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Australia bound..!!

Posted 6 October 2009

It’s been a while since the last post but a lot has been happening….

By far the most important and certainly the most exciting is I took voluntary redundancy from the Jersey Evening Post and I’ll be emigrating to Perth in Western Australia in about 5 weeks..!!

It was a tough decision leaving a fantastic full time newspaper job (during a recession..!!) but the time was right and my wife Terese was keen to return home. It’s going to be a steep learning curve setting up a new photography business and all the hassles of being freelance but it will be a great challenge and hopefully rewarding.

The plan is to concentrate on my foreign assignments and humanitarian work over the next few years and also make contact with the various newspapers over there..I’m still very much a newspaper photographer at heart..!

The last 8 years at the JEP have been amazing. I was incredibly fortunate to be offered the job in the first place. There is very little movement in the department so when a position comes up it is always hotly contested. I had little experience then but bags of energy and enthusiasm which sometimes counts for a lot. I’ve leant an enormous amount and the opportunity to work on foreign assignments as well as the day to day work was great.

I’ll miss the crack with the other guys who are a great bunch and it has been a real privilege to be part of that. The last few weeks where typically busy and varied so below are some of jobs I did…

I’ll keep you updated with any more news but for now it will be the occasional freelance job and lots of packing..!!..

Jersey Live 2009. Dizzee Rascal on the Main Stage. (Jersey Evening Post)

Armed police surround the Royal Court at the start of the trial of one of the UK's most notorious drug criminals. (Jersey Evening Post)

Jersey International Air Display 2009. RAF Red Arrows. (Jersey Evening Post)

Gladys Manning and her sister Christine Manning who claim to have seen a UFO in their back garden in Gorey. (Jersey Evening Post)

Jersey Now Autumn Fashion. (Jersey Evening Post)

AOP Open Award Winner

Posted 7 August 2009

Well, I’m really pleased to announce that I heard today that I’ve won the Association of Photographers Open Award for a recent assignment in Mongolia.

There was an awards night in London last night which unfortunetly I couldn’t go to because I was on shift but it would have been great to be there.

If you look at the Mongolia link on this blog you can see how the image came about earlier this January and below is an extract from the AOP’s press release:-

“The judges were fascinated by the story behind Richard’s image and commented:

“For me, this ticks all the boxes – emotive subject, great composition and a strong image. It really leaves an impression.”

Deborah Brown (Picture Director) – Grazia Magazine

“Like an urban, nature shot that replaces animals with people – they look like human moles coming up for air. I love what appears to be the spontaneity of this image. And for me, it completely sums up the competition.”

Olivia Howitt (Picture Desk) – Radio Times”

Caption:-

Munkhbat and Altangeret (both 15) have lived in this manhole together for over three years under the streets of Ulaanbaatar, the coldest capital city in the world. Spending time with them I witnessed what a tough, lonely and violent existence they have to endure in temperatures reaching -40c. They were forced into this situation by divorced and deceased parents but they still hope and strive for a better future. For me this image encapsulates the extremely difficult conditions these boys live in whilst life continues around them, oblivious and indifferent to their plight.”

This was a very personal project for me so I’m happy that it’s been recognised by a wider audience and hopefully through this competition more people will have an understanding of what many children are experiencing in Mongolia.

If you are interested in this subject, please have a look at this aid agency in Ulaan Baatar who I met and who are doing a great job trying to help people just like Munkhbat and Altangeret. The Christina Noble Children’s Foundation.

Jersey Evening Post Assignments

Posted 1 August 2009

As previously mentioned I haven’t posted many images from my day to day work for a while so here’s a selection from over the last few weeks.

Laneez Surf School students make their way to the surf on St Ouens beach. (Jersey Evening Post)

Andy Errington-Rennell Funeral Director at Pitcher & Le Quesne who has worked there for 20 years. (Jersey Evening Post)

Reg Stock 2 music festival in aid of Amnesty International. Andy Coleman singing in the Om Stage. (Jersey Evening Post)

Caesarean Cycling Club Round the Bays Road Race descending into Corbiere. (Jersey Evening Post)

Matthew Lewis actor from Harry Potter. (Jersey Evening Post)

Han de Jong Chief Economist at ABN-AMRO. (Jersey Evening Post)

Vanessa Lee President of the Insurance Institute of Jersey. (Jersey Evening Post)

Jersey Swimming Club Green Island to Havre des Pas swim. (Jersey Evening Post)

Exhibition Updates

Posted 28 July 2009

Just a quick post to update everyone on how the exhibitions are progressing in London.

Foto 8 held their street party last Friday which unfortunately I missed due to being on duty at work but I’m sure it was a great night. They have posted the final selection of images chosen for the exhibition so I’ve included a link below. It really is a mix of all genres of photography and some amazing images in there so please have a look when you have time.

The Press Photographers Year exhibition continues at the National Theatre and the AOP Open have their awards night next thursday so fingers crossed…!! I’m hoping to get over to London in the next few weeks to see them all….

