Events Archives - Page 2 of 3

Floriade 2013: Kisses and Disses

It’s been 4 months since my second visit to Floriade. I went to see the Floriade the first time around 15 years ago when we generally took photos with film cameras. How time has changed!

In case you don’t know what Floriade is, it is an Australian flower and entertainment festival celebrating the beginning of Spring, held annually in Australian Capital Canberra. Yes. Our Spring starts in September:).

Canberra is close to 4 hours drive away from Sydney so it requires a bit of planning ahead to get there. We went to the event on the weekend and stayed overnight in Canberra. It was Mid September but the weather still wasn’t that warm yet. I was getting worried if the flowers in the park could survive the cold snap at night. But the flowers turned out to be much stronger than I thought. 2013 Floriade aimed to showcase how innovation can inspire a nation with Canberra’s 100th birthday, providing a celebratory feeling in the city for the entire year. With that in mind, here are my kisses and disses of Floriade 2013:

Kisses:

1. The beautiful flowers of course. There are mainly tulips but many other kinds of flowers were also on display. Look at them. I couldn’t stop taking photos of them.

2. Selection of colors and theme layout. Planning such a flower event is no easy task. Job well done to people who have worked hard for this to happen.

3. Easy & free access to the event. Commonwealth Park is just 5 minutes walk from the city center of Canberra and there’s no entry fee to Floriade.

4. Literally non stop entertainment. Getting tired? Take a seat and enjoy the performances, preferably with a warm cup of tea in hand.

5. Great photo opportunities. Did I say we took LOTS OF photos?

Disses:

1. Relatively small flower field. This year’s Floriade definitely seems to have more stalls selling things and less flowers for show compared to 15 years ago.

2. Food. The food choices are limited and prices are high considering the food quality on offer. But maybe I’m being a little picky, it’s a flower event, not a food festival after all.

More about Canberra Floriade:

When: Mid September – Mid October every year

Where: Commonwealth Park in Canberra

Open hours: 9.00 am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday
9.00 am – 5.30pm weekends and public holidays

Is it worth going? Yes. Especially for people who like flowers. If you are in Canberra around mid September to mid October, it’s almost a crime not to go;).

Is it kids friendly? Yes. Kids would love it and you can have your family photos taken with a stunning backdrop of flowers.

2013 marks Canberra’s 100 years birthday

2 January 2014

Photos Of 2013 Vogue’s Fashion Night Out In Sydney

Celebrities, Events, Style + Design

Vogue’s Fashion Night Out was held on 5 September 2013. I’m jumping around in time and space on this blog as there’s a lot to catch up:).

Vogue Fashion’s Night Out is the world’s biggest fashion shopping event hosted in more than 15 cities around the world. Held in Sydney annually, Vogue takes fashion to the streets of Sydney for a one-night celebration of shopping and exclusive one-off events.

Sydney’s Vogue Fashion Night Out kicked off in Hyde Park. Vogue Australia editor in chief Edwina McCann and Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore spoke at the official launch followed by a performance by Danish singer-songwriter Oh Land.

Our Lord Mayor Clover Moore and Vogue Australia editor in chief Edwina McCann both dressed the part, sporting statement necklaces and bold colored jackets. Here are some photos of

Sydney 2013 Vogue’s Fashion Night Out:

Australia Vogue editor in chief Edwin McCann

sydney lord mayor 2013 Vogue's Fashion Night Out

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore

Have you noticed Edwin McCann’s statement pearl necklace?

And Clover Moore’s chunky metal necklace with a huge gemstone center piece?

Danish singer, song writer Oh Land performed in Hyde Park.

Australian Model and David Jones’ former ambassador Megan Gale made an appearance in department store David Johns. Just a couple of months before announcing her pregnancy, Megan dressed in a plain 2013 Vogue’s Fashion Night Out T shirt and a black leather skirt featuring lace hemline.

So few people can look this gorgeous in a simple white T shirt. What can I say, Megan does it better!

Model Megan Gale

Edwin McCann’s black leather and leopard print shoes showed up on stage here. Do you love them? Fun and modern, they completed Edwin’s outfit perfectly. We couldn’t tell Megan was pregnant already then!

Pregnant Megan Gale before the pregnancy announcement (right)

It was not just a night of shopping. It was all about fashion and fun. Old department store David Jones dressed up in flowers inside out.

Inside Sydney department store David Jones.

David Jones window display

Luxury designer store Hermes put out a different kind of show – sports.

hermes window display Vogue's Fashion Night Out

Hermes Live Window Display for Vogue’s Fashion Night Out

On Pitt Street Shopping Mall, outside Westfield Shopping Center, girls were busy taking photos with topless guys in red pants.

