A leftie cad snorer #107 [aka a bunch of stuff - mostly about photography]       March 4^th 2010

Haiku stuff

My life is Jelly

Sitting and waiting in the bowl

Patiently to gel

glass half full stuff

You don’t have to go far to find someone who is worse off than yourself. Last edition drew some responses from members whose condition I was aware of, but also a few of which I wasn’t aware. A big thanks to everyone who participated in the print swap. It was quite humbling to be on the receiving end of such generosity, but also it was great to see such fraternity at the swap night and again at the opening of the show at New North Gallery. A special thanks to those of you from distant parts who couldn’t make the swap night and so had to rely on a random draw to choose your print. [hope you got something that you liked]

new members stuff

A big warm and fuzzy welcome to our newest free radical members, Carolyn Lewens and Bruce Lindsay

births and deaths stuff

Always an unhappy task to note that a member of the photographic fraternity has gone to the big darkroom in the sky [another generation or so and we will have to change that to the big computer lab in the sky], but even more-so in this edition with the passing of three of our number.

Sam Haskins, South African born fashion photographer, best known for his iconic nude images of the 60’s and 70’s, died at his home in Bowral, NSW on Nov 25^th 2009. Haskins suffered a stroke in New York in September and had suffered severe depression since. Sam Haskins was 83. 

John Commin, President of the Victorian Association of Photographic Societies [VAPS] passed away on Feb 12^th after a short illness.

Feb 9^th, Alfred ‘Greg’ Gregory died in Melbourne three days shy of his 97th birthday, after suffering a heart attack. Greg was perhaps best known as the photographer and integral member of the 1953 British expedition to Mount Everest, when Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay made the famous first ascent.

one degree of separation stuff

Never mind six degrees of separation, Sam Haskins and yours truly were just one degree apart.

In the late sixties I was in London, working at a range of various temporary occupations between periods of travel. At one stage I was working for a flat cleaning agency, and one day, along with a fellow flat cleaner from New Zealand, was sent to an address in Chelsea in one of the streets that ran between the Kings Road and the Thames. The place, from the outside, was one of a row of two storey terrace houses. Inside the building, along with it’s neighbour, it had been gutted and converted into a rather large studio. Now this predates my career in photography by a good fifteen years, but it was pretty obvious with all the lighting equipment, fake walls  and props scattered around, that this was indeed a photographic studio. In fact it was Sam Haskins studio.

Builders had just finished installing [or renovating] a darkroom, and the space was awash in sawdust, plaster scraps and other construction detritus. We were given our cleaning instructions by a rather gorgeous studio manager and set to work. Also at the studio was an older woman, who, due to a few loud telephone conversations, we took to be the photographers wife, and the photographer, Sam, was in fact on assignment in South Africa, where there was an issue with either a lost, stolen or expired credit card.

As we went about our cleaning tasks, there was a table covered in bric-a-brac and objet d’art which required moving to another part of the studio. Rather than clearing the table, moving it then replacing the contents piece by piece, I suggested to my kiwi co cleaner that we just pick up the table holus bolus and carefully walk it to it’s intended new location. As is often the case with shortcuts, the inevitable happened, and a small ceramic rooster took a tumble onto the concrete floor and was smashed into multiple pieces [I still maintain that it was an unhappy rooster and that he jumped] At the sound of the crash, the wife Alida came running into the studio not a very happy camper. ‘That was one of Sams favourite pieces’ she admonished, threatening that the flat cleaning agency would be her first call, and no doubt that both myself and Kiwi cohort would never ever clean another premises. I don’t recall that there were ever any repercussions, and soon after forewent my flat cleaning career [of my own volition] for a more lucrative job in Great Yarmouth working on a North Sea oil rig.

I have often wondered if that experience implanted photography into my subconscious and somehow predestined my photographic career a decade and a half later…… No you dill – not the ceramic rooster…… the gorgeous studio manager, the polaroids of naked models scattered around everywhere and the framed images of nudes superimposed over apples which graced the studio walls…… Who knows?

photography festival stuff

Foto Freo 2010, which runs March 20 – April 18, have  launched their Core Program lineup – details at  www.fotofreo.com Tried to arrange a free radical gallery crawl at FF’08 but it ended up being a solo event. If you are heading west for FF’10 or a Perth based, drop me a line < free radicaloz [at] gmail.com > and let’s see if we can organize something for early opening week.

Head On, the alternative portrait photography prize is expanding into a festival of photography as of late April 2010. As well as the 7^thportrait prize, workshops, exhibitions and forums will take place across Sydney. More details from  www.headon.com.au

And the PMA show, along with the  Canon/AIPP Australian Professional Photographer of the Year Awards is in Melbourne June 4 -6,

call for entry  stuff

It’s always a good idea to thoroughly read and understand terms of entry for any photographic prize or competition. If you don’t like what they say, or feel terms and conditions are not clearly spelled out, or appear exploitative, don’t enter!

