A Bit of Fashion and a Bit of Fun.

Last night as you know I covered the fashion show held at the DLA Piper offices here in Canberra.  This fashion show was put on and in support of the UNICEF global challenge in which Brodie Williams from the firm is participating.

Our stunning models for the evening
Our stunning models for the evening

It goes without saying that the event was a hit and raised much-needed funds for the charity but for me one of the highlights is when Brodie was addressing the audience and giving stories of what she is going to expect in her trip. She seemed little put off with the fact that she would have to be camping, and she hates camping but there will also be baboons that may or may not attack the group of walkers. Never fear some comfort was insured as they will be shadowed by two rifleman to ensure the safety and I was given the impression she wasn’t exactly sure what these rifleman would be doing. hahahahaha

Brodie being a little bit unsure about the rifleman
Brodie being a little bit unsure about the rifleman

One of the other things I noticed is that even though DLA Piper our law firm most of the people I spoke that worked for them actually had a personality. Ok Ok Ok I am only joking please don’t sue me…

Brodie telling tales of what to expect
Brodie telling tales of what to expect

In between the sets and for the entire show we had the talented drum assault www.drumassault.com.au bashing out their African tunes which I must say is very fitting considering the charity this event supporting.

I kept the crowd entertained with their unique style and at times getting the interaction of some the people watching the show. Dan Graetz is the group manager in the main lead and a must say his his small and enthusiasm was infectious, so thank you my man. 🙂

Drum Assault doing their thang.. :)
Drum Assault doing their thang.. 🙂
The talented hair stylist fresh back from NYC fashion week
The talented hair stylist fresh back from NYC fashion week
Fashion in the office
Fashion in the office
Fashion in the office
Fashion in the office
A bit of fun before the show
A bit of fun before the show

If you want to check out all the other photos they are now ready for viewing by clicking on the event link. Feel free to download and use these photos as you see fit and please support UNICEF in helping making this world a better place.

Of course if you need an event photographer here in Canberra on fact Sydney or Melbourne to cover your corporate event please feel free to drop me a line as I’m sure we can help out.

Wall to Wall Photos Are up. :-)

Before I start what I’d like to say if you can please share this post to not only create awareness but also get these images out to the people that participated in the ride as most would never even know I was there nor would they know that they can freely get access to these photos.!

Last weekend I covered the wall-to-wall motorcycle ride, this ride is a memorial ride the police that have been killed in duty.

Wall-to-wall remembrance ride
Wall-to-wall remembrance ride

It’s an interesting ride as it starts many months before we each of the police Commissioners and over a wooden bat and tour rider for them to deliver it to the ceremony that is held at the police Memorial here in Canberra. Within each of these patterns is a scroll, this scroll holds the names of the officers that have been killed since the last memorial and it was nice to hear that none of these patterns contained any names.

Police Memorial Canberra ACT Australia - 12 September 2015: Wall to wall ride to support police killed in action throughout Australia with riders from all over Australia bringing batons of the fallen police to the wall of remembrance in Canberra ACT Australia.
Commissioners batton

The riders converge at our showground in the northern part of Canberra with a form up and create a massive convoy of bikes that is led by contingency of VIPs with their final destination at the police Memorial.

As part of the New South Wales contingency managed to strike a deal with Austin Martin and McLaren were they got to use one of their cars as a promotional vehicle with no cost to the police except for the registration and fuel costs associated with the vehicles being in the ride.

Goulburn NSW Australia - 12 September 2015: Wall to wall ride to support police killed in action throughout Australia with riders from all over Australia bringing batons of the fallen police to the wall of remembrance in Canberra ACT Australia.
Austin Martin
The McLaren promotional vehicle for the wall-to-wall
The McLaren promotional vehicle for the wall-to-wall
A couple of the police at Golden police Academy having a closer look at the McLaren
The promotional McLaren used to create awareness for the wall-to-wall ride

As a motorcycle rider I also took the opportunity to write from here to Goldman to meet up with the New South Wales and ACT contingency and wow, what a group of people and what a collection of bikes.

I think by the end of it there were over 2000 motorcycles registered which is a great turnout and I must say a very impressive convoy to ride in. Anyone that has written in a group of bikes before should really put this on the list of things to do next year as it is fantastic and for a great cause.

