Category Archives: Uncategorized

#346 Top tips for capturing fall colours

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Looking out my office window at Gatineau Park near Ottawa the leaves are sporting their fine fall colours. It’s a magical time of year to get out of your car.  Wander creatively and soak in the magnificence the boreal forest has to offer.

Fall Colours

I discovered a fine article posted at digital-photography-school.com (ahem in Australia of all places!) with top tips on shooting fall colours.

It looks like a wet week in this region but the overcast skies and glossy wet leaves can pump up your colours. As photographer J David Andrews once told me “It’s always perfect weather to shoot something.”

Get out there and explore with your cameras. Remember to go slow and observe. Often, less photos will get you more successes!

#344 Creative Fun – students – Part 1

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On Wednesday night we finished the first section of our Creative Fundamentals Photography Workshop with the critique session – it’s always fun to see what different people choose to capture and how they interpret similar opportunities.

The second session starts Thursday – a fresh, full group of eight students.

Below, a selection of student photos – more tomorrow.

Creative Fundamentals Photography Workshop Ottawa

Creative Fundamentals Photography Workshop Ottawa

Creative Fundamentals Photography Workshop Ottawa

#343 Hourly Photo Project – October 2nd

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Prolific Ottawa blogger Andrea ‘Quietfish’ has an interesting photo exercise set for October 2nd. It’s a fun activity to try!

Andrea, of a Peek Inside the Fish Bowl, is a local writer and blogger. She writes about the Ottawa arts scene, crafts, healthy living for parents and kids, and photography. I check her blog to find out what’s happening in the local blogging scene.

Check her photo fun.

Have a Peek Inside Andrea’s Fish Bowl.

#342 Creative Fun

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We took Creative Fundamentals students out shooting in Gatineau Park on the weekend. We had perfect weather and a good group.

This is our most popular course and students progressed steadily over the day. We also stumbled across some brain like fungus – it was big and spectacular – see below. I have seen nothing like it!

We meet again on Wednesday for the critique session. On Thursday we start all over again with the second section of Creative Fundamentals.

Below – a few photos:

Photo Workshop Ottawa school

Photo Workshop Ottawa school

Photo Workshop Ottawa school

Photo Workshop Ottawa school

Photo Workshop Ottawa school

#341 Annie in the news

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Earlier we reported some trouble brewing for renowned portrait photographer Annie Leibovitz. Reports said she had borrowed millions secured by her life’s work and properties. Speculation arose that she might lose big time. It seems the dust is settling some, according to the Photo District News article.

Photography is not all about photos!

And in other news we are posting our photo of the week shot for a stock assignment. Enjoy:

Biplane photo

#340 More Value of Photography

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I have talked before about he Value of Photography and below are some more thoughts.

Often organizations replace experienced working photographers with donated or free  photos. Working photographers don’t come cheap and I can see the incentive to save money. But a business’ image or presence is one of the most important factors in attracting  new clients. Experienced photographers or photo training for key staff can help achieve better results than free photos.

Check these two private school’s websites. How do the photos and web sites compare?

School A

School B

Both are good schools that compete to attract students. Investing in experienced working photographers or photo training for staff can improve first impressions.

A colleague once told me of a former client who said the best thing about their volunteer photographer’s work was that he gave free photos. A photo is a photo, right? Not so much!

H

#338 Upcoming events

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‘Tis a busy time coming up – we are hosting fun photo events this fall!:

Section 2 – September 24, 26, October 1, 2009
Section 1 – September 16, 19, 23, 2009
Our most popular photography workshop. Creative Fundamentals explores the fundamentals that produce the creative opportunities of photography. Creative Fundamentals Photo Workshop Creative Fundamentals

September 20, 2009
Learn the techniques of documenting artwork at Wallack’s Art Supplies.
Supported by:  Wallacks art supplies

Section 2 – Available: October 5, 7, 9, 10, 2009.
Section 1 – Full: October 1, 2, 3, 4, 2009
Exclusive! Develop your photography stories with Canadian Geographic and David Trattles, social documentary photographer.
Supported by: Canadian Geographic

October 3rd, 7th, 2009 – evenings.
Pump up the night – pump up the fun!Night Light Photo Workshop - Ottawa Night Light!

November, 2009
On assignment – learn studio lighting skills on location with master of lighting, Andrew Balfour.

November 7th & 8th 2009
For people with creative businesses ready to grow. Learn practical advice from experts in their fields.
Supported by:Council for the Arts - Ottawa

November 4th, 2009
For public and private sector communications professionals. This course helps produce better workplace imagery and more confidence behind the camera for improved communications products and workflow.

Photography for Communications Professionals

Photography for Communications Professionals

January, 14, 16, 21, 2010
Add passion to your portraits! Learn creative elements of portraiture with existing light conditions.

Let the fun begin!

Harry

#337 Mini holiday snapshot

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I went away for a few days in a canoe. My brother-in-law and I paddled part of the Rideau Canal Waterway, a World Heritage site that links Ottawa to Kingston.

It was pretty fantastic and very different than most of the canoe trips I have done.  We prepared to be self sufficient – packing a tent, sleeping bag, food, stove, TP, lanterns.

We guessed that there would be services en route and, ahem, we ate well at restaurants, camped on manicured lawns at locks and used services unknown to most wilderness paddlers.

It was a nice combination of semi-wild paddling and urban luxuries.

“What does this have to do with photography, Harry?”

I am glad you asked. I packed some fine camera equipment for the trip – a little, digital point and shoot camera. This was play and not work. Each holiday snap took seconds to capture – ie it was not work!

The point of this post is that little cameras can do wonders if you know photo fundamentals. I used it in auto mode. Pointed. Composed. Click.

What camera? I won’t tell you. It doesn’t really matter, anyway. How you use your camera matters much more than what camera you have.

Take lots of photos. Learn. Have fun!

Rideau Canal Waterway photo

Sunset in Newboro on the Rideau Canal.