Wild Places and Wild Music

Both an actual and a virtual exhibition…

As you can see, I am about to hold an exhibition. For those who cannot attend, I am holding a concurrent virtual exhibition here in this thread. You can if you wish, purchase an A3+ print of any of the images below. A3+ is larger than A3, actually an American size also called Super B, 13″ x 19″ or 329mm x 483mm.

All Prints $A90.

Free postage in Australia and New Zealand. $10 for US, Canada, UK and Northern Europe. For other countries, please enquire. If you are interested in purchasing a print, make a comment below or send an email to zenophon@iinet.net.au. If you are in Canberra, there’s the exhibition at Smith’s Alternative.

All images were taken and processed by me and also custom printed by me to a professional standard.

Note that there will be some difference between the images on screen and the prints because you are looking at a projected image rather than an image on paper, and your screen may not be calibrated.

Links below the images go to corresponding colour posts in this Blog. even in the case of monochrome images, because the colour posts have more information.

If you click on an image, instead of 640 x 640 px, as you see on the page, it opens much larger to 1900 x 1900 px.

Wild Places

The following images correspond to prints in the actual exhibition (rows A and B). They are from Victoria, Tasmania, South Georgia, Falkland Islands, Hokkaido (Japan), Iceland, Easter Island, Patagonia, Madagascar and Ladakh (far north India).

A1: Path to the Sand Dunes
Point Hicks, Victoria, November 2016
Nikon D800, Sigma 180mm f2.8 macro
Epson P800, Crane Museo Portfolio Rag.

A2: Pencil Pines on Cradle Plateau,
Overland Track, Tasmania, August 2017
Fujifilm X-T2, 55-200mm f3.5-4.8
Epson P800, Canson Rag Photographique.

A3: Penguins in front of mountain range
Right Whale Bay, South Georgia, November 2015
Nikon D3s, 85mm f1,4
Epson P800, Canson Rag Photographique.

A4: Red-crowned cranes at dawn (-26ºC)
Otowa Bridge, near Kushiro Wetlands, Hokkaido, February 2012
Nikon D3, 300mm f2.8 + TC20E III (stitched panorama)
Epson P800, Canson Arches Aquarelle Photo Rag.

A5: Hokkaido Trees (planet view – link goes to original image)
Hokkaido, Japan, February 2012
Nikon D3, 300mm f2.8 + TC20E III
Epson 3880, Ilford Gold Fibre Silk .

A6: Hofsjökull icecap
Central Highlands, Iceland, September 2013
Nikon D800, 300mm f2.8
Epson P800, Canson Rag Photographique.

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A7: Wake of Ketch
Wineglass Bay Sail Walk, Tasmania, September 2017
Fujifilm X-T2, 100-400mm f4.5-5.6
Epson P800, Canson Rag Photographique.
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A8: Lone Moai at Ranu Raraku
Easter Island, April 2011
Nikon D3, 105mm f2
Epson 3880, Ilford Gold Fibre Silk.

A9: Verraux’s Sifaka in tree
Berenty Nature Reserve, Madagascar, October 2015
Fujifilm X-E2 (Infrared), 55-200mm f3.5-4.8
Epson P800, Crane Museo Portfolio Rag.

B1: Stellar’s Sea Eagle over ice and snow
Nemoro Strait, north of Hokkaido, Japan, February 2012
Nikon D3, 300mm f2.8 + TC14E II
Epson 3880, Ilford Gold Fibre Silk.

B2: Whooper swans
Lake Kussharo, Hokkaido, Japan, February 2012
Nikon D3, 180mm f2.8
Epson 3880, Ilford Gold Fibre Silk.

B3: Huemul Glacier and Mt Fitzroy behind
North of El Chalten, Argentina/ Patagonia, March 2011
Nikon D3s, 180mm f2.8
Epson P800, Crane Museo Portfolio Rag.

B4: Panther chameleon capturing insect
Peyrieras Nature reserve, Madagascar, October 2015
Nikon D3s, 85mm f1,4
Epson P800, Canson Museo Portfolio Rag.

B5: Rockhopper penguin with nesting material
Berkeley Sound, Falkland Islands, November 2015
Nikon D800, 300mm f2.8
Epson P800, Canson PrintMaKing Rag.

B6: Ponies returning to Rumbak Village
Hemis National Park, Ladakh, far north India, January 2018
Fujifilm X-T2, 100-400mm f4.5-5.6
Epson P800, Canson Rag Photographique.

B7: Ana Kakenga (lava tube)
Easter Island, April 2011
Nikon D3, 14-24mm @ 14mm, ISO200, 1/250 sec f4
Epson 3880, Ilford Gold Fibre Silk.

