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I have been tidying up some photoshoots and came across a folder that I hadn't completed. This takes us back to the Greenman Chaos Bike & Music Festival.... way, way back!

There was a Sunday of entertainment which followed on from Friday & Saturday. I have added a few more pics of some of the Bands that played on the Sunday including Ukuladeez, The Doomsday Project and No Paparazzi. There are also a few more pics from the Peace Tent.

The biggest fun of the last day of Chaos 2012 was when three new prospects to join the Guernsey Greenman had a chance to prove that they had a good sense of humour and that they would fit in with the rest of the Greenmen.
Not taking yourself too seriously is obviously a very important quality to fit in :-0

The three guys seemed to enjoy the slapstick every bit as much as the crowd of on-lookers.....maybe a bit too much, eh?!!?!?

New pictures can be viewed here:
VIEW THE LAST OF THE GREENMAN CHAOS 2012 PICS

You can almost be certain that rolls will be on the menu when the Banger Racing serves up its entertainment on Chouet beach!

When the meeting is timed to start at midday (think lunchtime) it was just a case of waiting for the action :-) I managed to miss the first roll which happened whilst I was facing in the opposite direction. The resulting scene suggested that in this case Goliath had the upper hand over David. A little Peugeot should never mess with the might of a Volvo estate! HOW GOLIATH GOT HIS OWN BACK ON DAVID

My luck, however, was better for the biggest roll of the day. Having earned a place in the Race of Firsts it all went wrong for Billy Le Page when he rolled his car whilst pushing hard through the chicane. He seemed to have successfully negotiated the bend when his car suddenly launched itself. I managed to capture a sequence of shots but as I was using a telephoto lens at the time the results are a bit tightly cropped.

I didn't think Billy would do it again for me so I could make a better job of the pics..... so I didn't ask :-)

A new Gallery of Autocross pics is now online:
LUNCHTIME ROLLS ON THE BEACH AT CHOUET

Vazon sands welcomed three visiting bike (slider) riders from Jersey... in perfect conditions for the early start.

The big tides meant a morning start and an opportunity to run a massive track. There was early disappointment for Anthony Queripel when he blew his engine and this deprived us of seeing him go head to head with the visitors.

But we were still treated to some great racing for Round-9 of the Guernsey Motor Cycle & Car Club Sand Racing Championships. It makes so much difference when a decent size entry signs in.

I have selected, developed and uploaded the pics in record time as I still have a busy weekend ahead. Take a look of the pics here:
ROUND-9 OF THE SAND RACING CHAMPIONSHIP

The Guernsey Kart & Motor Club held their annual 2-Day Motocross meeting at Pleinmont last weekend.

Now lets be honest, the conditions were varied to say the least!
The Saturday was windy and the track was very dry... the dust was of Sahara standards!
Sunday was rainy... by Amazonian standards! So the riders were challenged by varied conditions!

The new layout of the Motocross track seems to be slower... and this directly translates to safer racing. Of course, there will always be an occasional crash, but there seem to be less stops for 'hospital runs'.

The other side of these changes is that it makes a photographers job that bit more challenging. Since the alterations I have struggled to find good viewpoints to photograph the action. Somehow the dynamics have changed. So there is a new challemge for me. I like challenges:-)

Take a look back again at these Galleries later in the year to see if I have found a few new angles to capture the action....

Pics of the 2012 GK&MC 2-Day Moto-X are now online:
GK&MC 2-DAY MOTO-X MEETING

A few of the Guernsey Power Boat Association's races have fallen victim of the poor weather that we have endured this summer. So it was a treat to have reasonable conditions for Race-8.

I have not been able to photograph every race this year... I did try a couple that were cancelled after I got very wet whilst waiting for a race start in a small Rib with waves rolling in! Never a good idea with several grands worth of lenses and camera getting wet:-) I also missed a couple of races whilst I was photographing Jersey Live and a Hill Climb.

