Argus

Hot off the Presses, it’s the ARGUS: Volume 1

Heather Faulkner — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 03:48:07 +0000

In the course of four years, the ARGUS has published dozens of feature stories online. In producing this first print collection, editors worked tirelessly to find the best of these online stories and translate them for the old, “hot,” medium—to make the book an extension of the eye. It’s meant as a dialectic reflection on these vibrant visual stories from our new century.

Have a spin through ARGUS: Volume 1 above, and pick up your own print edition of the ARGUS: Volume 1 HERE

Our Normal Child: Living with Rett Syndrome

Wesley Monts — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 22:58:51 +0000

This multimedia project is an investigation into the experiences for the Usher family living with Darcy who was recently diagnosed with Rett Syndrome. The documentary explores multiple aspects of family life not limited only to Darcy and her syndrome. Narrated by the parents, the documentary comprises both still imagery and video to effectively translate the entire family’s experiences since the diagnosis. Spanning almost eight months of research, this is an intimate piece, about the Usher family’s reconciliation with their daughter’s diagnosis. Rett Syndrome is a disorder that is relatively unknown, even within the medical community. The project aims to describe the experience of living with Retts to create empathy and awareness of the disorder.

This project began shortly after my partner’s god-daughter Darcy was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome in April 2011. Living in the Northern Territory of Australia, access to the family was either all or nothing; Jackie (Darcy’s mother) calls it the “baptism of fire”. I spent two weeks with my partner investigating all aspects associated with Darcy’s family and the disorder by camping out in a tent behind their shed. It wasn’t until the last few days of our time there that I even began to comprehend what the project would eventually entail. I was to return a few months later with a greater understanding of the syndrome and my partner and I were amazed by the progress that Darcy had made in the time since we had last seen her. It was incredible to see just how much I had missed on the first trip, as I tried to focus on aspects of the family life outside of direct interaction with Darcy.

It is my hope that after watching this documentary it will become apparent that Darcy (and all the other Rett girls) are more than just the label Rett syndrome.

For more information on Rett Syndrome please visit:

Rett Syndrome

Rett Syndrome Research Trust

Girl Power 2 Cure

Silent Angels

Occupy Melbourne

Collective — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 10:11:08 +0000

“This occupation is a proclamation of solidarity with the millions of people occupying cities around the world right now. They and we seek economic, political and social change that will lead to a more just and equitable society. We are the 99%.” This is the unofficial statement of Occupy Melbourne, a burgeoning movement for social and political change.

On September 17, 2011 America’s infamous Wall Street was flooded with protestors attempting to bring about social change in favour of a fair democracy. What started as a small protest has developed into a massive phenomenon, with the masses demanding more jobs, fair taxes and corporate oversight.

Today, as protestors continue to occupy Wall Street, the Occupy movement itself has transcended its American birthplace and is rapidly going global.

On October 15 the movement reached Australia and people gathered in Melbourne’s City Square to bring about social change.

“It’s time our elected representatives actually started representing the 99% of the population who don’t have enormous wealth and political influence. Who suffer the social, economic and environmental consequences of corporate greed, who work to generate enormous wealth for a mere 1% of the population” (Occupy Melbourne).

These Occupy movements are not the mechanism of any political party or organisation but an independent collective of people with a wide range of beliefs, ideas, opinions, political ideologies and backgrounds who have united to rise up against injustice.

Photographs by Ben Reeson and Matthew Kay

ROLLER DERBY

Collective — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:58:46 +0000

Roller derby is one contact sport that is not for the faint hearted. Each team consists of five brave players who fasten on their roller skates along with a whole lot of protective gear. Helmets, knee and elbow pads, wrist and mouth guards are all strapped on to play in what they call 30 minute ‘jams’ against an opposing team. Out of the five players, four play blockers, stopping opponents with any force necessary to see the fifth player, the jammer, skate through opposing team whilst scoring points every time they pass an opposing player. The taboo game is a vastly evolving and emerging sport particularly among women, with currently seventeen leagues in Queensland alone. Roller derby’s beginnings stem from the success of speed and endurance races, in which competitors began to play dirty, using force on other players to aid in their win. This violent attitude drew in more crowds and from this, the sport came into its own. Today, there is a very strong female following, with competitors, dressing up and opting for pseudonyms that are most often then not satirical and allude to pop culture. However the risk of injury is non-trivial, with the severity ranging from common bruises and sprains to broken bones, concussions and beyond. As is the case with many sporting events and other large public gatherings, many modern roller derby games are required to be played with and emergency medial team on hand, and some leagues have even introduced insurance forms before new members can sign up. With its popularity continuing to rise there is a now a team for everyone, male teams and junior teams are emerging and it will not be long before the sport has an even greater following.

GLAMOUR BOY

Collective — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:55:21 +0000

My name is Brad Hemming aka ‘the Glamour Boy’ and I am a professional boxer. I started Karate at the age of seven, moved to Kickboxing at 14 and had my first Muay Thai fight at 15.

