a bit more special for me as I was given the honour of having one of my pictures printed on the 10th Anniversay Jersey Live T-shirt!

But enough of my ramblings. Later I will have a bit more to say as I upload the many pics.

For now here are a couple of the Saturday night head-liner 'Fatboy Slim'.... mega!

Pictures of Jersey Live 2013 will follow as soon as possible..........

Whilst you wait why not check-out 2008-2012 VIEW PICS OF PREVIOUS JERSEY LIVE'S

I only ask the question 'Do you have the Jersey Live 2013 T-Shirt yet?' as it has one of my pictures is on it :-)

Once again I am just off to our sister island to shoot all the bands for the Festival. It is an incredibly tiring weekend... but what fun! Last weekends Vale Earth Fair was a really good warm-up and I'm lucky that I get to call this work! CHECK-OUT MY PREVIOUS JERSEY LIVE PICTURE GALLERIES HERE

What this means though is that the massive updates from the last weeks assignments are going to be delayed on arriving in the picture galleries. Sorry, but I just don't have available time until I'm back from Jersey Live 2013.

However I can promise lots to come. The pictures waiting to be processed include:

Guernsey Kart & Motor Club 2-Day Motocross
Guernsey Powerboat Association racing (Two races)
Vale Earth Fair 2013 (A huge Gallery will follow)
Guernsey Motorcycle & Car Club Hill Climb

This list amounts to several hundred shots that will take a while to develop... and then I will have the Jersey Live pics to follow.
I've a feeling that time for sleep will be hard to find. But then, who wants to sleep when you can party through the night with the security crew at Jersey Live. I love my job :-)

Keep a look-out on this News page for updates when the new Galleries are on-line.

Bye for now 'cause I've got some serious partying to do....

It's official, Guernsey now has another established Biker Festival.

This weekend has seen the return of Smaaashfest (the Third) and the Sarnians Motor Cycle Club did a great job with the organisation. The Smaaashfest is a much smaller and low-key festival when compared to the Greenman Chaos but the essential elements are all there.

Firstly the setting takes advantage of the beautiful views over Guernsey's west coast. That's the first box ticked!

Then we have the friendly atmosphere and the beer... two more ticks!

Of course there are the bikes, well it is a Bike Club festival!

And then we had a great line-up of bands all under the watchful eye of Mark Guillou and his crew. That makes a tick in every box!

I popped in on two of the nights and took pics of the bands. I have only uploaded the first Gallery so far featuring Stone Em All.

I uploaded the pics early this afternoon just before going out to my daughter-in-laws birthday barbecue. This was all done in a bit of a rush and I didn't post any form of link or Facebook comment. So I have been surprised and a bit amazed to note that the Gallery has already had over 1,600 views :-)

Other bands will follow but if you want to take a look at the first pics click here:
VIEW PICS OF STONE EM ALL AT SMAAASHFEST

The West Show has just celebrated its Centenary by holding the 2013 version of this 'most traditional' of Guernsey's shows on land at the old L'Eree Aerodrome.

Extra efforts had been made to make the hundreth West Show extra special and the hard working committee were rewarded by the most perfect weather.

I was invited along by the Guernsey Vintage & Tractor Club to photograph their impressive display of one hundred and twenty-one old machines. The line-up of a fantastic mix of tractors, both perfectly restored and future renovation projects, was enjoyed by hundreds of visitors.

The main Arena was also a place where the visitor could find almost non-stop entertainment.

The West Show must be congratulated on their continued efforts to provide Guernsey with what I consider the best of all the shows.

I have added a Gallery of Elevated views of the West Show site. Check it out here:
VIEW A FEW ELEVATED PICTURES OF THE WEST SHOW

Last of the Light Brigade are a Band that love to play live and hardly need encouragement.

However last weekend they were on stage at The Fermain Tavern with an important cause to support. Tracey Sinclair has been recommended to take a course of expensive cancer drugs and her Guernsey friends have been pulling together to help raise the funds.

So the night at the 'Tav' and the raffle that was held was a good reason to enjoy great live music and I know that a goodly sum was raised.

Support for LOTLB came from China Aster and Ollie Goddard - who hadn't graced the stage at the 'Tav' for (I think he said) twenty-two years!

