Category Archives: Uncategorized

#44 Second day on the job

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Hi everyone. This is Scott, Harry’s new assistant. Today was my second day on the job but my first blog posting of many to come over the next week and a half.

Windsurfer getting big air time

As Harry explained in the last posting, I am a graduating student from the Algonquin Photography program and will be assisting him as part of my 2 week field placement. I quite enjoy outdoor sports, specifically windsurfing and kiteskiing, and as such, has naturally become the subject of my photography.

My photo on the left was taken at Lake Champlain and shows the reason I most enjoy photographing windsurfing, as well as doing it myself.

I’m very excited to be working with Harry because there is much I can learn from his experience with both the photographic and business aspects of the industry. Plus, the job perk is sharing our passion for the outdoors and slipping in the occasional ski break in our day.

I look forward to making more posts and keeping the blog updated with all that happens here at Harry Nowell Photography Inc.

#43 Introducing…

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Introducing Scott, the photography student from Algonquin College.Scott

Scott contacted me recently about a photo placement. To fulfill his photography course requirements he is expected to shadow a photographer in their weekly work.

We met and agreed to work together for the two week session. Scott’s first day was today and, being interested in outdoor sport shooting, we had to finish the day with a quick ski at Fortune… since that’s what I’d be hoping to do in my regular work day anyway…

Scott will be posting some blog items this week and next…

H

#42 – Judging photos

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Wednesday night was a late one after judging and sending out Exposed!

Below are a few photos – thanks to Cynthia at PhotoBuddies for the first two photos:

The judges debating:

A slightly wobbly P&S portrait (taken by me) with some camera club members:

Also some bureaucratic good news… in theory. I got an e-mail from Corporations Canada:

” The Paperwork Burden Reduction Initiative (PBRI) involves measuring the costs and
impact of regulatory compliance on business, including small businesses, and pursuing
opportunities to reduce, rationalize and simplify regulatory requirements across federal departments and agencies. It was launched in February 2005 in response to the
Government of Canada’s 2004 Budget commitment to measure the impact of regulatory compliance on businesses and make measurable reductions in paperwork burden.”

Fulfilling federal and provincial obligations like paperwork is a very large task for a small company like mine. I have spent many hours filing, phoning and visiting gov’t offices trying to comply with their policies – it IS a burden! Sometimes there is unfortunate bungling that costs significant time. The Corp Can e-mail was fresh air that seems to be moving at a rather glacial speed – at least it’s moving!

#41 Exposed!

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It was a busy day yesterday with normal photo work, ski break, judging a city-wide photo contest and posting my Exposed! newsletter. I started at 9am and finished at 2am. A bit too long!

Exposed! newsletter photo:

World Cup Ice Climbing

Exposed! goes out to ~1000 subscribers around the world and is available through blogs, photo sites and, of course, HarryNowell.com. Traditionally ‘Exposed! day’ generates a spike in traffic from readers everywhere.

Read Exposed! and learn about Mary Primary and Scott Secondary.

It includes my photo, above, of the Ice Climbing World Cup in Quebec City a while back. To subscribe to the monthly ‘Exposed!’ and receive it automatically just sign up above, right!

#40 Photojounalist spotlight

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A couple of weeks ago Dave phoned me in the middle of the night – it was 1:30am. He was phoning from India to say “hi” where he has been for months.

David Trattles spends most of his time with cameras and his bike seeking out people stories all over the world. He is, without hesitation, the best documentary – story teller – people – photojournalist I know. He’s also very humble and shies away from promoting his work well, despite his list of awards and clients!

If you ever get a chance to hear him talk about his work – DO! His stories, photos and passion will make your head spin. Buy one of his prints if you can convince him to show them – they are, indeed, gems – and your purchase will help fund his work.

In usual Dave style he sent me an e-mail with no message whatsoever, just a link to his upcoming photo presentation in Toronto.

