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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

Congratulations to Anthony Queripel for taking the 'King of the Beach' Crown again on the sands at Vazon Bay. Anthony turned on the style and really only had to contend with Anthony Bougourd for the title.
A few quick updates have been added to my picture galleries. Take a look at Round-6 of the GMC&CC Sand Racing Championship here:
ROUND-6 OF THE SAND RACING CHAMPIONSHIP

The viewing counter has clicked past the 2.5 MILLION mark for this web site.
I was astonished when we passed 1 MILLION views almost exactly on the day of the first Anniversary :)
The new mark arrives with more than four months to go before the second Anniversary. My target has to be the 3 MILLION MARK after just 2 YEARS, fingers crossed!

Thanks to all the regulars who like to follow the Gallery updates. Thanks also if this is your first ever visit. Come again soon :)

Here are a couple of tips that might help your enjoyment when returning to the web site again. There are now more than 40,000 pics in the Galleries!!! This can make it difficult to find one that you liked on the last visit.

If you have a few favourite pictures this may help....

• You can use the Shopping Cart as a way to remember your favourites.
  Click the 'BUY NOW' button beneath any picture. It will be added to the Cart which then appears at the top of the page and will be remembered for your next visit.
  This doesn't commit you to buy the picture... it just helps you to find it again. You might even be tempted to buy it in the future :)
  
  
• You can also share a link to your favourite pictures by clicking the Facebook icon below each one. Other links are also available.
  
  
• There is also an option to E-mail a link to any picture. Click the E-mail icon and send this to a friend... or even yourself!
  
  
• You can also try using the SEARCH button on the left. Type in a word or two and see what you find!
  
  
• When viewing a Gallery use the ARROW KEYS to move to the next picture.
  
  
• Have you tried the SLIDESHOW option at the top of the 'Thumbnail View' to view all the pictures in a Gallery. You need Adobe Flash Player installed on your system for this to work.
  

I am constantly trying to improve the viewing experience on this web site and always welcome any comments.
Here is my E-mail:
E-MAIL ANDREW LE POIDEVIN

Busy, busy....
I've managed to edit a few more pics from a couple of recent shoots.
The Greenman MCC Chaos 8 Festival was spread over three days and too many bands to count! The rewarding part of the prolonged edit is that I can remind myself of some of the highlights.
One of the expected 'star turns' were Thee Jenerators. New pics are now on-line together with RentOClean & Choke:
NEW PICS OF CHAOS - THEE JENERATORS, RENTOCLEAN & CHOKE

I've also added the first pictures from the 'new boy on the block' when it comes to Mini Festivals.
The Fermain Tavern was the venue for Spoonfest which was curated by the Teaspoonriverneck boys who bought together a mix of bands, films, designers and photographers.
It was a great success and the talk is already hot about the next showing... watch this space.
I popped along and captured some of the performances. First up are one of my favourites, Falenizzahorsepower....
FALENIZZAHORSEPOWER.... FIRST PICS FROM SPOONFEST

Whenever I find a few minutes I am adding to the Greenman MCC Chaos-8 Festival Galleries.
The latest updates include pictures of Bulletproof, Heave & Tantale together with some more shots taken in the Peace Tent.
Check 'em out here:
CHECK-OUT THE LATEST CHAOS-8 GALLERIES

The Guernsey Power Boat Association held Race-6 of their 2012 Championship last weekend. This is the first race I have covered since Race-2.
I missed a couple due to the weather.... I did try, but was only rewarded by getting soaked whilst bobbing about in a small rib whilst waiting for a race start - which was then cancelled!
Then Race-5 conflicted with the Guernsey Rounds of the MSA National Hill Climb Championship.
But, if you stick with something, you should get the rewards - eventually!
So I had no conscience when last Sunday morning was gloriously hot and sunny and I was offered a ride out unto the Little Russel to photograph Race-6.