B8: Stars at night near Rumbak Village
Hemis National Park, Ladakh, far north India, February 2018
Fujifilm X-T2, 14mm f2.8
Epson P800, Canson Platine Fibre Rag.

B9: Walking in to Rumbak Village
Hemis National Park, Ladakh, far north India, February 2018
Fujifilm X-T2, 56mm f1.2
Epson P800, Canson Platine Fibre Rag.

Extra Wild Places

I have also included some additional images below from South West Canyonlands (US), St Kilda (Scotland), Antarctica, South Australia, Greenland and Hawaii. They are also available for purchase.

XP1: Antelope Canyon
Arizona, October 2014
Fujifilm X-T1, 55-200mm f3.5-4.9
Epson P800, Canson PrintMaKing Rag.

XP2: Main Street, Hirta Village
St Kilda, Scotland, July 2013
Nikon D800, 85mm f1.4, R72 Infrared filter
Epson 3880, Crane Museo Portfolio Rag.

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XP3: Salt bush country near Oonatra Creek
Boolcoomatta Station, South Australia, March 2015
Fujifilm X-E2 14mm f2.8
Epson 3880, Crane Museo Portfolio Rag.
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XP4: Deception Island from Ship
Deception Island, Antarctica, March 2011
Nikon D3s 300mm f2.8 (stitched panorama)
Epson P800, Canson PrintMaKing Rag.
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XP5: Polar Bear on Ice Floe
Greenland Sea, August 2013
Nikon D3s, 300mm f2.8 + TC20E III, ISO1250, 1/2500 sec f11
Epson P800, Canson Rag Photographique.

XP6: Red crowned cranes in mating dance
Akan international Crane Centre, Hokkaido, Japan, February 2012
Nikon D3, 300mm f2.8 + TC14E II
Epson P800, Canson Rag Photographique.
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XP7: Na Pali Coast from helicopter
Kauai, Hawaii, March 2015
Nikon D800, Sigma 35mm f1.4
Epson P800, Canson Platine Fibre Rag.

Wild Music

These are mainly images from the Blues Festivals I have been Official Photographer for, over the last ten or twelve years. (Once again, $A90 each, should you want to order prints).

C1: Darren Jack
Thredbo Blues Festival 2012
Nikon D3s, 85mm f1.4
Epson P800, Canson Platine Fibre Rag.

C2: Dallas Frasca
Down by the River Festival, Wangaratta, March 2018
Fujifilm X-T2, 80mm f2/8 macro
Epson P800, Canson Platine Fibre Rag.
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C3: Guitarist, The Tommyhawks
Narooma Blues Festival 2015
Nikon D3s, 180mm f2.8
Epson P800, Canson Platine Fibre Rag.
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C4: Tomcat Playground
Sydney Blues Festival 2016
Nikon D800, 14-24mm
Epson P800, Canson Platine Fibre Rag.

C5: Ian Moss
Sydney Blues Festival 2012
Nikon D800, 180mm f2.8
Epson P800, Canson Platine Fibre Rag.
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D1: Rick Estrin, Rick Estrin & the Nightcats
Narooma Blues Festival 2014
Nikon D3, 300mm f2.8
Epson P800, Canson PrintMaKing Rag.

D2: Dutch Tilders
Rose Cottage Canberra, March 2008
Nikon D3, 180mm f2.8
Epson P800, Canson Museo Portfolio Rag.
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D3: Leesa Gentz, Hussy Hicks
Sydney Blues and Roots Festival 2017
Nikon D3s, 105mm f2
Epson P800, Canson Platine Fibre Rag.

D4: Rosscoe Clark
Sydney Blues and Roots Festival 2017
Nikon D800, 50mm f1.4
Epson P800, Canson Arches Aquarelle Photo Rag.
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D5: Brian Cadd, Cadd and Morris
Narooma Blues Festival 2009
Nikon D3, 300mm f4
Epson 3880, Ilford Gold Fibre Silk.
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Extra Wild Music

A few more that aren’t in the actual exhibition, including one from Cuba.

XM1: Kid Anderson, Rick Estrin & the Nightcats
Narooma Blues Festival 2014
Nikon D3, 300mm f2.8
Epson P800, Canson PrintMaKing Rag.

XM2: Turner Brown Band
Blues on Broadbeach 2017
Fuji X-T2, 10-24mm
Epson P800, Canson Platine Fibre Rag.

XM4: Street musician
Havana, Cuba, September 2016
Fuji X-Pro2, 56mm f1,2
Epson P800, Canson Rag Photographique.

Roaming with Dallas Frasca

Apr5

16th to 18 March 2018, Northern Victoria, Australia.

