First post in ten years!

It has been 10 years since my last post! OMG, where has time disappeared to?! First a little apology for not posting anything for all that time! I am sure, like many, at least one year was lost, and want it to be forgotten - the covid year, 2020. So what happened in those ten year?!

Here is a little summary:

Apart from 2020 and part of 2021, I have been very busy photographing across several councils. Lots of operas. Lots of hospitals. A nursing home. Lots of dance, and saw a number of dance schools close down for good at least part due to covid. A bunch of corporates. A bunch of schools. Horse racing / Melbourne Cup, A bunch of weddings, including one involving a helicopter and stretched limo. Needless to say, it was a lot of fun. Some product shoots. A whole lot of corporate functions, private functions and conferences.

While many of my clients are repeated, which I am most grateful for, there has been a whole lot of new clients as well. Thank you so much for choosing my service.

Hospital shoots were memorable. Photographing hospital wards, where patients were getting treatments, required a lot of considerations and sensibilities. And at the other extreme, at ferrari and maserati showrooms for fund raising events and celebrations. There was a big annual ball where I am shown a black and white pic taken in the Melbourne Town Hall 100 years ago, and told to take a new one to be remembered for the next 100 years. No pressure huh. :D

Number of pax range from one (portrait sessions) to ten thousands. The latter is an estimate from my clients, I frankly would not be able to tell how a ten thousand strong crowd looks like, apart from a sea of people even my 180 degrees fisheye lens can't capture.

There were historical sites and museums and where I was allow special access and tours. There were mega mansions, exclusive clubs and TV studio. There was even a prison. Places I would never dream of being able to visit otherwise. Opera master classes that I enjoyed immensely. Given my 16 years of working photographer experience, I now can say I have seen people grow up and some have left us. Some have done very well in their craft. Just recently, one conductor left us and I was priviledged enough that my pic was used to remember him. Likewise for a dance student, turn teacher and recently became a qualified medical doctor. A big community building where I was the photographer for the building and opening events and marketing for, shoot it again for its tenth year anniversary. So proud!

There were anniversaries for some companies and groups, one for their 75th anniversary. And I did one for free after the client mixed up the booking dates and had another photographer booked for the day. I gave the gig to the other shooter, but stayed on to direct the shoot and let the young gun use my lights. Client was understandably impressed and relieved. It was 40th annivserary for a community service, which also marks the end of this service. Council intended to make a photobook as a gift for everyone. A job that must be given a lot of love and not taken lightly! I have learned so much in these ten years.

Away from the camera, we were adopted by two most beautiful pure Maltese dogs - Mochi and Misha. They were brother and sister, one year old when we got them. Sadly, both of them have left us, Misha left last year in May and Mochi just left us on Friday 13th Dec, 19 months later. Both are taken too soon. Misha had syringomyelia - seizures - for 8 years and used to see specialists and brain surgeon for her condition. At her very first visit to the specialist, he suggested euthanasia. But we didn't give up on her. We managed to keep her seizures down to a few times a year and she lived it up. Mochi had cancer in the salivary gland this year. Feels like an end of an era. Wishing our much loved fur babies much happiness and playtime together over the rainbow bridge.

Last year, instead of progressing from still pics to videography, I picked another path - droning. I became a fully licensed RePL (remote pilot), ReOC (Remove Operator Cert) ie airilne, CRP (chief remote pilot), AROC (aeronautical radio operator cert) and obtained endorsement for drones upto 25kg, 100x larger than my first drone - the dji mini 3 pro. :D As usual, my clients own the work so I don't tend to publish them. But I will do my best to post some pics soon..