I have uploaded pics from the night:
VIEW PICS OF LAST OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE
VIEW PICS OF CHINA ASTER
VIEW PICS OF OLLIE GODDARD

Come on Floyd fans, this one is for you.... take the challenge!

The occasion was 'The Great Gig in the Sky'..... OK, it was actually only at the top of Le Val des Terres!

Guernsey's masters of all things Pink Floyd recently played In the Flesh at The Fermain Tavern covering some of Pink Floyd's finest songs.

In fact this was several weeks ago now - but I had forgotten to edit my pictures. I must be suffering from Brain Damage :-)

There are always High Hopes at any Elysium gig. It isn't so much Young Lust but more Wish You Were Here. Each of their gigs has Echoes of The Happiest Days of our Life.

Elysium have a band of dedicated followers who, by now, might have now spotted A Saucerful of Secrets? Before each Elysium gig their fans Keep Talking about the latest Prelude and whether it will Eclipse the last.

So with The Hero's Return to the Tavern we were certain that the music wouldn't be Obscured by Clouds. When I arrived there were Signs of Life just Outside the Wall but I didn't see anyone Have a Cigar. Inside, having paid my Money I heard Vera say to Arnold Lane that it was Time and The Show Must Go On.

Outside, the gig-goers were Coming Back to Life after being Marooned with their roll-ups. I heard Seamus shout Not Now John I must Breathe in and Run Like Hell if I want those Empty Spaces at the front. Seamus went into Interstellar Drive, he didn't want to Remember a Day filled with Sorrow when he had to go Round and Round looking for The Narrow Way to the front. No more Biding My Time he thought to himself.

Lucifer Sam was looking like a Scarecrow and was Comfortably Numb. He had been in the Ibiza Bar and had only eaten Candy and a Current Bun since breakfast. He hadn't had a Proper Education and both his Mother and The Doctor had warned him that it was Absolutely Curtains for him if he didn't cut the Party Sequence from his life. The Doctor's Main Theme was that he should be eating more Apples and Oranges or he would really be Up the Khyber.

But for now Lucifer didn't want to hear that Crying Song. He didn't want any more Blues. The voice in his head was saying Come on you Crazy Diamond, park your Bike up against The Wall, forget Your Possible Past. Stop looking at the world through Paranoid Eyes and give up the idea of Learning to Fly under The Fat Old Sun... this was a desire he had got from Yet Another Movie.

Meanwhile I had spent the time waiting for the band by Calling Home. My wife had asked me if I wanted Octopus for dinner. Then the lights dimmed and Hey You, Is There Anybody Out There? I'm sure I can see Signs of Life came over the speakers. I think you could have heard the roar from The Dark Side of the Moon.

Elysium were playing The Greatest Gig in the Sky. It was Us and Them immersed in Floyd's finest. We were as happy as Pigs on the Wing. I absorbed the moment and thought Don't Leave me Now. I was having another One of my Turns. I cried out Let There be More Light.... the answer came from Mark Guillou, have Any Colour You Like. I shouted back Green is the Colour. I was in the best place ever. You can keep St Tropez and Grantchester Meadows, an Elysium gig of Pink Floyd's music does it for me!

All too soon The Great Gig in the Sky was over. It had been the greatest gig since The Grand Vizier's Garden Party and it had been wonderful to See Emily Play.

One of These Days Elysium will play another gig... but never two On the Run so I encourage you to make sure you make it to their next one.

.......... as you can tell I haven't been Lost for Words. But then I have been helped by the great PINK FLOYD :-)

On my way home driving down Le Val des Terres I was still Raving and Drooling about the gig to Corporal Clegg who had hitched a lift and I was just thinking to myself The Gold It's in the.... when I was interupted by the amazing sight of Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict.

Ha, ha.... couldn't resist it ;-)
How many Pink Floyd song titles did you spot?
VIEW THE GREATEST GIG IN THE SKY

Where did those 50 years go...?

I think that was the question on more than a few lips at Beau Sejour yesterday evening.

The occasion was to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 'real' Beatles playing in Guernsey (for first and only time) at Candie Gardens.

