Insulted!!

So, I’ve been having a bit of a whinge lately, if you don’t like it, I don’t apologize, because I’m trying to stand up for photographers.

As I’ve whinged about before, I’ve been banned from shooting my hometown motocross event this year, and I’d say in the future, simply because I wouldn’t agree to give the organisers “free” images to use for promotional use, even though I had agreed to it previously.

I’m not going to go on too much about it but I felt rather insulted after the organisers put out a request for flaggies for the weekend. Now if you don’t know what a flaggie is, they are the marshalls that are based on each jump on the track. If a riders falls, they wave yellow flags to notify oncoming traffic of the impending danger. Hell, I even put down my camera equipment last year to help out during the practice on the Friday of last years event. Now being a flaggie to be honest is shit, you get covered in shit and you don’t get to watch the race properly because you have to watch the backside of the jump in case someone falls, but, you can’t have a race without flaggies! Very important!!

Now, the insult to me comes in this form “Desperate for flaggies for Sat and Sunday-Free entry, food and drinks during the day and $50 and the best view of the event”.  Are you for real!!…………Now I’m a farmer (apparently we’re not that bright!!) but say you need 20 flaggies –  $50 fee + $30  free entry + lets say $20 for food and drinks. $100 per flaggie, that equals $2000!! Now a photographer rocks up with 25k worth of gear, spends 3 days there shooting, and is expected to do it for nothing??? Give me a break!!! Now you wonder why I’m having a whinge and feel I’ve been shafted. As well as losing jobs and money with the publications I deal with, you wonder why I’m fucked off!!!

Now this is a public forum, don’t be shy to voice your opinion as I have done, I do it all the time!!! Tell me if I’m a whinger (I expect a couple to!!), I have broad shoulders, I can handle criticism, but I’m just trying to stand up for photographers so they don’t get shafted like I have.

If you want to be a flaggie, you might be lucky enough to get your photo taken!!

Crisp Autumn Mornings.

Why would one want to live in the country, and wake up to crisp, fresh, clean air every morning?? You have to be mad to want that everyday!!!

Chilly Morning

This is another shot from the other morning I did for Merv.

This paddock was seeded just before the first rains this year, and look at it go!! If all goes well we should be strip feeding by the end of the month. I feel guilty in a way, as I know how many other farmers don’t even have a blade of grass on their property. I hope these systems this week will produce some solid rainfall which will spread though the whole farming region. We need La Nina’ to piss right off and give us our winter pattern back!!!

I know it’s not an exciting image, but that green to some people is like gold!!!

Major Disappointment.

A lot of you will be aware of a post from a few months back, about me making a stand to not give away my images for nothing.

Well, fast forward a few months, only a few weeks before an event, and I’ve effectively been banned from shooting at an event.

Lets go back a couple years, to the first time a first shot the event. I agreed to give the organisers photos for promotional use, as I was told if I didn’t agree to that I couldn’t shoot. I had just spent $900 on airfares from Karatha plus $1500 in lost wages to come down for the weekend and “shoot” the event.

So last year, same thing. I had supplied photos for all the promotional material leading up to the race, without complaint, only praise and support from the organisers. I was there for the Friday’s practice, Saturday and Sunday. Only thing that had changed was the fact the number of photographers at the event had grown from 3 the year before, to about 6 or 7. I just carried on and did my thing, trying to stay away from all the others, but found a few times where someone else was shooting over my shoulder, or as soon as I chosen a new location, they’d be straight in there after I’d moved!! So three days shooting, and the next full day processing to get the photos out to where they had to go. It was at this time where I’d felt this wasn’t right. It was at that stage I thought this is the last time I do it for nothing, especially as, and I don’t want to “blow my own bags”, but I felt I got the job done and produced the best and cleanest images at that event, and I had total support from the organisers, who once again praised me for my quality of work.

So this year, I had no contact with the organisers at all leading up to the event, until I’d seen the link for this years event on Facebook, with someone else’s image. So this prompted me to make a call, after I frustratingly posted a comment on facebook, which offended some people. I was told by someone that I was not welcome at this year’s event, so I wanted to find out, but I had the feeling I wasn’t anyway, considering I’d gone from hero to zero from the year before. I was told we had a deal, which yes, we did, but I didn’t agree with that deal anymore. If I didn’t agree to that deal I couldn’t shoot, so I stood my ground and  made my case, but it didn’t change things, just made it worse. Even after being organised to once again do my news story on the event with ADB, as well as my local paper and other publications as last year, I was effectively banned. It is a shame because I love the event, and the fact I do the job, and produce the images.

What’s more frustrating is the money spent to bring over riders from overseas and the east coast, paying video crews to record the event and even paying the flaggies to man the jumps, but the people that produce the most beneficial promotional product have to do it for nothing if they want to shoot at the event. This to me is disappointing.

