For anyone that doesn’t live in Australia, this country has been under attack from bush fires for almost 3 months.
They have burnt more forests than you could ever believe and as I type they continue to burn and all across the country.
Here in Canberra where I live we have up until the last few weeks have been immune to the rages of this years bush fire season however given that everything is burning around us it was a ticking time bomb.
And it was our turn. The fires have take out most of the Namadgi National Park and have come close the the urban fringes of Canberra.
People all across this country have been out helping others be it through boots on the ground fire protection, donations, supplies, putting people up in houses or emotional support.
Having been one of those people trying to help from afar and feeling very powerless to assist as the fires come closer to Canberra, I like many others put out the offer off assistance.
For me, that takes shape in helping rural landholder mates and others to understand the fires but also be part of their active fire team to defend their properties when and if the fire reaches their boundaries.
The other part of this is to be able to photograph the fire as it moved and shaped around the landscape, allowing them to understand fire moments and when they might be impacted.
In helping these farmers it also gives me exclusive access to view points that most of the public is not allowed as the entire rural south of Canberra has been blocked due to safety concerns.
I have a few different photos of the fires that are happening as I type but I wanted to share this photo with you as it seemed so comforting watching it move and shape its way around the hill that it is hard to remember the death that this fire is bringing to the landscape and the native wildlife.
For the locals this photo was taken the night of the 2rnd of February 2020 from Tharwa facing the fire that was moving on the north side of the fire and into Corin dam.
Talking with the locals that have both lived in the area for many decades and have been in the fire service for many decades they say the risk of this northward moving fire has the potential of moving from the rural landscape into the urban interface and causing loss of houses and property.
Will that come true, who knows but what I can say, sitting back and watching this fire at night and from a distance has given me a new found respect for the fire but also the beauty that it brings, though things like the night fires but also the rejuvenation of life with the bush land after the fire.
Right now the night time allows us to take stock, and look at the positive side before the daylight come where we know so will the destruction of bushfires.
The northern edge of the Canberra Bushfires moving from Tharwa to Corin Forest
Last weekend I once again was the official photographer at the annual STOMP charity dance event and as always it was both an amazing group of people that put together an amazing show for the people that attend.
For those of you that don’t know what I am talking about, STOMP was the brainchild of a gentleman named Mark McEwen created after the tsunami on boxing bay in 2004 with the first STOMP in 2005 where it raised money for the fishing boars in a small Sri Lankan fishing village that was wiped out.
STOMP is one of Canberra premiere Latin charity dance events, raising over 100$ for local charities and bringing together the dance community. It is held at the Albert Hall near the Australian Parliament House in Canberra with a yearly theme. This year it was cosplay and the performers didn’t disappoint.
It initially started out as an Adhoc event but has since transformed into one of Canberra premiere annual Latin dance event. For more information about their history check this link out.
STOMP is one of Canberra premiere Latin charity dance events, raising over 100$ for local charities and bringing together the dance community. It is held at the Albert Hall near the Australian Parliament House in Canberra with a yearly theme. This year it was cosplay and the performers didn’t disappoint.
Since that time STOMP has raised over $150,000 towards their selected charities, here each year they select a few different charities to sponsor. One of the main charities they do sponsor is the local Rotary group with most of the money raised going to them.
One of the great things for me as a photographer is that each year has a theme and EVERYONE dresses up in that theme, which I must say is very unique given people come from over 300km away to be there and a range of locals. I can only put it down to that because this is a dance event that the dance community just love to dress up and they are super supportive of each other and enjoy being a bit flamboyant. Either way its always a surprise of what theme the will come up with and something that I always look forward to photographing and being part of.
STOMP is one of Canberra premiere Latin charity dance events, raising over 100$ for local charities and bringing together the dance community. It is held at the Albert Hall near the Australian Parliament House in Canberra with a yearly theme. This year it was cosplay and the performers didn’t disappoint.
