On a recent scouting expedition (by bicycle) I forwent the heavy camera and snapped away on my phone, then using Chase Jarvis’ bestcam app did some tweaking (ok alot of tweaking).

Here’s the results…

The brief was simple enough:
Engage the audience, highlight the issues, and generate interest in the 2011 AMSA Global Health Conference in Sydney.
Oh, and please don’t make a boring slideshow.

After throwing around a whole range of ideas, the final plan was to combine animated visuals with real footage shot in Sydney to draw the audience in, then tear away the world as they know it. Shoot through a series of issues based statistics, aiming for a state of information overload. Finally, tie it all back to the Sydney Conference, whilst emphasising the global nature of the problems. All in a minute and a half.

Sometimes it’s inevitable that something interesting will happen, this was’t a unique day in that regard. Cam Hollows and Jane Mckenzie were married on Shark Island, in the middle of Sydney Harbour. Every couple is unique, every wedding special, yet I think this wedding will linger in the minds of those who attended for a long time. It was a location not to be forgotten, even in the stifling heat and direct sun.

But it’s not going to be the location the guests will remember this wedding for, but the exact moment, as bride and groom approached the cake cutting, the wind picked up everything on the island, blowing it down, around and upside down. Storm clouds rolled in, the horizon growing darker, and the city disappeared from view as dust was blown across the island, coating the guests. One would have expected this bridal nightmare to indelibly scar the party, yet there wasn’t a frown to be seen. Wide eyed with broad grins the bride and groom were elbow deep in the cleanup, guests rallying around them. As the packing up drew near completion the final ferry arrived, and with it the rain…

Thredbo in summer is a hive of activity, however it doesn’t take long to get off the beaten track and out into the “high alpine” plains, where the views stretch on, and on… Below in the relative shelter of the Thredbo River valley, wildflowers lined the trail.

Tormented by the guide book, we took to the trail on the final morning determined to cover the last 18km that separated us from hot chips and beer. A slight miscalculation that heaped all our trail mix in one bag, the absence of a spot for lunch and a bitingly cold wind driving up the pace in a bid to keep warm conspired to cause two hypos, and tarnish what was a beautiful day… Divine intervention came late that night in Hobart, in the form of a pizza delivery man…

Leaving Pine Valley hut and returning to the Overland proper the trail meanders out towards Lake St Clair. Those pressed for time take the boat from the top end of the lake, circumventing the final 18km of track… the guidebook cheerily stating “…opting for the boat, most walkers don’t finish the Overland Track…” 

From Pine Valley hut the path heads further into the remote wilderness, towards the ominously named Labyrinth, neatly spanning as many contour lines as is reasonable without ropes. The Labyrinth is designated “Remote Wilderness Area” and provides for an awe inspiring vista…

Snow! Not just on the ground either, day five started off with little cloud but as the day drew on the clouds came in. Then the snow began to fall as we left the comfort of the main trail and headed up into Pine Valley…

After 24 kilometers the previous day, the balcony of New Pelion Hut was an attractive proposition, especially given the view (above). There was however, a mountain to climb…