#396 New blog – ProProgram student

Three cheers for one of our newest ProProgram students – Sandra Finner. She joined the programrecently. She has started her new blog and says about the other ProProgram photo students:

It’s encouraging by being in their company; it makes me feel like I’m moving forward in the direction I was hoping to.

And really, that’s one of the benefits of the ProProgam – surrounding yourself with supportive people with the same goals. Congratulations Sandy!

Check her blog regularly and cheer her along in her development.

Her self portrait, below:

Sandra Finner Pro Photography Program

Sandra Finner Pro Photography Program

#395 HoHoHo

Christmas is coming soon and we will be taking a few days of fun. We will be posting some items over the holidays. Next week we will be posting some favourite photos of the year.

In the meantime have a very merry break. My wife, Biscuit, Santa and I wish you all the best (one of us doesn’t like to be in photos!)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

#394 Workshops & request for models

Last week we had a fun and full week including photo work and Custom Courses covering the material of Creative Fundamentals Workshop. I taught the material in very different locations – one in a warm, indoor city setting and one in the wilds of Gatineau Park. Both participants did very well and left smiling. See photos of them in action below:

Custom Photo Course Ottawa

Custom Photo Course Ottawa

Custom Photo Course Ottawa

Custom Photo Course Ottawa

Request for models

Coming up in January we are teaching Natural Light Portraits and Studio Sessions. We are looking for people interested in receiving portraits just for helping the students learn the fine art of portraiture.

What’s involved?

We are looking for people to have fun at the other end of the camera! I need some regular, everyday people to ‘model’ for this year’s students. You do NOT have to be tall, short, big, small, cute or rugged – all you need is to be yourselves.

In past years, models have included:

  • moms/dads and child(ren),
  • newly engaged couples
  • actors
  • athletes
  • individuals
  • small business owners
  • etc, etc.

Requirements
We are looking for ten to twelve groups of one or two people to have their portraits taken by the new students. You need to convey to the learning photographer who you are and why you want a portrait taken. It is the photography student’s responsibility to ask you the questions, put you at ease and take a fine portrait.

Time commitment
I would ask that you be available for a few hours in an afternoon in January:

  1. January 16 or Jan 23 (Portraits in a central Ottawa, indoor public site)
  2. January 17 or January 24 (Portraits in a central Hull studio)

Payment
• Students are asked to offer some photos to the models as a thank-you. I will arrange the photos get to you after the course.
• Past models have enjoyed the session – one photo course graduate said she learned more about photography from the modeling experience!

Interested?

Contact Harry@HarryNowell.com if you are interested. We will accommodate as many requests as possible! Please let me know which date you could commit:

January 16,  17, 23  or  24

Studio Workshop Opportunity

We also have a solo student participating in a Custom Course Studio Session on January 17th and she is looking to learn with one other person. The session offers six hours in the studio learning about lighting and portraits.The student results can be very nice!

The first half of the session centres around learning about lighting. The second half involves working with models. The current cost for two people is $400 (each person) + taxes and includes access to studio and some studio lighting. All you need is an SLR and lens(es).

Interested?

Contact Harry@HarryNowell.com if you are interested.

#393 – Creatives Networking hits the ice!

I’ve never seen so many creative people chasing a ball.

Two and a half years ago I started a networking group for people working full time in creative fields. We have 165 members with 10 to 25 people attending per month. The mix of people changes depending on the month’s topic.

Last night we had the annual seasonal social – a time to burn off steam and have some fun with others in creative fields. It was a casual evening of outdoor bonfire and broomball fun followed by festive treats.

We had a good turnout despite the cool (erm, cold) temperatures and oft misperceived ‘distant’ Chelsea backyard location.

Some attendees:

It was a hoot! See some photos donated by Mike Beedell and Jessie P.

Jessie (using my point and shoot):

JessieParker.ca

JessieParker.ca

JessieParker.ca

JessieParker.ca

From MikeBeedellPhoto.ca:

MikeBeedellPhoto.ca

MikeBeedellPhoto.ca

MikeBeedellPhoto.ca

MikeBeedellPhoto.ca

MikeBeedellPhoto.ca

MikeBeedellPhoto.ca

MikeBeedellPhoto.ca

MikeBeedellPhoto.ca

Very, very fun!

#392 Read a Pro Camera Overview

Today B&H sent a pretty great overview of currently available high end cameras – see the link below.

Now I am the first to preach to students that when it comes to quality photos the camera is a distant second to the human operating it. But I am often curious as to what is out there. I am looking to invest in a new body in 2010.

What is B&H?

They are, I believe, the biggest photo retailer in the world. Their flagship store in NYC is enormous.

Read B&H’s “Pro-Level DSLRs: The 2009 B&H Holiday Buyers Guide

Coming to the blog next: Broomball photos and a review of the Working Creative Networking Group’s seasonal social broomball match.

Cutting edge photo equipment

Cutting edge photo equipment

#390 Loose Ends

A good week is developing. Here’s some of what’s going on:

Nathalie Madore shot some dog portraits at the Aylmer SPCA as part of her ProProgram work experience. Check her blog for a review of the event. It looks like it went very well! Congratulations Nat.

• This week is fairly busy with a nice mix of assignment shooting, teaching and administrative elements. Included will be custom courses and some photo work for a team of lawyers.

• I purchased a new lens: the powerful 50mm f1.4 fixed focal length lens. I’ve been looking for an excuse to buy this inexpensive (~$375) little gem and a low light portrait shoot this week and some good sales were all I needed to justify the lens. I have often spouted about the powers of large aperture lenses.

Have a good Monday,

Harry

#388 Top Tips for Great Holiday Portraits

We sent out the Exposed! Photo Newsletter today:

Top Tips for Great Holiday Portraits

The holidays are upon us and for many photographers the stress of getting the perfect seasonal shot can make legs turn to jelly, cause a bad case of butterflies and give the most steady hand the shakes.

In this edition of Exposed! we offer ideas to keep the jelly legs under control when taking holiday portraits.

Read the while article!

Top Portrait Tips

Top Portrait Tips

#387 The dogs

We photographed dogs on the weekend at the Aylner SPCA. It’s fun, furry and for a good cause!

We had visits from ferociously flapping tails and shy dogs recovering from nasty puppy mill experiences. We loved them all. This year I had the assistance of Nathalie, one of our ProPrgrammers who was gaining shadowing experience.

Nat shot a few portraits this week. Next week she will be lead photographer at the Aylmer SPCA’s Santa Photo Fundraiser. Check Nat’s blog for her take on last Saturday’s event.

Santa and friend:

Santa and friend

Santa and friend

Nathalie in action:

Nat Madore in action

Nat Madore in action