Fifty of us piled into a bus and headed off to various locations in Northern Victoria in A Hitch to the Sticks. We were driving to three public musical events and there were also numerous “secret” gigs along the way, adding to the element of surprise and the enjoyment of the moment. The idea was the brainchild of eminent musician Dallas Frasca. It simulates the experience of a road crew touring on a bus, provides exposure to sometimes little-known regional performers and gives a great experience to all involved.

This is our great friend Marisa Quigley. She was performing at one of the secret events and I can’t tell you about that because there are to be more such events but since her name was on the poster I can include this image.

Sara Flint.

Sara and Mandy (below) were playing outside the Tatong Tavern. This is a rather stylish looking pseudo-half-timbered pub which was closed to host the music and we were able to relax on the grass in the afternoon sun.

Mandy Connell.

Click here for more images from Tatong Tavern, twelve in all, including Benny Williams and Time Robb & the Stealing Hours as well as Sara and Mandy.

Liv Cartledge.

Later in the afternoon we reached Wangaratta to join up with the Down to the River Festival, which stretched out into the night…

… while some people stretched out on the grass…

The Quick and the Dead.

Rambunctious.

Monique Brumby.

Tanya Cavanagh, playing with Monique Brumby.

Monique Brumby.

Maryanne Window, playing with Monique Brumby.

Dallas Frasca.

Venom and Jeff Curran, playing with Dallas Frasca.

Dallas Frasca.

Tully Frasca.

Click here for more image from the Down to the River Festival, fifty-four in all.

Mikaylah and Leticia.

In the afternoon of the next day, we are out the back of the Moyhu Hotel.

Jeff Lang.

Nicky Bomba.

Crowd for Nicky Bomba.

Nicky Bomba and Jeff Lang.

Nicky Bomba.

Rick Steward and the Greensmen.

Click here for more images from the Mohyu Hotel, thirty-four in all.

I also have some monochrome conversions for your perusal, twenty-seven in all. Some are from images in this post and some from different images. Click here for those.

Alternatively, click here for all 129 images.

The Blues Train

Jan7

16 September 2017, Melbourne, Victoria

From Melbourne we headed for Geelong because we had an appointment with the Blues Train. The Blues Train operates on an old train line and leaves from Queenscliffe on the western side of the heads of Port Phillip Bay (the harbour for Geelong and Melbourne). It operates occasionally at night and goes inland maybe twenty kilometres to Drysdale and then returns. There are four carriages with a band in each and the people in each carriage change carriages four times.

This is John McNamara, playing solo in the first carriage.

Our carriage was mainly locals celebrating a birthday (the gentleman seated at middle left), somewhat raucous and having a great time.

Andrea Marr.

Next was Andrea Marr Band, whom we have seen many times before, mainly at Thredbo Blues Festival. A great driving rhythm and blues band that got everyone up dancing.

Greg Dodd.

Andrea Marr.

The third carriage was a local Blues band, Sweet Felicia and the Honeytones.

Lastly there was Chris Wilson and Shannon Bourne to provide a stirring finalé for the night. I have seen both of them several times before, but not playing together.

Shannon Bourne.

Chris Wilson.

Sydney Blues and Roots Festival 2017

Dec26

Sydney Blues and Roots Festival 2017 was scaled down from the previous year but still a great selection of bands.

Minnie Marks was Festival Ambassador and gave some stirring solo performances.

Ghost Road opened the Festival as the first band on Friday night.

Guitar wizard Kevin Borich at his 70th birthday performance. I first photographed him 35 or 36 years ago.

David Rowlands dancing with Cathy Vaughan as Bonnie Kay and the Bonafides play.

Bonnie Kay (Bonnie Kay and the Bonafides).

The trombone of Kaiki Suzuki, reflecting the crowd. Playing with the very accomplished Rhythm and Blues band Bonnie Kay and the Bonafides.

And then on Saturday afternoon, the heavens opened. People scrambling to cover equipment or push it out of the rain. The band is Great Dane, who were prominent in the early 80s and their talent and experience showed.

Luke Ligtenberg has left the stage and he has an enthusiatic audience as the rain pours down outside the tent. He is with a dynamic young band, the Swamp Stompers.

Kane Starkey playing with Cornstalk.

Stefan Sernek playing accordion for Psycho Zydeco.

Leesa Gentz from the band Hussie Hicks. Having great fun and also producing a great sound.

Julz Parker, also from Hussie Hicks.

8 Ball Aitken, originally from northern Queensland, now living in Austin Texas.

Bob Gammage, painting the 8 Ball Aitken set.

