Rick Springfield, photographed by David Porter, 1971

Here’s a little interview i did with photographer David Porter (aka Jacques L’Affrique) that appears in this weeks Brag magazine. It was difficult to prepare for because i’d never heard of him before and couldn’t find much information about him apart from a brief period in the 1970′s which is documented in his show Unreal Rock at Carriageworks.  It turned out there was a reason he dropped off the photography scene.

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David Porter, working under the pseudonym Jacques L’Affrique, lived and photographed Melbourne’s booze and weed fueled rock’n’roll scene in the early 70’s.

From the thousands of negatives in his archives a collection of about 100 black and white photographs has been assembled and is exhibiting now at Carriageworks.

Speaking from his Blue Mountains home, David muses on the carefree 1970′s, reveals his distaste for rock music, and the regret he holds for walking away from photography.

I spot Billy Thorpe and Molly Meldrum in this photo, not sure of the rest.

What can we expect to see in the show?

There’ll be photographs of iconic rock people from the 70′s; Billy Thorpe, Daddy Cool, Chicago, Elton John, Molly Meldrum, Germaine Greer, Manfred Mann…  And just a general assortment of what was happening at the time. A lot of photos of people just being themselves and taking part in the action.

In the 70′s it was very easygoing, you could light up a joint and no one gave a stuff. People would have great big seven paper joints, VB was almost the currency, and the wonderful Gough Whitlam was in power.

Do you think the photos present a romanticised version of the 70′s?

I think pictures tell the truth. They’re black and white. And i believe the ultimate photographic image is still black and white. Because it relies and shadow, detail, contrast, not on colours. And i print them all myself.

Did you get into photography because of the music?

It wasn’t the music. I don’t even like rock music! I’ve always liked jazz more. I just went there to take the photographs. Rock’s never really got me. I guess The Beatles are okay, and Neil Young. But i never really liked rock albums.

Tell me about Jacques L’Affrique. Why the nom de plume?

There was a bit of a conflict of interest because i was shooting for one paper then selling it to another paper, so someone suggested i use another name – Jack Africa. And to make it more ‘continental’ we decided on Jacques L’Affrique.

David Porter self portrait, circa 1975

Do you still practice photography today?

No. I did a really dumb thing. I suddenly went bizarre, crazy and idiotic and went and lived in the country and did a Diploma of Education. I don’t know what it was. I wanted to get out of Melbourne i suppose.  I was drinking too much actually. Photography at the time was a very alcohol intense profession. We used to drink a hell of a lot. And i was smoking too much dope. So i got out of it a bit.

And i never went back fully. But i’ve still got all the negatives. But it’s a pity, it’s a very big mistake of my life. I still regret it incredibly. I was getting some good work with agencies.

So the photography was too tied up with the drinking and drugs to continue?

I went through a strange patch, I was married and i just walked out on my wife which was really bad. I moved to the country and started teaching.

Elton John leaves the stage at Kooyong Tennis Centre 1971

Did you befriend the artists you were photographing?

Yes, i knew all those people. You used to go backstage and it was a very relaxing time. You’d go backstage and have a drink with the guys, which is when you’d get the best photographs.

It was much easier back then. I remember at the Elton John concert i actually got up on stage and took a photograph of Elton John’s shoes underneath the piano. No one stopped me. There was no press privileges. You just got up on stage and took the photograph.

Unreal Rock: The photographs of Jacques L’Affrique is on show now at Carriageworks foyer. 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh NSW.
10am – 5pm Monday to Friday, 9am – 1pm Saturday (closed Sunday). Until 26th June.

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• TEDx Sydney
• Interview with photographer Jill Greenberg
• FBi Radio fundraising gigs
• Interview with Tony Mott

Andrew Kuper addressing the crowd at TEDx Sydney

I spent Saturday at TEDx Sydney, snapping some pictures for the venue, CarriageWorks.

You’ve probably seen videos from the TED conference in the US before. It’s been running since 1984 and is a conference dedicated to ‘ideas worth spreading’ which attracts an amazingly talented array of speakers who have up to 18 minutes to address the audience on their idea.

Since they began publishing all the talks online, TED has exploded in reach, with over 200 million views of the videos. If you haven’t already, do go browse some video talks.

Remo Giuffré

TEDx Sydney is what’s noted as “an independently organised TED event”.  And this one was conceived by Remo Giuffré and brought to life by a large number of local people. Unlike in the US where it costs US$6000 to attend – this one was completely free. Which was remarkable for an event with a high calibre of speakers and entertainment, big production values and free food and drink.

I spent most of the day shooting in the CarriageWorks foyer, which acted as a spill over area for people who couldn’t fit in the auditorium.

A large video screen projected the activities inside, and between talks Craig Reucassel MC’d discussions with some of the speakers.

Craig Reucassel speaks to Brett Solomon and Andrew Kuper

A young audience member at TEDx Sydney

Cardinal George Pell amongst the crowd

Missy Higgins performed between talks

Mr.Percival wowed the crowd with his amazing vocal loops and sing-alongs

The iPad may not be for sale in Australia yet, but there were several people in the crowd using them

Some fogeys with their primitive 'laptop'

Julian Morrow tells it like it is

Julian Morrow was the final speaker at the event and summed up the day.

He brought everyone down a notch and had us in stitches when he explained that while TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design – it’s actually just an abbreviation for the real name of the conference which is EDWARD,

Elitist
Discussions with
White
Anglo
Rich
Dudes

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• Creative Sydney 2010
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Our well behaved class of 09 pose for their photo

As Sydney music fans would know by now, FBi Radio is on a fundraising blitz to raise funds to keep them on air.