Exhibit A provides a platform for budding and professional photographers alike to go head to head and inspire each other in a unique international photography competition. Juried by industry leaders, Exhibit A sees that photographers are publicly recognized in the presence of known and respected art buyers, curators, galleries, magazines, and advertising agencies from around the world. Sydney Exhibition and International Publicity:
 Photographs from the 1st place winners in each category will be exhibited at a prestigious exhibition in Sydney. Winning Work Featured by Le Book:
The ‘Emerging Photographer of the Year’ and the 1st place winners in each category will also be featured on the Le Book website. Categories: 
Fine Art, Photojournalism, Advertising and Portrait. Awards Include:
”Emerging Photographer of the Year” receives $5,000 AUD 
1st place winners in each category receive AUD$1,000. 
People’s Choice Awards and Honorable Mentions. EARLYBIRD DEADLINE: February 1, 2010 (10% Discount) Full details from  www.exhibitacomp.com

The Head On Portrait Prize is the nation’s major innovative showcase for Australian portrait photography, reflecting a vibrant, diverse cross-section of new and traditional photographic practices. Entries are now open for the 2010 prize which will be the marquee event of the first expanded Head on Photo Festival. Which runs from April 29^th to June 6^th 2010.  Entries close March 14^th. Details from www.headon.com.au

PAVE and Emerald Lions Club present PAVEPHOTO 2010. Saturday & Sunday April 10th and 11th, 9am til 4pm at Emerald Hall, Emerald (Melway Ref. 127 F4) Entry forms are available on the website  www.pave.org.au and entries need to be submitted by April 1st. The theme for 2010 is “The Human Element” but photographs with alternate themes are welcome. For more info call 0419 326 930.

The inaugural 2010 EPSON International Pano Awards is dedicated to the art of panoramic photography. Advances in digital photography and software such as PTGui and Adobe Photoshop has resulted in an explosion in the popularity of image stitching, especially in the panoramic format. Panoramic film photography also remains alive and well. The Pano Awards aims to showcase the work of panoramic photographers worldwide and be the largest and most important competition for panoramic photography. The competition is now open for all professional and amateur photographers with a combined prize pool of over US$13,000 in cash and prizes!  Entries close April 30^th 2010. Full details from  www.thepanoawards.com

2010 Windland Smith Rice International Awards. The editors of Nature’s Best Photography magazine invite all photographers to enter the 14th Annual Windland Smith Rice International Awards competition for 2010. All winning images will be published in the 2010 Collectors Edition of Nature’s Best Photography magazine. In addtiton, the category Winners and a selection of Highly Honored photographs will be displayed in an exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. The Grand Prize will also win a “Yellowstone in Winter” photo workshop provided by Arizona Highways Photo Workshops. Entries are judged on technical quality, originality, and artistic merit. Enter up to 20 images for an entry fee of $25 US dollars. Entries close April 5^th. More info from  http://www.naturesbestphotography.com/enter_guidelines.php

2010 Ocean Views Photo contest. Nature’s Best Photography and Divers Alert Network (DAN) are proud to announce our new alliance to host the third annual Ocean Views Photography Awards, open to all levels of photographers from around the world. Share your passion for the ocean to help inspire a global audience to learn about and protect this fragile realm. A selection of winning images will appear in an upcoming edition of Nature’s Best Photography and Alert Divers magazine, and will be featured on Pixcetera, Discovery Network International, and other online galleries. Celebrate the ocean through the art of photography. DEADLINE: March 1, 2010. Further info from  http://www.photocompetitions.com/2010/2010-ocean-views-photo-contest/

other happening  stuff

The Monash Gallery of Art [MGA] annual fundraising auction and dinner takes place Saturday March 13^th at 6.30 pm. Bookings are essential on 03 8544 0500. The auction catalogue is online at  www.mga.org.au

Workshop stuff

Lighting workshop – from capture to print with Brett Odgers at Sun Studios. Sydney March 17^th, details 9461 5544, Melbourne March 24^th. Details 9427 7440

exhibition stuff

happy to list your show be it in Melbourne, Darwin, Hobart or wherever, but if it’s too much trouble to send me your exhibition details in a format that I can readily cut and paste, i.e. in the body of an email, then it’s too much trouble for me to transcribe details from a PDF or go chasing websites for the information that’s missing. Send the details to <free radicaloz [at] gmail.com> Include details of  opening and closing dates, gallery address, opening hours, and if you like, a brief synopsis of the show. Sometimes it’s  4 – 6 weeks between editions of the notes, so if you want to be sure of getting a listing, get your details in early.

Urban Archaeology by Allan Kleiman. Allan, a successful commercial photographer for many years, has recently turned his passion for photography into the pursuit of fine art. This body of work presents the graphic beauty of the everyday, illustrating and recording degrees of urban decoration and decay. Mostly shot in the familiar streets of Melbourne, Allan invites the viewer to imagine and interpret these ‘discoveries’ in the same way that an archaeologist discovers the remains of ancient civilizations and reconstructs what life was like. Show is current to March 20^th.

At the Colour Factory, 409 – 429 Gore St Fitzroy. Gallery hours Mon – Fri 8.30 – 5.30, Sat 1 – 4.

Final Works from the Darkroom by Jeff Carter. At Mossgreen Gallery, 30 Toorak Rd South Yarra. Show current to March 6^th.www.mossgreen.com.au

Cuba by Masaki Hirano. At the Radio Springs Hotel, Main Rd. Lyonville. Open Thursday to Sunday.

The Minefield and the Lotus by Les Horvat [fr#277] at Red Gallery, 157 St Georges Rd Fitzroy North. Show current to March 20^th. Gallery open Weds to Sat 11 – 5

From Digital to Handmade – group show with Kara Rasmanis, Wendy Currie, Karena Goldfinch and Silvi Glattauer [fr#391]. Show current to March 18^th at Obscura Gallery, first floor 285 Carlisle St, East St Kilda. www.obscuragallery.com

Kiribati: putting a face to climate change by Jon Lewis plus 8 Mile: photographs from the margins of Port Moresby, by Sean Davey and Emmanuel Onom Mel, both shows current to April 11^th, plus MGA Fundraiser auction preview, show current to March 13th All at the Monash Gallery of Art, Ferntree Gully Rd, Wheelers Hill. Open Tues to Fri 10 -5 and Sat & Sun 12- 5

classified stuff

classifieds are free, but only run for one edition unless you email me to run in the following edition due to lack of enquiries, or you wish to delete, add, or change the price of items. Don’t send an essay – just item, price and contact  details. KISS

• I’m selling my 5D Mark II with the vertical grip and 2 extra batteries, charger and whatever cables come with it including cd’s and things.