Next morning, here is Doggin It at the George St Loft Café.

Chris Turner and Alex Smith.

Lyn Hinds playing bass for Bounty Hunters.

P. J. O’Brien.

The inimitable Davo Fester playing with P. J. O’Brien Band.

Jason Dowse, playing bass for Lizard.

The Mezcaltones (here Colo Padre, Neralita and Filthy Lucre), Tex/Mex with visual flair.

Mimi of the Mezcaltones.

Wes Harder with Kate Lush Band.

Kate Lush.

Ali Penney with Women of Blues & Sould Showcase.

Kerrie Sweeney and Michelle van der Meer, Women of Blues & Sould Showcase.

George Rigatos, Women of Blues & Sould Showcase.

Dai Pritchard, here playing Hendrix.

Foreday Riders bringing up the climax of the festival in their 50th anniversary year. Jeff King, Ron King, Stan Mobbs, Shane Pacey.

Rosscoe Clark, the other member of the Foreday riders.

Ron King.

Jeff King.

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There are many more images. On the Sydney Blues Festival Page, you will find links to images from the 2017 Festival, as well the previous festivals from 2009 . For 2017 there is Top 100 Images and links for each band.

Alternatively, there is also a direct overall link to all Sydney 2017 images in JAlbum (with overview images and images by band organised by folder).

For other live music images of a particular band since 2006, see the Musicians and Bands Page, which lists links alphabetically by band.

Tony Cini’s 50 Years in Music

Sep27

Thirroul, New South Wales, Australia, September 2017.
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Before posting on Tasmania, here is a music event I was invited to last weekend. This was a celebration of my friend Tony Cini’s 50 years in the music industry with four blues bands playing on the one night.

The drive from Canberra to Thirroul, near Wollongong, should have taken about two hours twenty minutes. We left early and it was just as well we did because the highway to Sydney was closed due to an unseasonal bushfire. We quickly realised the traffic was going nowhere and it ended backed up seven kilometres for several hours. However, we were able to do a U-turn, getting there instead along the coast via Goulburn and Nerriga. This took five hours instead and we arrived just before the music started. We did better than one Canberra guitarist who was unable to get through. I found I was a bit tired to start with but all in all a great night.

Al Britten with Ginhouse Blues Band.

Tony Boyd with Ginhouse Blues Band.

P J O’Brien with Ginhouse Blues Band.

Tony Cini with Ginhouse Blues Band.

Ginhouse Blues Band.

Dancers, Ginhouse Blues Band.

Tomcat Playground, PJ O’Brien standing in for Dave Blanken.

Dan Sullivan with Tomcat Playground.

Mike Rix with Tomcat Playground.

Greg Clark with Tomcat Playground.

Stefano Cosentino with Arc Riders.

Tony Cini with Arc Riders.

Mark Clifford with Arc Riders.

Arc Riders.

Tony Boyd with Arc Riders.

Juan Pablo Ordoñez with Arc Riders.

19 Twenty taking off (Kane Denelly, Syd Green, John Gwilliam).

19 Twenty (Kane Denelly, John Gwilliam, Heath Denelly).

Syd Green.

19 Twenty.

Sydney Winterfest 2017

Jul3

I was asked to cover the first Sydney Winterfest, a mini Blues Festival over three days but all acts on the same semi-outside stage. Usually I have to chase around to cover a Festival but in this one, and particularly since I was staying at the venue, I was able to reserve a table at the front of the stage and operate from there.

The first band was The New South, talented and very young. This is Harry Tompsett.

This is a guitarist from the Mescaltones, a Tex/Mex Blues Band with a flair for performance and costume changes.

The climax for Friday night was the Pat Powell Super Blues Band, playing the Muddy Waters “Hard Again” album. This is Pat Powell, formerly of England and earlier Jamaica.

There were many eminent musicians in Pat’s band. One was Clayton Doley on keyboards.

This is Beau Lloyd in the Keith Hall Band, the first band on Saturday morning.

Bill Kervin, bass player with Cristina Crofts.

Christina Crofts’ band, Christina and Bill out front, playing vibrant blues rock originals.

Christina’s drummer, Mick O’Shea.

Lizard: Matthew Charnley on the left and Roy Ruckman on drums.

Jason Dowse, bass player for Lizard.

Starting a mini-series of drummers: Roy Ruckman of Lizard.

Apparently this youngster expressed an interest in playing the drums so Peter Fricker (one of the organisers) placed him briefly on stage during an intermission.

Tony, Boyd, playing for the Simon Kinny-Lewis Band.

Simon Kinny-Lewis.

The keyboard player in the same band, whose name I do not know.

Simon Kinny-Lewis Band, playing Blues in blue light.

