News / Blog - Tallpictures News

With the 2025 Vale Earth Fair just around the corner I thought I should make one last effort to finish and update the Chaos 20-25 Festival photo gallery.

I'm sure I will have another mega edit awaiting me after the VEF but that will have to wait until my VEF Real Ale induced headache has eased!

For now you can view photos of the legendary (and last) Chaos Festival by clicking this link:
CLICK TO VIEW THE CHAOS 20-25 FESTIVAL PHOTO GALLERIES

First stop on Sunday morning was Petit Bot valley for Round 5 of the GVC Gravity Series. This championship is proving to be really competitive with just seconds separating the top riders.

I had to complete the shoot early due to other jobs but I did capture some of the action. Click the link if you are interested:
CLICK TO VIEW ROUND 5 OF THE GVC GRAVITY SERIES

In just one word I think the 2025 Liberation Day (the 80th) in St Peter Port was 'Spectacular'!

And if you want the longer version here is how my Thesaurus describes 'Spectacular'.....

grand, splendid, magnificent, sensational, impressive, glorious, striking, stunning, staggering, amazing, astonishing, extraordinary, outstanding, remarkable, dramatic, daring, breathtaking, dazzling, eye-catching, colourful, ostentatious, flamboyant

It was all of those!

Thank you to the many who put so much of their time into making 'Lib 80' happen and to all those who joined their fellow Islanders to celebrate such an important day.

I took a few photos and they are now featured on my website if you are interested:
CLICK TO VIEW PHOTOS OF THE SPECTACULAR 2025 LIBERATION DAY

I've managed to find some time over the holiday period to update and add new Galleries to the NEW WEBSITE.

It's a near impossible job for me to bring all my photos over to the new website as there are many hundreds of Galleries and hundreds of thousands of photos.

But I'm keen to give the new website a fair representation of my photographic work over the decades so when I find a few spare hours I'll continue with this chore!

So, at the moment, if you are looking for photos of a particular event or personalities you might have to use the search option on BOTH sites! But remember that ALL NEW photos from 2023 onwards are only added to the new site. Good luck and happy hunting!

Here are links to each of the websites. Happy hunting.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NEW WEBSITE
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE OLD WEBSITE

The Guernsey School of Popular Music continued its support and encouragement of its students with the 2024 'Music for Everyone' event at Beau Sejour.

Created to offer all ages of student a showcase to share their new talents on a big stage it is obvious how much joy and satisfaction the performers feel. You can see how confidence builds as students are supported by the versatile tutors band.

I've said it before but it's worth saying again. I think these events are some of my favourites of the year.

I hope you enjoy my photos and maybe they will illustrate some of the atmosphere in the theatre at Beau Sejour.....
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2024 MUSIC FOR EVERYONE PHOTOS

Another vintage year......

With each year the Guernsey School of Popular Music (SoPM) has raised the bar with its Corporate Battle of the Bands event at Beau Sejour.

The night sits in the middle of a 'three-header' between the Under 18's Battle of the Bands and the 'Music for Everyone' showcase.

The team from SoPM don't hold back or take the easy route and consistently top their previous efforts. I've added Galleries featuring all the highlights of the 2024 Corporate BotB's to my website.

To view photos of all the SoPM events click the link below:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL OF THE SoPM EVENTS

It's always a fun afternoon when I'm assigned to photograph the Lions Club Donkey Derby.

The format barely changes from year to year.... but why change a winning formula?

This year the Lions Club had arranged a beautiful sunny summer afternoon and that encouraged a great attendance of eager punters keen to lose a couple of quid at the Tote as everything was organised for raise funds for Charities.

I've uploaded a new Gallery to display my 2024 Donkey Derby photos.
Click this link to view the Donkey Derby photos:
CLICK TO VIRW PHOTOS OF THE 2024 DONKEY DERBY

I had an enjoyable weekend covering just a few of the many events taking place in Guernsey. Please don't ever try an tell me that there's nothing to do in our Island. You just can't be looking hard enough!

One of the most entertaining was the 2024 Medieval Fete d'Etai held within the walls of Castle Cornet. Displays and re-enactments were presented by Tol Galen and the Companie of the Duke's Leopards from Jersey.

I've added a small gallery of photos to my website if you want to see what happened.....
CLICK TO VIEW THE FETE D'ETAI DISPLAYS

I think I'm done!

The Chaos Events Music & Bike Festival is one of my highlights of every year even though it is a 'working' holiday - but it's great fun too.

But I always end up with a big photo edit.... well it is three days of photography combined with quite a lot of beer!

So the editing has to fit around my normal week of photography and that delays completion. BUT, I get there in the end and the final Chaos 19 photos are now online.

I think I deserve a beer or two! Click the link to view the Galleries....
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE COMPLETED GALLERIES OF CHAOS 19 PHOTOS

I seem to remember... back in the day, that a week was seven days long. But the last week somehow feels like it was way more!

It was nothing like a 'normal' week... and it was fantastic for that.

It started with photographing the Guernsey Athletics Deloitte Challenge.