With 20 bouts under my belt I travelled to Japan to fight against a world champion in the K1 in front of 80,000 people.

It was here I experienced my first loss. But the fight in Japan opened doors. When I was 20 years old my current trainer Les Wilson approached and asked if I would like to box professionally.

It was the opportunity of a lifetime. I have since fought in the Pan Asian Boxing Association titles, have at least 30 Queensland Australian professional fights to my name and get paid to do something I love.

Working in a family owned car yard throughout my boxing career has allowed me plenty of freedom and flexibility for my training schedule.

I am also a qualified personal trainer. I love that I can use my long-time knowledge and experience in boxing to help and guide other people to achieve their goals.

Photos and story by: Krissie Kearney

The Art of Wrangling Difficult People

Heather Faulkner — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 07:23:12 +0000

Sometimes, a photo assignment can go incredibly pear-shaped no matter how rigorously you’ve prepared yourself. You’ve researched your subject, scouted the location, made sure all of your camera gear is complete, brought extra batteries, and given yourself plenty of time to set up. And then, the subject appears, driving a big, black cloud and wearing a look that says, “don’t mess with me, mortal.” Maybe they’ve just had bad news, suffered indigestion or had to sit through a very gruelling interview. Or maybe they’re just plain mean. You’re the photographer. You have to make the picture. Not “a” picture, but, “the” picture. What to do?
A great article was re-posted last week about the terror that the late Steve Jobs used to incur on photographers.
“In all those years, Steve only screamed at me at the top of his lungs once,” Fortune photographer, Dough Meneuz was quoted as saying. VII photographer Ed Kashi also found Jobs to be one of his toughest subjects.
If you ask any seasoned photojournalist if they’ve ever experienced a tough portrait session, you’ll get an ear-full. Some stories end well. Some do not. Douglas Kirkland had set up lights and waited hours for a late and grumpy Donald Trump. Trump refused to pose for Kirkland, so Kirkland photographed the back of his head as he walked out the door. Tit for tat.
Here are some tips for ensuring that all does not turn to ruin:
1. Arrive Early
2. Scout locations
3. Have somewhere comfortable for your subject to sit
4. Introduce yourself
5. Ask your subject how their day has been
6. Research your subject and ask about their latest project/event
7. Let your subject do the talking. It’s about them, not you.
8. Maintain eye contact – bring your eye to the camera only when you’re about to make the photograph
9. Smile
10. Be polite
11. Shoot your safety shots first, then try something “special” if the subject is still with you
12. Ask the subject if they have any ideas for the shoot (do this in advance if possible)
13. Ask the subject if they have any favourite places
14. While you’re talking with the subject, watch their body language. Do they use their hands a lot, have a certain stance? Incorporate this into your photography
15. Don’t be rude, but don’t be intimidated.
16. Say thank you – both in person and to the subject or their publicist in an e-mail or with a card. They will remember this.
17. Make it easy on your subject. If you’re planning some fancy lighting, practice with a stand-in.
18. Relax.

Meneuz went on to stand his ground with Jobs, and get “the” shot. The one you see on Apple’s home page.

Ban the Burqa: Protests in King George Square

Collective — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 04:24:15 +0000

An anti-Islam demonstration organised by the Australian Defence League took place in Brisbane’s King George Square on Saturday, October 6 2011. The small group of demonstrators was quickly overwhelmed by a growing group of left-wing activists who organised a counter protest. The Australian Defence League is an anti-Islam movement that was created after a story, ‘The Great Divide’ aired on 60 Minutes about Islam, and how right-winged extremists are responsible for the failure of multiculturalism in Britain.

Animal City

Collective — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 04:21:41 +0000

“Crowds of city folk rush to pet a calf, watch a lamb be born, or gawk at an unusual looking rooster. The Ekka is the one time of the year where the rural and urban elements of Queensland come together in one place, and I chose to document this particular phenomenon.”
Show-bags, carnival rides, and a celebration of everything “Aussie”; the ‘Ekka’, as it is affectionately known amongst Queenslanders, has moved a long way from its humble beginnings in 1921 as the “The Royal Exhibition”.
Amongst all of the hype, ePhotojournalist Louise Wright documents the modern-day urbanised result of what began as a movement to promote and encourage the agricultural development of Queensland.

Portrait of a Strata: Skateboarders

Collective — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 03:59:30 +0000

“They are used to being photographed while performing tricks, but when it came down to a one-on-one relationship with the camera, they were very intimidated. I was able to capture a sweetness to them…”
ePhotojournalist Zoe Koris sets out to build a typology of Gold Coast skateboarders and challenge the prevailing cliché of, “backwards-hat-wearing, rebellious teenage boys, wanting to cause a ruckus.”

May-June 2011

Collective — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 01:30:16 +0000

SINGLES is a selection of individual images from emerging photojournalists at QCA, Griffith University.

Production: June Karlsen