I’ve been trying my hand at 35mm black and white film recently. Here’s some shots from my latest roll.
Shot in Tri-X black and white 35mm film with a Nikon F2AS.
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Peripatetic Patricia
Local peripatetic Kings Cross identity, Patricia.
I bumped into Patricia on the way home yesterday. We got chatting as we usually do when we bump into each other. She told me that she had been waiting for half an hour in the oppressive summer heat for a photographer who failed to turn up. So I asked her, given that she had dressed up for the occasion, if she’d like me to take some photographs of her instead. She agreed, so I grabbed my camera and went for a walk with her around the area in the fading afternoon sun.
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Protest Against Police Brutality of Danny Lim
Local identity, 75-year old Danny Lim, was man-handled by 3 police officers yesterday at Barangaroo, the new financial centre of Sydney. He was arrested, handcuffed and thrown into the back of a police van with his small dog, Smarty, for offensive behaviour for wearing a sign saying ‘CVNT SMILE WHY CVNT’. As a result, both of Danny’s arms suffered extensive bruising.
Mr. Lim has previously been arrested by police for wearing his thought-provoking signs - charges which were ultimately thrown out of court.
Today, around 200 people gathered outside the Day Street police station to protest against Danny Lim’s case and against police brutality in general, particularly against the LGBTQI and Aboriginal communities. Speakers demanded more oversight, accountability and scrutiny of police operations. They called for freedom of speech, human rights, less police powers and justice for Danny Lim.
Danny's case will be contested in court where, according to his lawyers, he will be seeking damages against the NSW police force.
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Marlene Cummins
Marlene Cummins, original member of the Australian Black Panther Party and blues icon, busks for xmas coins at Broadway, Sydney, 2018.
Shot on 35mm Tri-X film, Nikon F2AS.
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Barbara McGrady, Glebe
Hanging out with photojournalist, Barbara McGrady, in Glebe on a hot summers day.
Shot on 35mm Tri-X film, Nikon F2AS.
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David Dungay Junior's Death In Custody - Third Anniversary Rally
Yesterday was the third anniversary of the death of Dunghutti man, David Dungay Junior, at the hands of correctional officers in Long Bay Gaol. Dungay, a diabetic, was held face down by multiple Special Operations Group members and forcibly injected with sedatives in his cell in 2015 after refusing to hand over a packet of biscuits. He stopped breathing shortly after.
To mark the date and to bring attention to ongoing Aboriginal deaths in custody, family members and supporters travelled to Sydney to protest outside the gates to the prison. Special Operations Group members were summoned but despite emotional scenes from Dungay’s family, no serious incidents unfolded.
After a traditional smoking, CCTV footage of Dungay’s death was screened on a TV. Family vowed to continue to pursue justice.
Throughout the day, the crowd’s signature chant was Dungay’s last words before he died: “I can’t breathe”.
A coronial inquest into Dungay’s death has been adjourned until March next year.
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A Tear For Junior
A young family member sheds a single tear at today's rally to commemorate the third anniversary of the death in custody of Aboriginal man, David Dungay Junior, at the hands of correctional officers in Long Bay Gaol in 2015.
More pics to come.
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Carols for the Homeless, Canberra
Some images of the Messianic Ministries, whose members originate from Ghana. Today, they put on a barbeque and sang Christmas carols for the homeless at Ainsley Village, Canberra.
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Still Life At The Embassy
A study of still life at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy on Xmas Day. Canberra, Ngunnawal country.
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The Block - Going, Going...
A new wall has been going up around The Block in the last few days as re-development of this important Aboriginal site grows nearer.
The land is earmarked for several 24-story towers of student housing, despite the disputed promise of 62 ‘affordable houses’ for Aboriginal families.
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Shhhhhh! - A silent Kings Cross performance
Photographs from last night’s silent theatre work, ‘Shhhhhh!’, a performance by Vashti Hughes, Annie Winter, Di Busuttil, Calamity James, Claire Anastopoulos, Felix Kulakowski and Paul Walker.
The work is in response to a ‘dulled’ city - the result of lock-out laws and a pervasive conservatism that has seen the virtual death of Sydney night-life, particularly in the once thriving Kings Cross.