I know the link from this post will be sent to the organisers, but that’s ok, I’d expect that, I can live with my decision, but in the end I’ll probably die by my own sword, but I’m happy with the decision I made, as I feel it’s the right one for photographers out there. Maybe we need a “Photographers Union”!!! thoughts???

Anyway, as frustrating as it is, especially with the fact that Billy MacKenzie, Jay Marmont and Matt Moss are confirmed to be coming this year, it hurts to not be  part of it, but I’m not backing down, even if it is costing me money to not do it.

But I guess if you feel strongly for something you need to make a stand, and hope others follow.

Let me know your thoughts on this issue, or if  you feel I’m being a prima donna, tell me!!

This was one of my favourites from last year.

This One’s for Merv!!

We all know how desperately we’re in need of rain. After speaking with Merv, he said he’s forgotten what green grass looks like, and after his recent posts of dry seeding paddocks and sheep grazing on bare ground, I sort of feel a little guilty of putting up this photo. We have been somewhat lucky in Manjimup, we had a good break, and have had some follow up rain, luckily at the right times! We are way down on average rainfall, but the rain we’ve had, together with the warm weather has made for some great growing conditions. This hay paddock we finished seeding a day before the first rain came, and it hasn’t looked back. I do hope not only for our sake, but for all farmers across the state that we get good consistent rain this season, as it is definitely make or break for some on the land.

Just for the record, we actually had a mild frost, so it was pretty cool, but the days have been sensational. Hope you get t see some green grass up your way soon Merv!!

Cricket Finals 2010/11

Well it’s that time of the year again……it’s time for the cricket grand finals, and the Marist Cricket Club has it’s A, B, and C grade teams  contesting the grand finals this year.

After what has been an interesting year, with form slumps from the top three sides towards the end of the year, there was definitely no favourites for the premiership this year. As for ourselves (Marist) we missed opportunities to win games we should have, which took away the opportunity to play in the 2nd semi final and try and win a home final. We had to get there the long way, via the first semi. We took on Dalyellup on our home ground on a lively Forrest Park east wicket. We lost the toss and were sent in and were soon reeling at 3 for 8 in the fourth over. At 4 for 40 we looked in serious trouble, and then Corey Fitt and captain Adam Spinelli put their heads down and went about salvaging a score. These two lost their wickets, and then the experienced Paul Tomasi and Steve McGee continued in the rescue mission. We managed to score 186. We managed to put the screws on Dalyellup from the start, with constant pressure from either end with the ball. They lost wickets at regular intervals and couldn’t sustain the barrage of deliveries. So it was a win, a great character building win, especially when Dalyellup thought they had us a 3 for 8!!

So yesterday, it was the preliminary final against the Hay Park Redbacks, the product of a merger between the South Bunbury and Bunbury cricket clubs. We had two epic games against the Redbacks this year, with us losing both, the first one on the last ball of the day and the second game in the last over, so we were keen for revenge.

We won the toss and batted on a pretty flat deck, although it was a little two paced and up and down. We were once again in trouble, at 3 for 37. I joined Corey fit and we decided to keep our heads down until the drinks break. I was out LBW for 23 in the last over before drinks. Adam Spinelli joined Fitt for anther great partnership, with both playing attacking cricket and accelerating the scoring rate. Spinelli was stumped brilliantly, and then Steve McGee, Chris Waddingham and Wayne Murphy worked hard to get the score past 200, which was another great effort considering the start we had. Fitt made 60, Spinelli 37, Waddingham 23 and McGee 25. Our total was 204.

So with the target set at 205 runs to win, Hay Park were on the back foot early with some tight bowling from Paul Tomasi and Steve McGee. The pressure kept building and we managed to get wickets regularly. Once again the Marist bowling attack applied the pressure which became too much for the Hay Park batsmen. Only Norm Bedford (44 n.o), Ben Cross (29)and some late hitting by Chris McMillan provided  something for Hay Park. It was a win to marist by arund 30 runs.

So we take on the Colts Cricket Club in the “A” grade grand final next week, which is a replay of last years final, which Marist won. I played in a losing “B” grandy last year so am keen to win this one. If anyone that loves cricket wants to watch what will be a pretty fiery and exciting game, you should head down (or up) to Bunbury this weekend, The grand final is played over 2 games, Saturday and Sunday, with combined scores from both matches. Let me know if you are thinking of making it and I can give directions to the ground. The Bunbury Cricket Association is the strongest country competition in the state, so the cricket is good, and it will be good next weekend.

Come on Marist!!!

 

The xXx 4 is still going!!!

20000 hits.

Well blow me down……it’s finally made it!! Took a while to get here but got to 20000 hits. I know it’s a piss in the ocean compared  to the great man who has now retired from blogging, but, I’m no great man!!

Cheers to everyone who has dropped by in the past and to those who will continue to follow my flailing blog!! As you all know it’s not always about photography, but I think that’s the way I’m going to roll.