Police escort for the wall-to-wall ride
Police escort for the wall-to-wall ride

 

At the memorial they held a brief service that lasted around 40 minutes with tributes to the fallen and the laying of the batons. It was an interesting collection of people I must say, to seem bikie is talking freely with the police Commissioners from around Australia was something of a clash in everything that I see and hear through the media, and it was great to hear their stories of mateship and how they can work together.

Wall-to-wall ceremony
Wall-to-wall ceremony

watching some of these people places batons and looking into their eyes you can see the pain never fades, the loss of a loved one at any time is devastating that loan one that is taken for doing their job. A perfect example of this is a family that was there with their generations to remember their lost love one.

New South Wales police Commissioner Andrew Scipione with the family that had lost someone in the line of duty
New South Wales police Commissioner Andrew Scipione with the family that had lost someone in the line of duty

As the memorial finished and people when about their way a lot took the opportunity to have a look over the names on the wall of remembrance and if you are in town to take some time to go have a look as it is a solemn wall just as the wall of remembrance at the Australian War Memorial is.

People showing their respects and looking at the names of the fallen on the wall of remembrance
People showing their respects and looking at the names of the fallen on the wall of remembrance

If you want have a look at the photos you’ll find them by clicking on the events menu on the left-hand side of this page where you can freely download and keep a copy of any of the images for your personal use and give these away freely as a sign of respect on my way, be it small of giving something back to the people that sacrificed everything for our safety.

 

Hey Looked What I Packed!!!

Check out this video that shows some the stuff I am packing for my next little adventure covering the National iAwards conference and gala awards night at the Melbourne Convention Center.

My team comprises of two photographers and an assistant at the iAwards conference and another photographer in my team covering TheMHS conference and awards to be held here in Canberra, so it promises to be a busy week here at Brendan Maunder Photography.

Now I better run as I still have to pack the car and with a 7 hour drive in front of me I think I need a coffee.  🙂

Packing the car to cover an event in Melbourne.

If you a have large event that needs to be covered by a team of experts in the field, drop me a message as I am sure we can help and we do travel. 🙂

Does Life Sometimes Feel Like Groundhog Day To You?

Just about every morning before I get up I look at what the weather is going be doing to my for the day, as it helps me plan what I am going to wear, carry and do for that day.

Is it going to be hot so I have to pack water bottles and ice creams in my portable fridges or freezing or do I need to take hot coffee?? Do I need to wear beanie or sunscreen?? Is it going to be so windy that I am going to be like Mary Poppins with all my portable lighting or still as a lake in the early morning?

These are very important questions I ask about the coming day and the days following as I need to make sure everything is taken into consideration for the success of the shoot and the comfort of the people I am working with,  be it a family, a wedding, board members of a large company, gala event, or even a conference with thousands of people attending.

Why I am telling you this by the way. 🙂

When I looked at today’s weather I noticed that it is almost identical to the same weather and time when I looked at a few days and it got me thinking.

Ground Hog Weather
Ground Hog Weather

Is it so bad that today is starting out and looking like it is going to be a repeat of the other day?  What happened the other day after I saw the weather? How did the day pan out? Was it good or bad?

All very important questions and ones I quickly asked and answered in my own head like a mad man talks to himself…. While the answers in themselves were not that amazing it was the act of self critiquing that I thought I would share. It is something that I do a lot,  after every shoot, event, or workshop I conduct.  After every meeting or interactions with key people and general people in my life.

It forms part or my personal and professional growth.

What are the areas you would like to see grow in your life and what do you do to make that happen or what first make that happen?

Are there areas in your photography that would like to improve in but not sure where to start?  Or other areas like post processing that you would like to pursue?

I would love to hear your stories as there may be things I can use or avoid in my life and business!

So please do share and comment below. 🙂

TheMHS conference 2015 – Official Photographer

We have been busy in the background working with some organisations to make sure we can cover their events and TheHMS Annual Conference for 2015 is one of those events.

It will take part in a few weeks and will be hosting the mental health awards for health professionals from all around Australia.

It will prove to be a fantastic event not only for these health professionals by allowing them to learn and share ideas that will improve metal health throughout Australia, which in turn benefit us all.  🙂

TheMHS Annual Conference
TheMHS Annual Conference – 2015