Once again there was a good entry for this race. I have also heard strong rumours about a few more boats coming to the line in the future.
The mornings work is now online. I'm reasonably pleased with the pictures. However, whilst very grateful for the offer of a boat to shoot from, sometimes it can compromise the photography. My transport was a race control/marshal so had responsibilities for safety as a priority of course. This restricted our options to move.
I think I will have to buy my own boat so I can position the direction of shooting.... and of course you can never be close enough! I had better have a word with the accountant, me thinks :)
Power Boat pics can be viewed here:
PICTURES OF RACE-6 OF THE POWER BOAT CHAMPIONSHIP

Decide for yourself if you think I am biased (as a true Guern)!
After the very successful Jersey rounds of the Avon Tyres MSA National Hill Climb Championship the road-show headed for the sunny shores of Guernsey.
Anticipation was high after Jos Goodyear re-wrote the record book with some stunning racing whilst at Bouley Bay.
A large crowd of spectators were eager to see if the Guernsey drivers could reproduce their superb performances in Jersey that saw three Guernsey lads qualify for the Top Twelve run-offs.
Nobody was dissapointed.
Repeating their successes in Jersey the 'Donkey's' had a good representation in the run-offs with Darren Warwick, Nick Saunders, Geoff and Chris Guille all flying the flag.

Top honours must go, once again, to Jos Goodyear driving his G.W.R. Raptor Extreme who took another all time record. This time on Le Val des Terres.
I noted whilst watching Jos from various positions on the hill that the Raptor was indeed noticably more rapid through the 'bendy bits'. I think this chassis will be high on a few drivers wish list as, amazingly, I got the impression that there was still a bit more to come! Watch this space.
I have now added new picture Galleries featuring all the action form the Guernsey rounds of the National Hill Climb Championship.
VIEW THE ACTION FROM THE GUERNSEY ROUNDS OF THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Last week saw the roadshow that makes up the Avon Tyres British National Hill Climb Championship reach our shores again.
This event is always a highlight of the Channel Islands Motor Sport year.
Tradition has it that the first stop is Jersey for the race up Bouley Bay on thursday. I made the trip over to sample this unique spectacle. Where else can you enjoy a beer literaly right on the start line!
The weather behaved itself - about time too - so the racing was held in near perfect conditions. Indeed they were good enough for Jos Goodyear to lower the outright record for Bouley Bay driving his very impressive G.W.R. Raptor Extreme.
I've added a new picture gallery for the Jersey Rounds of the MSA National Hill Climb Championship.
VIEW THE JERSEY MSA NATIONAL HILL CLIMB PICTURES

The Greenman MCC Chaos Festival is a bike Festival - with loads of music.
So it would be a suprise if there were no burnouts, wouldn't it?
If you visited the cliff-top site looking for the smell of burning rubber you were not disappointed :)
After the presentation of the prizes for the best bike catagories it was the turn of the tyre shredders.
The star, by quite a margin , was Neil 'Chopper' Looijenga. Lets just say that there was NO chance of him riding that bike home!
I have added new pictures to the Gallery showing the bike winners and burnouts. New Band pictures include Grant Sharkey & Pirate Party Brigade.
VIEW THE CHAOS 8 BURNOUTS

I have been working in Jersey this week completing some Commercial assignments and then covering the Jersey rounds of the Avon MSA British Hill Climb Championship.
This has delayed my selection and preparation of the pics I took at last weeks Greenman MCC Chaos 8 Festival on the cliffs at Pleinmont.
I have already commented in my previous Blog that once again Chaos presented all the ingredients for fun and chilling out.
The Festivals unique position on the cliffs might leave it prone to whatever weather rolls off the sea - but what a view from the mens loos! You won't get that anywhere else in the world. Sorry girls, it's a boys only thing :-)
The live peformances showcased many great acts on three complimentary stages.
Guernsey Gigs have made a fantastic video which really captures the atmosphere
TAKE A LOOK AT THE GUERNSEY GIGS VIDEO

I have now begun to catch up with the Gallery updates. They will still take quite a few days as there were so many Bands playing.
I am also completing a couple of important Commercial jobs which take priority - they pay the bills, unfortunately gig/motor sport photography doesn't!
I will also be adding pictures of the Jersey MSA Hill Climb (Guernsey this weekend) and a Power Boat Championship Race to their own new picture Galleries later next week.
Busy times then, love it!
The first Greenman MCC Chaos 8 Galleries are here (more updates will be added later).
First Bands include: Distant Shores, Deadwing, Big Machine, 2 Minutes 2 Late, Lydia Pugh, Robert J Hunter, Stone Em All, Skid Rue & Peppered Ant Legs.
VIEW THE FIRST GREENMAN MCC CHAOS 8 GALLERIES HERE