H

#39 – Late night

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Remember, I took off in the middle of last week to go skiing for two days? Well, Saturday was a pretty full workday and I was busy working at the computer late Sunday night.

Guess who e-mailed me at 10:21 pm and 10:45 pm Sunday eve? Two other self employed entrepreneurs with business questions and ideas. Self employed people have the strangest work hours but I do enjoy the flexibility.

Coming up this week:

  • Exposed! Newsetter
  • photo contest presentations
  • prep for upcoming courses
  • uploading of new ChelseaGallery.ca material including the photo, below, from beneath a jumping horse

I got to bed close to midnight…

H

Horse jump

#38 Zen, food and vegaanism

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This blog deals with my life of photography work. Today, I am straying on a tangent
of food, zen and veganism.

A group of friends goes out regularly for dinner to explore different restaurants and food. There are no rules – we have had some good experiences but the last one was fantastic. Really. So much so that I had to share it here.

Last night we visited the Zen Kitchen‘s monthly vegan dinner at the Chelsea Club with chef, Caroline Ishii. I am not vegan or vegetarian and do enjoy a good slice of beef now and then. I was not sure what to expect.

It was an amazing evening – a group meal for the first 40 (?) people who signed up – we couldn’t get in last month. Of the 40 attendees only one was vegan. We had four courses paired with wine from Antonio Mauriello. Chef Ishii, who is not vegan herself, was introduced at the end and answered many questions about her philosophy on food.

Highly recommended.

Now back to photography…

H

#37 The Judge

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Harry the Judge will be working tonight.

InterClub Photo Competition

The annual Ottawa-Gatineau region 2008 inter-club competition is launched tonight! Three judges are invited to evaluate the collection of entries. It’s a daunting task – based on my judging last year there will be many good entries! Next week are results and a presentation to the clubs.

Photo Business vs Photo Hobby

Much of the work that comes from camera clubs is excellent. So what is the difference between a good camera club member and a working photographer?

Business.

Often, taking the photos is the easier part of a photographer’s job. A photography business is a tough game that requires good marketing, sales, finance and networking skills above and beyond the photography.

Better Business Skills

Good business skills will take you further than good photo skills in the working world of photography. I am fortunate – years ago I attended Western (UWO) for finance and economics. I also learned practical business skills while running a business while at university. This gave me some good base skills when I started my photo business. My background was diverse before starting my career in photography!

I also have a father who spent a successful career in sales and marketing for IBM, Systemhouse and Nortel. My last 2 days skiing were punctuated with business development ideas and reports with my Director of Business Development… my Dad.

I now run the Creative Business Seminar to help other creative businesses get off the ground!

#36 – Confession

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Ok – I have a confession. I have been skiing with my Dad at Mont Tremblant for two days. It’s an annual event.

Tele Skiing at Tremblant

One downside of running a small business is that I work almost everyday – including these two days skiing. While work has been limited, I have responded to e-mails & phone calls, created blog posts & photos and decision making never ends! I bumped into a fellow business owner, Paul, at Tremblant. He snowboarded the downhills and checked /answered pressing business messages on the chairlift.

One upside of running a business is flexibility in time management! After two days of skiing I will be busy playing catch-up!

Skiing has been fun. There has been a mixed bag of weather but it’s nice to ski with Dad and others. The photo above is Jordan, a telemark skier, skiing the bumps at Tremblant. The print is available at ChelseaGallery.ca. It was shot on a fantastic Kodak Infrared slide film – hence the beautifully different hues.

See you soon,

H

#35 Creative Fun and skiing

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So there will be another Creative Fundamentals offered this spring – in May.

It looks like Urban Landscapes will be moved to August. Dates will be confirmed this week. Check the workshops page for details later this week.

Today’s diversion:Ok, I love photography and skiing (particularly nordic and tele) and after a quick google search found the blog of Canadian John Dougall – skier, model, photographer. Have a look! All I know is what I read – but looks fun.

More photos and stories late tomorrow eve…