It’s still under warranty until end of August, and also still have the box.  Its in new condition apart from about 2000 clicks on the shutter and just went in for a service and clean. I’m selling for $3800.  If interested, please give me a call or email and feel free to pass on to anyone that might be interested.  Fr# 433 arsineh@arsineh.com or 0401320173

• For sale *Update: SOLD Bronica SQA system

Body, 2 x 120 Backs, Prism Finder, Waist level finder, 40 mil lens, 50 mils lens, 80 mil lens, 150 mil lens, 250 mil lens (all with lens hoods)

Bellows lens hood/ filter holder, Speed grip, Lens extender S – 18, Lens extender S – 36, Filters and other stuff. Possibly a Polaroid back – if I can find it-. PRICE:  Make an offer *Update: SOLD

• Also FOR SALE: Canon EOS 1 Body with Vertical grip   PRICE:  Make another offer

Peter Barker  fr#137   0359755499

end stuff

Feeling neglected because of lack of information on events happening in your neck of the woods? I can’t include it if i don’t know about it!! Any editorial content, exhibition notices, classifieds etc. to free radicaloz [at] gmail.com

Lost your badge and forgotten your number? Check out the members page at freeradicaloz.com and if you would like a link to your website from our links page, send the details to cameron.stephen [at] gmail.com – obviously we wouldn’t say no to a reciprocal link!

Too busy to find time to read the notes? not happy with the left leaning Luddite editor?
Simple reply with ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject field and your details will be smitten from the address book – no questions asked.

free radical World HQ
37 Coliban Drive
Lyonville Vic
3461

A photographic exhibition by the friends of Jeff Moorfoot

One hundred photographers show their appreciation for the hard work done by the Ballarat International Foto Biennale Director, donating some of their finest work to be sold on his behalf. A once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase works by these artists at a very modest price.

Works are on view at the Gallery from tomorrow and opening drinks are on Thursday Feb 11th from 6 – 8pm

Artists involved:
ABBOTT Colin, ADAMS Peter, AVELLINO Mark, BACHMAN Bill, BODIN John, BOWES Peter, BOWYER Julie, BROOK Fiona, BROWELL Anthony, BROWNBILL Sally, BUCKLEY Carolyn, BURDER Tim, BUTCHER Noel, CALLOW David, CHAPMAN Andrew, CIANTAR Alan, CLARK Alan, COYNE Michael, Da COSTA Nuno, DIAZ Maggie, DIEMER Kristin, DINAS Heather, Di PAOLO Lucy, DOVE Melanie Faith, DUCKWORTH Neale, ELMS Greg, EVANS Joyce, EVERTON Samantha, FARRELL Leo, FEIL Joseph, FLETCHER Gillian, FORD John, FRANKLIN Chris, GARWOOD Roger, GAULD Robin, GERHARD Andre, GILKES Brian, GLATTAUER Silvi, GODMAN Lloyd, GORDON-BROWN Susan, GRIFFITH Tim, HAMMOND Shireen, HARRINGTON Elda, HAWKES Ponch, HIRANO Masaki, HERZOG Naomi, HOUGH Julie, HOWLETT Fran, IMHOFF Robert, IOANNOU Ellii, JOHNS David, JOYCE Deb, KUMNICK Richar d, KURAVITA Philip, LANDT-ISLEY Karen, LARCOM Donna, LARCOMBE Randy, LASLETT Susan,LUKEY Brent, LUSZPINSKI Jarek, McFARLANE Jim, McKENZIE Ian, MEGALOUDIS Mercury, MIFSUD George, MILLOWICK Julie, MONROE Mark, NAOROJI Nadish, NEWITT Neil, NICHOLLS Lynden, O’SHEA Meredith, PAGE Colin, PECKHAM Senga, RIORDAN Carmel, ROESSLER Thomas, ROSS Carol, ROWE Tracey, QUILLIAM Wayne, SAAD Lisa, SALVATI Maurizio, SAWDON Elizabeth, SEIGERMAN Krystal, SHAIN Christopher, SILVER Michael, SIMMONDS Dave, SLEETH Matthew, SPOWART Doug, STEPHEN Cameron, STOREY Abby, STREET John, SUBLET Charlie, SYNDIKAS Alex, TAM Howard, TITZ Tobias, WATKINS Skip, WISEMAN Colin,WOLF Anna, WOLF Andrew

fraternal diocese #106 [aka a bunch of stuff] 26/1/2010

Haiku stuff

Nuggets of wisdom

it’s such a fine line between

stupid and clever

glass half empty stuff

To borrow a quote from Mark Twain – Rumors of my demise are somewhat premature!

Events of the past 3 months have caused me to reflect on what an unlucky individual I am. I give the following three examples that reinforce my case: 1. I have never won tattslotto. 3. In a lifetime of driving I have only ever exceeded the speed limit on four occasions and have been caught by a speed camera each time. 3. On my first visit to a doctor in over 45 years he tells me I have bowel cancer. Fairly conclusive [if circumstantial] evidence huh?

glass half full stuff

Surgery was successful and I seem to be functioning normally with only half of my large intestine [although for the first couple of weeks I was wondering if the  cure was better than the ailment – the highlight  being getting through the day without shitting your pants!]

