Category: News

 

“We’ve had some tough times over the years but when something like this happens, to win a Grand Final, it puts everything into perspective and makes it all worthwhile. To all our supporters, when the going gets tough and we need some inspiration you get us over the line!” Greg Matterson, Newtown Jets Head Coach.

 

Rugby League has been a part of Sydney’s tribal make-up, ritual and community since it was established in 1908. The Newtown club has been there since the beginning, a special part in its history and folklore. Local photographer Mike Magee has been following the Jets for four seasons and this photographic series captures some of the tension and jubilation from the 2012 season. From Henson Park to Leichardt Oval and ANZ Stadium a glorious new chapter was written on the field, in the sheds, from the stands and on the hill. In these times of increasing commercialisation and controversy it is a document of “grass root” sport and culture as it struggles to survive.

 

Mike Magee lived and photographed in Central America before returning to Australia in 2009. He studied for several years at the Australian Centre for Photography while settling in Marrickville where his work has been exhibited and received awards. This is his first participation in the Head On Photo Festival and he is delighted to be accepted as an associated show this year.

 

An exhibition that will leave you wanting more

 

“More to come” is an exhibition of colour and hand-printed silver gelatin prints by photographer, Andrea Francolini, that focuses on both personal and professional interests, with one common theme – travel and motion.

 

In this day and age where we can travel easily at the click of a mouse to book a ticket and the choice of destination is so varied, it’s not the decision to travel that is hard – it’s the decision of where to go and what to see, says Francolini.

 

“Climate, interest, culture, distance, budget…it’s a dizzying decision. And for a photographer, there are so many additional visual aspects to travel that it’s often a personal photographic project that makes the decision easy,” Andrea Francolini says.

 

“This exhibition is a selection of my favourite images from various personal portfolios which I’ve been shooting when I’m not working.”

 

On display is a collection of traditional sports shot around the world such as cockfighting in Pakistan, camel racing in Oman, sumo wrestling in Japan and falconry in the UAE. There’s also the portfolio of sailing – Francolini’s main source of work. It’s a small selection of nautical images. Sailboats, powerboats, super yachts, dinghies…as long as it floats, there’s a good chance Framcolini has photographed it over the past 15 years.

“My body of traditional sports images started simply with an idea to photograph sports which were over a century old. To make the first decision of where to go, I just looked at the world map and tried to narrow down the countries I’ve always wanted to visit, and so I’ve started with Falconry in the UAE, Surf Lifesaving in Australia, Bullfighting in Spain, Camel Racing in Oman and Polo in the mountains of northern Pakistan,” Francolini said.

Little did he know, however, that the first trip to Pakistan would give rise to a charity project that finally kicked off in 2011.
“My First School” is the unexpected result of Francolini’s various trips to Pakistan since 2008 when he first went to shoot a polo tournament high up in the mountains at 4000 metres above sea level.
His second trip to the country was in 2009 when he visited a tiny school in Gilgit-Baltistan (650km north of Islamabad) to meet and photograph a female teacher and found the learning conditions of the children heartbreaking.

 

No electricity, no desks or furniture, no doors….it was cold and dirty but still it represented hope for these children. And so the idea to try and help that first school was born in Francolini’s mind.
In 2011, he went back, having established the idea for ‘My First School’ which aims to raise funds to improve educational facilities and support education in the remote northern areas of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Since that time, basic school furniture has been made by local carpenters and delivered to nine schools in two years. More is planned for other schools which need support to provide a basic level of education in these remote areas. Francolini plans an annual trip with funds raised throughout the year.

 

Images from ‘My First School’ are also on display at the exhibition.