My top 10 images and thoughts from 2015

As 2016 is now rolling, I spent alot of time considering the past year and also recovering from an exhausting fall season of travel and work. It has been a long time since I posted on my blog, not because I had nothing to report, but because I became very busy with travel related to my work and the constant blur of life. So, as a way to get caught up, here part one of a list of my best, with an explanation, of my top 10 images (ok - eleven; I admit...) for 2015. 

11) Linda Blumfield - Safety First. Meet Linda, the most safety expressive FN that I have met in a very long time. Her years with the LA County Fire Department, have formed her into a very respected voice with her program and the hospitals they serve. Captured in action at another Helipad Safety demo on top of a Los Angeles hospital last April, her one person outreach performance is worthy of an Oscar. It was an honor to meet you and capture you passionately in action. 

10) Women in Power - Love her or despise her. I generally steer away from political arena, but I was given the unique surprise opportunity in 2015 to photograph the Honorable Kathleen Wynne, the Premier of Ontario, as a last minute guest speaker at the Advancing Womens' Conference in Toronto, where I was the Official Photographer. I shot, edited, and posted a series of these back to the conference in my style in Black and White, but I wanted to share this again with you. She is a force to be reckoned with as the Canadian Political landscape has yet again changed...

Please note - as an important sidebar to an interesting mainstream media story in Alberta, I am "not" a Photo Journalist as I respect many friends who are, but I appreciate the opportunity to capture the Ontario Premier in "my visual style" in the setting she requested to speak at, and her PR office's later appreciation of my imagery. What happened to a smaller "new media" outlet who reports in "their style" in Alberta this past month - and fortunately was rectified; was a wake-up call to all of us regarding free speech. (and that is my only political rant over the past 5 years of blogging - that is all...)

9) CALSTAR 7 - Scene Call, Lompoc, CA. After befriending my FN, I was able to crouch underneath the roar of the engine blast and rotor disk as my FN awaited the EMS Ground team to approach the aircraft. Her concentration and confidence seems to just glow from this capture...

8) REACH - Back to Base. After a day of three missions, and some extraordinary images captured for the AAMS Host Program photography project, this image of FP Mark, glancing out the window as we flew above the clouds, is a memorable image on a very busy day...

7) Burning Man 2015. This was my 9th Burn, and I struggled with the weather and some first timer obtuse neighbors (Birgins, as we have all been, but some years bring new fools...). The event this past year was hit with three windstorms, one typical, but two that were extreme. I found myself caught behind a sign for an hour and a half in the predicted "Saturday morning before the gates opened storm". Then, Burning Man Friday afternoon saw a rare and cold NW wind storm that blew everything the other way, as most shelters were set up for SE winds. However, in the end the very next day, a good time was had by all during the Man Burn, and ironically the best weather I have ever experienced (not too hot - no wind - no dust). I again aimed to shoot the mornings "out there" as it is an amazing environment when the sun rises and the citizens of Black Rock City are starting or finishing their playa adventures...

6) Mercy Air - A Real Mission to the Border. I have been fortunate enough to travel all four corners of the US with my Air Medical work. The below imagery is from an unique mission with Mercy Air, right to the US - Mexico border, which allowed me two great images of a FN in action as we met an ambulance from Tecate, MX with their young patient as I stood in "no mans' land" capturing images...

Thank you for taking the time to read this post, part two will be posted soon!  MM

A very extreme year......

Dear friends and beloved followers of Following Mark Mennie,

For starters I apologize for my extreme radio silence lately.....

2014 has no doubt been a year up extreme ups and downs with an amazing amount of travel, both on a state and internationally. My year started with HeliExpo in California, and a few days later I showed up for the Outrider's tryouts. Then in early spring, I criss crossed the great state of Tennessee to cover and capture 5 AMTC host programs, for the Nashville event that was held in late September. In June, I revisited my beloved Roma and I walked the streets that the ancient Romans once walked and befriended a few new ones at one particular restaurant. I then circled the world with a trip to Australia to shoot a great project for CareFlight. After wrapping that project, I went directly onto my cherished Dubai to help the organizers of the Helishow 2014. I then ended my crazy year of travel shooting The Outriders and Drill Crew Calendars, another collaboration with my best buddy Waldy Martens. It was a lot of work and one technical hiccup, but all and all went very well.  I celebrated all the hard work with the Stampeders' Grey Cup win in Vancouver with the Outriders. What a season and what a year.

I lost two family members and one great photo friend. Unfortunately, I have to found out that yet another Calgary photo buddy passed away on January 1st.  

I was again a Burner at my 8th Burning Man, but this year I was officially designated by the BMorg to capture imagery for the event. This accreditation had its advantages for early access, and also recognition that you are just not another person with a camera. A claim second only to "I'm a DJ"… I was honored to be asked portray the organization professionally through my lens, and I never missed a sunrise on the playa the whole time I was there. 

Through these events and a very emotional filled year I probably shot 20,000 plus frames. This could also be measured as almost a terabyte in edited and saved imagery, and a few technical issues as well. 

My projects were extremely varied and my sleep and eating habits matched it too.

My visuals illustrated a couple new video projects that were created by Jean Levasseur of PHOCUS Productions,  which were all well received by our clients. I love the merging of imagery, music and ideas…

My last photographic action on December 31st, was to hang my first showing of large prints, from my 2 years of Dog Beach iPhone captures, at a very popular coffee house in Encinitas, California. The last time I exhibited was in 2009, my Altawan series in DC. 

So as I conclude this "all over the map" year (both literally and figuratively), what are my goals for 2015?!?! Both personal and career?!?!?

BALANCE - Personally.

BALANCE in my day to day life. A BALANCE that has now escaped me for years.

GAINS - in Business.

To cultivate and grow the GAINS I made in 2013 + 2014, as well as incurring new GAINS in 2015.

GROWTH - Artistically

I hope to make the Memorial Lights in Colorado and the AMTC, a bigger unique visual presence. 

And to take my Burning Man project I have proposed for years, and make it a reality. 

and SHARE - My Experiences

To certainly post a lot more on social media and my blog.

To keep making it happening in Dubai. The World Expo 2020, is right around the corner.

To hopefully continue to grow my visual influence with the Outriders and the Drill Crew. 

To simply share a pint with Greg Williams my high school biology teacher and catch up with a few others from my past. 

To return to Australia and attend the Air medical conference in Darwin. 

Someday I hope to return to Jo'burg, Roma and Wildhorse as well.

To someday again simply icefish with my Saskatchewan cousins as well.  

To continue to spend more time with my family. Honor thy Parents. 

And lastly to find a little more time for me, whether that be travel, sleep, or a new hobby. Something to spark my creativity and make me a better artist.

Happy New Year to all! 

Until next time....

MM