I attended, in part at least, the launch of the Degree South: War exhibition in Brisbane, Wednesday May 19, at which there were some interesting comments made about the future of photojournalism.

On the panel presenting their work were photojournalists Tim Page, Stephen Dupont and Ben Bohane. Other members of the group (Jack Piccone, David Dare Parker, Michael Coyne and Ashley Gilbertson) were absent due to work commitments. And Sean Flynn was killed during the Vietnam War.

I blogged about Tim Page recently and his comments on war photography so it was interesting to hear what else he had to say about the future of photojournalism which he claimed was “not dead”.

He described the advent of citizen journalism in places like Iran and Bangkok, where anyone with a camera can record what is going on and how the same images are bandied around the world in seconds and used over and over again. But he said there was still a niche there for the true photojournalist to take really important photographs and how more than ever, a single frame has such impact in a world over saturated with images and information that are often so fleeting.

You can read more about Degree South at their website. This is an excerpt:
°SOUTH is a new collective of Australian photographers based throughout the Asia Pacific region…
The decision to form °SOUTH came from an ‘ideal’, that as photographers who have spent their working careers recording what they see in a fair, truthful and informative way – their stories of struggle, hope, aspirations and traditions are about ‘gathering evidence’ and hopefully ‘making a difference’. Creating images that will influence public opinion and go on to have historical significance.

Images in the current exhibition are focused on the effect war has on its victims, both military and civilian. With images from major conflicts around the world such as Vietnam, East Timor, Papua, Somalia, Afghanistan and Iraq, these may change your view on the nature of war.

Go before it’s too late – it closes this Sunday, May 30 in Brisbane at the Powerhouse, New Farm. There are two images from the exhibition below.

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Feel free to email Jo at admin@visitedplanet.com with your comments/thoughts/photo aspirations.  See and learn more at www.visitedplanet.com

This will surely be one of the Brisbane Powerhouse‘s feature photographic events of the year with images from conflicts around the world by famed photographers such as Sean Flynn, Tim Page and Stephen Dupont.

I’ve interviewed Tim Page and I’ve got a fair idea of his thoughts on war and war photography. He told me once any image of war immediately becomes “anti-war” and that war leaves “victims strewn all over the planet”. Indeed the exhibition is supposed to show some of the impact war has on its victims and will no doubt be confronting, challenging and amazing.

Here’s a snippet from the Powerhouse website:
°South is a collective of dedicated and award-winning Australian documentary photographers who have covered conflicts from Vietnam in ’65 to present day Afghanistan. Often working at great risk to themselves, they have created images that have gone on to influence public opinion, make history and inspire us to find other ways to solve our differences.

At present there are 43 conflicts taking place on our planet. Once, the battlefield was the place of devastation, now it is streets, alleyways, schools and places of worship. People and places are no longer protected or sacred and in much of the world it is now safer to be a soldier than an unarmed civilian.

The event runs from May 5-30 but the opening night next Wednesday, May 5, will actually feature some of the photographers with a talk at 6pm. Might see you there!

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Feel free to email Jo at admin@visitedplanet.com with your comments/thoughts/photo aspirations.  See and learn more at www.visitedplanet.com

I was out at Dalby over the May long weekend helping a friend castrate and brand some of his cattle on a 100 hectare property. Dalby is a small town about four hours west of Brisbane in Queensland (Australia) where I’m based.

We had a number of international visitors with us, many for whom it was their first experience of rural Australia and cattle. Fortunately they rose to the occasion and weren’t too freaked out either by the cattle, a little wild from lack of human contact, or by the grasshoppers, flies and geckos that shared our quarters at night.

Here are a few highlights of the weekend. Read my blog for Asian Correspondent for some more details.

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Feel free to email Jo at admin@visitedplanet.com with your comments/thoughts/photo aspirations.  See and learn more at www.visitedplanet.com

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

The Ode from “For the Fallen”, Laurence Binyon 1914

Anzac Day (April 25) is an incredibly important day for Australians (and our Pacific friends), commemorating the sacrifice of all servicemen and women in conflicts around the world. While it initially began with the 1914 landings on the Gallipoli peninsula, the Anzac tradition of courage, mateship and fortitude has become part of our national identity.

It was with great pride and reflection that I again made the journey through morning services on April 25 a week ago and also went to the parade through the city centre. I wrote up a piece on the day for Global Issues in Context that you can read here.

I only took my point and shoot digital to the events but here are some of the shots. The first three images were taken at the 6.30am service at the Toowong memorial in Brisbane, April 25, 2010.

The second group of images were taken at Anzac Day parades in Brisbane city, both this year and from a few years back.

And the final images are from an incredibly moving Anzac Day service I attended on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey in about 2002.

I’ve just returned to the office after a week-long break. It was pretty mad actually but good to get away. I went up to Noosa for a few days and wandered across to Woodford for the annual folk festival, a great way to recharge the batteries even though you don’t get a lot of sleep. The ideas and energy pumping around the festival were just fantastic. I then headed down to the Clarence River in northern NSW to paddle a few rapids with friends.

Here are some pics for you to enjoy and just a note that all these were taken on my tiny Panasonic Lumix, which is really a glorified point and shoot digital. However I have actually sold some images of this camera and I do find it incredibly convenient to shove in a bag as it’s small and light and I don’t worry about it getting stolen or coming to grief on the river. Particularly because I have to shove it into a dry bag and then often take shots on the go in the canoe.

I actually use this camera a lot also when I want to be less obtrusive – it was great at Woodford as people seem to be less relaxed if you’re just bobbing around with an amateurish camera. I wonder how many other photographers use smaller options to their SLR from time to time? Any comments?

I think the shots on this camera are actually pretty reasonable – you be the judge.

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Feel free to email Jo at admin@visitedplanet.com with your comments/thoughts/photo aspirations.  See and learn more at www.visitedplanet.com

Nano Stern, Woodford Folk Festival

Sunset stage, Woodford Folk Festival

Juggler by the Woodford sign, Woodford Folk Festival

Dancing at sunset, Woodford Folk Festival

Jamming, Woodford Folk Festival

Clarence River action, NSW

Clarence River action, NSW

Canoes by the Clarence River, NSW

Gorgeous path by the Clarence River, NSW