‘Shhhhhh!’ was performed outside the famous Piccolo Bar, in the heart of Kings Cross.
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International Human Rights Day
Images from yesterday’s march in Sydney to mark International Human Rights Day.
Speakers from Aboriginal, Mapuche and West Papuan communities all raised similar concerns about colonialism, genocide, natural justice, due legal process, police brutality and the rule of law.
Today marks the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the UN.
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Stop Adani - Protest
Over 5,000 people, led by school students, gathered at Town Hall in central Sydney to protest against the massive Adani mine, which has been given the green light by the federal and Queensland state governments.
The Adani coal mine will be Australia’s largest and be responsible for carbon emissions equivalent to those produced by all Pacific island nations together. Pacific island nations are the countries most at risk from climate change and have spoken out against the mine.
The coal project will also extract more than a billion litres of water per year from already drought-ravaged Queensland.
Speakers at the rally, including 14-year old Jean Hinchliffe, called for the Federal government to immediately cease the construction of the giant coal mine and for the Australian Labor Party to oppose the project - a position they are yet to commit to.
Today’s rally follows an Australia-wide strike by primary and high school students last week to protest against the lack of government action on climate change.
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El Alamein Fountain - Kings Cross
Some images of the famous El Alamein Fountain in the heart of Kings Cross, Sydney, with accompanying local ibis.
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Student Strike - Big School Walk Out For Climate Action
Around 5,000 primary and high school students walked out of Sydney schools today to protest against inaction against climate change.
The striking students gathered at Martin Place in Sydney’s centre where speeches and performances were given. Speakers called for governments to radically reduce carbon emissions, stop the massive Adani Mine and implement environmentally friendly policy. The students demanded immediate action on climate change so that their future could be guaranteed.
Thousands of other students protested across the country - up to 15,000 - in capital cities and regional centres.
In response, the Resources Minister, Matt Canavan, dismissed the protest, saying, “The best thing you'll learn about going to a protest is how to join the dole queue. Because that's what your future life will look like, up in a line asking for a handout, not actually taking charge for your life and getting a real job.”
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Dance Rites, 2019
Images from Dance Rites, Sydney Opera House, 2019.
Dance Rites is an annual Indigenous dance competition and cultural festival, featuring dance troupes from around Australia and the world.
This year, last year’s winners, Allkumo Dancers and Kulgoodah Dancers returned as guest performers.
Professional dancers included Te Rua Mauri from Aotearoa (New Zealand) and Muggera Dancers from NSW.
Groups competing for the top prize this year were Buuja Buuja Butterfly, Djirri Djirri, Duurunu Miru, Eip Karem Beizam, Jumbaal Dreamin, Meuram Murray Island Dancers, Of Desert and Sea, Ngaran Ngaran, Nunukul Yuggera, Pakana Kanaplila, Seisia Kayin Thithuyil, Thukkabilla Vibrations, URAB Dancers and Wagana Dancers.
Also featured was Indigenous Enterprise, which is made up of Turtle Island champion dancers from Canada treaty six on Onion Lake, Saskatchewan, as well as from the Navajo nation in Window Rock and Blue Gap, Arizona.
This year’s overall winner, 2019, was Nunukul Yuggera. Runners up were Meuram Murray Island Dancers, with Buuja Buuja Butterfly taking out the ‘Wild Card’ Dance title and Djirri Djirri receiving the Rites of Passage Award.
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Thikkabilla Vibrations
A portrait of members of the Ngiyampaa and Gomeroi dance troupe, Thikkabilla Vibrations, at Dance Rites 2018, Sydney Opera House.
Dance Rites is an annual Indigenous dance competition and cultural festival.
More pics of the event to come.
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Sails and Sky
The Sydney Opera House’s architectural sails against the sky.
Shot on Tri-X 35mm black and white film, Nikon F2AS.
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Hank
Portrait of Hank - formerly a rough sleeper, Martin Place, Sydney.
For more on Hank’s story, you can watch a documentary, called ‘I Am Hank’, here.
Shot on Tri-X 35mm black and white film, Nikon F2AS.
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Lawrence
Portraits of Lawrence - rough sleeper and self-described ‘metal head’. Martin Place, Sydney.
Shot on Tri-X 35mm black and white film, Nikon F2AS.
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