That original venue is long gone and the site is now occupied by a museum, and it made a bit of history when The 'Bootleg' Beatles re-created that Beatles gig... but this time it was at Beau Sejour, which is just around the corner.

I was asked at the last minute if I would pop along to take a few pics of the gig. I have to admit that I was in the 'other camp' when it came to following The Beatles - can't explain why, but I think you were either a mad fan or not...

So I looked at the job as just that... a job to be done.

But I have to concede that I found myself tapping along and singing most of the lyrics - and it I can't be argued that The Beatles wrote a LOT of great songs.

The age group of the audience for the Bootleg Beatles was 'as predicted', surprise, surprise! There were a few youngsters, maybe a hand-full, but you were in a select group if you were under 40!

The mature nature of the audience didn't stop the sing-along, however it seemed that the girls had out-grown the screaming phase! But the overall response to the band was one of a warm glow of nostalgia.

That's a nice place to be and it was enjoyed by many. Why not, eh? The kids can't be left to have all the fun :-)

I have added a gallery of pics featuring the Bootleg Beatles historic gig...
VIEW PICS OF THE BOOTLEG BEATLES HISTORIC GIG IN GUERNSEY

If you want to keep me happy there is one easy way.

Let me bring my 'big guns' out and present me with a couple of days of fast Motor Sport action.

I'm not even too fussy what it is... as long as it is noisy, a bit dangerous - and fast.

So last weekend ticked all the boxes for me. Even the sun shone most of the time!

A couple of my 'big guns' made an appearance too. One of my most used lenses is the versatile Nikon 200-400mm f.4 zoom. This is a great lens for action photography as somehow you can never get close enough. This is especially the case when photographing Powerboat racing.

However it was the powerboat racing that gave me the excuse to mount my biggest gun - the amazing Nikon 400mm f2.8 - on to the Nikon D4. But even this didn't do the job when shooting full frame from the shore so I added a 1.7 times extender... 680mm, that'll do nicely ;-)

Using the bigger lenses has made my new years resolution of joining a gym well justified as it is quite a work-out swinging those monsters around. I reckon I can miss next weeks sessions after the last two days work-out :-)

Saturday saw a near perfect mix of Motor Sport with the Guernsey Kart & Motor Club running a Hill Climb at Le Val des Terres. Perfect conditions produced a hand-full of new records and my MSA Accreditation allowed me to get really close to the action... almost a bit too close when Ian Shorto clouted the bank on the last corner and headed my way... I got the shot though! I popped away from the hill for an hour or so to photograph the Powerboats and 'drink in' the beautiful drone of Dave Corbet's V8 Diablo's engine... mmmm.

I've been busy editing the two days pics and they are now on-line:
VIEW PICS OF THE GK&MC HILL CLIMB

VIEW THE GUERNSEY POWERBOAT ASSOCIATION'S RACING

I've just had a really good month when judged by the number of my pictures published in National Magazines.

It is always a nice accolade to have a major publication accept your work for print. It is also an encouragement when the genre of the pics are so varied. So last months distributions will keep me happy for a little while :-)

My National Hill Climb racing pics were reproduced in two of the leading Motor sport mags, Motor Sport News and also Autosport.

Then it was Powerboat & Rib Magazine that featured a double page spread of the Guernsey Powerboat Associations racing.

Evo Magazine also featured a pic of John Dunne racing at the Guernsey Hill Climb.

And to keep things nicely varied my Commercial photography featured in Country Life Magazine.

To add to that mix I have had numerous pictures published in the Channel Island Newspapers, Magazines and Business publications. My pics have also been used by a number of Bands both local and as far afield as New York... today Guernsey, tomorrow the world, ha,ha?

I am often pondering whether my chosen profession is a sensible one... at least as a means of making a decent living. It seems that every week there is a 'new kid on the block' who has bought a digital camera, created a web site (or simply a Facebook page) and decided to to call themselves a 'Pro' photographer... wedding day bookings made at your own risk ;-)
This new competition often has a 'proper' day job and can afford to play at fulfilling their ambitions to be a photog. Don't misunderstand me, I accept it is everyone's free choice to do this.

