Take Advantage Of Man Flu!!!!

The last week or so I have been struck down the the dreaded man flu; one of the worst strains of flu around.  Much more potent than the general sniffles and sneezing…with full on delusions and rash decisions that come with man flu are the only way I can explain why I am putting on a full day photography workshop this Sunday the 21st Aug with the beginner in mind that will either be FREE or very very very cheap…….

I must be sick to be giving away a half day beginners guide to portrait photography workshop
I must be sick to be giving away a half day beginners guide to portrait photography workshop

ok ok ok before I go on let me tell you exactly what I am doing.

This Sunday the 21st of Aug I will be running two half day workshops.

Beginners Guide to Portrait Photography – 9am to 12:30pm

The first half I am putting on for FREE, nothing, nada, zip, zilch ZERO!!!!!!  This first half is for people that want to start photographing people but don’t really know where to start or what to do.  After all, how do you go about asking what things you can do to make the photo look better, when you’re not quite sure what to ask?

How do you extract the best out of a person and what is there to extract?

How do I know what best suits the person I am about to photograph and how do I make them feel comfortable and relaxed so I can get the best photograph?

What types of poses make different people look great and is there a difference between the sexes when it comes to posing?

Where should I stand or where should they stand?

If you have asked yourself these types of things then this morning workshop is for you.

Cost: Man Flu has taken hold and affected my better judgement so this work is FREE

Beginners Guide to Photographic Lighting – 1pm to 5pm

The second half of the day will talk you through What Lighting Is, how it effects us as photographers and how you can take control of it.

If you have ever asked yourself questions like:

How can I use flash when I don’t want to make everything bright?

I hear a lot of photographers hate flash!! Why?? Why are you teaching it if it is so bad?

When is the best time to use flash?

What types of flash are there and when is one better than the other?

Are there any things I need to know about flash photography that I can use every time?

Is photographic lighting just using flash?

Cost:  $49 Per Person – Yeah I know I must be really sick if I am only charging $49 per person for what would usually be much more, clearly my high fever is affecting my common sense.

While there’s clearly something wrong with me to be doing this, there’s nothing wrong with what i’m offering:  a FREE workshop and another stupidly cheap.  Come to one of come to both its up to you!

$49 is fantastic value for a full day of beginners workshop and one I don’t think I will ever repeat.   If you were ever going to go to a beginners photography workshop then now is the time or you may miss out forever once I come to my senses!

Numbers will be strictly limited so you must get in super dooper quick if you want to take advantage of this outrageous offer!

The ONLY way to book is to send an email to Brendan@BrendanMaunder.com letting me know which workshop or both you want to attend and I will send you a confirmation email with further details.

Don’t wait a second longer or you will miss out.

I Hate You Mother Nature!!!!!

Don’t you just hate it when you drive to the Snowy Mountains so you can get a shot of the Milky way above the snow away from light pollution but mother nature has other ideas and brings on the clouds…… 🙂
 
Oh this image was created by 37 images and the original is a size of 18644 x 12342.
Milky Way - Snowy Mountains
Milky Way – Snowy Mountains

Want to know how to take these types of shots? Shoot me a message as I conduct workshops that walk you through the process of capturing and processing these images.

I Will Sleep Well Tonight Because I Have a Blanket!

Every year St Vincent de Paul helped thousands of people within Canberra and around Australia. This requires thousands of dollars in funds to keep this going, the motorcycle community both here in Canberra and around Australia pitching a few times a year to go along and help with donations and support. Tomorrow is one of their major ways in which they can help the unfortunate.

Tomorrow is the St Vincent DePaul blanket on the ground in Canberra were motorcyclists bring donations of blankets and other warm clothing which St Vincent de Paul handout or sell to assist people that are in need.

Myself and my daughter will be there to support what is a fantastic motorcycle community and to help less fortunate in any way we can. I will be there as an event photographer to capture the moments and give them back to the people which have given up their time and money and blankets to help other people in need.

If you are motorcyclists living in Canberra I urge you to come a all long to the blanket run which starts at 8:30 AM at old Parliament.

Here are just some of the photos which I took last year!

The Salvation Army ‎ Blanket ride 2015 held at the old parliment house in Canberra. It raised around $4000 from the Canberra Motorcyle community
The Salvation Army ‎ Blanket ride 2015 held at the old parliment house in Canberra. It raised around $4000 from the Canberra Motorcyle community

 

The Salvation Army ‎ Blanket ride 2015 held at the old parliment house in Canberra. It raised around $4000 from the Canberra Motorcyle community
The Salvation Army ‎ Blanket ride 2015 held at the old parliment house in Canberra. It raised around $4000 from the Canberra Motorcyle community

 

The Salvation Army ‎ Blanket ride 2015 held at the old parliment house in Canberra. It raised around $4000 from the Canberra Motorcyle community
The Salvation Army ‎ Blanket ride 2015 held at the old parliment house in Canberra. It raised around $4000 from the Canberra Motorcyle community
The Salvation Army ‎ Blanket ride 2015 held at the old parliment house in Canberra. It raised around $4000 from the Canberra Motorcyle community
The Salvation Army ‎ Blanket ride 2015 held at the old parliment house in Canberra. It raised around $4000 from the Canberra Motorcyle community

 

The Salvation Army ‎ Blanket ride 2015 held at the old parliment house in Canberra. It raised around $4000 from the Canberra Motorcyle community
The Salvation Army ‎ Blanket ride 2015 held at the old parliment house in Canberra. It raised around $4000 from the Canberra Motorcyle community

What Does The Smell Of New Studio Lights Smell Like?

Bloody awesome I would say. 🙂

Last year one of the schools I teach Photoshop, Lightroom and photography at asked for my advice on what they should get in the way of new studio lighting as their existing equipment was aging and needed replacement.

I gave them a shopping list that included 3 x Elinchrom 500, with some light modifiers that included med softboxes, umbrellas, and grids.   With stands and remote triggers I also recommend Canon 600 speedites with remote controllers, collour correction and theatrical gels.

When all the gear arrived the other week they asked me out to help them set it up and give them a quick run down of what was what and I would hate to leave them in the lurch, so I jumped at the chance. hahahahahaha

It didnt take too long to get the stuff out and put it all together giving them some tips along the way..  I did learn one tip

Where you are setting these types of lights up dont look directly into one when it is on full power from only 30cm away and make it pop…

If you are interested in lighting, Photoshop, Lightroom and photography shoot me a message as I know we can work something out. 🙂

New Elinchrom Lights With Modifiers
New Elinchrom Lights With Modifiers

Tell Your Mum You Love Her!

Last night one of my Facebook friends suffered a major motorbike accident where are a car pulled on in front of him at 80 kph. He is now in hospital with bleeding on the brain, busted pelvis, spinal injuries and multiple hand fractures, if he does pull through I would think he has a very long road of recovery in front of him.
 
This accident reminds me how fragile life is and how, what we have today, can be taken away in a heart beat.
 
Today is mothers day, take some time to be with or talk to your mother.  Give back some of the love attention that she showed you over the years as she too needs love and attention.
There are so many people out there, where their mothers have been taken too early and I am sure some of them would give up anything to be with their mothers on mothers day. <3
Sunset Over The River
Sunset Over The River