The latest race was quite a spectacle with the course bringing the racers close to the St Peter Port harbour walls which provided an ideal viewpoint. The 2012 season has show-cased some close racing and the seed has been sown with a few new competitors for next year. Let's hope we get an 'old fashioned' hot summer in 2013 :-)

Race-8 pics are now on-line:
Power Boat Championship Race-8

As the Hill Climb season nears its end for 2012 I have been reflecting on some of the performances I have seen this year.

The records have been lowered in such numbers that it has probably created a new record of its own!

The quality of driving. The standard of preparation of Cars, Bikes and Karts and the total commitment shown by competitors places Channel Island Motor Sport way up the 'league' when it is judged against other National venues.
Motor Sport has also shown that it is near the top when judged by the level of performance compared to other local sports.

There are probably few sports that demand such brave commitment. It is also an expensive activity to compete in - particulaly when many of the younger participants have families to feed!

The Alderney weekend always makes me aware how many people have to be involved with a Motor Sport Club to make everything happen. Guernsey is spoilt by having three well run and supported Clubs.

May I suggest that any racer who has enjoyed the 2012 season should take a moment to thank the Committee members and many helpers who make all this happen. That way we can all look forward to even better racing days ahead ;-)

Alderney Hill Climb pics are now on-line:
ALDERNEY HILL CLIMB 2012

Well what can I say? Party on..... Disco dancing & smoke. Only the disco lights are missing!
Whatever music these guys are listening to it must be loud ;-)

The Guernsey Kart & Motor Club have just returned from the Annual visit to Alderney. This is a highlight of the Channel Islands Motor Sport scene. There is no doubting that any competitor who makes the journey must LOVE their racing.

The logistics, cost and effort that goes into setting up a safe and successful weekend of Sprint and Hill Climb racing 'offshore' is massive. The Committee and all the many helpers and supporters are to be congratulated on another well run event.

Of course we were over in Alderney for the racing but the weekend always offers far more than that as all those involved mix for the social side as well. An outbreak of 'Alderney Flu' is the usual outcome by Sunday morning!

There was another helmet-full of new records.... something we have come to expect this year. Both events are extremely fast and inevitably attract the 'cream' of the racing scene. To watch this action from my privileged (and close!) viewpoint is quite astonishing. A certain red BMW paid me a rather close visit at the Hill Climb. I was most disappointed that no-one in the crowd of spectators got a picture of me legging it! I guess you have to be a 'pro' to keep clicking when it all 'kicks off', ha, ha!

In fact, on this occassion, even I missed the actual crash as I was breaking the 30 metre sprint record. Good job a 100 metre sprint wasn't needed - at my age!

It must have been a 'Red Car' thing this year as Tim Le Pelley had a big moment (actually it was more like five!) when his once beautiful Mini rolled over at the Sprint. He walked away having reaped the benefit of his careful car preparation. We were all very relieved.

I am now working through the weekends pics. First up are the Fort Corblets Sprint pictures.
PICTURES OF THE 2012 ALDERNEY SPRINT

With the previous Guernsey Kart & Motor Club Sprint at Vazon coast road being cancelled due to atrocious weather it was a relief to see near perfect conditions this time :-)
There was a good turn-out of competitors who enjoyed their track-time.

The speeds were phenomenal. How do you fancy 142mph over the quarter-mile finish line in a 'home-made' V8 powered chassis? If you want to know how that sort of speed feels along the substantial 'bend' that makes up the section on Vazon coast road you had better ask Scott Rayson. It was his 6,800cc custom-made car that did it!

This finishing speed was matched by FTD biker Adam Girard.
Adam also beat the 10 second mark with a time of 9.97. Again this represents a really 'ballsy' performance considering the bend, the changes in level and cambers. I'm impressed!

A gallery of pictures is now online. As always I have more pictures than get uploaded. Give me a call or e-mail if you want to view all your racing.
GK&MC SPRINT 08-09-2012

I thought I had better catch up with a few Gallery updates ahead of another 'away-day' from the studio. Well, in fact it is a few days!