The event typically runs where people show up at around 6:30 pm to relax with a few drinks from the bar and find their seats. They have about 1 hour of dance performances which are performed by dance studios both from there and Sydney which I think is just amazing. After the performances, they clear the hall and set up two rooms each with their different theme where people can move around as they see fit. Each room has its own personal DJ with the main hall having all sorts of cool lighting that brings out the heritage-listed architecture of the building.
STOMP is one of Canberra premiere Latin charity dance events, raising over 100$ for local charities and bringing together the dance community. It is held at the Albert Hall near the Australian Parliament House in Canberra with a yearly theme. This year it was cosplay and the performers didn’t disappoint.
I am not sure what the thinking is behind each performance but what I can say having seen many years of them, they are always just amazing. Its a mixture of both professional and beginners that want to just have a go and perform for the pleasure of others.
STOMP is one of Canberra premiere Latin charity dance events, raising over 100$ for local charities and bringing together the dance community. It is held at the Albert Hall near the Australian Parliament House in Canberra with a yearly theme. This year it was cosplay and the performers didn’t disappoint.
One of the great things I love about STOMP is the people…. The people that give up so much of their time to support and give back to others. While I have been photographed all sorts of dance the Latin dance (not be be confused with Latin that is related to ballroom) is the most open and friendly of them all. They give back and in all the years of photographing this style, I have never, ever heard anyone be bitchy or backstab anyone which unfortunately is rare given I have sooo much all-access to all-areas I hear a lot of things. Not from these people.
Most of the night is filled with social dancing and a great chance for me to capture people interacting without them knowing I am there so they are more natural than any staged shoot I could ever do. 🙂
STOMP is one of Canberra premiere Latin charity dance events, raising over 100$ for local charities and bringing together the dance community. It is held at the Albert Hall near the Australian Parliament House in Canberra with a yearly theme. This year it was cosplay and the performers didn’t disappoint.
All in all, it was a fantastic night.
So the figures are in and for that night they raised $10,600 which an amazing feat. Here are their official results * Pets In The Park ($2,120 / 20% of funds). * Kelvin Davies 4 the Rainforest ($2,120 / 20% of funds) * Karinya House ($2,120 / 20% of funds) * Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin local community programs ($4,240 / 40% of funds).
If you want more information about the event you can touch base from their facebook page their website
I do have a special mention is to 303 Industries where they come up with a white backdrop allowing them to project all sorts of lighting stuff on there. Truly a great idea and it really worked as you can see.
STOMP is one of Canberra premiere Latin charity dance events, raising over 100$ for local charities and bringing together the dance community. It is held at the Albert Hall near the Australian Parliament House in Canberra with a yearly theme. This year it was cosplay and the performers didn’t disappoint.
While his website sucks arse the ability to light up a room in a special way is just fantastic. Here is some of his work of his website and in that page, you can see a link to the background and lighting I am talking about. NOTE: If you look closely at the super bright moon in the middle it’s my bald head reflecting off the light. hahahahaha
As I do at the end of every STOMP I look forward to next year. 🙂
If you want to see my other posts about STOMP you can find them here
Every year I am invited back to photograph the Canberra elite public and private companies in the computer-related industries as they fight to win the top prizes at the iAwards.
This event is a combination of cocktails drinks, gala dinner and awards ceremony with a splash of being a convention with a hand full of lucky providers being able to show their wares at the back of the main dining hall.
It is an event like no other in the ICT space here in Australia as it is across the entire country with the local winners going on to the National awards in Melbourne later in the year.
For me, it is an event that I look forward to every year for a few reasons. Other than it being a very formal black tie event I get a fly on the walls insight in the trends and future of ICT here in Australia and has been shooting for the AIIA for maybe 6 years I have seen the growth and effects winning such an award has had on their business and their ability to grow and take their business to another level.
Every year like all the other gathering where they have a keynote speaker I get to meet and learn a lot about what is going on. A few years ago we had the artificial intelligent professor, they have had the owner and founder of AIE and as with almost every year, we have had government representatives to give their vision and support to the ICT industries.
