Cyclists
I equate riding a bicycle to freedom: No matter what you ride, no matter where you go, you are getting away. As an adult, cycling is my favourite form of exercise. It’s my ride to a healthier lifestyle. But it is still about freedom. A car can get you where you want to go faster, but it can’t go farther than a bike. It’s possible to ride around the world on a bicycle.
Bicycles were introduced in the 19th century and now number approximately one billion worldwide. They are the principal means of transportation in many parts of the world, especially in densely populated European cities. Bicycles provide numerous possible benefits in comparison with motor vehicles, including the sustained physical exercise involved in cycling, easier parking, increased manoeuvrability, and access to roads, bike paths and rural trails. In addition, cycling provides a variety of health benefits and reduces the risk of cancers, heart disease, and diabetes that are prevalent in sedentary lifestyles.
Most of all they are great fun, be it riding from Alaska to the bottom of South America as some shown here have, or riding in a group to race against others or their own best time. Mountain bikes have become popular, amazing folding bikes have allowed me to see parts of the world and meet people I could never have, locked in a car or bus looking at the world though glass.
“When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking.”
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 – 1930), author of Sherlock Holmes
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Gingers
My very first girlfriend, was a redhead, we met at Bairnsdale High School and now 50 years later I have had the pleasure of photographing this set of images showing a few of the lucky 4% of people who have the red head gene.
For the most part, natural ‘gingers’ have copped a fair bit of criticism, finding themselves to be the punch line of many a joke or accusation. School yard teasing is one thing, but to go back to the time of witch-hunting and royalty was to discover a culture whereby redheads were persecuted and considered to be unlucky, or evil.
Redheads can be from any race or ethnicity
Having red hair isn’t the only thing that makes some redheads unique. They are also more likely to be left handed.
Redheads probably won’t go grey.
People with red hair are likely more sensitive to pain. This is because the gene mutation (MC1R) that causes red hair is on the same gene linked to pain receptors. It also means redheads usually need more anaesthesia for dental and medical procedures
Mark Twain said, ‘While the rest of the planet is descended from apes, redheads are descended from cats.
‘ We’re a little mysterious and hard to pin down.” Malcolm Mathieson
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Pride
Just over 5 years ago, Australians said YES to marriage equality.
Still today, many of face discrimination at school, in workplaces or when accessing services. Violence against people in communities still happens and the opponents who lobbied against marriage equality have shifted focus, doubling down on their attacks on trans and gender diverse people in Australia.
An overwhelming majority of Australians — almost two-thirds — voted in favour of marriage equality in a postal survey announced on November 15, 2017.
Since then, almost 18,000 same sex couples – or 36,000 people – have married in Australia, according to recent figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
I have had the privilege of working with and the friendship of members of the LGBTIQ+ community. Some of the most amazing members of my profession and many in the wider arts world are members of the LGBTIQ+ family.
Here are some locals who many will know, I hope you enjoy these images and are supportive of the diversity of our society,
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Skateboarders
Skateboarding as we know it, was created in the late 1940s or early 1950s when surfers in California wanted something to do when the waves were flat. Sets of skate wheels were attached to wooden boards and early skaters emulated surfing style and maneuvers while they practiced ‘sidewalk surfing’.
Skateboarding is one of the most popular action sports in the world, with over 11 million active participants. Skateboarding made its Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, with both men’s and women’s competitions.
As a photographer, the challenge was to create portraits of Skateboarders to show something of their personality rather than the typical action photograph so common in the sporting press.
You as the viewer can decide if I achieved my aim.
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Musicians
“The true beauty of music is that it connects people, it carries a message, and we the musicians are the messengers”. Roy Ayers
I’ll begin by saying that music affects everyone. It’s universal. The human condition as a whole is encapsulated by music and musical phenomenon – from feelings of joy and sadness to cultural bonding. Musicians in common with most artists make great subjects as they see and feel the world in a different way to most. Music to those in these portraits is a passion, love and in some cases a life long obsession. Like photography and other art forms there is no way to measure their skills or success as each who hears their music will have a different experience. They like photographers create and every person looking at these photographs or listening to these people play will see my images or hear their creation in a different way. Creativity belongs to the artist in each of us. To create means to relate.
