My apologies..........

My sincerest apologies to AMTC, AAMS and all others I offended with my previous blog.  I know this is a day late and dollar short, but In an attempt to keep my entry light and upbeat, I incorrectly portrayed my experience at AMTC 2011.  While yes I did have a good time at the event, I learned that much more about the AirMed community and the business as a whole.  My head was spinning the entire time as I soaked it all in and met as many new people and new faces as a whole.  Truly an amazing event not only for a new comer like myself who has never worked in the industry, but for the all those who attended.  Again my sincerest apologies for the poor reflection. 


All my best,

Charli
 
Below are photos taken by Mark, not only of AMTC. The majority of them are of the host programs throughout 2011.  Some of which were on display at his booth and submitted to the silent auction.  All of Mark’s photographs are for sale and can be custom printed to any size and design you may be looking for and then shipped directly to you.  Please contact me at charli@mennie.com should you have any interest or questions.  Thanks!

Another hiatus??? More like wishful thinking.......

Contrary to popular belief, Mark has not fallen off the face of the earth nor is he on some glamorous vacay!  This could not be further from the truth….in fact Mark has not stopped trotting the globe working harder than ever finishing up projects for many of his clients.  Hard to get in touch with myself, I did get word that our super busy friend took a little “me” time after he completed the Outriders' 2012 Cheerleader Calendar.  He did indeed spend a week in Nevada taking in Burning Man rather "quietly" this year.  Shocking I know, but a couple of photos have surfaced...


I also got "some" background on the Outrider Calendar when I actually spoke to "Ashley" his Photo Assistant back in August.  Originally oblivious of how much work went into each and every photo, Ashlee B, eclipsed her sister "Chels" (also a former Outrider + 2007 Cover Girl) and excitedly signed on to be Mark’s right hand lady.  Sharing some of the trials and tribulations of her task at hand, Ashlee was blown away with how much prep went into each and every take.  Arriving hours before the shoot to unpack, set up and organize, Ashlee now has a new appreciation for the annual event, as it is so much more then for an Outrider to get pampered and treated like a princess for the day.  Ashlee's own personal shoot found her at the Museum of the Regiments, where she took part in a “nautical theme” using the navy plane as the backdrop for her shot.  As Mark so eloquently put it, there was more fabric in the hat the Museum gave her to wear than in her outfit.  Rough day at the office huh Mark????  To learn more about Ashlee’s experience and perspective visit her entry on the Outriders blog: http://www.stampeders.com/outriders/outriders_blog/?id=2242


I have also gotten word that Mark will be attending the 2011 Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC) in St. Louis running from October 17-19.  He has literally been working his way to the conference this year and I know this mainly because I have booked my flight and will be finally catching up to Mark in the Gateway City.  I look forward to my visit as it is probably my only opportunity to take care of some outstanding projects, as well as a wonderful chance to meet and network with all of his Airmedical prized clients, colleagues and friends.   
 
In addition to being an attendee Mark will also be an exhibitor. We will be setting up a photo gallery in booth number 1403, which will be a good tasting  of Mark’s dynamic works and additional information on some of the projects he will be involved with in 2012.   I will be manning the booth most of the day on Monday so if you happen to be in the neighborhood please feel free to stop by and say hello.  
 
In addition and in collaboration with Jean Levasseur, a former client and a talented videographer and visionary , Mark will be producing the AMTC Monday Morning Opening Session Presentation.  As the official AMTC photographer, Mark, in conjunction with Jean and the AAMS CP-R committee, are debuting pictorial vignettes that Mark has been capturing of the"Host Programs" throughout the year.


The opener will be posted on the AAMS You Tube Channel on Monday so please check it out! And I hopefully will be posting a complete wrap up on what will no doubt will be a very successful event shortly. Many stories and adventures to follow, but in the interim here are some links to see what else Mark has been up to as well pictures from along the way:


http://www.stampeders.com/multimedia/video/?id=1840


http://www.stampeders.com/outriders


www.burningman.com


Until then…..


Charli

Outriders Calendar Cover




Ashlee's (Mark's trusty assistant) shoot

"The Crew" during a grueling shoot

Our mystery man at Burning Man

Burning Man

More Burning Man

Burning Man

Burning Man



St. Louis Skyline



20,000 miles and a new baby.....

One would think by the lack of blog communication in the past two months that Mark had retired to a tropical island and was serving as a cocktail waiter in some tiki hut.  Well I am here to set the record straight as that could be the farthest from the truth.  In reality, since we last updated, Mark has covered over 20,000 miles and I had a baby.  Or more specifically my husband and I welcomed our second child (a little boy) in mid June. So between all of that Mark and I have been a bit hard to pin down, but not to worry folks; Mark has still been capturing some AMAZING imagery and of course clocking tons adventures that I am about to share with you.  