But happy to report that diagnosis caught the cancer in it’s earlier stage, and prognosis for a full recovery is excellent, although I am about to start on a course of chemo just for insurance. At the moment I feel pretty good and am back to about 95% fitness. And I have been inundated with  messages of concern and support, but also with tales of others whose plight makes mine pale into insignificance. So thanks for your thoughts and wishes. Chances are I will be around for a good while yet.

new members stuff

A big warm and fuzzy welcome to our newest free radical member, Lawrence Winder

births and deaths stuff

Think I may have prematurely announced this [based on an unsubstantiated rumor] some years back. Unfortunately rumor is now fact that Irving Penn passed away on October 7^th 2009 aged 92 at his home in Manhattan NY. [which just goes to reinforce what I have written in these pages on previous occasions – ‘photography will kill you!’]

Bowness prize stuff

Couple of responses to my comments on the Bowness Prize in the last edition of the notes [in italics below to give you some context if you happened to miss]

The Bowness Prize has been run and won, and yet again the winner causes me to scratch my head and wonder.  I admit I have not seen the finalist prints on the wall, but I have spent some time at flickr where all the shortlisted images are on show at this link and really, there are some pretty average pics that were culled from the 2000 odd entries to make the final list, and I would count the winner amongst those.

from Andrew Chapman [fr#449]

thanks for saying what many are thinking…

The MGA selection was very average!!!!!!!!!!!!

What is going on in Judges heads these days??

Met quite a few people who feel the same. It would be good to do some editorial on the state of “what is selected for prizes”. p.s. why do you also need an A4 sheet with an explanation of what the photographer is on about??

Too much intellectualising and not enough emotion! There…… I’ve vented my spleen,

from Terry Noske [fr#187]

I was interested in your comments re: the Bowness Prize so I checked out the finalists and except for a few exceptions I found them to be a very boring collection of photos. Art photography seems to have been hijacked by academics and intellectuals who have no visual skills at all. I know many photographers who no longer even bother to look at Art Photography.

I wonder what others think?

and from Sue Clisby [fr#746]

I have to disagree with your summary of the Bowness Prize and shame on you for summarising without seeing the exhibition prints.

I volunteer at MGA and whilst I don’t agree with the prize getters (usually never do) the collection of images is an eclectic mix of creative perspectives decided on by 3 differing individuals.

It is still a great experience to view these works and be inspired by the concepts even if you personally don’t like them. It is art’s job to ‘rub’ and stimulate responses. Here’s to the MGA and the role it plays in valuing Australian Photography.

eds. response

I certainly don’t mean to demean the role that the MGA has played [and we hope will continue to play for many years to come] in the promotion of Australian photography. And yes, shame on me for not seeing the exhibition in situ – ah the tyranny of distance! – but I would also point out that the judging panel make their short list selection for the prize by exactly the same method – viewing screen based images.

still more stuff

Another response to the piece by Fr#353 Francis Reiss in the edition #104 of the notes;

from Craig Cooper [fr#536]

Sorry to be a pedant, but in response to FR#XXX Ansel Adams did his own printing – he thought enough of it to write a whole book on the subject (“The Print”), including instructions on enlarging for wall murals. 

RMIT stuff

REQUIEM

After 38 years of association with RMIT, I feel compelled to put something on the record. Most photographers will not notice the passing of an era, but it is upon us. The Original Team plus several new enthusiastic additions, that delivered excellence in Photographic Education for the duration, has been disbanded through the blunt tool of voluntary redundancies. The “New Vision” in education is “Scholarly Research” at the expense of intensive, supervised, targeted practice.

Most of our delivery was done by staff that had run their own high-end professional practice and in many cases subsequently also engaged in Post Grad study. This produced a consistently high number of Graduates who successfully went into Industry to become the new lights both Nationally and Internationally. Having travelled abroad I still maintain that the RMIT BA Illustrative Photography program was one of the top courses in the World – this was always reinforced by our own students returning from exchanges at schools in both the USA and Europe. The Team

achieved this through intensive practice informed and driven by concept and a full understanding of Industry outcomes. But as we all know – everything in life comes to an end eventually – to now be replaced by the New Contemporary Vision. Pity that this Vision has never been fully articulated to the teaching staff, which were in the best position to implement it. Nor were the *PAC Members ever fully consulted in these matters. It seems that the PAC’s these days are there to endorse the

current views of highly qualified staff who have largely never been in private practice at the top level and who often have little or no understanding of the Industry our Grads are about to enter to gain employment. Sour grapes – not at all! What is Contemporary today is history tomorrow and the notion of pushing this type of vision down student throats is short sighted. All styles and past examples are equally important and make up the rich tapestry of professional photography. Students need to develop their own vision – not ape the latest contemporary vision if they are to survive out there for 40 years making a living. ALL of the several 100’s of successful RMIT grads from this program survived exceptionally well on their talents and professional skills inculcated by the staff over the past 38 years. Photography is largely about problem solving – not talking and

theorising – and for that you need technique and discipline learnt through long hours of practice – preferably supervised for a large part of the time. Cutting time on the floor in favour of students self assessing and writing endless reflection statements will not produce what we achieved for 38 years. The King is dead – long live the Queen. Who is the Queen you ask – she is coming – soon! My thanks to all the Staff who made the “RMIT Vision” a reality. Also to the broader Industry and it’s support over the past decades and the many friends, mostly photographers, who are out there every day making their vision a reality.