This was followed by Round 1 of the GVC Downhill Racing Tour of Guernsey.

Then a switch to photographing royalty at the visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla as part of the media entourage!

What next? How about popping over to Jersey for the BHC National Hillclimb... up close to the action! Those pics then needed editing for two National publications and the BHC.

Next, back to Guernsey for Rounds 17 & 18 of the Championship, complete with torrential rain at the end of the event and an edit for the Guernsey Press.

And then (surely there aren't that many days in a week) there was time to photograph Round 7 of the Adventure Cycles Tour of Guernsey!

I've not made a count of how many photos but it amounts to an edit of many hundreds and then the uploads (still a work in progress)!

So an amazing week but I'd definitely need a younger body (or lighter kit) to keep up with this pace if it was a normal schedule!!

If you are interested, my photos of Round 7 of the 2024 ToG are now online here:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ROUND 7 OF THE 2024 TOUR OF GUERNSEY

The sun was shining bright when King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in Guernsey for their first visit since becoming Sovereigns.

This was in dramatic contrast to the weather the Royals had experienced in Jersey just the day before. Torrential rain was not an exaggeration!

I was working as part of the 'Royal Media Entourage' alongside fifty + visiting Royal Correspondents, Videographers and Photographers.

It was quite an interesting experience. A couple of things I learnt were how hard the Royals worked to ensure everyone they met felt that they were given attention. Making the same small talk at every event needs a special ability and they were both 'Pros' at the job!

Another aspect of covering the days events was just how much time the media spends just hanging around for the next moment of interest!

Also it was educational being in the hub of activity seeing how each Correspondent set themselves up for their own reports and broadcasts. Some were live, others were videoed.

The couple of photographers and videographers who were on the (very) short-list and were allowed to follow the Royal couple very closely were working 'live' with photos being transmitted from their camera direct to their Newspapers and Agencies the moment the shutter button was pressed!

The final take-aways from the day were probably how much love and attention Royalty still gets in this changing world. Of course those who dislike the concept of Royalty would have stayed away but the huge crowds did make some sort of statement.

The other thing was how the visiting Media felt that Guernsey had put on an amazing presentation. In fact, in the Media room at the end of the day one of the visiting Correspondents thanked the local team of organisers and stated that they would love them to organise the Media requirements at every overseas event as such a good job had been done!

So well done to all those involved.

And I've ticked another (Royal) photographic box.... maybe 'by Royal Appointment' is laying it on a bit too thick though!!

I've uploaded a Gallery of photos. If you were taking part or in the crowd take a look. You might be in one of my photos.
CLICK TO VIEW PHOTOS OF THE 2024 ROYAL VISIT TO GUERNSEY

Congratulations to the School of Popular Music Guernsey on reaching 10 years of teaching young and older students the art and skills needed to fulfil their creative musical ambitions.

During the decade many hundreds have achieved goals and enhanced their lives through the medium of music in all its genres.

I've had the privilege of capturing many of the special performances during the last decade. In fact I was there at the first open day of SoPM. It speaks well of the enthusiastic culture of SoPM that many of the original tutors still teach alongside some early students who are now part of the tutor team.

I had a chance to pop along to Delancey Park for the SoPM 10th Anniversary celebration 'Party in the Park' to take a few photos.

I also have a huge archive of SoPM photos taken during the last 10 years. These links are to some of the Galleries:
CLICK TO VIEW THE SoPM PHOTOS ON MY OLD WEBSITE
CLICK TO VIEW THE SoPM PHOTOS ON MY NEW WEBSITE

As the Chaos Festival fog clears and my beer count has been tallied (it wasn't a record year) I've started the massive edit.

Unfortunately when I combine having a great time, live music, beer and photography at some point I end up with a lot of photos!

So there's no shortcut, I just have to plod through... but its fun looking through the memories again.

I've already uploaded a load of photos which you can view if you click the link. Please share and tag to get the word out.... thanks.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE 2024 CHAOS FESTIVAL PHOTOS

Photos of the 2024 Haute Capelles School Charity 'Ladies Night' Catwalk Show in support of the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation are now online.

A full evening of entertainment had been organised offering the opportunity to 'Buy a Night' in one of the foundations three flats.

All the 'pre-loved' dresses were on sale after the show and combined with a meat draw and raffle draw hundreds of pounds were raised for the PPBF. What a great success.

A donation to the PPBF will be made from any picture sales made on my website.

Click here to view the Gallery:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2024 PPBF CATWALK PHOTO GALLERY

We all know that time flies. Certainly as I get older whole decades seem to pass with the blink of an eyelid!

And it is the passage of time and the continued progress with technology that has made me think that I needed a new project.

The Internet has become the dominant resource for a photographer to present his work to interested people. Tagged on the back of that is the opportunity to sell a few pics. Even a photographer needs to eat and buy beer!

So I'm announcing here that this website won't be where my new work is uploaded in the future. I have a new website under development... more on that later.

