Melbourne Spring Fashion Week (MSFW) 2008 - Slide Show

Just uploaded a slide show to YouTube. It contains most of the pics already posted plus more. It is my first post at YouTube. All feedback welcome but please be kind. After all, this is my first attempt at fashion photography.

Thanks and enjoy!

Melbourne Spring Fashion Week (MSFW) 2008 - RMIT

Work by 4th Year RMIT Design (Fashion) students.

Shooting the models as well as the projector screens showing name of the designer in between proved to be a real challenge. Different white balance (yes, I was using manual white balance), different shutter speed (yes, manual also). I hit myself for getting it wrong a couple of times.

Perhaps I will try at least automatic white balance next time... unless I want to spend lots of time in front of the computer afterward correcting each one.

There is no repeats like the official parades so there is no second chance.

This concludes my week long experience with the Melbourne Spring Fashion Week 2008.

Hope to do it again in 2009. Thank you to all the photographers and videographers I crossed path with (Thank you Brett, Gary, Julian, Rob, Meg, Wayne, Matt, Christine, David and those I am sorry I didn't catch your name). Thank you Arts Events for the fantastic opportunity. Caz, Paul, Yolanda, Darien and Meg. Thank you. You guys were all wonderful. Julian, thanks for the beer.

Melbourne Spring Fashion Week (MSFW) 2008 - Girls Day Out

Decjuba Fashion Marquee at the Flemington Racecourse.

Managed to get a quick snap of Race 7 where jockey Michael Rodd took the winning spot. Congratulations.

It was my first time shooting at a race and my first time at the Flemington Racecourse so I didn't know what I was doing or where to go for a good shot (well I could have worked it out if I wasn't rushing to the next parade). This one was taken just outside the marqee... Checkout Mark Dadswell's much better pics here. Amazing job, Mark. This amateur got much to learn. :P

Everyone (models and guests alike) were all frogged up and looking great.

This girl below laughed so much I took several pics of her. Her laugh is contagious and lifts my spirit every time I look at her. I hope you feel the same too. Doh, I didn't get her name or number... Anyway, Thank you very much!




This is Amy Pearson from the UK performing. I killed rolls of film (not really because I shoot digital but you know what I mean) photographing her. Great hat/hatinator, dress, shoes, wonderful performance and very photogenic (aka pretty). She lives in Australia now according to wikipedia.

Go Amy!

Melbourne Spring Fashion Week (MSFW) 2008 - Catwalk

Do I even need to say anything??

....and the photographers (and videographers)! Gary Richardson, sat at my spot in this pic.

Melbourne Spring Fashion Week (MSFW) 2008 - Runway

The runway was very beautiful. While it wasn't exactly very long, it was not a simple one length runway but there are 4 levels (include the floor) and models walk everywhere on the runway and around it also. Austage did an impressive job putting it together.

For Kaleidescape, the runway was transformed into a garden with loads of flowers and pedals everywhere. Stage set up is indeed a very elaborate exercise, setting up the lights, projectors, sound system, speakers, runway, tiered floor, chairs, and show bags and more show bags just to name a few. Even the dressing rooms were set up from scratch.

Melbourne Spring Fashion Week (MSFW) 2008 - Backstage

Make up, hair styling and choreography...
This is Kevin Murphy, responsible for hair styling. He has a whole army of people following him, taking instructions from him and learning from him. Likewise for make up, Napoleon. They only have a couple of hours (between 4pm and 6pm) to get both the hair and make up done before the parades.

First picture is Sally Graham, the face of Melbourne Spring Fashion Week and Kevin Murphy.

The choreographer (the one writing on her notepad) is hard at work in the last photo. Sorry, I don't know her name. I think she must have dancing background and her work is amazing.

Melbourne Spring Fashion Week (MSFW) 2008 - Opening Party

Spent a week photographing the Melbourne Spring Fashion Week. It was an unreal experience. I am still trying to work through the mountain of pictures I took.

These shots were taken at the exclusive VIP opening party at Silk Road, a very beautiful venue indeed. So much was happening I almost missed the first picture (and the food). I love the costumes, the colours and the flowers.

I felt so small standing amongst really great photographers. Thank you everyone who shared the platform with me and Caz for giving me such a fantastic opportunity. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.


This picture was taken across the bar which must have been at least 20m away. Thank God that it is still sharp. It is cropped obviously.

Don't they look absolutely stunning!