Anniversary weekend

[gstark]

All, please keep the weekend commencing August 5 2005 free.

This is when we're planning to hold our big anniversary maxi-meet.

Rather than rehash the notes that were taken, please look here.

Basically, a weekend of fun and photography in Sydney: two dinners, two breakfasts, choice of tours in regions like Sydney's Rocks and harbour foreshores (north and south), photographic technique workshops such as photoshop, SB800 usage, etc, a D70Users conference pack, and all at bargain basement prices.

Please post your feedback and comments in this thread, let's get your ideas going for what promises to be a major event for Australia's D70 community.

And also include your ideas for photo ops around Sydney that you might like to enjoy.

[stubbsy]

I'm excited already. And my 50th birthday's only a few days later (the 10th) so I get to buy myself some bargain pressies

So far as photo ops - you Sydney guys know the city better than I, but surely the opera house & bridge from the north of the harbour have to be on the list (I know it's touristy, but it's just so damned pretty at night!).

Cheers

Stubbsy

[stubbsy]

Shoulda read the pdf first! You've already covered more than I thought of - but I'd suggest in the photo comp you have one for newbies and another for senior members or I don't have a chance <vbg>

Workshops - yes please - can I suggest one on taking panoramas (I want to take shots like the one killakoala took - http://forum.d70users.com/viewtopic.php ... light=pano)

Cheers

Stubbsy

[JordanP]

Looks like an excellent plan. I will be checking my diary later today to make sure the weekend is available..

To the interstaters who are just not sure about coming .... do it! The Christmas party was fantastic (as other psots have shown) and the comradery and welcoming frinedship of the other members was outstanding.

Gary - the itinery looks great and great value for money!

I'm far from a senior member, but if I can contribute in any way, I would love to help out.

now I'm looking forward to August

[Vicareyus]

Im speechless (or should I say "typeless"). Looks terrific. I will have a think about ideas and get back to the board.

Shoulda read the pdf first! You've already covered more than I thought of - but I'd suggest in the photo comp you have one for newbies and another for senior members or I don't have a chance <vbg>

Cheers

Stubbsy

Stubbsy...you'll be one of the old hands by then and probably be leading one of the groups on photoshoots!

Vic

[fozzie]

You can count on me being there.

I am looking forward to meeting forum members, attending workshops, and especially looking and touching Birddog's 200-400VR.

Come on 5 August, 2005.

Cheers,

[Greg B]

Out-bloody-standing!!!

Sounds like the duck's guts.

On a more serious note, woohoo.

(All of which means that I and probably the GLW will be there)

[Kristine]

Looks like an amazing weekend and the price is unbelievable!

I will be there for sure!

Anyone else from Perth interested? Maybe we can look at flying across together (I know there are only about 4 members from WA at present).


Cheers
Kristine

[the foto fanatic]

Love it, just love it!

It fits in with my birthday too. Looks like I've found another Leo in stubbsy. It used to be just me and the Queen Mother, RIP! (She shared my birthday, Aug 4).

Being a rugby nut, I checked to see whether the Wallabies would be playing that weekend (thought it might make accommodation difficult) but they play the dreaded All Blacks at Telstra Stadium on 13 Aug.

Sounds good - I'd like to sign up!

[Glen]

As always great work, really looking forward to it

[Geoff]

One one.....BRILLIANT! Bring it on!


Geoff.

[Onyx]

It sounds absolutely wonderful (I haven't d/l the PDF yet, but from my memory of the last meet).

We need everyone's participation, especially interstaters, to make this a HUGE event. We have enough numbers we could organise better accom prices, esp considering it's in the winter months!

May I encourage everyone thinking of coming to make an excuse to do so. And all sydneysiders, there's no excuse you won't be attending, at the very least for a part of the big weekend! If people are travelling eight hours by plane (Mr Poon) to be there, I expect everyone within a one hour radius to make an effort too.

I can promise you, it will be fruitful and you will learn some photographic techniques no matter your skill level, and you WILL get to meet a bunch of friendly people and make new friends, you WILL have lots of fun and see the best of Sydney if you haven't been before. You won't be bummed, if you don't have anyone to come with, come by yourself. I will be.

[Raydar]

How awesome is this!!!!!!!