What a fun fashion night out. See you there next year!

30 December 2013

Sydney Santa Flash Mob

Events

There are so many wanna-be street performers in New York City. Most of them are quite bad. Honestly. A lot of them are just plainly loud and not ashamed of demanding money from people on the streets. That’s when it becomes not so cool. That’s why I enjoyed Sydney Santa Flash Mob so much this year.

When I got the media call about Sydney Santa Flash Mob, I immediately pictured hundreds of men dressed in Santa Claus costume with white beards, glasses and stuff in mind. Surprisingly, Sydney Santa flash mob comprises a small group of energetic, good looking young dancers who can deliver top notch street performances. They danced from Sydney Pitt Street Shopping mall to Darling Barbour with cheerful music played and promotional presents handed out to onlookers. Everybody had a fun time.

Well done to the performers who can put a smile on people’s face.

6 December 2013

Style Watch: The Secret Life of Walker Mitty Australia Premiere

Celebrities, Events, Style + Design

The Secret Life of Walker Mitty will be in the cinemas on Boxing day 26 December 2013.

I’ve been indulging myself with a long break from shooting events since my holiday and neck injury. It was great to pack up the camera gear to shoot the red carpet appearance for The Secret Life of Walker Mitty Australian Premiere.

Kristen Wiig’s Christian fundamentalist turned habitual swearing character in science fiction Paul cracks me up every time. Needless to say, Ben Still is one big talent in the show business. How good is it to meet famously talented people in real life? I felt refreshed and went without complaining about the heavy camera bag.

People watching could be the best past time during the usual long wait on the red carpet. It’s fun to watch people dressed up to watch a movie.

Being true stars, Kristen Wiig and Ben Stiller didn’t make us wait long at all. They arrived even before some of the local socialists. Kristen Wiig was wear a white and sherbet toned long sleeve shift dress with lace detailing and graphic tiered hem from J Mendel 2014 spring collection. Can you sp0t the new trend?

From J Mendel 2014 spring collection.

Our local Australian actors/socialists however, played safe from same old options of sequin, lace and animal prints.

Excuse me for the short post, but I’m going shopping now – probably for a loose white dress with lace details.

1 December 2013

Cate Blanchett At Blue Jasmine Australian Premiere

Celebrities, Events

Cate Blanchett arrived at Woody Allen’s film Blue Jasmine Australian Premiere gracefully in an elegant, peachy orange evening gown.

“Cate!” The crowd cheered.

“How are you?” Greeting the media waiting in a chilly night of Sydney, Cate looked as gorgeous as ever on the blue carpet specially laid for the premiere.

“Cold!” people replied eagerly.

“I’m not.” Cate smiled in her flowy, short sleeved gown.

We all laughed. I’m no Hollywood fanatic but who wouldn’t love her. Cate Blanchette is one classy lady who’s extremely intelligent and professional. Despite her super star status, she’s pleasantly down to earth. After posing patiently for photographers, she answered all media’s questions and signed autographs for fans in the cold.

Cate Blanchett at Blue Jasmine Australia Premiere on 20 August, 2013.

It’s still months away from the Academy Awards, but Blue Jasmine is already a hit in the US with Oscar buzz building for Cate’s performance for her role in the Woody Allen film. Blue Jasmine is Allen’s 44th film in 47 years and Blanchett’s first time working with this legendary director. When asked by the media what it was like to work with Woody Allen, Cate started with: “It’s intimidation to work with a hero…”

Blue Jasmine the movie:

After everything in her life falls to pieces, including her marriage to wealthy businessman Hal, elegant New York socialite Jasmine moves into her sister Ginger’s modest apartment in San Francisco to try to pull herself back together again. Cate Blanchett stars alongside an incredible supporting cast in this emotionally powerful drama that is wise, tender and funny in equal measure.

Sounds tempting? Well you know, Woody Allen and Cate Blanchette won’t disappoint you:).

Blue Jasmine will be released in Australia nationally on the 12th September 2013.

23 August 2013

Matt Damon is here!

Celebrities, Events

If you ask me to name one actor that I want to see live in the whole world, the answer would be Matt Damon. It was quite exciting to have the opportunity to interview and shoot him as a photographer:).

Elysium Australia premiere was held in Sydney George Street Event Cinema last night.

Elysium is a new action thriller set in the year 2154 directed by Neill Blomkamp, director of break-out hit District 9 in 2009.