But what this does do is add pressure on to those of us who only have our photography as a means of buying the real ale (oh yes, and the food)! So when National publications consider your work as being worthy of printing you get a little boost and encouragement to keep the nose to the grindstone... or should that be the back of the camera?

The long hot summer of '13 is proving to be a successful one for me so far. This web site might even break the 3,000,000 views during this twelve months, so maybe I'll keep this up for a bit longer yet?

As I say, 'it definitely beats a proper job, eh'.
VIEW MY PICTURE GALLERIES

MASSIVE isn't a big enough word to describe the size of my Greenman Chaos Festival 2013 picture Galleries!!

Never before, and probably never again, have I posted such a large gallery of pictures for one event.

So was it worth it? Well maybe I'll know if you post a comment or two.

But, as far as I'm concerned I found this years Chaos Festival topped all previous ones. There was a great line-up of Bands in the main tent and also the popular Peace tent.

The main stage was bigger and better than before with a fantastic light-show... always a good way to get a photographer on your side ;-)

The edit of three days shooting has taken a serious amount of time but has the benefit of allowing me to 're-live' the Festival. In fact the odd thing is that quite often I will look at a pic and 'see' it for the first time, even though it was me who pressed the shutter! I guess that when taking pics you are in a kind of 'zone' with all the senses focused on the work.

If you were one of the hundreds who visited the Greenman Chaos you can also re-live the days by checking my Galleries...

If you were in a Band and like a few of the pics maybe you will think about buying a few :-)

I know it is a bit bad making a shameless plug to sell pics but it has taken MANY days of work to bring the pics to my web site... and selling a few pics is how I make a living (exaggeration)!

Full coverage of the Greenman Chaos Festival is here:
VIEW A MASSIVE PICTURE GALLERY OF THE GREENMAN CHAOS FESTIVAL 2013

Guernsey entertained the British Hill Climb racers at Le Val des Terres on Saturday. The conditions were near perfect and after seeing the quality of the racing in Jersey a couple of days before I was expecting some serious action.... and that is what we got.

Records dropped in several Classes with special mention needed for Sarah Gaudion's all-time women's record. However it was the battle of the big boys which resulted in the outright hill record being lowered by Scott Moran during the first Championship run-off. His time of 27.19 looked impressive enough to stay as a long term record for Le Val des Terres.

But that was soon proved wrong.

It was during the first dramatic and tense run-off that every local motor sport fan had their fingers crossed as Darren Warwick's time placed him in the top spot with only Scott Moran to run.

The real possibility that a local driver could win a round of the National Championship had the crowd ready to release their emotions... but had we forgotten that Scott was a previous outright record holder for the hill?

Maybe we were all a bit too hopeful because as Scott finished his run the clock stopped at a quite amazing 27.19 beating Darren by seven tenths. He had re-taken the all-time record for the 'Terres'.

In qualifying for the second round of Championship run-offs Darren clocked almost exactly the same time as his earlier runs, perhaps suggesting he was at the limit.

So it was the second of the National Championship run-offs that provided a fitting climax to the day as Scott Moran produced a time that took him to the top with only Jos Goodyear to run. Jos raised his game by re-taking his outright hill record by the smallest margin of two hundreths and at the same time he asked the question - is a 26 second run going to be seen sometime in the future?

The brilliant time that Jos returned mustn't overshadow the standard of Darren Warwick's racing. He really stood toe-to-toe with the big boys with their powerful high-tech kit and got very close to beating them all... bar one.

There should also be a mention in despatches for the notable inclusion of two other locals in the run-offs. As a regular qualifier, Nick Saunders qualified for both run-offs and was joined by Paul Le Messurier for one of the runs. Once again they pushed their underpowered and lower tech cars as hard as was possible and split the visitors for run-off places.

The Championship provided a memorable days racing. We now have to wait twelve months to find out if that 26 second time really is possible.

The 40th time that the Championship has been run at Le Val des Terres was celebrated by the unveiling of an impressive Banner Hoarding at the bottom of the hill. This has been sponsored by Comprop who are about to re-develop the old brewery site.

