'ACCESS ALL AREAS' APEC SUMMIT 2015

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2015 has been an incredible year for my photography career. Working with F8 Photography, we have covered many exciting events, and the APEC SUMMIT 2015 has definitely topped it off!

President Barack Obama arriving on stage to greet the 2015 APEC guests. 

Out of 3,000 Media and Photographers who were covering APEC, Gary and myself were the only two who had been granted full access to all areas. We are very grateful to Darren Kerr from Factor 168, Project Director and Executive Producer for APEC 2015, for allowing us this opportunity.

Our tasks were to photograph the VVIP's in a more natural and intimate environment, which included Presidents, Prime Ministers and World Business Leaders.  Our access gave us a rare opportunity to shoot back stage as the individuals were briefed and prepared to go on stage.  

Being in the presence of these VVIP's was such a buzz. To have the opportunity to photograph these individuals in a way that they are rarely seen was amazing. 

The images below represent the "behind the scenes" look into what we covered at the event.  

As these images are rare and one of a kind for this event, we apologise for the watermark to protect the images from being misused.

President of the United Sates Mr Barack Obama and Jack Ma founder of Alibaba on stage together. 

Project Director and Executive Producer Darren Kerr seated with Mr Allen Lai official MC of APEC 2015 awaiting the next VVIP to arrive in the green room.  

President of the Philippines Mr Benigno Aquino III being interview by CNN Asia Pacific Editor Mr Andrew Stevens. 

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signs the VVIP guest book back stage after his speech. 

C Y Leung, Chief Executive of Hong Kong relaxing back stage whilst his personal body guard stands close by. A very rare opportunity to get this close to VVIP's in the green room at APEC 2015.

Allan Zeman, Hong Kong business magnate seated in the centre, also known as the Father of Lan Kwai Fong, a famous bar a restaurant district located in Central Hong Kong.

Travis Kalanick founder of Uber. Photographing back stage was very unique and quiet interesting witnessing what goes on behind the scenes. 

Back stage access gave us some unique shooting angles. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

President of China Mr Xi Jinping being introduced to the crowd before his speech. 

 A highlight of the APEC SUMMIT, President Barack Obama greeting Jack Ma (Alibaba.com founder) 

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, Mr Peter O'neil being interviewed by Haslinda Amin, News anchor for Bloomberg television. 

Founder of Air Asia Mr Tony Fernandes. 

Hong Kong's C Y Leung greeting guests. 

Mr Jack Ma, Founder of Alibaba.com presenting at APEC CEO Summit.

Security was tight, personal body guard stands backstage for Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, whats in the bag! 

President of the United Sates Barack Obama almost looking down the barrel of my camera...

Host venue of APEC CEO SUMMIT 2015, Makati Shangri-La, Manila, Philippines.

Host venue of APEC CEO SUMMIT 2015, Makati Shangri-La, Manila, Philippines.

Myself photographing in front of stage. Gary and I were the only two photographers who were granted 'full access to all areas'. 

Our cameras and security passes for APEC. All gear was checked by security every morning through scanners, dog squad and secret service also throughly checked inside and outside the lenses. 

All packed and ready for the trip in the F8 Studio. Well almost...

The above photo was the gear I used throughout APEC. We packed light for this trip which enabled us to move freely around the event venue. All lenses and 5D III fitted into the new Think Tank turn style shoulder bag, a great investment for this type of job.

Gary photographed the event with the Sony A7RII and A7SII, these were ideal for shooting in the green room as it was so dark. Some images were taken at ISO 40,000 an amazing camera system and ideal for this event.

Camera equipment used.

- 2 X Canon 5D MARK III DSLR

- EF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS II 

- 8-15mm f/4L fisheye

- EF 35mm f/1.4L

- EF 85mm 1.8 USM

- EF 24-70mm F/2.8L

For major corporate event organisation please speak to Darren Darren Kerr from Factor 168, his links below for all contact details:

Linkedin Profile - Darren Kerr

Factor 168 website

Factor 168 Facebook Page

 Thanks for reading our blog and please share. 