*PAC – Industry Advisory Committee

Michael Wennrich A.R.M.I.T. Illustrative Photography, Grad Dip Art (App. Film & TV, Swinburne)

Honorary Fellow of the AIPP, fr#431

photography festival stuff

Foto Freo 2010, which runs March 20 – April 18, have  launched their Core Program lineup – details at  www.fotofreo.com and just announced – HeadOn, the alternative portrait photography prize is expanding into a festival of photography as of late April 2010. As well as the 7^th portrait prize, workshops, exhibitions and forums will take place across Sydney. More details from www.headon.com.au And the PMA show, along with the  Canon/AIPP Australian Professional Photographer of the Year Awards is in Melbourne June 4 -6, so for all of you from elsewhere, start saving up your frequent flyer points – the first half of 2010 is going to be a busy one.

call for entry  stuff

It’s always a good idea to thoroughly read and understand terms of entry for any photographic prize or competition.

If you don’t like what they say, or feel terms and conditions are not clearly spelled out, or appear exploitative, don’t enter!

Exhibit A provides a platform for budding and professional photographers alike to go head to head and inspire each other in a unique international photography competition. Juried by industry leaders, Exhibit A sees that photographers are publicly recognized in the presence of known and respected art buyers, curators, galleries, magazines, and advertising agencies from around the world. Sydney Exhibition and International Publicity:
 Photographs from the 1st place winners in each category will be exhibited at a prestigious exhibition in Sydney. Winning Work Featured by Le Book:
The ‘Emerging Photographer of the Year’ and the 1st place winners in each category will also be featured on the Le Book website. Categories: 
Fine Art, Photojournalism, Advertising and Portrait. Awards Include: 
”Emerging Photographer of the Year” receives $5,000 AUD 
1st place winners in each category receive AUD$1,000. 
People’s Choice Awards and Honorable Mentions. EARLYBIRD DEADLINE: February 1, 2010 (10% Discount) Full details from www.exhibitacomp.com

Muswellbrook Photographic Award. Acquisitive open prize of $6,000, open to all Australian residents. Entries close Feb 5^th.Finalists will be announced on Friday 19th February. If you are a finalist you will be requested to produce your final products ready for display by Friday 5th March 2010, as outlined in the conditions of entry. Download an entry form from http://www.muswellbrook.nsw.gov.au/Things-to-do/Muswellbrook-regional-arts-centre/Competitions/5321-exp140410.htm

2010 Windland Smith Rice International Awards. The editors of Nature’s Best Photography magazine invite all photographers to enter the 14th Annual Windland Smith Rice International Awards competition for 2010. All winning images will be published in the 2010 Collectors Edition of Nature’s Best Photography magazine. In addtiton, the category Winners and a selection of Highly Honored photographs will be displayed in an exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. The Grand Prize will also win a “Yellowstone in Winter” photo workshop provided by Arizona Highways Photo Workshops. Entries are judged on technical quality, originality, and artistic merit. Enter up to 20 images for an entry fee of $25 US dollars. Entries close April 5^th. More info from http://www.naturesbestphotography.com/enter_guidelines.php

2010 Ocean Views Photo contest. Nature’s Best Photography and Divers Alert Network (DAN) are proud to announce our new alliance to host the third annual Ocean Views Photography Awards, open to all levels of photographers from around the world. Share your passion for the ocean to help inspire a global audience to learn about and protect this fragile realm. A selection of winning images will appear in an upcoming edition of Nature’s Best Photography and Alert Divers magazine, and will be featured on Pixcetera, Discovery Network International, and other online galleries. Celebrate the ocean through the art of photography. DEADLINE: March 1, 2010. Further info from http://www.photocompetitions.com/2010/2010-ocean-views-photo-contest/

workshop stuff

Melbourne Business and photography workshop with Mercury Megaloudis on Monday February 22^nd. Full details and bookings at www.mega.com.au/Seminar.htm

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Workshops “Start to Finish Workflow for Photographers” 2-Day Hands On Workshop with Jerry Courvoisier. Locations and dates: Sydney Feb 12th – 13th (Fri – Sat)  Melbourne  Feb 19th  – 20th (Fri-Sat) Perth  Feb 20th–22nd (Mon-Tues) Adelaide   Feb 26th – 27th (Fri – Sat)  Registrations and complete workshop information can be found at:

http://www.jerrycourvoisier.com/workshops/photoshop-lightroom/

exhibition stuff

happy to list your show be it in Melbourne, Darwin, Hobart or wherever, but if it’s too much trouble to send me your exhibition details in a format that I can readily cut and paste, i.e. in the body of an email, then it’s too much trouble for me to transcribe details from a PDF or go chasing websites for the information that’s missing. Send the details to <freeradicaloz@gmail.com> Include details of  opening and closing dates, gallery address, opening hours, and if you like, a brief synopsis of the show. Sometimes it’s  4 – 6 weeks between editions of the notes, so if you want to be sure of getting a listing, get your details in early.