But the good news is all the Photos, Blogs and Information that features here will remain just as it is. I have built this massive record of Guernsey life... Sports, Motorsports, Gigs, Bands and Social Life and I'm keen for it to still be available. This 'old' website is now thirteen years old and has accrued nearly 50 MILLION picture views!

However with the improvement of mobile phone screens, faster download speeds and expectations of how photos display I will be uploading all new work to a new website. It still carries a title that regulars will be familiar with... TALLPICTURES.com

This is a major project for me as I hope to carry some of the old Galleries across too, but that all depends on time. Yes time gets a mention again!

I wonder what the next blink of the eye brings?

TAKE A LOOK AT THE NEW WEBSITE HERE:
CLICK TO VIEW THE NEW TALLPICTURES WEBSITE

What does summer mean for you?

Well one of the favourite things for me is that with the sun comes the Festival season 🍺🎪🥁

Sadly my diary doesn't include Download Festival like my grandson's ( lucky *****) but there are still the 2023 Chaos and Vale Earth Fairs for me!

We've also already enjoyed the 2023 Guernsey Together Festival.

The weather stayed dry for the GTF and whilst it wasn't 'blazing hot' the festival field was buzzing with relaxed and happy folk. There is something special about a festival as most people seem to chill and have more time to chat. Great therapy away from the weekday rush and pressures!

I've just uploaded my pics from day 2 of GTF 2023. Check them out and remember to book Chaos and VEF for your own dose of Festival therapy!

This is a link to the 2023 GTF Galleries:
CLICK TO VIEW THE GUERNSEY TOGETHER GALLERIES

As time passes and memories fade Guernsey's Liberation Day celebrations have changed. And for 2023, May the 9th felt more like a traditional Bank Holiday.

Parishes took different approaches to how they would mark the day. Some made an effort, others didn't.

St Andrews left the entertainment to The Last Post and that is where I headed. A tradition has been established by the Pub to promote a lineup of live acts on May 9th and this has proved to be a popular draw for music lovers.

The 2023 edition featured some of the recent new local favorites.

It was a shame the weather was dull and at times damp but the hardcore of the local music scene are not easily put off!

I've added a small gallery featuring some of the performances:
CLICK TO VIEW THE 2023 LIBERATION DAY BANDS

Once again Ronez opened Les Vardes Quarry for a charity event titled 'MTB Mayhem'. What a great name!

The guys had certainly been busy laying out multiple features in the Quarry including the biggest berm I've ever seen, huge piles of gravel, twisting routes through piles of boulders and much more!

I came away from the event impressed and pleased that such a thing can still be organized in this Health and Safety dominated world.

It was satisfying and a pleasure to see - predominantly young (and many young at heart) people having fun in what was certainly a potentially dangerous environment. I saw a couple of people 'stack it' but they got up, dusted themselves off (there was a lot of dust!) and carried on!

Some of the features were definitely a bit risky but the youngsters were trusted to know their own limits and supervision was minimal.

I realized that this event offered a look back to how things used to be for people of my generation (born in the fifties). Back then as kids we jumped on our bikes and explored our limitations. Of course we sometimes got home with blooded knees and elbows but our parents just accepted it as something that happens.

They trusted us to know how far we pushed our luck... and it was fun and character building. It's nice to know that the youth of today, when given the chance, haven't changed a bit!

Thank you Ronez... you make the best playgrounds ever!!
I captured some of the fun. Take a look here:
CLICK TO VIEW RONEZ MAYHEM 2023

Cage & Stage Productions returned to Beau Sejour after a few years break with another Lock-in event. This one was No.7 and the best yet!

The evening consisted of fourteen bouts in front of a capacity - and noisy crowd.

The action was non-stop and I was as fatigued as the boxers after chasing the best action shots all night - both up the ladder and through the cage. This was both a challenge and great fun!

These Galleries feature all the Bouts and a feel for the atmosphere. I hope you like them.

PLEASE NOTE that these pics are here for you to LOOK AT - NOT copy/steal for your profiles.

There are options to purchase Digital files which will be higher resolution than the Gallery pics and without the big watermark.

Another way to remember the night is with a print or an amazing Canvas!

Photography is my only income. Please respect that, thanks.

Follow this link to view the very best of Lock-in 7.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICS OF LOCK-IN 7

The 2022 School of Popular Music Christmas Showcase was a busy night packed full of Live Music and young talent.

Once again SoPM treated their students to the opportunity to play at one of Guernsey's most famous live music venues on a stage that many music legends have stood. There have been a lot... but how about Elton John and Wilko Johnson for starters!

The SoPM team did an amazing job organising fourteen bands (I lost count of how many musicians!). That adds up to a LOT of change overs!

I was really impressed by the standard of talent on show. But also the 'professional' attitude that has been instilled into the youngsters. They were ready on time for the switches, they got straight on with the 'job', they worked through occasional issues with equipment and clearly loved their moment in the spotlight.

All together the resulting show was a great tribute to the work the tutors have done with their young proteges.

These Galleries showcase all the acts...
CLICK TO VIEW THE SoPM 2022 CHRISTMAS SHOWCASE