…link to the Press Photographer’s Year selection…

Aerial Pictures over Jersey

Posted 28 July 2009

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything from my job at the Jersey Evening Post so I’ll be including some image sets over the next few weeks. This set was from a round Island flight in a Piper Cub aircraft. This old high wing, slow plane with the side door taken off is perfect for aerial photography and a great way to get a completely different perspective of where I live. It was a perfect day for flying and I managed to fill a number of centre spreads for the paper despite only being in the air for 30 minutes.Recession busting value for money eh..!!

La Rocco Tower and St Ouens Bay (Jersey Evening Post)

Seymour Tower and walkers on south-east coast. (Jersey Evening Post)

View over south coast looking towards Gorey. (Jersey Evening Post)

People working on oyster beds in Grouville Bay. (Jersey Evening Post)

La Rocque Pier. (Jersey Evening Post)

People walking on the beach in Grouville Bay. (Jersey Evening Post)

The Press Photographers Year 2009 & Foto8 Finalist

Posted 4 July 2009

No competition results for ages then three come along at once..!!

More good news from what is fast becoming the most popular image I have taken recently in terms of recognition. The same image as the AOP Open image below from Mongolia has been selected for The Press Photographers Year 2009 exhibition and book. Again, it is a privilege to be included in a select amongst some of the best photographers working for the UK press so well done to all the winners and please have a look at all the selected images here. It is easier if I just copy and paste what they say about the competition and exhibition dates:-

The Exhibition

An edit of 146 pictures has been made by the jury from the 7,877 submitted and 16 prizes have been awarded. All these have been selected to represent the extraordinary variety and standard of the entries received. The complete edit will be featured in an exhibition which runs in the Lyttelton foyer of the National Theatre on London’s South Bank from 4th July to 31st August. Open

Monday to Saturday from 9.30am till 11pm. Admission is free.

If you get the chance pop along and have a look then please do so as the organisors really make an effort with the presentation and layout of the pictures and the small images you see on the website really come alive.

FOTO8 Summer Show & Awards

Also, the same image has been selected as a finalist in the Foto8 Summer Show & Awards 2009. This competition took a slightly different format and 120 images have been selected out of 2,300 images entered to be exhibited in the well respected photography gallery HOST in Honduras Street, London. It seems to be a great opportunity to network and have a few beers with fellow photographers in a big street party on the opening night. You don’t have to be a finalist to come along and tickets at £5 can be bought here so if you fancy seeing some great work and lots of beers come along..!!

A bit more about the awards:-

The Entrants

The 2009 Summer Show saw an overwhelming response, with over 2,300 images entered from 44 different countries, including Bangladesh, Iran, Mexico, Thailand and Turkey. The final selection of photographs, chosen by Foto8 editors, will all be on display, entered into the awards and available for sale to the public. Honduras Street, EC1. The Summer Show will run from 25 July – 5 September 2009.

If you don’t already look at Foto8 then now is the time. With new picture stories, industry news and blogs updated daily it is a great photographers resource..

AOP Awards Finalist-Public Vote

Posted 24 June 2009

I’m just recovering after a very busy few weeks with the Amnesty International Human Rights Festival which went exceptionally well this year. For me the highlights were meeting Moazzam Begg, a British former prisoner of Guantanamo Bay who spoke eloquently about his experience in captivity. Then there were two photographers Teru Kuwayama and Balazs Gardi who not only gave an amazing presentation of their work in Pakistan and Afghanistan but who were also incredibly nice guys. Just talking to them was both inspiring and educational and personally helped me with which direction I want to take my work in the near future..more of that later..!!

For now though I received some good news that one of my Mongolia pictures has been selected for the Association of Photographers AOP Open Awards exhibition in London. This is an image I’m particularly proud of as for me it encapsulates the extremely difficult conditions these boys and others live in whilst the world just continues around them oblivious and indifferent to their situation. If you feel moved by this image then you can vote for it in the Public Choice Award. My image is on Page 7. Details of which are below.

picture-1

Munkhbat (15) & Altangeret (15) have lived down this manhole in Unur district of Ulaan Baatar for over 3 years. Violence is commonplace and their manhole has been petrol bombed by rival street children 3 times in the last few years.

The exhibition runs from July 29th so if your in London pop in to have a look at all the entries.

Thanks..Rich…

5th Amnesty Jersey Human Rights Festival

Posted 7 June 2009

With only a week to go we are putting the final touches to the exhibition and generally getting very excited about the festival. This is our fifth year hosting the Jersey Amnesty International Human Rights Film Festival and it has come a long way since its conception.

Considering Jersey has a very limited audience base with a population of 90,000, the attendance figures in previous years we think are exceptional with up to 250 people (a full house) paying to see and hear what is happening to people beyond our little Island. This proves to us that there is an appetite for hard hitting documentary films in Jersey that will challenge the audience and that people are willing to engage in human rights issues.