September sees the Motorsport clan pack their toolboxes and tyre warmers and head off to Alderney. Alderney here we come... hope the karaoke is warmed up for Chemy and Phil ;-)

Todays additions are from way back.... the Vale Earth Fair to be precise. So many more pics have been taken since then it seems like an age ago!

So The Earth Fair Gallery is now complete with pictures of RentOClean, Sugarslam, Stone 'Em All, Brave Yesterday, Twelve Tribe Mansion, Last of the Light Brigade, Skid Rue, Land of the Giants, Wild Card, The Recks, Tantale, Speakeasy, The Gaa Gaa's & Rebel Control.

Nobody can say I don't try to give good coverage, eh?

So it will be off to Alderney and more pics, a few beers and NO, I will NOT be on the Karaoke you will be relieved to know :-)
THE FINAL VALE EARTH FAIR UPDATES

With the Jersey Live Festival now in its ninth year it was to be expected that the headline act would be someone special. An international star.

The chosen hero and legend for 2012 was Noel Gallagher and his High Flying Birds. No arguement there then. Noel is recognised all around the world and his appearance at Jersey Live gives credit to the status this friendly festival has earned.

Their performance was eagerly anticipated and the band delivered 'big time'. Noel's cocky attitude and irreverent humour between the tightly presented and memorable songs went down really well with the crowd and bought the Festival to a closing high.

I have updated a few of the Jersey Live picture galleries including the 'Good Vibes' scenes. Also you can now view a gallery featuring Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.
VIEW NOEL GALLAGHER'S HIGH FLYING BIRDS... AND OTHERS

I've just returned from what has become my annual trip to Jersey Live.
If you are a regular visitor to this web-site you will know that I photograph many, many Bands & Gigs every year.
However it is the journey over to our sister island that is one of the highlights. I look on it as a bit of a holiday... more like a busmans holiday really ;-)

I am now recognised by many of the security crew and I can only say good things about their friendly and helpful attitudes. They tell me that the Channel Islands are fabulous places to work... apparently we are a bit more 'laid back'. We agree, don't we!

The long weekend sees me sleeping on site in my van with the crews. With the long hours taking pics and a pump-up mattress combined with the after festival parties a good nights sleep is not a problem!

Of course the job is only half-done when I return home. The editing and selection of pictures then has to happen. It's not quite as much fun as taking the pics :-(

As always the best approach is to limit how many pics you take in the first place. The editing process is then a little easier.

I have now broken the back of the job but will still have a bit more to do tommorow. The list of bands already uploaded to the picture gallery is extensive!

Primal Scream, Chase & Status, Alex Clare, The Stranglers, Any Given Sunday, Badlabecques, The Gaa Gaa's, Professor Green, The Valentines, Brave Yesterday, Friends, Maverick Sabre, U.G. & B-Eazy, The Dukes Box, Rizzle Kicks, Monty Taft, Last Dinosaurs, Devlin, Bwani Junction, Janice Graham Band & Jake Bugg.

There is also a new gallery showing some of the weekends atmosphere and good vibes.

Please check-out the new pictures of Jersey Live. If you were there I hope they bring back happy memories. If you didn't go this year maybe I can persuade you that next year is a must.
JERSEY LIVE 2012 PICTURE GALLERIES

Non of my ramblings tonight ;-)

Just a quick note to mention that I have added a couple more picture galleries to the Vale Earth Fair folder.
Unfortunately I will not be able to upload pics of all the bands I photographed before I leave to photograph Jersey Live... I think there are another thirteen to come!

Todays additions include a gallery featuring some shots of the general atmosphere together with pics of Roots Manuva, Blackpool & Teaspoonriverneck.
VIEW THE VALE EARTH FAIR 2012 UPDATES

I have been following the Facebook comments and Tweets and there is a nearly unanimous agreement that 2012 was the best ever year for the Vale Earth Fair. The guys & gals who work so hard to put this 'one day' festival on are to be congratulated.