In Elysium, two classes of people exist: the very wealthy, who live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, ruined Earth. The people of Earth are desperate to escape the crime and poverty that is now rampant throughout the land. The only man with the chance to bring equality to these worlds is Max (Matt Damon), an ordinary guy in desperate need to get to Elysium. With his life hanging in the balance, he reluctantly takes on a dangerous mission – one that pits him against Elysium’s Secretary Delacourt (Jodie Foster) and her hard-line forces – but if he succeeds, he could save not only his own life, but millions of people on Earth as well.

Many guest attended Elysium Australian Premiere along with Elysium cast stars Matt Damon and Shartlo Copley. Fashion attire of the night appeared to be relaxed and trendy. Figuring out the names is a hard gig but I’m sure you’ll see a few familiar faces here and there.

Elysium actor Sharlto Copley at Elysium Australian Premiere

The crowd went crazy on the sight of Matt Damon. Look at him – down to earth as always, he was dressed in black suit and appeared calm for the entire period.

Elysium co-stars Matt Damon and Shartlo Copley

13 August 2013

2013 Helpmann Awards Red Carpet Style Watch

Celebrities, Events, Style + Design

Truth to be told, I wasn’t familiar with what Helpmann Awards are all about at all before shooting red carpet arrivals of the 2013 Helpmann Awards held in the Sydney Opera House. Luckily, Google is your best friend. Thanks to old wikipedia, this is what I gathered: The Helpmann Awards, named in honour of Sir Robert Helpmann and to commemorate his memory and achievements, were established in 2001 to recognise, celebrate and promote our live performance industry, similar to the Tony Awards on Broadway and the Olivier Awards in London. They are presented by ALP annually in Australia.

It was a fine Monday on 29th July but turned out to be a very long night, for my liking. So many people you have probably never heard of or seen before walked on the red carpet and I happened to have taken the wrong flash for the event. Without a camera flash, I didn’t take the max amount of photos but it was great fun to watch everyone posting for the cameras in their most presentable frocks. Everybody walked on the red carpet that night had the opportunity to shine like a star.

Sarah Murdoch, Elizabeth Debicki, Baz Luhrmann, Emma Birdsall, Miranda Tapsell, Tina Arena and more are among the guests attended the 13th Helpmann award.

For the women’s formal wear of the night, I noticed:

Glamorous long gown is in, little black dress is out.
Highlight on the waist area is the key.
Neutral colors rule. There were a sea of black and cream colors.

Without talking too much in details, let’s have a look what people wore on the Helpmann award red carpet, shall we?

Left: Emma Birdsall, Right: Miranda Tapsell

Tina Arena

This mustard maxi dress showed up twice on the red carpet of 2013 Helpmann Awards.

Love the color and style but it seems like we Aussies have very limited fashion choices.

Sarah Murdoch arrived in a knee length, fitted dress with cut outs around the waist and shoulder area. Standing out from the crowd, she looked sharp yet feminine.

Elizabeth Debicki (from The Great Gatsby) posed in her usually cool, hand in the pocket red carpet style. Dressed in a black one piece suit, she was the only female appeared in trousers. Talking about unique, have you noticed her shoes? How clever, they must be so much more comfortable than traditional high heels. BTW what do you think of the look the shoes… Yah or nah?

Carrying on with shoes, I coudn’t help but notice The Great Gatsby director Baz Luhrmann’s shinny shoes. They sparkled even without my camera flash.

My favorite dress of the night belongs to Lucy Durack (actress in the musical Legally Blond The Musical). Equiped with a winner’s dress, she went on to win the 2013 Helpmann award for ‘best Female Actor in A Musical’ that night.

Of course there were cute and colorful moments on the 2013 Helpman Awards red carpet that didn’t require a outstanding dress.

Next year around, I’ll surely know much more about Helpman adwards. And bring a good flash for the camera.

7 August 2013

Fight Food Waste In Australia – Feeding The 5000

Celebrities, Events, Food

Food waste in Australia is a serious issue.

Did you know? Australians discard up to 20% of the food they purchase. Have you bought fresh vegetables with all the good intention to cook them one day but eventually left them rotten in the fridge? I’m guilty as charged.

But wait, that’s not the only area of food waste in Australia. Look around the produce section in our supermarkets. Notice how well presented the fresh fruits and vegetables are? Almost all of the red delicious apples are of the same size, blemish free with pretty labels on each one of them. Without thinking we take it for granted that all of our fruits and veggies are equally good looking. But there are cosmetic imperfect fruits and veggies that don’t make it on to the supermarket shelves. Often they get discarded if there’s no other use of them. Believe it or not – even food is judged by its cover in our modern society. While so many people in less fortunate counties are still suffering from starvation, good food is being wasted without hesitation right here in this lucky country.