The first and very notable stop in Mark’s journey was Brighton, England for the Airmed Congress 2011.  Mark was not only an attendee, official photographer, but an exhibitor and speaker as well at the May 24-26 event. Scheduled to speak the last day of the lectures, Mark (in typical Mark Mennie form and fashion) waited until the night before to prepare for his 30 minute commitment.  Speaking about the important but un-considered aspects of photographing patient care, Mark certainly was preaching to the choir about patient confidentiality.  Mark also touched on the future of Smartphones that attach an address to any image you take as an added issue in actually breaking the US patient privacy rules (known as HIPAA introduced in 2003) by identifying a patients local. To only further enhance his presentation, Mark showed imagery and gave a few of his heartfelt stories. He concluded with an old story of a terminal young patient he rode with as he flew from a children's hospital, back to his home. There was not a dry eye in the house! Perhaps we'll post that Quicktime movie sometime.

A big thank you to the Airmed 2011 Coordinator Jill Playle, (of Kent Surrey Sussex Air Ambulance) who worked with EHAC (European Helicopter Air-ambulance Commission) to grant Mark space for 18 framed prints in the Scientific Poster display area. They were all well received, which gave Mark some real pep to his step.
  A true family reunion of sorts, Mark loved reconnecting with all the usual suspects as well as getting to know some new faces and welcoming them into the US and Canadian Airmed "family". Mark particularly enjoyed meeting a young Austrian Flight Nurse who has her Doctorate in Psychology.  She was there highlighting her research into the unique emotional connection to rapid transport/rescue that patients and their families experience during a crisis.  This is a tangent that Mark also witnesses when photographing former patients.  Not only a great new connection for Mark, but she even won an award for her scientific poster presentation. Check out her presentation among other images from the entire week in review at  www.airmed2011.com.
 
From there Mark headed to San Diego via a direct flight on British Airways (nice flight- but 2.5 hrs in SAN customs is just d.u.m.b.- ugh)  to the 2011 International Society of Aviation Photographers Conference or ISAP. As Mark has enlightened me on, ISAPs  60+ attendees can really be put into about three and a half categories: 1) The Aviation guys- pro pilots that have an avid interest in Photography- (Can name You every model of aircraft ever made- and can afford expensive gear),  2) The Pros- Camera guys who shoot aviation and other stuff for a living. (Can't always quote the exact aircraft specs like the pilots do in the previous category- their cameras are used- but know they appreciate light), and finally 3) The out of the box guys like Mark-  who shoot Medical EMS related stuff that involves helicopters, medicine and safety...(Whose camera is a bit banged up or can't name a fixed winged aircraft) and 3A) a really unique visitor to ISAP from India, Thakur Dalip Singh, whose traditional attire may have confused the Americans, but his work is great and Mark has yet one more connection to India. Check out his website: www.thakurdalipsingh.com/

At the conclusion of ISAP, Mark stayed in San Diego to work with a new airmed client. Unfortunately he was only able to accompany them on a couple of missions, but someday he'll get that mission to Catalina Island, which is the most South Western US Helicopter accessed hospital/clinic, he hopes one day.  From there Mark then headed back to Calgary, and immediately headed to the Heydlauff Branding in Wildhorse AB.  He was finally able to catch up to David Heydlauff, whom he had not seen since the departures level at the airport in Dubai back in December. Much more on that adventure later as it is just too good to condense in this already lengthy blog entry.

After the branding was over, Mark flew back to San Diego for a couple of days before then heading to St. Louis to shoot another air med program for a week. All the while dodging a few MO thunderstorms along the way.  Concluding his work in St. Louis, Mark then headed east to Maine to shoot yet another air med project, which started in Lewiston, and then a week later- (after a drive up to Ottawa to take in Mark’s Auntie Evelyn's 80th Birthday...and see all the "Cousins"...zoom zoom) ended at a base in Bangor. On the last day, Mark did a mission to Calais ME, which oddly enough is furthest most east Hospital in the US. Mark wrapped up the East Coast leg of his trip by traveling from Bangor to Portland and then jumped on a jet to Atlanta (delayed of course in ATL for 2hrs- what's new about that...ugh) and finally arriving San Diego. A trip so lengthy and complicated for that matter a full US map is required.  Please see below as I have pretty much confused myself…

Once he arrived in San Diego, Mark took in dear friends Sandy and Kevin’s wedding (Boo's Foster Mom...) and will be heading back to Calgary to start the 2012 Outriders Cheerleader Calendar in the next few days.  Stay tuned for more details and more frequent blogs.  Right now this extensive recap (and probably the fact I have been up all night with a newborn) has made me exhausted.

Until then…..

Charli

20,000 miles in 2 months, summary of Mark's worldwide jaunts.





Panoramic view of Airmed Conference 2011

Mark's exhibition at Airmed

Airmed 2011

Airmed 2011

Airmed 2011

ISAP 2011

ISAP 2011

ISAP 2011

ISAP 2011

Thakur Dalip Singh at ISAP 2011

Across the pond he goes....

So what is our favorite International Man of Mystery up to lately?  Well as we speak he is aboard a plane en route to the UK.  Mark will be speaking at the 2011 AIRMED World Congress this year in Brighton, England.  Below you will find the official press release on his exciting engagement.  Please let me know if anyone would be interested in the transcript of the speech after the conference?