This will be one week that will take a long time to forget.
Count me in I’ll be there even if WW3 brakes out

Cheers
Ray

[Greg B]

Looks like I've found another Leo in stubbsy.

How many Leos did stubbsy have in him?

[Raydar]

Looks like I've found another Leo in stubbsy.

How many Leos did stubbsy have in him?

MMMMMM not good thoughts running through my head ATM

Cheers
Ray

[stubbsy]

Greg B, Raydar

You guys scare me, but I'm sure it's even scarier on the inside <vbg>

But seriously, thanks for the chuckle.

Stubbsy PS Leo says hello

[Matt. K]

Greg B
If you can make it I have you booked in for the brick wall guided tour. A photographic extravaganza of notable Sydney brickwalls. Each wall a delight to the visual senses. And the following day....the paling fence tour. Be sure to bring your tripod.

[MCWB]

How many Leos did stubbsy have in him?

How many stubbies did Leo have in him?! Hmm, must be beer o' clock soon.

Looks absolutely awesome guys! I have a wedding to go to in France and a conference in Austria around that time, but they're later on in the month, so I should hopefully be able to come. Incredible stuff!

[gstark]

Matt

Greg B
If you can make it I have you booked in for the brick wall guided tour. A photographic extravaganza of notable Sydney brickwalls. Each wall a delight to the visual senses. And the following day....the paling fence tour. Be sure to bring your tripod.

Don't forget the Cocker Spaniel Special - the tour of 32 specially marked telegraph poles and other vertical surfaces.

[Greg B]

Greg B
If you can make it I have you booked in for the brick wall guided tour. A photographic extravaganza of notable Sydney brickwalls. Each wall a delight to the visual senses. And the following day....the paling fence tour. Be sure to bring your tripod.

Wow Matt, the BWGT sounds super !!

I'll make it, no worries at all about that.

I wouldn't dare to bring my tripod where any of you tripodal lunatics would see it. Not Gitzo, not Manfrotto, not even Velbon. My whole unit cost about the same as the packing that protects the Gitzfrotto Unidextrous Ball Head during transit!

Looking forward to what should be a world of fun

cheers

[mudder]

Wow, just noticed this thread.... Gotta go, gotta go... What a blast that would be... I'll try and reserve the time from work now!

Gary, thanks for organising...

Cheers,
Mudder

[the foto fanatic]

How many Leos did stubbsy have in him?

How many stubbies did Leo have in him?! Hmm, must be beer o' clock soon.

Yeah, that's it. Thanks for picking up the typo

[Matt. K]

MCWB
Just slipping over to France?....and then Austria? Are you the fellow in your avatar? Or do you work for the Department of Foreign Affairs?

[W00DY]

Already written in my calendar...

I've put in for the Monday off work as well

[gstark]

Not Gitzo, not Manfrotto, not even Velbon.

Velcro?

[MCWB]

MCWB
Just slipping over to France?....and then Austria? Are you the fellow in your avatar?

Well I'll have to go around states in the former USSR beforehand dealing with local warlord types; I'll send you a postcard from there (with love ). Then there's the ever-present mencae of Spectre, but if I manage to overcome them and finish with the girl in time, I'll be there at the D70users.com 1st Anniversary meet!

Is that a 200-400 VR in your pocket, or are you very, very happy to see me?

[mudder]

G'day,
Any chance of a CCD cleaning demo from someone who's "done it" so to speak? Haven't worked up the courage to try it yet...

Just a thought, dunno if there'd be time etc... Noticed the PS demo and CCD cleaning workshops, getting jealous

Cheers,
Mudder

[birddog114]

G'day,
Any chance of a CCD cleaning demo from someone who's "done it" so to speak? Haven't worked up the courage to try it yet...

Just a thought, dunno if there'd be time etc... Noticed the PS demo and CCD cleaning workshops, getting jealous

Cheers,
Mudder

Mudder,
I have this idea:
Wait until GregB come back from Sydney after the 5th Feb then he can show and run demonstration CCD cleaning.
We are at Sydney make him working hard on the 5th Feb, so he can help everyone down there.

[Geoff]

I am in FOR SURE That's all I needed to say!

Geoff.

[mudder]

Woo hoo!!!

Got my leave booked and approved, yeah!!!

Birddog, great idea!

