Photo District News filed a report of the Olympics from the photographer’s perspective.
Relatively new Olympic sport – Mountain Biking
” “It’s pretty amazing actually,” says Getty Images photographer Shaun Botterill… Photographers and editors interviewed over the last few days universally praised the Beijing Olympics as the best-run games in years.”
Read the full article.
I don’t usually watch tv. But I have been glued to the tv late at night! The Olympians have amazed me!
Harry
Finished up the Urban Landscapes workshop last night. There were smiles all round. All students progressed well.
Before the trip to Iceland – see past postings – I started looking for a new over-the-shoulder (OTS) camera bag. I have had many photo bags and use different styles for different projects. For a backpack style I have owned two LowePro full sized camera backpacks – they’re good.
My current OTS bag was starting to break down, it had no waist belt and when loaded it hurt my shoulder. Time for a new bag. I searched and googled for a couple months. I kept coming back to the Crumpler “Brazilian Dollar Home”. It seemed to have everything I wanted:
I bought it at Henry’s in Ottawa. I have had it for over a month and have used it for assignment, travel, Iceland, etc.
The verdict?
I love it. I can load it and travel comfortably. I have fit:
This loaded it’s heavy.
The only downside may be that there is pressure on the laptop when fully loaded as the bag wraps around my body trying to curve the laptop. Is this bad for the laptop?
Two thumbs up for the Crumpler bag.
Harry
I mentioned I was working on a magazine assignment highlighting a downtown Ottawa ‘secret’ Olympic training site. It’s a slalom whitewater kayak and canoe course within metres of the office towers in the central core.
Downtown Ottawa’s ‘Pumphouse’ with downtown Hull in the distance.
Ottawa’s downtown water pumping station near Bronson and Wellington has provided necessary waterworks infrastructure for the city of Ottawa for over a century. The Ottawa River Runners have been paddling there for years.
Three years ago a pedestrian slipped on the crumbling banks of the waterway and drowned. The city shut the whole site down and stripped the banks of the waterway.
The Pumphouse at low water – LeBreton Flats development behind.
Central Ottawa is now left with a beautiful green space – don’t dare call it a park – and a world class facility producing Olympic athletes.
Sarah Boudens and James Cartwright – athletes training at the site – are representing Canada at he Beijing Olympics!
The feature will appear in Ottawa Magazine in the spring or early summer 2009. James Hale will be writing the article around my photos.
Harry
Pretty perfect weather was what we had for the Urban Landscapes Workshop this past weekend.
Harry, the instructor.
It was a good group sharing varied experiences. We explored locations in central Ottawa and Hull discovering unknown secrets, rediscovered memories and overlooked landmarks.
Reviewing the ideas of the ‘gray card.’
One student piped up “I’ve never noticed that tall building before!” Another was full of smiles and new knowledge by the end… she had come a long way, photographically, in a short time.
… Helping navigate the camera.
Another student sent me some photos from the start of the course to use on my blog – thanks Chris!
“The one thing to remember…”
Thanks for the fun! We meet again for the critique session this week. There may be an Urban Landscapes course in the spring – stay tuned.
Harry
I have been all about Iceland lately. There is life beyond Iceland:
The Urban Landscapes Photo Workshop is hosted this weekend. It’s a fun and challenging photo safari in the beautiful cities of Ottawa and Hull.
I am also working on a magazine feature for Ottawa Magazine – covering local Olympians and their Ottawa Training site. It’ll run next spring.
Some more stock work for a government client is being delivered tomorrow.
So far this year work has been good. I am smiling. While you will always have some good luck, consistent business growth takes sustained hard work. See my Creative Business Seminar for ideas for your creative business.
H
First, Exposed! went out late last night to most subscribers. You can subscribe at the top of this page – it’s free. This month’s article is:
Second, I came across ANOTHER Iceland adventure blog (Aug 12/08) that recounts about their experiences in “NICEland.” Amy includes photos and stories of their July trip. If you look closely, ahem, you may see me “on vacation.”
H
I got an e-mail from Canadians Luc-Rock and Michelle who found my Iceland blog reports – they are on their way to the Reykjavik marathon in August. They have a new blog to chronicle their Icelandic marathon adventures and are billing it as the Marathon for Gaby.
My photo newsletter, ‘Exposed!’ goes out very soon – a link will be posted tomorrow to:
“Photography Hell in Heaven” – an Icelandic photo story and challenge for those wishing to spark their photo creativity.
Harry
Iceland delivered a full and stunning photo adventure:
…more Icelandic waterfalls
My list of places to visit has increased as a result of the trip. I plan to visit again soon. Thanks for your comments by e-mail – would love to hear from others about their travel and photo plans!
Small village north of Reykjavik
Back to usual programming next week!
Harry
The big city is Reykjavik – at 200,000 people it is small by world standards but a bustling, thriving, friendly city. If you find a safer city you’ll be lucky. It’s also a party place on the weekends. You may hear people singing on their way home from the bars at 4 or 5am …in an orderly fashion, of course.
The city is clean, colourful and is the central hub of the booming commercial economy. Fishing, tourism, shipping and oil all work through the port city.
Colourful houses – Reykjavik
The city has a popular beach – Nauthólsvík – nestled close to the city centre where people lounge on the golden Moroccan sand – yes, imported – and swim in the thermally fed North Atlantic / Arctic ocean. It’s packed when the weather is fine! It was close to 30C (a scorcher for Iceland) this day:
Nauthólsvík Beach
It’s a pretty dreamy place – Iceland. Mild temperatures – some say cool – spectacular, exotic, safe, enchanting, legendary.
Sigh.
Want to hear more? Let me know…
This is the continuing post of my recent Icelandic photo adventure. We traveled for two weeks – some was vacation with my wife – some was work for my agencies after my wife returned to Canada.
Viking Trolls
There is a lot of Viking lore and history in Iceland, of course. Icelandic people descended from Scandinavia and Ireland/Scotland and have provided a hotbed of genetic research as the people are quite isolated, genetically. Research has shown most of the men descended from Scandinavia while most women descended from Celtic regions. Very curious!
The Icelandic people have written literary masterpieces – the Icelandic sagas. Recent authors are winning awards, too! There is also much suggestion of trolls and mythical creatures. Ahem:
Icelandic Photo Adventure – HarryNowell.com
Fermented Shark
We visited a farm on Snæfellsnes and saw their small fishing and shark museum. Icelanders still catch the Greenland shark – an arctic, cold water species that thrives in sub-zero water. The shark is toxic to eat because of the ammonia based, natural ‘antifreeze’ that allows it to survive its habitat.
Icelandic Photo Adventure – HarryNowell.com
It is edible after being buried or cured for four months. We got to taste this delicacy – Hákarl. It is disgusting – the overpowering ammonia drowns out any other flavours. If you are there you have to try it!
Icelandic Horses
Icelandic Photo Adventure – HarryNowell.com
The horses are small, stocky and hardy. Beautiful and curious, they emigrated from the celtic and nordic regions with the Icelandic people. Spectacular animals!
Harry