The Guernsey Greenman MCC have once again set themselves an even higher standard to reach.... next year will have to be awesome:)
The 2012 Greenman Chaos 8 topped them all in my view.
The gentle 'tweaks' to the established formula included a bigger beer tent. Never a bad idea!
There was an extended cover for the Discharge Stage with a superb lighting set-up, nice (for photogs).
The Peace tent 'did what was on the tin' and offered a refuge - particulaly from the wind! I think there was also a wider variety of music eminating from the small stage. I spent more time in this friendly space this year.

Perhaps it was a disappointment that all three days 'enjoyed' a persistant breeze - OK STRONG WIND - straight off the sea. But those guys 'n' gals who like their music, bikes and entertainment don't get put off easily.
The reward was a superb line-up of Bands and time spent meeting old friends.
For me, there were several highlights, but for now I will say that I was seriously blown away by the performance of Elmer Henley - truly memorable. Please guys.... don't make it the last.
I was obviously taking pics (loads). Today I have been committed to my Commercial photography so the first Galleries will arrive tomorrow.

In the meantime you really MUST take a look at this great short film put together by the guys at Guernsey Gigs. If you visited Chaos 8 you will have a 'memory trip' - it really captures the atmosphere.
If you didn't go then this video will convince you that you missed a good 'un.
VIEW A FANTASTIC VIDEO OF CHAOS 8 BY GUERNSEY GIGS

The Guernsey Full Boar Motorcycle Club should be given great praise for organising such a big event so well - no small feat!
This was the first Lock-in Cage Fighting evening in Guernsey. When the idea was first hatched it was going to be quite a small affair. As time passed the plans grew bigger and the end result was a sell-out with a very satisfied crowd of over 800 at Beau Sejour.
The planning had been immaculate and this paid off with a night that the many visiting fighters and officials rated as one of the best they had ever attended! Truly great praise.

I was ring-side and photographed all the Bouts and am now a convert to this sport:-)
I was left in no doubt (whilst standing at the top of a fifteen foot high ladder hanging my camera over the top of the cage) that this is one of the toughest arenas that you can step into.
Well done to all the fighters. Winner or loser... you all put on a brave and entertaining show.
I have started to add pictures to my Galleries. All Bouts will follow....
Check-out the first pics here:
VIEW THE FIRST PICTURES OF THE LOCK-IN CAGE FIGHTING

It is simply a coincidence that for two weekends following I will be photographing different (and violent) action sports.
These sports are for real men!
I guess that for many of you (just like me) your experience of Boxing or any form of fighting and Martial Arts has been via the TV. How very comfortable :-)
Only in the live environment do you get a true experience of the energy and power that these athletes exert during a fight. When you have access to the ring-side to take pics you are left in no doubt that it takes a brave man to step forward into the ring.
I'm fortunate to be asked to photograph many different events and the special access enables me to capture some of the dynamics of each sport. I'm there to do a job and these new challenges are what keeps my interest in photography alive.

As you will see from this Blog, last weekend it was the Amalgamated Boys Club Open Air Boxing. This weekend it will be the Full Boar Motorcycle Club's Lock-in Cage Fighting at Beau Sejour. The event is sold out with 800 eager followers wanting to experience the first Cage Fight promoted on Guernsey.
I will be ring-side taking pics of the action. The new challenges of shooting through a wire mesh and standing at the top of a 15 foot ladder leaning against the shaking cage are exactly the things that keep my photography exciting!
Never a boring moment, eh?
Check back next week to see how I managed.

Now, I am not going to claim that my job is as tough as it must be to spend several rounds giving and receiving a bruising inside the ring!
But, when it comes to photography, my latest assignment was the most challenging I have done in a long time.
I was shooting the Amalgamated Boys Club Open Air Boxing - Guernsey Select v Manchester Select - at The Track.
Any photographer reading this blog will know that we simply record light!
Ok, we use various camera settings to make the best of what we see before us and we use our skills to compose and time the capture of any action. But we are still ruled by the quality of the light.