Help Fight Food Waste In Australia. Think Before You Throw.

Those are the messages OzHarvest trying to send out through Feed The 5000 event held at Martin Place, Sydney on Monday 29 July.

For the first time ever in Sydney, there’s such thing as free lunch for general public. Sydney’s top chefs along with hundreds of OzHarvest volunteers united against food waste and served up a free meal to 5000 members of the public at Martin Place in Sydney.

Fight Food Waste In Australia

Actually, more than 5000 people were fed during Feeding The 5000 organised by OzHarvest, one of Australia’s leading food-rescue organisations. They rescue quality excess food and redistributed it at no cost, to more than 500 other charities and welfare agencies. The event is part of a global initiative in partnership with the United Nations Environment Program which aims to raise awareness about saving food and encouraging everyone to produce less wastage.

All food served at the lunch – from vegetable curry to soup to dessert and lemonade – are made from ingredients sourced from farms, manufacturers and back-yard gardens that would otherwise have been discarded. Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore declared the event open and many other familiar faces appeared to help fighting food waste in Australia on the day.

Fight Food Waste In Australia

ft5 public

TV presenter Peter Overton serving food to public among volunteers.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore declared Feed The 5000 open.

Just accompanied her husband, Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to the war zone over the weekend, Therese Rein was back in Sydney addressing Feed The 5000 together with OzHarvest CEO Ronni Hahn.

Therese Rein with OzHarvest CEO Ronni Hahn.

The whole premise of the exercise is that there is enough food in this world to feed all of us. If only the Western World wasn’t so wasteful.

Let us not waste food.

Because. Fresh, not so good looking food is crying out: “I cook better than I look.”

Think before you throw.

31 July 2013

Ian Thorpe Shares Personal Struggle At Lifeline Australia Event

Celebrities, Events

Not far from my house, there’s a group of big swimming pools with nice sauna and gym facilities called “Ian Thorpe Aquatic Center”. Five times Gold Medal Olympic champion Ian Thorpe was only in his early twenties when the aquatic center was built and named in honor of him. It was great to meet him in person at a fundraising event.

I had the opportunity to photograph the Lifeline Australia annual fundraising lunch with Ian Thorpe as a special guest yesterday.

Lifeline is a non-profit organization that provides free, 24 hour telephone crisis support. Chairman of Lifeline Australia John Brogden says lifeline expects to receive one million calls in 2015 but the charity needs help meeting demand as some calls are currently going unanswered.

Thorpe donated part of his first $25,000 world – record bonus to Lifeline back in 1999 as he decided he “didn’t really want to swim for money.”

During the interview with Adam Spencer at the fundraiser, Ian Thorpe shared his personal struggle with depression and hope it will help other people who suffer from depression. He said that he hates depression and “it doesn’t seem to like me, so that’s our relationship.”

“You feel a little bit out of place, you feel a little bit uncomfortable, you feel a little bit down when you shouldn’t,” he described.

“It wasn’t until later in my life that I was actually able to say, ‘no, I actually struggle with depression’.

the westin entry

Ian Thorpe will help Lifeline launch a campaign next year to recruit more volunteers to answer calls from people who need help.

Find out here on how you can support Lifeline.

If there’s anyone who needs help but has to nobody to turn to, call 131114 Lifeline 24/7 support line.

24 July 2013

NAIDOC In The City

Events

NAIDOC Week run from 7-14 July 2013 and celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

I’m a bit slow in posting photos but it’s better than never:). So here you go – a few photos taken on 7 July, NAIDOC In The City held in Hyde Park. Hundreds gathered to enjoy live performances and experience the oldest living culture. We were blessed with perfect weather and amazingly blue sky. Who could tell it is winter in Sydney?

19 July 2013

Vivid Sydney 2013

Events, Things To Do In Sydney, Travel

It was the 5th Vivid Sydney Festival and the first time I actually made it. If you missed it this year and would like to see all the wonderful lights and colors, make sure that you go next year. Just check out Vivid Sydney’s official website for more information. There’s even a Vivid Sydney app you can download to your mobile phone with maps and everything:). Got to love smart phones!

16 July 2013

Sydney In Lights

Events

Have you seen Sydney in lights? Fancy lights. If you haven’t, try to go out after 6pm during Vivid Sydney Festival.

Sydney’s 5th annual Festival of Light Music and Ideas, run from 24 May – 10 June 2013 and provided fabulous photo opportunities.