Greg B, looks like you've won a job matey

Cheers,
Mudder

[Greg B]

And on an additional positive note, I guess this means I will clean my CCD

Sounds like Birdy's lining me up for a big Saturday, better not book too early a flight home

[bwhinnen]

I don't think it prudent that I join you on this one (as much as I'd love to), our first child is due about 2 weeks prior to that date

Looks like it would be a FANTASTIC event and the price summary looks better than good!

Any chance of a wants-to-but-can't-attend delegates bag

And my birthday is on the Sunday too, that would have been fun

Cheers
Brett

[sirhc55]

Yep- I’m in - looking forward to the brickwall and paling fence shoot outs!

Chris

[ru32day]

Can't wait. Interesting to see how close the interstate numbers are to the local ones. I thought we'd be outnumbered by a much larger margin.

[xerubus]

this looks like it's going to be great!

[Manta]

Hmmm...I'm not a Leo and I don't have a birthday around that time....

Bugger it! I think I may just come anyway!

Sounds great and I'll be doing what I can with work, kids, pets, whatever to get there. Definitely interested - just waiting for the wife's response.

[dooda]

Hmmm,

been thinking about coming to Sydney this year with the wife. Maybe that would be a good time to check it out. Is August generally a good time to visit Australia? Would be strange to leave a summer area for an area in the midst of winter...still I want to see Sydney, and I figure that winter there is probably quite mild compared to our winters...and hooking up with all of you wouldn't be bad either. Better sharpen my pencil.

[Onyx]

Dooda - August would be ideal for you, so you won't miss Canada's weather.

Nah, our winters are VERY mild by your standards... I think you can manage with just a t-shirt and shorts.

[gstark]

Winter in Sydney is very mild, to the point where, since I moved back here from the US 6 years ago, I have yet to experience a winter.

Excepting this past weekend in Melbourne, of course.

August may get a little windy however, but otherwise the temperatures probably won't be too much cooler than a Canadian summer.

[sheepie]

Sydney in Winter is the best time to visit - lovely clear blue skies and mild conditions

[birddog114]

Sydney in Winter is the best time to visit - lovely clear blue skies and mild conditions

How's about snow and black ice same as snow chain for the tyre

[johndec]

Dooda,

Don't worry, you wont have to pack the thermal underwear If you look at these two links:

Sydney:
http://www.eurometeo.com/english/climat ... 0australia

and

Vancouver:
http://www.eurometeo.com/english/climat ... _Vancouver

you will see that Sydney in August is about the same as Vancouver in September. Of course we get cold days in August but by and large it's not too bad

[dooda]

Wow, I might just stay there then. Vancouver in September? September is probably the best time to come here by the way, in case anyone was thinking about it.

Alrighty then, I'll look into my vacation days and travel arrangements and see what it will take.

[BBJ]

Well all sounds exciting and lots of fun that i will miss out on this one as my budget wont allow me to come to this event. As it is she who must be obeyed is complaining that i am never home now with every weekend busy this month, so another time for me maybe, but i know for those who will be going you will enjoy it.
Cheers
John
BBJ

[birddog114]

If we can't finalize this event by mid-April, there's no chance to organize all the goodies and other needs to make this event as an unforgettable event for our D70Users.com. We're running out of time!

[Nnnnsic]

Yes, I know.

I'm still waiting for Dad to send me the information from the meet about possible activities so I can make the form that I'm supposed to make. DAD!

Edit: Oh what do you know... there it is... I'll try and have it online by tonight.

[Spooky]

I would like to come along to this. Any times finalised yet so I can start looking at cheaper air fares to get down to Sydney?

[gstark]

I would like to come along to this. Any times finalised yet so I can start looking at cheaper air fares to get down to Sydney?

Nothing finalised as yet, but plan on a full weekend's activities, starting with a dinner on the Friday evening of August 5.

I'd be aiming to fly in no later than mid-afternoon on that date. Gives you time to settle in to your accommodation, and maybe get to Birddog's for the unofficial pre-dinner mini-meet that no doubt will happen..

Heading home - no earlier than Sunday, after 6, would be my best advice.

[Spooky]

Thanks Gary

I don't want to mess up plans of the orgainisers, just that the earlier to book more chance of getting a cheaper flight.

Should I wait to book in case transport from the airport is being arranged for groups of interstate members?

[gstark]

Should I wait to book in case transport from the airport is being arranged for groups of interstate members?

I wouldn't.