So it was with disappointment that I saw what I had to work with at the Open Air Boxing.
The ring had four yellow/orange toned lights (Sodium I think) high in the corners. There was also an element of natural light which was a completely different colour - changing from warm tones to cool as the night progressed. Having to shoot from a low level so I didn't obstruct the paying spectators meant shooting up into the lights most of the time!
The overall level of light was also quite low making capturing a sharp action pic that much more difficult.

There you have it. A challenge to say the least! I also found that no two pictures (even fractions of a second between them) recorded the same levels/colours.
The bottom line is that I have had MUCH more work to prepare my final pics than I would like. However there is a sense of satisfaction when I achieve reasonable results in such hard conditions. I could certainly do a better job with many of the pics if I spent even more time on them - but how long do you go on?

If anyone buys a picture I will do the final optimisation then.
This blog picture gives some idea of a before and after.... and this particular picture certainly wasn't the worst to start with!
A new Gallery of Boxing pics has been added here:
VIEW THE GUERNSEY SELECT v MANCHESTER SELECT BOXING PICTURES

Event organiser Stuart Butler headlined his post-event e-mail to all the racers and helpers with the line quoted above.
Now the 'fun' part can be applied to both the drivers and spectators!
I was amazed at the reactions from the many spectators. I was rather expecting the general level of excitement to be somewhat lower than that of a 'proper' Hill Climb.
But no, the assorted mix of vehicles together with the 'show-boating' by JJ Gallagher and the many burn-outs (including the biggest I can remember on the hill by Zef Eisenberg) kept the crowd entertained!
There was also a queue for the passenger rides in a real race car.
First reports reckon on topping £30,000 raised for the chosen Charities of Headway Guernsey and The Lions Club.
This amounts to a job well done. My guess is that it will be more of the same in twelve months time.
My picture galleries are now complete. Please take a look and press the 'FACEBOOK LIKE' button if you want to add a link to your picture.
All pictures can be purchased by pressing 'BUY NOW' beneath any pic and you will be shown the options.
25% of any sales is donated to the chosen Charities.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PROFESSIONAL PICS OF THE HERITAGE HILL CLIMB

*************** HERITAGE CHARITY HILL CLIMB PICTURE GALLERIES ***************

*********** 25% OF ALL PICTURE SALES DONATED TO SELECTED CHARITIES ***********

........A copy of the e-mail I sent to Stuart Butler and all the organising helpers - and of course the guy & girl racers!

Hi Stuart

Wow, that was a great success. You even arranged the weather!
The 'buzz' in the pits was fantastic and I think you now have another annual event on your hands.
I really enjoyed watching the racing from various corners on the hill and think I have quite a nice set of pics of each racer.
I will be adding a picture gallery to my web-site later today and would like to give 25% of any picture sales to the Heritage Charity Hill Climb's selected Charities. Hopefully this will raise a few more £'s as in the previous two years Charity Sprints.

The Galleries will have a link from this page:
VIEW THE HERITAGE CHARITY HILL CLIMB GALLERIES HERE LATER TODAY
Well done for organising such a successful day with great support from the local Motor Sport Clubs.

Kind regards,
Andrew Le Poidevin
MSA Accredited Motor Sport Photographer
07781 144525

The Kaiser Chiefs were the eagerly awaited headliners for the 2012 Guernsey Festival.
Their reputation as an anthemic festival band had gone before them... but would they disappoint?
Well, there never was a risk of that really. Other than the rumour that went around the festival site that they would not go on stage until the England v Italy game was over!
Of course they turned up and did their thing.
The band has a book full of 'sing-a-long' numbers to keep any crowd happy - and they loved it. The performance filled the stage, indeed the whole 'big top'!

So a fitting end to the second Guernsey Festival which, once again, bought many quality acts to our little island. Already the speculation has started about another in 2013.
Will it happpen? I hope so. But the twin brothers, Jon & Paul Stephen, will need our encouragement as it is a massive commitment for them.
Make your voices heard!
I have now updated the Guernsey Festival picture galleries with pics of Kaiser Chiefs, The Selecter, San'Jyla, Utah Saints, Maverick Sabre, Little Barrie, The Spindle Sect, Wrongdom meets Deemas J, Mt. Wolf and Festival hosts Janice Long & Wes Butters.
GUERNSEY FESTIVAL PICTURE GALLERIES