One of my photos of Vivid Sydney made an appearance on Italian magazine Internazionale. Can you tell how busy that night was:)?

3 July 2013

Brad Pitt’s First Visit to Sydney For World War Z Premiere

Celebrities, Events, Quotes

Brad Pitt made his first visit to Australia for World War Z premiere. Here’s a photo of mine, featuring Brad Pitt on the red carpet, interviewed by Chanel 7 Sunrise weekend host Samantha Armytage in front of The Star, Sydney.

brad pitt world war z australia premiere

Brad Pitt at World War Z Sydney premiere, 9 June 2013

In the meantime, enjoy the quotes of this week too..

Not only is there no God, but try getting a plumber at weekends.
~ Woody Allen

A committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours.
~ Milton Berle

Why do they call it rush hour when nothing moves?
~ Robin Williams

Happy weekend.

30 June 2013

Despicable Me 2 Australian Red Capet Premiere

Celebrities, Events

I had the opportunity to cover the Despicable Me 2 Australian red carpet premiere as a photographer a few weeks ago.

— A few weeks ago? What took you so long to post this?? —

Well, something else distracted me. I might blog that something else later but for now, it’s time to post some photos I took from the event:).

Despicable Me 2 Australian Red Capet premiere

Miranda Cosgrove arrived on red carpet first, wearing a short black dress with a cute bow on the back.

Steve Carell (Gru) and Miranda Cosgrove (Margo) walked the red carpet at Event Cinemas Bondi Junction, Sydney along with two cute Minions.

Steve Carell looked smart and relaxed.

Here came a whole bunch of mini Minions – to- be. If that doesn’t make it the cutest red carpet movie premiere, I don’t know what will:).

Steve played the part: his character Gru came out to yell at the mini minions, who burst into laughter altogether.

To top it all off, movie themed Minion cupcakes were served at Despicable Me 2 Australian Red Capet Premiere! Did I say the whole event was oh-so cute?

Despicable Me 2 Plot:

Gru is no longer a villain after saving his three adopted daughters Margo, Edith, and Agnes from Vector in the first film Despicable Me. His calm and unexciting new life takes an unexpected turn when he is recruited by Lucy Wilde and Silas Ramsbottom and is taken to the headquarters of the Anti-Villain League, a society dedicated to fighting crime on a global scale. There, he discovers that there is a new villain named El Macho on the loose. Because Gru was once a villain himself and knows how they think, Silas (the League’s head), wants Gru to help them fight the villain. With the help of Gru’s assistant, Dr. Nefario, his minions, Margo, Edith, and Agnes, Gru must save the world (“again”).

21 June 2013

Donate To Charity: Smith Family Winter Appeal

Celebrities, Events

Donate to charity for a good cause this winter. If you can.
I was invited to document The Smith Family’s official launch of its Winter Appeal a couple of days ago.The entire staff from The smith Family’s national office along with celevrity ambassadors, revealed its giant “opportunity Key” at the Harbour foreshore. The key is symobolic of unlocking the futrue of disadvantaged children and restoring their self-belief. It was indeed a glorious morning for this event.

It’s reported that right now, one in ten Australian children is living in financial disadvantage and does not have access to the same opportunities as other children. The Smith Family’s general manager in NSW, Teresa Collignon said that supporting the education of Australian children in need was a powerful way to end disadvantage.

“Australia is known as the lucky country but unfortunately there are huge inequalities that exit for children and young people from from disadvantaged homes and communities,” Ms Collignon said.

“Without support, the disadvantage these children are experiencing today -though no fault of their own – could lead to a life time of lost potential.”

“the opportunity key represents how donations from the public will unlock the future for disadvantaged Aussie kids,” she said. “We’re asking the community to get behind the Smith Family’s Winter Appeal so we can continue our work in 97 communities across Australia and help children in need hold on to their self-belief.”

The Winter Appeal aims to raise $3.43 million by 31 July to provide educational support and mentoring programs including after-school learning clubs, reading support programs for 10,000 disadvantaged children who are up to two years’ behind in their reading levels, mentoring and tutoring programs.

The smith Family’s national office along with celebrity ambassadors, former Olympic swimmer Elka Whalan, Host of channel 9/GO’s kitchen Whiz Alice Zaslavsky and Network Ten’s The loop Presenters Scott Tweedie and Ash London and Then’s late News Presenter Hemione Kitson were present to raise the awareness for public donate to charity.

Donate To Charity:

Donate to The Smith Family’s Winter Appeal by phoning 1800 024 069 or visit www.thesmithfamily.com.au/winter.

6 June 2013