Until then....

Charli

For Immediate Release                                                                 Media Contact:

May19, 2011                                                                                     Charli LeGette

                                                                                                            Mobile: 832.752.1948

                                                                                                            Email: Charli@mennie.com

Mark Mennie, photographer, will speak at the 2011 AIRMED World Congress

Brighton, England: Mark Mennie, renowned air medical photographer, has been selected as a speaker at the 2011 AIRMED World Congress in Brighton, England (May 24-27, 2011).  Speaking on May 26, at 10:00am in Room 2, Mennie will illustrate in depth “Best Practices in the US” of medical evacuation photography in a manner that will resonate with medical professionals, media and the general public alike.  In addition to discussing his uniquely developed technique in capturing accurate air medical imagery, he will include personal reflections on portrayal of the med evac community professionally or in social media.  Also highlighting patient care, privacy, and aviation safety, Mennie will do so in a visual way to give his audience insight into this highly specialized form of health care.

In addition to speaking, Mark Mennie will also be displaying his photography during the conference.  Hoping to have a show of at least 10 to 15 prints of his one of a kind imagery, Mennie will be selling these prints at the conclusion of the conference. 

Spanning the globe, Mark Mennie is a commercial photographer, more specifically specializing in on-site medical trauma/helicopter EMS documentary photography, for close to 20 years.  Uniquely documenting “code blue” on-the-job emergency medical situations or the “airside” of high security airport environments, Mark is unique in his field and approach.  In addition to numerous affiliations and volunteer work with the MedEvac Foundation International and the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS), Mark has also been a part of exhibitions such as the Dubai Heli Show 2010 and the AirMed Congress 2008 in Prague.  For more information please visit Mennie’s website or blog www.mennie.com or www.markmennie.blogspot.com.

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All for a good cause....

Mark just graciously donated the photograph above to Talisman Energy for their annual fundraising campaign for the United Way of Calgary.  His infamous fog over Dubai image will be auction off during Talisman’s week long internal online auction, running May 16-19, 2011.  Below you will find an exert from Mark’s Artist Statement.  If you would like to make this image yours as well, please contact me at charli@mennie.com, as prints are for sale. 

“This image was captured from the pool level of the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, Sheik Zayed Road, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is a view that is available to all guests of the hotel- and has been photographed by amateurs and professionals countless times, but on the morning of November 6th, 2009, Mark Mennie returned to this location after heavy fog had settled upon the city the evening before. Exiting the elevator on the 41st floor, and stepping into a cloud of light rain, Mark and only one hotel maintenance worker attending to the deck; were present. After 45 minutes- the fog briefly cleared, and only a few images were captured before rolling back in- leaving the view with a heavy haze for the rest of the day.

The timing of this image- illustrates numerous techniques and architectural accomplishments in this country on the Arabian Gulf; as it was only two days prior that the construction crane had been taken down from the worlds’ tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, which was topped out with it’s mast- at 818 meters. Months later the mast was was actually extended and the tower is now noted at it’s world record height of 828 meters, over a half mile or referenced as 160+ occupied stories. The observation deck  is on the 124th floor- only a 58 second elevator ride. In contrast- the CN tower in Toronto is 515 meters; the new “Bow” in Calgary is only a mere 58 stories.

The Chelsea Apartment hotel is on the right side of the image, and the recently opened Rose Rayhaan Hotel is the distinctive building on the left- which Mark has now also accessed and photographed from the 68th floor in 2010.”

Until then….

Charli 

Has Mark Fallen Off the Face of the Earth (?)..........

No ladies and gents, Mark has not fallen off the face of the Earth, nor was he mobbed by the crowds at the Royal Wedding.  He in fact has been HARD at work capturing amazing imagery.  For almost a month and a half Mark has spent many days (and long nights) creating portraits of  Alberta STARS VIP's (Very Important Patients) or being “on call”.  As the "Mission Photographer", he was tasked with capturing candid, accurate and artistic med evac photos for the 2012 STARS Calendar.  In order to accomplish this task, Mark has been riding along with the crews in the aircraft and staying on base in Grand Prairie, Edmonton and Calgary, where he continued to be considered part of the STARS family. Unfortunately all of his images are regarded as UBER confidential and will have to debut with the Calendar 2012 release in July of this year.

Don’t worry though, it has not been ALL work and NO play for Mark.  He has found some time to work (two weekends) with the Calgary Stampeder’s cheer team.  Considered as "grueling work", Mark spent time documenting the Outriders tryout process.  I know poor guy!  Mark also took a time out and traveled to Vancouver for a weekend to attend his long time friend Waldy Martens’ photography show opening "Private Parts" at the Lumen Gallery.  The price of admission for Mark was assistance lighting and hanging Waldy's show,  and as you can see the two buddies did a fantastic job.  Below you will find shots of both the tryouts and the opening.  Enjoy and more to come as Mark is a man of the go and is off to his next big adventure as we speak.
Until then…

Charli