There is always a massive risk and gamble when commiting so much time and effort towards a single day of the year. So many things (and people) have to come together in an almost gamble of faith.

What if it rains?
What if the Ferries/Flights are cancelled and the Bands can't get here?
Will the word get out there to the punters?

So much cannot be controlled or guaranteed. 'Why do they bother?' I here you ask.
Of course the reasons are the best there are. The VEF Collective are long time supporters of several deserving causes. The Burma Campaign UK, The Free Tibet Campaign, Oxfam and Bridge2Haiti will all benefit from the money raised.

The other worthwhile reason for putting in so much effort is to bring 'like-minded' music lovers into the same space to share a common 'vibe'. This was a mission accomplished once again. The music was varied and of high quality.... the people partied.... everything was good for a day.

I am working through a collection of many pictures of the VEF! This will take a while! I have been asked again to photograph the Jersey Live 2012 Music Festival at the weekend capturing the atmosphere and all the Bands so the updates will be a bit slow.

For now I have added a taster to a new Vale Earth Fair 2012 Gallery. This features the headliners on the Castle stage... Subsource. People will be talking about their performance for years to come.... it was that good!
VIEW THE FIRST VALE EARTH FAIR PICTURES

We all turned up at the bottom of Le Val des Terres with a weather forecast predicting rain. 'Not another wet one' was the pessimistic talk in the pits!

How wrong we all were. Whilst it was never blazingly hot, the track conditions must have been pretty good as the records dropped like the proverbial Autumn leaves. I think 10 new marks were set!

FTD went to Darren Warwick (just!) as he was pushed hard by James Shorto who pushed a little too hard on his last run... but the competition is so tight at the top they you won't be fast enough unless you are racing at the limits.

New record breakers were Tia Harvey, Matt Corson, Scott Rayson, Tim Le Pelley (for a few seconds before being retaken by Ben Batiste!), Tim Torode, Dale Crowsley, Steve Marquis and John Dunne.

There is one new record holder who needs special mention. Chris Guy lowered one of the longest standing records in the Racing Cars up to 600cc Class. The old record was held by Nick Saunders who is not known for being slow!

I am going to claim a vested interest in Chris's result as I have supplied a few close-up pics of the suspension working hard whilst cornering - this helps with perfecting the set-up. There can be no doubt that I can share the new record (not taking anything away from Chris's driving of course).
OK, lets just call it teamwork ;-)'
Long may this record stand!
Pictures are now online:
VIEW THE LATEST HILL CLIMB PICTURES

Saturday was spent on the beach. This is always a good idea on a sunny day, but if you are like me it is even better when you are inches away from racing Bikes and Cars.

There is a certain adrenaline rush that comes from the noise and speed and the 'edge' you stand on when surrounded by barely controlled racing machines. You have to keep your wits about you - and use the eyes in the back of your head (all motorsport photographers have them, take a look next time you see one!)

There was a reminder very early in Saturdays meeting that Motor Sport is potentially a dangerous and costly pass-time.
Martyn 'Rocky' Guilbert was involved in a nasty accident. First rumours were that he had broken a collar bone and had damaged an ankle. We all hope he makes a quick recovery and returns to racing again soon... although his bike was badly damaged - just to rub salt into his wounds. Think many £££££'s!

I have added new Sand Racing pics here - but no new ones of 'Rocky'. His racing was over before I even got there!
VIEW THE LATEST SAND RACING PICS

I also photographed the Karting at The Track on Sunday morning.
No major mishaps to report from here :-)
New Karting pics are here:
VIEW THE LATEST KARTING PICS

OK, I ask the question... 'Festivals, who needs them?'

Guernsey has an amazing and very varied Music & Arts scene. A month never goes by without a few 'headline' events. I enjoy supporting many shows, gigs and festivals and I like to think that I take full advantage of the eclectic mix on offer.

However, so often I look around and find that the amount of folk that make the effort to attend is disappointingly small. In fact it is usual to see many of the same familiar faces.

