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London, United Kingdom - Britain’s most decorated press photographer, Mike Maloney, OBE made history when he was given permission to take a group of amateur photographers on a two-hour shoot in the Great Chamber of the House of Lords on Saturday 13th February 2010.


This unique event was sponsored by the world famous London-based Nikon-only shop Grays of Westminster and hosted by Britain’s highest decorated press photographer, Mike Maloney, with the permission of Black Rod - a senior officer in the House of Lords, responsible for security, controlling access to and maintaining order within the House and its precincts.

The photographers attending competed to win a Nikon D300s camera worth £1,600 – to be awarded to the attendee who takes the best shot of the day, and the opportunity for the top images to be used by the House of Lords Works of Art Committee.


The attendees submitted three of their favourite photographs and the judges, led by Mike Maloney - who were looking for those which displayed originality and which visualised a unique perspective, making their images stand out from the rest – then chose the winners:

1. Andrew Downes
2. David Blundell
3. Diana Church
4. Michael Curtis
5. Susan Forester
   

The proceedings of the day came to a conclusion with a 3-course dinner at Elena's Etoile Restaurant in Charlotte Street, London where there was a presentation of the winning images and awards which included a Nikon D300s for the winner, kindly donated by Nikon UK.


“To have been invited to work with Mike Maloney on this very special photographic occasion at the House of Lords was indeed an extraordinary honour during this, our 25th Anniversary Year,” said Gray Levett, founder of Grays of Westminster.

Mike Maloney also commented on the event: “This was an historic moment in photography. It had never happened before and it is unlikely that it will ever happen again.”

Over the years, Grays of Westminster has organized a number of similarly unique events and photo shoots including a 2-week tour of Japan with a visit to the Nikon factory, and a trip to Nikon Thailand and Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Grays of Westminster is currently celebrating its twenty-fifth year of business.

Mike Maloney has won over 100 major photographic awards and is the only “Fleet Street” photographer to have been awarded the OBE for services to photojournalism. Three times-voted Press Photographer of the year, he was Chief Photographer for Mirror Group Newspapers before turning freelance in 2002. He also has numerous Royal tours to his credit, as well as photographing world leaders like Clinton, Reagan, Gorbachev and Yeltsin with resulting invitations to dine at both The White House and the Kremlin.

A report on the workshop that includes photos of the event plus the winning shots can be seen in the Grays of Westminster blog here:
http://graysofwestminster.blogspot.com/2010/02/house-of-lords-photographic-shoot-with.html

About Grays of Westminster
The legendary award-winning Grays of Westminster, currently celebrating its twenty-fifth year, is a charming period shop, specialising exclusively in Nikon. It offers what is probably the widest range of new and second-hand Nikon in the world. It is situated in a quiet location in central London and offers a fast and reliable mail-order service on any Nikon item - available to all world-wide destinations. Tax free shopping to non-European Community residents is also available.

For more information, please contact:

Gray Levett
Grays of Westminster Exclusively…Nikon
40 Churton Street
Pimlico
London
SW1V 2LP

Main: 0207 828 4925
Fax: 0207 976 5783
E-mail: info@graysofwestminster.co.uk
Web: http://www.graysofwestminster.co.uk
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I thought I would provide a photo diary of the House of Lords photographic shoot organised by Grays of Westminster with Mike Maloney OBE and Nikon, on Saturday 13th of February 2010.

I would like to echo Karen's comments from her post a few days ago:

What a brilliant day at the House Of Lords. It was like stepping through time. Thank you to Gray, Gillian, Mike Maloney, Mike and all who made it possible for such a great day. Felt very special to be a part of the first group to be allowed in to photograph. Famous press photographer Mike Maloney OBE made us laugh and we could of listened to his amazing stories for a long long time. It was good to meet up with members old and new and a big congratulations to the winners. Another grand day out we will never forget. best wishes Karen.












The attendees submitted three of their favourite photographs and the judges, led by Mike Maloney, retired to choose the winners.

Later in the evening, we proceeded to a 3-course dinner at Elena's Etoile Restaurant in Charlotte Street, in a room adorned with celebrity-signed photographs.

After dinner there was a presentation of the winning images and awards, which included a Nikon D300s for the winner, kindly donated by Nikon UK.

The winners displayed originality and visualised a unique perspective, which made their images stand out from the rest. Here are the winning shots:






Congratulations to the winners, thank you to everyone for attending and look forward to seeing you again soon.

Best regards + many thanks,

Mike Eleftheriades
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This is a unique opportunity to photograph inside the House of Lords with Britain’s highest decorated press photographer, Mike Maloney OBE.



Mike Maloney has won over 100 major photographic awards and in 2005 became the first “Fleet Street” photographer to have been awarded the OBE for services to photo-journalism. Three times voted Press Photographer of the year, he was Chief Photographer for the Mirror Group Newspapers before turning freelance in 2002. He also has numerous Royal tours to his credit, as well as photographing world leaders such as Clinton, Reagan, Gorbachev and Yeltsin, with resulting invitations to dine at both The White House and the Kremlin.

Workshop Schedule:

Cost including dinner: £245.00 (£195.00 for subscribers to Nikon Owner)

How to Book Your Place at the House of Lords Photographic Workshop:

To reserve a place at the House of Lords Photographic Workshop, please call 020 7828 4925 and ask to speak to me, Gillian Greenwood, between 2.00 p.m.– 5.30 p.m, or for International calls, telephone + 44 (0)20 7828 4925. Please note that there are only a limited number of tickets available.

Subscribing to the Nikon Owner group allows you to receive a £50 discount off this workshop, a discount off other photographic training sessions and courses, a three-year warranty available on your new Nikon Purchases from Grays of Westminster, use of a comprehensive technical helpline and the interactive website, as well as the prestigious quarterly Nikon Owner Magazine. The price of an annual subscription to the Nikon Owner group is £59.00.

With best wishes

Gillian Greenwood

Features Editor/ Events’ Coordinator
Nikon Owner Magazine

*Elena’s L’Etoile’s glamorous French Bistro, walls adorned with celebrity-signed photographs and Art Deco lighting; a unique environment in a classical French style.