View from the Ranges

If people do not have value then we have very little left.I would think people are the most sacrosanct and precious of all creatures, most obviously. I would go as far as saying that photography of people is perhaps the closest we can get to what we look like or represent to one another. There is not so much portraiture done to-day, much too hard.
I make photographs for myself, and in the case of Bougainville, to discover the “Bougainvillian” in me. Secondly though, I also make photographs for the people I photograph, and this latest work in Bougainvillie is no exception..Sister Lorraine, Caralus Ketsimur, Simon Pentanu, The Foz, Pres. Joseph, A.J., Mary and the kids, little Auday an Xavier, the blokes at Bishop Wade,Hangan People, Eddie Mohin, Captain Terry (Sankamap) and David G., the UPE blokes, Anna, Bridget, Glen and Norman from Ieta Village ,the BICWF girls, the Tsiroge seminarians, Chabai people, Martin M and Scoley, little Sienna and Ceilia, Philip at the Kurri Village Resort, Josephine and Sam, Robert and Maria Kurogai,James Tanis,Paul Nakara, George and Delphine Lesi, Hangan People,Ken and Pat and Ian, Gorethy Kenneth,Paul and Robin,Kubu Klub,Tomeseta, Dameon Dameng, Ol Pussy (Tinputz) Jenny from Air Nieguinie, Ben Kamda and Teressa (Shorty and Shifty) Henry and the mob from Raua, Elvis,Peter Sicka, Sister /Auntie Emily, Dora Tsiu, Sister Bernadette,Ampe from Panguna,Franchesca Semoso, Gerry Sinato, and the Little Black Possum, Paramont Chief Kipano (RIP),for all of you GOD BLESS and HAPPY NEW YEAR.
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So I photograph people, and in doing so I create “self-portraits”. What I see in others I have inside myself…in portraits I’m RECOGNIZING myself. And that is what I am essentially… a portrait photographer.
As I gear up to create another exhibition, with the endless wrestle to procure monies and escape debt, I remember not only the continual ignorence of the VACB, but of Australian photographys’ great patron and collector Mr Pat Corigan (gong of some sort) who made his fortune in freight. “Not marketable” was his comment on the East Timor exhibition.”Not marketable” were these portraits of these brave and courageous people.

What is of REAL VALUE to our world? What is of REAL VALUE TO MY WORLD? Photography yes..this gives me meaning, but photography of what? Well PEOPLE seem to me the most impotant of all to photograph. Though not getting on with PEOPLE all that well on occaision (and def. hopeless at living with them) I seem always to return to the idea, and indeed reality, that people and interaction with people, is of the most neccesary and important and spiritual of “occupations”, and that not to do so would be to die.My whole being is fleshed out with those who made me and nurtured and guided, educated and loved me. I was shaped by “them”.I became myself through them.

Another year about to end and I find myself gearing up for the new. This 2nd Jan will be at the National Museum (Canberra) darkroom and will be printing up Bougaunville. Small at first, editing, living with the images..which ones hang in and are strong? With the amount of support one gets from the powers to be, there seems little incentive. I’m completely demoralized by 10 years of attempted grant applications, while seeing the same faces crop up again, with the same pretentious “academic” and alienating stuff. Makes one think though, about the work one does, and it’s RELEVENCE in to-days world?? Who really cares about photographs of people from Bougainville? Who gives a toss?

Meri Krismas and Happy Noo Year to all. Appologies for lack of log. Have been down with Maleria this past week and am just beginning to get back on deck .Have processed all films and am looking forward to printing in the new year. Till my next post..lukim yu.