I think my pursuits will now be those that I enjoy……..motorbikes and enduro racing. Already got jobs lines up for some mags through the year, which is great to know that I’m the go to man in W.A for the MX and Enduro stuff. (Not that some event organisers feel the same way about me over here!!!) All I need to do now is get to the U.S and have a look at the AMA Supercross and Outdoors…….one day!!

 

Perth Cricket Club – Toyota Cup 1995-96

15 years, it’s hard to believe it’s been that long, but 15 years has passed since the Perth Cricket Club won the Toyota Cup one day competition against Midland-Guildford under lights at the WACA. The day was the 3rd of March 1996. I can’t even remember the lead up games, or the semi final, but all I can remember was how excited I was to be selected in the team. I was a fresh faced 20 year old, first season playing first grade in Perth, and was pretty much shitting myself. We were missing Adam Gilchrist and Mark Atkinson who were on state duties (Midland had Tom Moody, Brendan Julian and Joe Angel on state duties as well!!), so the sides were evenly matched. We bowled first and after Midland got off to a solid 60 run opening stand, Brad Oldroyd came on and turned the game around. His figures of 10 overs, 3 for 14 took the momentum away from Midland. We bowled them out for 181.

I remember sitting there, waiting, I was batting at number 8. We kept losing wickets and could not sustain a solid partnership. We had a number of batsmen who got starts but didn’t go on with it. I remember we lost a wicket, good mate Ross Wintle, it was my time to bat. I remember walking out onto the WACA, nervously looking around at the lights, trying to get my eyes adjusted. I took my leg stump guard and faced up. First ball I played down to gully for none. 2nd ball I played a cover drive for three, I was away. My senior partner at the other end Doug Frame had been batting well. Our mid wicket discussion was him telling me not to panic (I was shitting myself)and that there were plenty of ones and two around, so just push the gaps. Next ball he tried to hit over mid off and holes out. Holy shit…….game on.

I can’t really recall too much of what happened, although one thing sticks in my mind. Bard Oldroyd had come out to bat, and he just said to me that he was absolutely shitting himself, no stranger there!! Now Brad had been playing for WA, but had been dropped from the squad during that season. His first delivery he swung like a rusty gate and missed the ball by about 2 feet!! 2 overs later he was on strike to Drew Parker, and played and missed every ball of the over. Parker slowly wandered down the wicket and expressed his frustrations at Oldroyd, to which Oldroyd responded simply with “Fuck off dickhead!!”

I just remember the last over when we won. Craig Hill was the bowler, left armer. He was angling them into my pads, and I missed two balls angled down the leg side. He then bowled a full ball which I clipped off my legs through backward square for four. Next ball was pitched up outside off, I swung hard, trying to hit it over the Lillee-Marsh stand, but instead got a thick outside edge and the ball flew down to the third man boundary for four!! We had just won, it was chaotic, unbelievable. All the boys and spectators from the club ran out onto the ground and celebrations started. It was an amazing feeling, one which will be pretty hard to top.

That night at the club was amazing, the feeling of success, achievement, the pressure had gone. 1980 was the last time the club had tasted success, so it was party time. All I remember was being one of the last standing, country style, and passing out on the couch in the club about 6 in the morning. I remember mum and dad coming to pick me up, or recover my lifeless body, when dad grabbed Monday’s West Australian and showed me inside the back page……..I’d made headlines!!

At the end of the day, it’s a team game. I would rather a premiership than an individual medal, as it’s something special that will stay with you forever, and it’s one thing that will be talked about for years to come when you get together with that group.

I miss the Fletcher Park days playing for the Perth Cricket Club, but cherish the fact that I was lucky enough to be involved.

 

 

 

 

Fisherman – Inner Harbour

Just been going through some old files, I guess going through some of my work to see if anything is worthy! Honestly have had the shits on the last few weeks (just ask the missus!!) as I’ve had a crook back, haven’t been able to play cricket, and also wondering about photography and where I want it to go, if anywhere at all. I’ve been flat about it for a while, don’t know why, just am, maybe I just want to keep it as a hobby, for myself, and just shoot what I enjoy shooting.

Anyway………..came across this pic, was a nice evening, and saw this guy trying to catch a fish or three. Don’t know if I like it that much, but who cares, here it is!! My jetty is in the background somewhere too………..hope I don;t get in the shit for taking a photo of it!!

 

 

 

 

 

Mac – 3.5 months

Well it doesn’t take long, but pups, they tend to grow up, quickly!!

Mac is no exception, but it’s good to see them grow up, and to see their personality develop. Mac, is obviously full of energy, and can be quite cheeky, you expect this, but in general he is great. Just can’t wait till he’s old enough to teach him how to work the  cattle, without him thinking they’re just big toys!!

Here’s a few pics of the growing boy…….and yes, it’s a really big tennis ball, and a fair dribble in the first pic!!

 

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