We hope this year will be equally well attended.

We have extended our program this year to include even more high profile speakers and for the first time, two guest photojournalists. I’m particular excited that two of the best photojournalists working today, Teru Kuwayama & Balazs Gardi have given up their time to come to Jersey to give us an insight into how they operate in Iraq and Afghanistan. They have both just returned from Pakistan so their first hand knowledge and experiences of what is happening in the region will be fascinating.

With them they are bringing their highly acclaimed exhibition Battlespace which will be on display at the Jersey Arts Centre from June 15th for two weeks. This exhibition comprises of images from over 20 photojournalists who have worked in Iraq and Afghanistan and aims to show the public an unsanitised view of what is happening in these continuing conflicts. Alongside this will be my recent work from Mongolia looking at the effects of rapid urbanisation on the capital Ulaan Baatar and the street children who struggle to survive the bitter winter there.

Couple that evening with film directors, Oscar winning documentary films, prominent human rights lawyers and Moazzam Begg, a former British prisoner of Guantanamo Bay who will talking about his experiences there, it’s sure to be an insightful, challenging but rewarding week.

We hope to see you there…

film-fest-brochure-1 film-fest-brochure-5_page_2 film-fest-brochure-5_page_3 film-fest-brochure-5_page_4

Editor’s Choice-Canon Professional Network

Posted 19 May 2009

Hi there,

It’s been a few weeks since the last post so a quick review of what has happened since then. I entered the picture below into the Canon Professional Network Editor’s Choice a few months ago and it was chosen as one of the best pictures out of over 4,314 photos by well known picture editor Aidan Sullivan. Aidan is now vice president of photo assignments at Getty Images and has been a pic ed on the Sunday Times as well as being a photographer so it was quite a compliment. If you click here you can scroll down to a multimedia presentation where Aidan explains why he chose his favourite 36 images.

As a photographer editing is one of the most important and difficult tasks and deciding between keeping the picture story in colour or making them black and White is a tricky one. I originally thought this Mongolia project would be a BW project but after much discussion with fellow photographers and my wife (a very harsh critic of my work..!) I decided to stay with color which is what Aidan liked about it so thanks for the good advice guys..!! I’ve attached both versions below to see what you think..please feel free to make any comments about the decision or if you prefer the BW image..thanks….

Gaia Photos

Posted 27 April 2009

I’ve recently been accepted into a photo collective called Gaia Photos. Its aim is to bring photojournalists working around the world together and provide a platform for the public and professional photo buyers to see their latest work. It’s not a traditional photo agency where pictures can be bought and sold but more of an online showcase of everyones work.

It’s a very new venture but some excellent photographers have signed up already so hopefully it will grow in reputation and lead to some interesting contacts and commissions..fingers crossed..!!

In case your wondering “Gaia” was the name of the primal Greek goddess of the Earth…hope that helps..!

Unseen-British Press Photographers’ Association (BPPA)

Posted 21 April 2009

unseen_cover_photo

I just received my copy of the new BPPA book Unseen through the post today and it looks great. I probably would say that because I’ve quite a few pictures in it..!! To be a bit more objective here is a review someone else has written..

” The latest BPPA publication is “UNSEEN”, a stylish cloth-bound collection of work which has either been unpublished, or so heavily altered as to be unreconisable from the original image! It contains some astonishing pictures, many uplifting, many sad, but all demanding to be appreciated, and a credit to the imagination, tenacity and often bravery of the talented photographers who document our lives in the 21st century.”

These sort of projects take an immense amount of organising so well done to all involved. Copies can be bought from Fixation or Amazon.

Below are some of the pictures I have in there from past assignments.

There were chaotic and emotional scenes as tens of thousands of Palestinians converge on the town of Ramallah for the funeral of Yasser Arafat. November 2004.

Refugees displaced in a territorial dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia attend a funeral of one of their own, March 2002.

A lone motorcyclist surveys the damage along a road behind the Lhok Nga mosque in Banda Aceh, Indonesia following the Boxing Day Tsunami. The mosque was the only building to survive in this area. January 2005.

Farchana camp in Eastern Chad, home to over 18,000 Sudanese refugees-80 per cent of them woman and children- who fled Darfur. March 2007.

Photo of the Day-Polio Eradication

Posted 14 April 2009

One of the pictures from the recent assignment to India has been chosen as Photo of the Day by the editors of a New York based photography magazine PDN. Photo District News (PDN) is an award-winning monthly magazine for the professional photographer and has been covering the professional photographic industry for over two decades so it’s a great platform for more publicity on the polio eradication program.

To view the online magazine please click here PDN

A vaccinator gives polio drops to a child on a train in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India on February 1, 2009. During the NID throughout India, over 172 million children under five were given their life-saving drops of polio vaccine. The World is now 99.8% polio free following a 20-year eradication campaign let by Rotary International.