From the beach to Bourke and beyond by Steve Marshall at the Angel restaurant, 29 Crown Rd Queenscliff NSW. Show current to Feb 13^th 2010

Building as Muse: 
the creative collaboration of Max Dupain and Harry Seidler

plus

Imagined Communities by Paul Dunn

Both at the Monash Gallery of Art, Ferntree Gully Rd, Wheelers Hill. Shows current to Feb 7^th

A TRAVELLING EXHIBITION OF SELECTED FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHERS FROM NEW MEXICO, including Tony Bonano, David Michael Kennedy, Elliot McDowell, David Marks, Norman Mauskopf, Dan Milnor, Tony O’Brien, Robert Reck, Alan Ross and Jo Whaley

New Mexico residents, Julie (free radical no.67) and Jerry Courvoisier have bought an exhibition of prominent fine art photographers to Adelaide. The exhibition is an opportunity to share a variety of fine art photography from digital, silver gelatin and platinum prints from photographers living in or around Santa Fe NM. All works are for sale. Show is current to 14 February at The Citadel Exhibition Space 24 Rosa Street, Goodwood S.A. Open 11 to 5 pm or by appointment throughout February. Contact: Julie Courvoisier 0407 976 422 Jerry Courvoisier 0437 496 963

classified stuff

classifieds are free, but only run for one edition unless you email me to run in the following edition due to lack of enquiries, or you wish to delete, add, or change the price of items. Don’t send an essay – just item, price and contact  details. KISS

No classified this edition

end stuff

Feeling neglected because of lack of information on events happening in your neck of the woods? I can’t include it if i don’t know about it!! Any editorial content, exhibition notices, classifieds etc. to free radicaloz [at] gmail.com

Lost your badge and forgotten your number? Check out the members page at freeradicaloz.com and if you would like a link to your website from our links page, send me the details – obviously we wouldn’t say no to a reciprocal link!

Too busy to find time to read the notes? not happy with the left leaning Luddite editor?
Simple reply with ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject field and your details will be smitten from the address book – no questions asked.

free radical World HQ
37 Coliban Drive
Lyonville Vic
3461

MEDIA RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION – WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 30th 2009

BALLARAT PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL JOINS WORLD GROUP

The Ballarat International Foto Biennale [BIFB] has just been accepted for membership into the Festival de la Luz or Festival of Light [FOL], a grouping of 32 festivals of photography worldwide, including some of the biggest and most important similar events on 5 continents. The announcement was made in Buenos Aires by FOL Director and Director General of the Argentina Festival ‘Enceuntros Abiertos’ Ms Elda Harrington.
Ballarat is the first Australian photography festival to be accepted as a member festival, following the hugely successful BIFB’09 in September, and membership gives recognition to the impact that such a young festival has already made on the international photography stage. The application for Ballarat to join was proposed by BIFB board member Senga Peckham at the FOL directors meeting in Paris in November, and was considered along with applications by festivals from Luxembourg and Turin by the directors of 15 festivals which make up the FOL executive. The BIFB received a unanimous 15 votes for admission while Luxembourg was also accepted as a new member with 13 votes.
Membership of the FOL confirms the Ballarat festival as Australia’s pre-eminent photographic event, and opens the door for exchange of dialogue, exhibitions and ideas between Australian photographers and international photographic artists. As well as giving the BIFB a truly world-wide profile, inclusion into the group will also benefit potential multi-national sponsors with branding into the huge international arts and culture market.
Said festival director Jeff Moorfoot

The Ballarat International Foto Biennale started out as the Daylesford Foto Biennale [DFB], with its inaugural event in 2005. Following the success of the second Daylesford event in 2007, and due to its exponential growth and popularity, which stretched the capacity of Daylesford to stage the growing event, the festival relocated to Ballarat in 2009. The BIFB has an agreement with the City of Ballarat to stage the festival again in 2011 and 2013.

Preparations for the next Ballarat International Foto Biennale in 2011 are well under way. Exact festival dates are expected to be announced soon.

Below is a presentation video, created by festival director Jeff Moorfoot, which was taken to Paris as part of BIFB’s presentation to the Festival de la Luz directors’ meeting by BIFB committee member Senga Peckham

Fascinate reel rod #105 [aka a bunch of stuff] 15/12/2009

Haiku stuff

that blackcurrant jam

it’s so right on my toast, but

so wrong on my shirt

editorial stuff

Not been a good year for the notes I’m afraid. I apologise for not being up to producing more than a paltry four issues for the year, but the massive workload to get BIFB’09 up and running  after the relocation from Daylesford in August 2008, plus some health issues since the end of the festival, have meant that fr notes have had to take a bit of a back seat. Here’s hoping that 2010 will see a bit of relief and the notes will flow on a more regular basis.

new members stuff

A big warm and fuzzy welcome to our newest free radical members, Peter Layton VIC, Jemma Howard WA [again!] Duncan Warren SA, Shelley Amerio-Higgins NZ, Ann Ouchterlony NSW, Cameron Attree QLD, Vikanshi Moyle TAS, Dave Luanda VIC, Amanda Rebbechi NSW, Emily Boyd QLD, Charles McKean NSW, Steven Saporito VIC, George Apostolidis VIC, Mandarine Montgomery VIC, Bill Beath VIC, Julie Hough VIC, Ric Wallis VIC, Sabrina Doran VIC, Nalini Mackie VIC, Laura Parkinson VIC, Thomas Roessler Germany and Maria Petrova VIC.

My apologies to some of you who had to wait a couple of months for your badges to arrive – you probably thought you had done your ten bucks cold I’ll bet -  but no, it’s just slackness on my part. I shall go and stand in the corner for a spell.

births and deaths stuff

Sad to hear of the passing of free radical  #271 Lex Mrocki. Lex was only 42.