This year was no exception with the none other Mr Andrew Barr MLA and Chief Minister for the Canberra there to support the ICT industry, and this not being his first time to this event and I doubt it will be his last.
Mr Andrew Barr MLA and Chief Minister for the Canberra
All in all it was another great night and great to see so many people involved and to hear the stories of what they are working on and what the future holds in terms of ICT.
WOW look at how cool that room looks at the iAwards Canberra 2019 held at the National Art Gallery of Australia
I personally can’t wait until next year to see what other amazing things the switched on ICT industry comes up with. 🙂
Last weekend I attended the Bulldog fun day at held at the Tuggeranong Dog Club where they had 60+ dogs and owner show up to enjoy the fantastic weather and hang with other like minded people, not to metnion participate in some fun competion and win a few things on the raffles.
Was great to see soo many bulldog in one place and TBH never really spent much time with this breed before so it was intergesting to see how they interacted with each other and their owners.
Look at this little pup. Looking proud as punch and ready to take on the world even at 1 foot tall. lol
If Only I Was a Real Sized Dog..
Where was also best dressed which this little chap won hands down in his custom x-mas sled. Ho Ho Ho
All in all a great day out but didn’t my legs know about it the next day as I must have done about 8,374,227 squats so I could get down low to photograph the dog, but hey… Whoever said photography wasn’t good for your health. 😉
Had a chance to catch up with Tim The Yowie Man over the weekend to photograph the screening of his YouTube serires “The Tragedy of Henry Dunkley” latest part in his web series of documentary-style YouTube videos.
I have photographed some of the behind the scenes of his events and YouTuseriesres and seeing the end product of his and his teams latest editioin I was very much impressed with how far they have come. The clearly have learnt a lot from their past effort as this was a as sweet as nectar in what they produced from the first to this one.
23rd March 2019 – Gunning, NSW Australia. Tim the Yowie man and crew at their screening of The Tragedy of Henry Dunkley
Without giving much away, its a real-life tale of murder, lovers and strange execution.
Tim and his production crew had their screening out a place called Pyer Cottage in Gunning NSW which is close to where the real events took place but given the cottage is a historical cottage it was used in the filming of “The Tragedy of Henry Dunkley”.
While I have been out to Gunning a few times as it is a fantastic place to ride your motorcycle and the cafe there is just the best with some fantastic scones and coffee, I didn’t until the weekend know the cottage was there which BTW is now turned into a museum.
Then after watching the screening of “The Tragedy of Henry Dunkley” I had a new outlook on this little country town and had an urge to go to the sewage works….. Oh, you will have to watch “The Tragedy of Henry Dunkley” to see why. lol
The Pye Cottage – Gunning NSW Australia Inside the Pye Cottage – Gunning NSW Australia Inside the Pye Cottage – Gunning NSW Australia Inside the Pye Cottage – Gunning NSW Australia23rd March 2019 – Gunning, NSW Australia. Tim the yowie man and crew at their screening of The Tragedy of Henry Dunkley
Given it the screening was at Gunning there was a great turnout with a bush fire control center filled to standing room only and as I stood at the front of the room watching and photographing their faces I could just tell the were fixed to the screen to see how the story played out.
Eyes locked to the screens
After the great viewing, the night ended with a few speaches a feed put on by the local “The Old Hume Cafe”. Me being me mentioned it was a bit posh but I was assured that this was just normal Gunning hospitality. Not sure if I believed it with things like this put out for us to eat.
Great spread of food put on by “The old Hume Cafe”
There was a few locals there selling some of the books that were the drivers for Tim’s episode which I would have loved to buy however as I was on the motorbike I wasn’t in a position to take extra things home as I was already full taking 2 x Canon 5D iv, two lenses and a speedlite on my back. lol
Tim The Yowie Man giving some more background on the series and other facts in and around the Gunning area.
All in all a great night and great viewing.
If you want more information here are some links for you to follow.
Tim The Yowie Man YouTube Video – Make sure you click on and subscribe to his channel.