 

 

 



Heads of Halloween

Head shots series from Lan kwai Fong, Central, Hong Kong. 

Barbed wired in Lan Kwai Fong, Central, Hong Kong

In the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong's business district also lies the heartbeat of Hong kong's night life, Lan Kwai Fong. The place to be on any given weekend, and when there is an event on like Halloween, it's party time! Be ready for an explosion of colour, excitement and an atmosphere you need to see to believe.

This was my first year to photograph Halloween. My goal for this project was to get up close and personal with my subjects. I wanted to keep a very consistent look throughout the shoot, therefore I chose to shoot only head shots focusing in on the detailed make up, crazy attire and the vibrant eyes!

The combination of my Canon 5DIII, 50mm 1.4 and a ring flash worked perfectly for roaming through the crowd.

One of my favourites from the night. 

After setting up and scoping out the crowd my assistant and I hit the street running. To use the images on social media, websites etc we need the models to sign a model release form. This form enables us to use the images online. As a gesture to the models each one received a high res edited copy of their image.  

My assistant did a fantastic job in getting all the required information and signatures electronically on the iPhone app, this is the way to go, no pen and paper to lose!

All up I managed to get around 30 images which I was really happy with. I hope you enjoy the gallery below. 

 




CAMBODIA, CITY TO SLUMS

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Phnom Penh to Kampot - what an experience!

This was my second visit to Cambodia and it was just as enlightening as the first.

My goal this trip was to shoot environmental portraits, as well as a few landscapes during the rainy season. I wanted to get up close and personal with the local people.

Cambodia offers some of the best opportunities for photography and the people are some of the friendliest and welcoming you could ever wish to meet.

Off the beaten track I came across this local farmer lady who was waiting patiently whilst her cow grazed in the rice fields.

Through my translator I chatted with her, learning more about her life.  She went on to tell me that the only picture she had ever seen of herself was when she received her Cambodian ID card.

It was a great moment and feeling to see her reaction when I showed her the portrait I took of her, I will be sure to give her a copy on my return visit. 

In the same paddy fields local kids help herd the water buffalo to the next field to graze.

The water buffalo assist farmers when plowing their rice fields.   It was great fun wading through knee-deep mud and water to get into the right position to take the shot.

Sometimes you need to get dirty to get the shot! 

Scooters were the preferred mode of transport in Kampot and this is the only way (in my opinion) to get around, reason being, there is so much to see, every roadside hut and house has something to photograph.

Whilst riding I came across some kids playing in their front yard, the game involves the kids jumping to get their feet onto the elastic bands. It’s amazing to watch how athletic they are and great to see the kids having so much fun with such a simple idea. 

I had heard about the slums in Phnom Penh and wanted to get a first hand view for myself. What an eye opener!

I visited two areas one on Silk island where there are the Vietnamese immigrants living and another area on the out skirts of Phnom Penh where a relatively large Muslim community lives on the banks of the adjoining Mekong and Tonle Slap rivers in make shift wooden huts, their only source of income is from fishing.  

 A vast difference between wealth and poverty, less than 300 meters away a 5 star hotel resort lay where international travelers enjoy a luxury lifestyle, most probably unaware or uninterested in what lies a few yards beneath them.

My first few steps into the Silk Island slum, I must admit I was a little nervous. I couldn’t have been more wrong, walking through the village the people were so friendly, kids playing soccer and chasing after their friends through wooden huts and make shift houses. Adults were offering their home cooked food and everyone greets you with a smile as I basically walked in and around their homes. 

As bad as their conditions are they are making the most of what they have and to be honest they actually look a lot happier than most people I come across in the streets of Hong Kong where I reside.

I’m not trying to make light of their situation because it is extremely sad to see in this day and age people still having to live like this, my point being even in harshest times these people still manage to have a smile on their face, I learnt a lot from my time here.

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