Charity Calendar 2011

YEAH! Something I had been planning for a long time but didn't had the chance to do it...

Combining my passion for underwater fashion photography and charity.

During the "passion for fashion" event

passion for fashion LINK

I proposed to the "Phuket Has Been Good To Us" foundation to make a calendar with some of their kids.

They answered positively to my proposal and set the date for November 6th (last saturday) by also sending 2 teams of 3 volunteers and 4 kids (age between 8 and 11); total 6 adults and 8 kids. While setting all trade accounts for Kompas,

kompas web site

we started asking some of the big names in the diving industry if they wanted to have a supporting role into this project by sponsoring us. After some negotiation with few candidates, we opted for Siam Diving Enterprises sponsorship (8 Mares rash vests and 8 Ocean Dynamics snorkeling sets + covering the costs of the first set of printing).

Mares charity calendar 2011 promo

WOW! We (Kompas & PHBGTU) were so happy for their generosity.

Our sponsor is also willing to distribute the calendar nationwide (Phuket, BKK, Lanta, Khao Lak, Krabi, kho Tao); accordingly, we NEED more sponsors to be able to print more sets of calendars.

There's an e-mail hotline for pre-booking, donation and sponsorship:

phuketcharitycalendar2011@gmail.com


Anyway, back to the shooting session:
In less than 2 hours the 2 teams came, the kids changed into several outfits, we took as many pictures as possible and, as if by magic,  we had excellent material for the calendar.

underwater paparazzi with one of the kids from PHBGTU foundation

Consider that with so many people in the pool (younger kids needed direct supervision) and very little time to plan and organize, the number of good shots was massively decreased by "obstacles": legs, arms and bodies popping into the background, closed eyes, lack of synchronization, masks not worn in the proper way... several kids had no prior experience with mask and snorkel (we had to show them how to wear it, use it and clear it... in those very 2 hours for the shooting!)

Once done with the session, we rushed back to our HQ to process and select the pictures. By late night (or early sunday morning if you will) we had the "winning" 12 months and few additional pictures for postcards, calendar cover and back cover.

here few of them:

8 years old princess with one of the PHBGTU volonteers

mares charity calendar 2011 for Phuket Has Been Good to Us Foundation

"dreamy fairy"

mares charity calendar 2011 for Phuket Has Been Good to Us Foundation
"strike a pose"

above and below, my personal favorites...

mares charity calendar 2011 for Phuket Has Been Good to Us Foundation
"clown"

We've also posted a video of "the making of" on youtube with the hope to increase awareness:

MAKING OF video

for more information on "Phuket Has Been Good To Us" foundation, please refer to the link below:

www.phukethasbeengoodtous.org