Pentax W60 Launch Cornwall. Pentax organised a surf lesson and a spot of surfing at Newquay. It was the first time I’d been surfing – I nearly managed to stand up! The W60 held out well, being hit by a surf board and drowned on several occasions.
Hosts
Tyler Kenyon, Andrew Mellor
Press
Peter Bargh, Lars Rehm, Matt Tuffin
They organised a walking tour of Monaco and a photo shoot on the harbour with a model and vintage car and two models on a scooter.
The LX3 performed really well. Sadly I lost some of my best pics taken with it due to a drive / folder error. No idea where they vanished, but they also disappeared from the back up – as if by magic!
Hosts
John Mitchell, Tanya Frost, Ben Holmes, Claire Eaton-Whitfield
Press
Peter Bargh, Phil Hall, Mark Goldstein, Bob Martin, Doug Harman, Cliff Smith
Olympus launch the E-520 Launch in London. We met at the Amber Bar, Baltic Restaurant 74 Blackfriars Road SE1 8HA and then headed over to the Gerkin to eat on the 38th Floor 30 St Mary Axe London
Host
Jermome Demare, Mark Thackara, Greg Connell, Harjit Sohotey
Press
Peter Bargh, Ian Farrell, William Cheung, Rachel D’Cruze, Bob Martin, Terry Hope, Jamie Harrison, James Mansfield
Olympus launched the Olympus E-3 pro spec dslr in Istanbul, Turkey
We stopped in the Marmara Pera Luxury Istanbul Hotel and during our stay we ate at Guney Esnaf Restaurant, Can Restaurant, Lala Restaurant & Pudding Shop, Restaurant 360, Galata Tower . We visited the Spice Bazzar, Grand bazaar, Blue Mosque + Hagia Sphia , Boat Jetty – Bosporus Excursion, Limonlu Bahce (lemon Garden) and Banks of Bosporus
A model was arranged and we had a a few pros on hand who had been using the E-3 and were explaining some of their portrait techniques.
Hosts
Mark Thackara, Harjit Sohotey, Greg Connell
Press
Peter Bargh, Ian Burley, Bob Martin, Nigel Atherton, Darren Hartas, Georgie Shevki, Josie Reavely, Terry Hope
I got to meet and spend time with the fabulous photographer Michael Birt
Hosts
Jim Mackay, Jane Nicholson, John Dickens, Jeremy Martin
Press
Peter Bargh, Debbi Allen, Charlotte Griffiths, Ian Farrell, Jon Adams, Ian Andrews, Andrew James, Angela Nicholson, William Cheung, Darren Harbar
Olympus launched the E-400 DSLR along with their digital camera range for Autumn/ Winter 06-07 in Hamburg, Germany. The presentation was held in the Planetarium
Hosts
Harjit Sohotey, Andy Parker
Press
Peter Bargh, Simon Joinson, Phil Askey
Sony Alpha 100 was launched to UK journalists in Marrakech, Morocco. We flew over from London to Marrakech on BA 6918. ( Seat 24C)
Sony arranged a few professional photographers to assist – these included the Magnum photographer Chris Steele-Perkins who was in my group.
Our first night was in luxury tents in a Desert Encampment nr Kasbah Agafay with Moroccan salads, lemon Chicken Tagine, vegetable Couscous, orange salad and wine. Following morning we had a Jeep transfer to our hotel Palmaraie Golf Palace where the press conference was in the Cristal room.
Breakfast by the pool at Le Grand Bleu restaurant, and lunch at Dar Rhizlane Excursions include Les Deux Tours tour of Ochre City, Majorelle Gardens and Jemaa El -Fna, Placen the Riad and the souks. We also did Terres D’Amanar walking tour and spent an evening at Nikki Beach
Hosts
Paul Genge, Amie Lake, Chris Steele-Perkins
Press
Peter Bargh, Ben Birchall, William Cheung
Samsung’s 2006 European Press Launch was held in Taormina Mare, Sicily. We flew from Gatwick to Catania on BA2594 Seat 06D and stayed at Caperena Via Nazionale 189 Taormina (Messina). The international press conference was held at Grand Hotel Timeo and a Gala Dinner at Septimo Restaurant.
Hospitality included a Jeep Tour of Mount Etna and a visit to Azienda Agricola Maria Gambino, Linguaglossa
We had a good night on the beach by the hotel.
Hosts
Juan Ramill
Press
Peter Bargh, Mark Goldstein, Julia Burley, Rachel Decruze, Chris Hahnel, Hannah Boukley, Phil Hall, Natasha Hitchens, Julia Burley, Rosie Tanner, Chris Cheeseman, Bob Martin, David Corfield, Keith Wilson, Duncan Mackien
Back home on 2nd June
Nikon hosted an event in Marrakech, Morocco. Journalists and Dealers flew BA 6920 London to Marrakech (Seat 22A) and stayed in the Hotel Sofitel.
A night at Fantasia Borj Bladi was arranged with authentic Moroccan Entertainment and dinner.
Following Morning breakfast in Le Palmier restaurant
Product launch in the Emerald room on ground floor of Sofitel
Horse drawn carriage tour to Koutoubia Mosque, Bahia Palace and Majorelle Gardens .Buffet lunch at Le Palmier restaurant.
And walking tour of Souks and Djemaa El Fna Square finish off on the roof terrace cafe
Riad Tamsna for dinner
Day three we took 4×4 Jeeps into Berber adobe Village and Atlas Mountains
Lunch at Domaine de la Roseraie
Host
Charley Hayes, Simon Coleman
Guests
Peter Bargh, Steve Bavister,
Leica UK invited editors to Prague. We stopped at the Linch Hotel Paris and ate in the Linch Lvi Dvur restaurant.One of the events was an evening at the exhibition WERK by Anton Corbijn. He was a photography hero of mine. I got to meet him and thought he was arrogant and wished I’d not met him.
Supreme Burgarve of Prague Castle
Host
Uli Hintner
Press
Peter Bargh, Gary Coward Williams