So my word to you is 'keep a ear tuned into the local jungle drums' and listen out for the next event that offers something to your taste. You will be rewarded with time 'out of the house and off the sofa' and you might start a new habit ;-) Say hello if you see me out!

A great place to start would be next weekend at the Vale Earth Fair. Find your way to Vale Castle... it's in the Vale, you can't miss it! The Festival offers a fantastic mix of music... there really is something for every taste. It is child friendly and the setting is certainly unique. Support the local Festivals and you will be spoilt for choice. Remember what they say 'Use it or loose it'.

Ahead of the busy weekend coming up I have been adding a few more pics from another regular Festival... the Greenman Chaos. Latest updates feature pictures of Elmer Henley, ID Shade and The Black Vote:
PICS OF ELMER HENLEY, ID SHADE & THE BLACK VOTE

I have managed to tick off a couple more of the Bands that played at the Guernsey Greenman MCC Chaos Festival 2012.
A couple of visting Bands from Jersey - Stan Smith & The Morves. A UK based Band named Godsized and new local favourite Lifejacket (all one word ;-).

There are still a few more updates before I can call this a 'job done'. Keep an eye on the Gallery.
NEW CHAOS BANDS - THE MORVES, STAN SMITH, LIFEJACKET & GODSIZED

What problem? I hear you say.
Well, of course if you were a racer you were rewarded for the extra effort put in to get the racing up Les Val des Terres started earlier than usual.
The endeavour meant that an additional timed run was fitted in, even though there was a large entry of competitors.

So what problem? I hear you say again!
From a racers point of view the extra runs, combined with near perfect track conditions, presented the ideal setting to challenge Class records. The amount of new fastest times only go to prove this.

I think I have now established that there wasn't a negative for the competitors. No, it only impacted on us 'poor' photogs ;-(
More runs means more 'picture opportunities'... and who can resist those? Not me!
So I returned back to my studio desk with more pics than I intended to take and with the extra work needed to edit, optimise, catalogue and upload them.

The latest pictures are now online. I hope you find a few that justify the added work-load. Maybe you will even press the 'BUY NOW' button a couple of times?
With the success of the extended racing I have a feeling that I will have the same 'problem' again in the future ;-)
VIEW THE LATEST PICTURES OF 11-08-2012 HILL CLIMB

Pete 'Plumb' Bretel, the charismatic frontman of Sugarslam offers the invitation to Rock....
The occasion was the fundraising gig at The Fermain Tavern in aid of the planned Skatepark.
There was a great atmosphere with the 'boarding dudes proving they know how to party!
A good turn-out added a few hundred quid to the fund bringing the prospect of the park another stage nearer. Result.

As for the Band. Well they have proven that they were too long away from the music scene... and also that you must never right-off the oldies (they will forgive the comment, I hope!)
Sugarslam have more gigs booked in the next months. You are invited to join them to Rock :)
New pics have been added to a large Gallery featuring the Band:
TAKE A LOOK AT A LARGE GALLERY OF SUGARSLAM PICS

Guernsey Gigs organised the return of the 'Battle of the Bands' format to the Guernsey live music scene last weekend.
The latest shoot-out was held at the KGV and, from what I saw, it was a great success.
With eleven bands and solo artists taking to the stage there was a guarantee of having many supporters and family attending to support their favourites.
I was only able to spend about half the time at the gig but enjoyed the great mix of performers.

The winning title went to the popular RentOClean. I will reveal that this was the Band that got my vote. They are a 'good-time' band, lively, funky and funny. They get people on their feet and partying.... there is never anything wrong with that :)

Other Bands also deserved my vote but we only had one each!
Having seen the success and interest in BotB's we can hope that it will become an annual event again.
Well done to all those who helped to organise it.... and of course the Bands.

I have added a new Gallery of pictures of the Bands I saw. Dealer's Left, The Phantom Cosmonaut, The Dead Beats, RentOClean, Part in Paris and Lifejacket.
PICTURES OF THE 2012 BATTLE OF THE BANDS