As well as the Ask Richard campaign they’re throwing a massive series of gigs this month with all proceeds going to FBi.

There’s some fantastic line ups, well worth parting with your hard earned dollars for.

To commemorate such a momentous co-operative event FBi thought it appropriate to document in a big group photo.

Schools out!

Almost 80 musicians from Sydney bands taking part in the festivities assembled at Carriageworks. The first set up was challenging trying to fit everyone in, but i just about managed it.

It was a bit strange, parading myself in front of everyone, barking instructions.

Holding hands for FBi

The next set up i decided to do a really long photo, inspired partly by this photo by Garry Trinh of people queuing for The Strokes tickets.

I had everyone stand in line together and hold hands with the person next to them. The hand holding was to signify unity, but mainly as a way to loosen people up. They’d be made so uncomfortable by holding a strangers hand that they’d relax a bit for the picture.

It looks best in this special page i assembled that you can scroll along.

Here’s the full line-up of shows:

MON 8 JUNE – METRO THEATRE
Spunk Presents: Another Night on Earth

Sarah Blasko
Holly Throsby
New Buffalo (solo)
Jack Ladder
Firekites
Machine Translations
Songs
Grand Salvo
Megastick Fanfare
Sherlock’s Daughter
Fergus Brown
Ghoul
Parades
Caitlin Park
The Holy Soul
Bearhug
Hosted by Henry Wagons
and more to be announced

SPECIAL LONG WEEKEND START TIME – 5PM
Tickets $30 + BF available from www.metrotheatre.com.au or 02 9550 3666

MON 8 JUNE – OXFORD ART FACTORY
OK Relax Presents:

The Scare
Philadelphia Grand Jury
Bridezilla
Bang Bang Eche
Allies
DZ

SPECIAL LONG WEEKEND START TIME – 3PM
Tickets $10 + BF available from www.moshtix.com.au

SAT 13 JUNE – THE FORUM
Do The Dance: The Save FBi Allnighter

Ajax
Lost Valentinos
Bag Raiders
Van She Tech
Canyons
The E.L.F.
Yacht DJs
The Vanish
So I’m Jo
Magic Happens

EARLY PARTY START TIME – 6PM
Tickets $25 + BF available from www.moshtix.com.au

FRI 19 JUNE – METRO THEATRE

Katy Steele from Little Birdy (Acoustic)
Old Man River
Kid Confucius
Dave McCormack & The Polariods
Andy Bull
Laura Imbruglia
Bird Automatic
Pip Branson Corporation
Cameras

8PM START
Tickets $25 + BF available from www.metrotheatre.com.au or 02 9550 3666

FRI 19 JUNE – LA CAMPANA
Baselines Bashment Jam

Nick Toth
Baselines
Dynamite Sound
Spin D Music
Ro Sham Bo
Shantan Wantan Ichiban

SAT 20 JUNE – SPECTRUM

The Dolly Rocker Movement
Matthew J Tow (The Lovetones)
Flying Foxes
Warhorse
Joysticks

8PM START
Tickets $12 + BF available from www.moshtix.com.au

MON 22 JUNE – HOPETOUN HOTEL

The Hopetoun Hotel is already donating $1 from every door sale during May and June to help save FBi, but they love the station so damn much they want to do MORE.

Protectors
Lions at Your Door
Sideways Hitchhiker
Wim

8PM START
Tickets $10 & available at the door

WED 24 JUNE – ANNANDALE HOTEL

The Seabellies
Traps
Canvas Kites
Made In Japan
The Model School
Le Kingste
Bridgemary Kiss
Strange Reactions
Where’s Jerome

7.30PM START
Tickets $12 + BF available from www.annandalehotel.com or 02 9550 1078

THUR 25 JUNE – THE GAELIC THEATRE
Ivy League presents:

The Mess Hall
Red Riders
Cloud Control
Cabins
Aidan Roberts & Liam Judson (The Maple Trail + Belles Will Ring)

8PM START
Tickets $18 + BF available from www.moshtix.com.au

FRI 26 JUNE – MANNING BAR
Stolen Records Gala Ball

Urthboy
Def Wish Cast
Hau (Koolism)
Hermitude
Last Kinection
Spit Syndicate
Killa Queenz
Horrorshow
That’s Them
Nikkita
DJs: Stolen Records Skrillionaires

8PM START
Tickets $30 + BF available from www.moshtix.com.au

FRI 26 JUNE – MUM, SYDNEY

Jordy Lane
Parades
We Say Bamboulee
Waysiders
Fait Accompli
Zeahorse
Shakin Howls
Megastick Fanfare
Sherlock’s Daughter
Richard In Your Mind
One Glove
The Laurels
and more special guests to be announced

8PM til late
Tickets $15 on sale at the door

SAT 27 JUNE – BIG TOP, LUNA PARK

SPECIAL SECRET HEADLINERS TBA
MUSCLES
Dappled Cities
Decoder Ring
Grafton Primary
AIH DJs
Pivot DJs
Cassette Kids
The Jezabels
Palace Of Fire
Catcall
Ernest Ellis
P.A.S.H
HOOPS
Dangerous Dan
Jack Shit
Kato
P*A*S*H
Purple Sneakers
Ro Sham Bo
Wax Motif
and more special guests to be announced

KICKS OFF 2PM
ALL AGES EVENT

Tickets $59.40 + BF available from www.bigtopsydney.com or Big Top Box Office 02 9033 7600

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