Also gone to the big darkroom in the sky is Sue Ford at age 66. Sue was never a free radical, nor had I ever met her, although I remember back in my teaching days taking a group of RMIT graphic design students to a show featuring her work at the NGV.

website stuff

Free radical #688, and resident propellorhead Cam Stephen has been doing some more work on the free radical website www.freeradicaloz.com You can feedback at twitter, post images at flickr free rad group, read the latest copy of the notes if you deleted yours by mistake, find your number at the members page if you’ve lost your badge [SHAME SHAME!] and so much more. If you scroll down to the bottom of the members page you can even send cameron.stephen [at] gmail.com message to Cam, and I’m sure that would just make his day if you did, don’t forget to put free radical website or something relevant like that in the subject field to get his attention, he’s easily distracted.

Rob Imhoff roast stuff

A crowd of more than 80 turned up at Heaven studios on a Saturday evening in November to roast Rob Imhoff. The crowd would probably have been much bigger if it hadn’t been a surprise event, thus limiting the ability to promote more widely. For those of you who didn’t hear about it through the grapevine, and otherwise would have been there to add to the merriment of the evening – our apologies. For those of you too young to know, Rob has been around since the year dot as one of the most respected figures in Australian professional photography.  Rob built his reputation as a high end advertising shooter and went on to be one of our top TVC directors.

Thanks go to a bunch of folk for the organisational logistics, especially David Simmonds  fr#50 and George Apostolidis fr#771 for turning over his studio to the hordes for the evening

additional editorial stuff

The Bowness Prize has been run and won, and yet again the winner causes me to scratch my head and wonder.  I admit I have not seen the finalist prints on the wall, but I have spent some time at flickr where all the shortlisted images are on show here: Browness Prize Shortlist on Flickr and really, there are some pretty average pics that were culled from the 2000 odd entries to make the final list, and I would count the winner amongst those.

still more stuff

Couple of responses to the piece by Fr#353 Francis Reiss in the last edition of the notes;

From Fr# XXX [requested anonymity] What is the world coming to really?  Next time I’ll have Prints: LabX next to my byline.  With all due respect to printers and the great job they do, not undermining their skills whatsoever but, printing is a technique, not an art.   Seriously? Does anyone know the name of Ansel Adam’s printer?  If you think the printing deserves credit, send other photographers their way.

and from fr#708 John Austin – Re the item by  Francis Reiss  fr#353 – There is now an even radicaler movement of “Post Digital Photographers” – In this group the prints only go to 20 x 24″ and are printed in the darkroom by the photographer, or for the very wealthy, by me

There is the problem with Kennedy’s saying there is “no demand for BW fibre based paper, and they have the sales figures to prove it” – I have solved that by importing fibre based silver jelly paper directly from the country of origin

Regarding the haiku, (I note this one does mention the season, it has to to be a haiku) real silver jelly prints are truly things to moisten your panties – Regardless of the subject matter

and on another subject Arts & Science in Australian mainstream? Is this possible?

from fr#751 Nicole Boenig-McGrade

Earlier this year, I wrote to the big media moguls asking for more exposure to art in the mainstream. Specifically – to have prime time news, sport and also a few minutes on the latest in The Arts and Science. I received an instant, very short email response telling me sport was the tradition and there is no room for other stuff that people aren’t interested in. Such short sighted views are inconceivable. The problem is (as my mother so eloquently said), if you stick a bunch of people on a remote island (such as Australia) and only feed them chicken and beef, they’ll either love chicken or beef – because they don’t know anything else! This is what’s happening to Australians through the Australian media. We need to be exposed to more variety (especially The Arts & Science), not just sport and sensationalised news. Sure there is Art on TV and in society, but you have to know what you’re looking for and go searching for it. Art and Science should be mainstream, to encourage more creative thinking, compassion and progress in society. Surely we can be more educated and intellectual than what the media determines us viewers want or need.

Art is a creative language for the soul at any age – a language we can all easily learn to appreciate, understand and speak fluently. All this requires is exposure to art in our everyday environment, as a viewer or/and as a creator.

I’ll keep sending my letters, run photography workshops (including at primary schools), keep introducing arts festivals in schools and parks and now I’m busy curating a collaboration of collectable fine art photography at a big annual arts event in Perth in 2010.

The solution is easy: We can all do something about this. We can all write to the media, the government, our primary/high/tertiary schools, etc… telling them we want more exposure to The Arts and Science (if that’s your cup of tea) – not just one reality tv show after the other, or repeats of the same comedy shows each year. Not just the news, sports and weather report day in and day out. The big guns need to “see and hear” that we no longer want just chicken or beef!

And FR#666 Robin Gauld from up there in FNQ is embarking on a post grad PhD researching

photography in higher education and industry – a qualitative and quantitative study to explain the alignment between the sectors [what alignment says I?!!] Initially, participants will be asked to undertake an anonymous on-line survey. More details with links etc in the next edition of the notes.

photography festival stuff

Foto Freo 2010, which runs March 20 – April 18, have  launched their Core Program lineup – details at  www.fotofreo.com and just announced – HeadOn, the alternative portrait photography prize is expanding into a festival of photography as of late April 2010. As well as the 7^th portrait prize, workshops, exhibitions and forums will take place across Sydney. More details fromwww.headon.com.au And the PMA show, along with the  Canon/AIPP Australian Professional Photographer of the Year Awards is in Melbourne June 4 -6, so for all of you from elsewhere, start saving up your frequent flyer points – the first half of 2010 is going to be a busy one.

call for entry  stuff

It’s always a good idea to thoroughly read and understand terms of entry for any photographic prize or competition.