“When you photograph people in color, you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in Black and white, you photograph their souls!”
— Ted Gran
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The Bearded Man
Beards are back!
The beard resurgence of today is about much more than just fashion. As people have pushed individualism and cultural traditions, “rules” have crumbled (like the workplace collar and tie) and the beard has re-emerged as the bold symbol of leadership and freedom of expression.
The quest to be “me” has broken down many norms and allowed guys to openly embrace their masculinity. Beards have provided an outlet to explore being a man again in ways that go far beyond stereotypical chest beating and beer-swilling. Today we see beards in every aspect of life. And we see so many shapes, sizes and styles as dudes express their individual ruggedness. Yet still the reasons for growing a beard remain strongly connected to many of the same biological and cultural reasons that guided beards of history.
Statistics show that women are helpless against the primal urges that the beard brings forth in them as well. Surveys demonstrate that full-bearded men appear older, more respected, more powerful, and of a higher status than more non-bearded men.
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East Gippsland Shire Councillors
We are lucky to live in a wonderful area of our country and having travelled the world, in a country where we elect those who represent us at every level of Government.
Local Government enables the economic, social and cultural development of the area it represents, supports individuals and groups, and provides a wide range of services for the wellbeing of the local community.
These people, 9 elected Councillors of the East Gippsland Shire and the Chief Executive Officer will work countless hours, attend endless meetings and try and balance all the competing interests in our fantastic region. Our Shire is populated by an amazing and rapidly growing diverse community. It will be a hard and often thankless task but one which will have its rewards seeing the East Gippsland Shire before an even better place to live, work and play.
They are here, photographed as I see them, as their family and friends know them, I hope the pictures are a window in which you get to see these very special people who have decided to make a difference in our region.
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Bairnsdale Neighbourhood House
Our community is supported by volunteers in many organisations. Here are some who volunteer at the Neighbourhood House.
Neighbourhood Houses build strong, independent communities and encourage people to thrive rather than just survive. The Bairnsdale Neighbourhood House is a partnership, between individuals, neighbours, government and private enterprise. It is built on initiative, with sound and effective management.
Neighbourhood Houses are an integral part of the community offering social integration and a sense of belonging in our community.
The Bairnsdale Neighbourhood House services a broad cross-section of the community from young children to people in their ninth decade, by offering an extraordinarily wide range of programs which can include general classes, accredited classes, social groups, workshops , events and functions.
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Cebu, Philippines
Cebu City in the Philippines like so many places exhibits both wealth and poverty, here in the poor area the locals squat on land, building houses on stilts over the water. In the monsoon rains and inevitable floods they lose their makeshift homes and lives to the elements yet smile as you walk through the area. One can only have respect for people who see the injustice of wealth and corruption around them yet get in with the simple pleasures of family, friends and faith.
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Manila, Capital City of the Philippines
One night and a walk down a laneway opposite my hotel these are the people of the lane. Asian cities are wonderful and the people even more so, no matter how tough life is they have a smile and welcome you into their world.
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People from Prachuap Khiri Khan
Malcolm’s second home in recent times is a sleepy seaside town in southern Thailand. Prachuap Khiri Khan is a delightfully relaxed place. Yet to be discovered by Tourism the broad bay is a tropical turquoise punctuated by bobbing fishing boats and overlooked by honeycombed limestone mountains but it’s the people who are the best part of any town.
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Semyonovka a Russian Orphanage
Situated an overnight train ride from Moscow is the city of Yoahkar-Ola and an Orphanage of disabled children. Loveed nad well cared for Malcolm was a guest for six weeks one winter to try and record the loneliness, love and people.
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