Emma and Gary in the kitchen.

Steve Bennett of Ghost Road, a band that has been playing for 25 years.

Stan Mobbs, playing with Chris Cain.

American guitar maestro Chris Cain, the headline act for the festival.

Dancing for Chris Cain…

The first band on Sunday was the Imogen Clark Band. This is her father, playing bass.

Jason Garwood with the Imogen Clark Band.

Imogen Clark, only 21 and highly accomplished as both a guitarist and a singer.

Lloyd Spiegel, an amazing performer of clever lyrics and stunning acoustic guitar solos.

19 Twenty was the next band, as always playing very tight with amazing energy and compelling engagement with the crowd. Kane Denelly and John Gwilliam.

Young and old up and dancing.

Kane undertaking a soaring riff, hiding drummer Syd Green.

19 Twenty dancefloor again.

Mal Eastick and Milena Barrett. Milena is English and a wonderful singer.

Maestro Australian guitarist Mal Eastick.

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There are many more images. On the Sydney Blues Festival Page . you will find links to images from the 2017 Winterfest, as well the previous festivals from 2009 . For the 2017 Winterfest there is Top 75 Images and links for each of 13 bands.

Alternatively, there is also a direct overall link to all Sydney Winterfest 2017 images in JAlbum (with overview images and images by band organised by folder).

For other images of a particular band I may have taken since 2006, see the Musicians and Bands Page, which lists links alphabetically by band.

Blues on Broadbeach 2017

Jun2

Broadbeach, Gold Coast, Queensland, May 2017.
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Briefly interrupting the stream of posts on South Georgia for a post on a Blues Festival….

I photographed a wedding for some friends and they shouted me and my partner Jools a weekend away at the Blues on Broadbeach Festival (though Jools was unable to come).

The Turner Brown Band was one of the highlights of the festival. Dom Turner has been an eminent player on the Australian Blues scene for decades and he brought Nikki Brown and the Browns back from Ohio to play with him in Australia. Friday was a day of torrential rain and they were moved inside to a small café. I was lucky to be in early and be able to get up front. Raw rollicking energy plus expert musicianship.

This is Mojo Webb, whom I hadn’t seen for many years, with the rain thundering down outside the tent.

I ducked back to the flat for some reason and this is the view from the corridor near the lift, in the pouring rain.

Fortunately we had (free) tickets to Russell Morris, who has been around since the 60s but who has reinvented himself in the last few years with a series of great albums. Almost all other gigs were cancelled from 7:30pm but we were able to relax in a huge concert hall with 2,000 other people. This is taken from a long way back.

Ezra Lee (playing with his band), still going in a pub late on Friday night.

The next morning, this is Craig Bracken and Hal Tupaea of the Flaming Mudcats, from Auckland New Zealand. A great band previously unknown to me (though I have often seen Hal playing bass for Ray Beadle).

Gloria Brown, Turner Brown Band. Different day, different venue.

Louie Shelton Bluesband. Louie, from USA but living in the Gold Coast, has played as session musician for many eminent rock bands over the years.

Tomcat Playground, from Canberra and Sydney. A very familiar band but always great.

Peta Lee, with the rhythm and blues band The Vibrolators, from Western Australia.

Kevin Borich.

The big event on Saturday night was the Are You Experienced 50th Anniversary Concert, with a succession of maestro Australian guitarists. (This and following three images). It was played from a marquee at the end of a road with a huge crowd on the road so it was difficult to get close. These images were taken at as much as 600mm equivalent and may be further cropped.

Harts.

Jimi Hocking.

The 50th Anniversary stage near the climax of the concert.

Next morning I went to have breakfast at a café with enticing music issuing forth. This is the James Street Preachers.

Shane Pacey Band.

A block away from the skyscraper zone, here is the beach and it is now a fine day.

Little Billie.

Al Britten, playing with Wards Xpress.

Wards Xpress, at the climax of a number.

Darren Jack, whom I have often seen at festivals, playing in a small crowded venue with an excellent band.

Ian Moss, the big act to provide a crescendo for Sunday.

I wasn’t official photographer so I had no need to try to cover all bands. However, this festival showed me that my Fuji equipment lags behind my Nikon equipment for this purpose, mainly for autofocus. Especially at 12,800ISO, it could take several seconds to find focus and focus was not always precise. I still got good shots but missed more than usual.

Phil Barlow of Phil Barlow and the Wolf, playing in a small bar in the dying hours of the festival.

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There are links to many more images from Broadbeach 2017 on the Other Blues Festivals page.

Alternatively, there is the direct link in JAlbum (with overview images and images by band organised by folder).