If you don’t like what they say, or feel terms and conditions are not clearly spelled out, or appear exploitative, don’t enter!

2010 Sony World Photography Awards has a $25,000 first prize, and the thing I like about these awards is that entry is free. Better get your roller skates on coz entries close Jan 4^th.

Details from http://www.worldphotographyawards.org

IPA Facing 2010 awards. Facing 2010: is a reflection upon the faces of people within the first decade of the 21st century. We want to see the trials, triumphs, lessons and struggles through the expression of individuals.
Your portrait must be shot between the dates of January 1, 2000 to present. Photographs that were shot before January 1, 2000 will be disqualified and are not eligible. First Place winner will receive $2,000 cash prize, Second Place winner will receive $1,000 cash prize and the Third Place winner will receive $500 cash prize. Submit your best “face” today in the IPA’s first themed competition. Deadline: January 15, 2010 Entry Fee: Single or Series at $50.00 details www.photoawards.com

exhibition stuff

happy to list your show be it in Melbourne, Darwin, Hobart or wherever, but if it’s too much trouble to send me your exhibition details in a format that I can readily cut and paste, i.e. in the body of an email, then it’s too much trouble for me to transcribe details from a PDF or go chasing websites for the information that’s missing. Send the details to <freeradicaloz@gmail.com> Include details of  opening and closing dates, gallery address, opening hours, and if you like, a brief synopsis of the show. Sometimes it’s  4 – 6 weeks between editions of the notes, so if you want to be sure of getting a listing, get your details in early.

Sorry, but no exhibition listings this month, which is not to say there is nothing on, because I’m sure there are lots happening up and down the country, but there is nothing current in my exhibitions file -  sorry to those of you whose show has been and gone since edition 104 of the notes – and my satellite service is getting so slow that it is not practical to go surfing looking for shows to add to the list. [roll on Feb when my 24 month ISP contract expires – and if you are a country customer with no other option than satellite I would suggest forty foot pole and harboursat would go well in the same sentence!]

classified stuff

classifieds are free, but only run for one edition unless you email me to run in the following edition due to lack of enquiries, or you wish to delete, add, or change the price of items. Don’t send an essay – just item, price and contact  details. KISS

SHARE STUDIO FOR RENT. Funky light filled, inner city secure first floor STUDIO to share with Commercial photographer and 7 other creative professionals including Architect, Textile Designer, Web site Designer and Artist. Large clean communal areas include meeting room, table and chairs, well equipped kitchen and table tennis table. Ideal base for a Photographer or Graphic Designer to formalise their business practice with a inner city address. Sub-Let share space is about 40m2 within a total area of approx 195m2 ADSL 2+ internet and VOIP is also available.

Easy parking in surrounding streets, two minute walk to Smith Street Cafes. Easy access to Eastern freeway and City. Contact John 0412 314 696 in business hours.

and while we’re at it stuff

This came via FR#708 John Austin a while back. Something that I’m sure some of you can relate to as much as I [ed.]

Recently, I was diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D. -

[Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder]

This is how it manifests:

I decide to clean my darkroom

As I open the door

I look over at my car and decide it also needs cleaning.

As I get to my car, I notice mail on the dashboard I picked up from the PO earlier.

I decide to go through the mail before I clean the car.

I lay my car keys on the table, put the junk mail with the other rubbish under the table,

and notice that the space is full.

So, I decide to put the bills back on the table and clear out the rubbish first.

But then I think, since I’m going to be near the car when I take out the bin anyway,

I may as well pay the bills first.

I take my cheque book off the table, and see that there is only one cheque left. My extra cheques are in my desk by the back door,

So I go to my desk where I find the coffee I’d been drinking.

I’m going to look for my cheques, but first I need to push the coffee aside so that I don’t accidentally knock it over.

The coffee is getting cold, and I decide to put it in the microwave.

As I head back to the kitchen with the coffee, the dead flower catches my eye—it needs changing.

I put the coffee in the microwave and discover my reading glasses that I’ve been searching for all morning. I decide I better put them back on my desk, but first I’m going to change the flower.

I set the glasses back down on the table, fill a container with water and suddenly spot the TV remote on the kitchen table.

I realize that tonight when I go to watch Dr Who I’ll be looking for the remote, but I won’t remember that it’s on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back where it belongs,

But first I’ll change the flower. I take out the dead flowers, but quite a bit of water spills on the floor, so, I set the remote back on the table, get a towel, and wipe up the spill.

Then, I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day:

The darkroom isn’t cleaned

The car isn’t cleaned

The bills aren’t paid

There is a cold cup of coffee sitting in the microwave

The vase doesn’t have a flower

There is still only 1 cheque in my cheque book,

I can’t find the remote,

I can’t find my glasses,

And I don’t remember what I did with the car keys.

Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today,

I’m really baffled because I know I was busy all damn day, and I’m really tired.

I realize this is a serious problem, and I’ll try to get some help for it, but first I’ll check my e-mail….

Do me a favour. Forward this message to everyone you know, because I don’t remember who the hell I’ve sent it to.

Don’t laugh—if this isn’t you yet, your day is coming!!

end stuff

Feeling neglected because of lack of information on events happening in your neck of the woods? I can’t include it if i don’t know about it!! Any editorial content, exhibition notices, classifieds etc. to free radicaloz [at] gmail.com

Too busy to find time to read the notes? not happy with the left leaning Luddite editor?
Simple reply with ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject field and your details will be smitten from the address book – no questions asked.

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