Comprop have become major sponsors of the GMC&CC and together with Dowding Signs produced the superb display. Of course I might be a bit biased as the hoarding features many of my pictures ;-) Make sure you stop and take a close look next time you are in the area.
VIEW PICS OF THE GUERNSEY ROUNDS OF THE NATIONAL HILL CLIMB CHAMPIONSHIP

The local rounds of the British National Hill Climb Championship were always going to be a highlight in the Channel Islands Motor Sport calendar..... but we didn't anticipate just how special things were going to be in 2013!

For Rounds 19 and 20 the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club had planned a special celebration of the 40 years that they have hosted British Championship rounds. A well attended, lively and interesting gathering and barbecue was held at the Marina restaurant after the Saturdays racing and this was the perfect end to the two days racing.

But it was on the hills that the spectacular was so special!

The soon to be legendary 'summer of 2013' produced the hottest conditions for years, particularly in Jersey on thursday where there was no breeze. The sun always raises people's spirits and they were running on turbo boost as the racing started. We knew we were in for a treat!

Guernseymen ruled the hill when it came to top performances in Jersey with Darren Warwick being the only Channel Islander to feature in both Top twelve National Championship Run-offs. This was a stunning performance when you consider the far higher power and technological specifications of the visiting National drivers cars. Well done Darren on an astounding result.

Other records were also taken by the small contingent of Guernsey drivers. We showed the Crapo's, eh ;-)

Then we moved on to the Guernsey rounds which were even more special for Guernsey fans... more on this to follow.

For now though, I have added a new picture gallery featuring the 2013 Jersey rounds of the British National Hill Climb Championships at Bouley Bay. Enjoy.
VIEW PICTURES OF THE JERSEY ROUNDS OF THE BRITISH NATIONAL HILL CLIMB

If you visited the Greenman Chaos Music & Bike Festival last weekend and didn't pace yourself I'll call that a big FAIL :-)

Why? I hear you ask.

Well if you enjoyed a few too many beers and a few too many of the sun's rays and if you took the early bus home you are sure to regret it when you hear what you missed! The 'hard-core' festival go-ers were rewarded and left drained and exhausted by Sunday's head-liners, Spunge.

The party/festival really kicked-off when Spunge returned to the Chaos stage for 2013 and by the end of their set the party had hit the stage itself after the audience joined the band in a massive send-off to the 2013 Chaos.

Words can't describe the atmosphere. My pictures might help you to see what you missed... but in the end you really had to be there!

Those of us who had the stamina got the prize... happy days!

I have just added a small picture Gallery giving a taster of what will follow, eventually. But for now I need to catch up with some sleep...
GREENMAN 2013... VIEW A LITTLE TASTER GALLERY

Sorry, no time to stop and chat....

I'm on the way to Guernsey's only three day Bike & Music Festival!

The 2013 Greenman Chaos Festival is promising to be the best ever. There is a fantastic line-up of Bands .... and all this takes place in one of the most spectacular settings on the cliffs at Pleinmont, Guernsey.

See you there...
VIEW PICS OF PREVIOUS CHAOS FESTIVALS

Yesterday this web site busted through its previous record of picture viewings in a 24 hour period when over 40,000 views were logged! This is an incredible number! But it has been worked for...

My time has been totally absorbed since the weekend by trying to catch up with three very busy days of shooting. I'm afraid I pushed the normal limits that control my photography... that is I shoot as few pictures as I possibly can!

This is usually a great plan. Why take three pics when you know that only one will be needed. This 'rule' of mine is always in the back of my mind and it works for me. I have often stood alongside other photographers, both professional sport and performance 'togs and keen hobbyists who fire off tens of pics to my one. That's not for me.... usually!

But I tripped up last weekend when photographing the Charity Hill Climb and Sprint. I seem to have miscalculated just how many runs each driver would get. The result was a lot of photos to sort through :-(

The Lock-in fights also produced a few more pics than I intended. For a start there were fifteen bouts and when combined with the weigh-in and atmosphere shots I had another pile to sort through!

Burning the midnight oil is the only answer in this situation and I have now managed to finish those Galleries.

Time for some sleep? Oh no. There is the Powerboat racing and the Elysium gig to get on with next!

I'm definitely going to keep my trigger happy finger under better control next time!

The completed Gallery is here:
VIEW THE COMPLETED LOCK-IN GALLERIES