#305 Student Portraits

Posted on July 21, 2009 by admin

Last week I taught a Custom Course based on the Natural Light Portrait Course and posted a few of my photos of photographer and model.

Nathalie’s portraits are fun and well done. She has sent some of her photos to present to the world:

Nat

Natural Light Portraits Photo Workshop

Nathalie is working quickly through her Pro Program for those looking to make photography their profession. Her website is under development – we will be announcing her launch as it comes.

Nice work, Nat!

Harry

#304 Gallery Visit – August

Posted on July 20, 2009 by admin

Based on the success of July’s gallery visit of the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography’s exhibition of Scott McFarland’s large prints we are offering a gallery visit in August. This is an informal social gathering. There is no cost to participate.

Please note: Our gallery visit has changed dates and location to take advantage of a great opportunity. The new details:

“World Press Photo 09“

Thursday, August 20th, 2009 – 6:30pm

Gallery Cost: Free Museum entry after 5pm
Meet in the main lobby of the Canadian War Museum, 1 Vimy Place, Ottawa
RSVP
See some of the finest photojournalism and press photography of the year as we soak in “World Press Photo 09.”

See you there,
Harry

#303 Dave McMahon flying

Posted on July 17, 2009 by admin

This week I had the opportunity to shoot Dave McMahon for a stock and commercial art project.

Dave McMahon is an accomplished athlete – National Biathlon Champion with many other accomplishments. He now runs XCZone.tv providing video footage and producing films of “Clean Oxygen Fed Sport.”

We ventured into Gatineau Park for some trail running photos and caught him flying along the trail – both feet off the ground.

He’s fast.

Dave McMahon - xczone.tv

Dave McMahon

#302 Reminder – Gallery Visit this Thursday!

Posted on July 15, 2009 by admin

We announced Thursday’s National Gallery visit three weeks ago and the response has been good so far.

This is an informal social gathering. There is no cost to participate. It is an opportunity to meet, discuss, learn, and enjoy prominent photo exhibitions with other photo enthusiasts. After the event people have discussed visiting the Byward Market.

Scott McFarland – A Cultivated View

Thursday, July 16th, 2009; 6:30pm
Gallery Cost: Free gallery entry after 5pm
Meet: 6:30pm in the main lobby of the National Gallery, 380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa

We visit the National Gallery to see Scott McFarland’s work shot on a large format camera and ‘adjusted’ digitally.

Stay tuned for other Gallery visits.

Harry

#301 Nerves to Smiles

Posted on July 14, 2009 by admin

Nerves to Smiles

Yesterday’s Portrait Custom Course student was nervous – she is preparing for a 90th birthday party photo assignment. There’s a lot to think about when under pressure!

We went through the material from the Natural Light Portraits course spending time specifically on indoor use of camera mounted flash. We did a quick review before I left Nat to prepare for her final exam – producing portraits for an unknown person – Shirley, past photo student. Her modeling instructions were simply “Be yourself.”

Custom Course Natural Light Portraits Gatineau Ottawa

By the end of the session Nathalie’s nerves had melted into smiles. She did well and had fun shooting. Nice work Nat!

Below, see some photos I shot during her final exam:

Natural Light Portrait Photo Workshop - Ottawa Gatineau

#300 Business of Photography

Posted on July 12, 2009 by admin

Recently, I went out with a red shirt and cedar canvas canoe for one of our publications – a course notebook for Natural Light Portraits. The photos of the workshop instructor (me) were taken by the notebook editor, an accomplished student of some of our courses.

We brought the canoe to the Ottawa River whereby I paddled while Chris photographed. He chuckled, “you have a pretty good job – canoeing and taking photos.”

Harry photo canoe

I smiled – I do have a pretty good job. Chris saw the 10-20% fun part. Most of the work is editing, selling, marketing, submitting and filing.

With that in mind I present to you an article I stumbled upon recently related to smart principles of press releases. The ideas apply to new photography businesses and, more broadly, any promotional efforts.

The article makes good business sense – the kind of advice we convey in the Creative Business Seminar – dates coming this fall.

#299 Student Success

Posted on July 9, 2009 by admin

I just got an email from Susie Osler, ceramic artist, and was excited about her latest successes!

Susie’s work has developed through extensive training and continued development of her work. Her accomplishments are many.

Susie Osler SusieOsler.com

Coming up is the opening for her Fieldwork Project. Also be sure to tune in for her interview with CBC Ottawa’s ‘In Town and Out’ airing Saturday morning between 6 and 9 am!

Susie Osler - Fieldwork

Susie contacted me last winter as she wanted help documenting her ceramic work for promotion, galleries and juried shows. We designed a Custom Course based on the ‘Photography for Art Promotion‘ presentation I did for the Ontario Craft Council to help her shine.

We’re proud of her continued success! Yay, Susie!

#298 Workshop update

Posted on July 8, 2009 by admin

Our most popular photography workshop is Creative Fundamentals – we teach the course in the spring and fall as well as throughout the year as a Custom Course.

Currently, only two spots remain. It’s popular because it covers the fundamentals of photography that many advanced amateurs never properly learn.

Creative Fundamentals

We cover the essentials of exposure in a way that will allow you to create better results in tricky lighting scenarios. While auto exposure modes will give reasonable success in simple scenarios about 80% of the time, learning the finer details of proper exposure will elevate your photography to new levels.

Read the next issue of the “Exposed!” photo newsletter for more information on advanced exposure techniques. Subscribe to “Exposed!” in the upper right hand corner of this pag.

We also learn about effective focusing, depth of field, elements of composition to give you a solid base from which to grow photographically.

It’s popular – just see what past students say.

We are looking at bringing in some guest instructors this fall and winter – details coming soon. Check our other workshops for summer and fall fun.

#297 Bluesfest Business

Posted on July 7, 2009 by admin

Bluesfest is coming soon!

For many years I have covered Bluesfest, some Jazzfest and Tulip Fest. This year I have not pursued the work and it’s a bit of a relief.

Ani Defranco Ani DiFranco

What happened?!

Nothing bad happened. I started shooting Bluesfest in 2002 and had reasonable success selling Bluesfest imagery through agencies, magazines and newspapers. My work appeared in local media and as far away as the LA Times.

The trouble was:

restrictions were getting more strict
competition was tight
budgets were small
there are often young photographers willing to do ANYTHING to get in the media enclosures

In summary:

Large supply of photographers
Small demand for imagery

My time invested was extensive. My rewards were moderate.
Would I shoot more concert work and festivals? Definitely! If the rewards were appropriate.

Ben Harper

Gaining access to shooting a popular event is relatively easy if you’ve done your legwork and have a strong body of appropriate work behind you. Making a significant living is more challenging. It requires:

good people skills
business skills
opportunity
appropriate market

Alison Kraus
What am I going to do with all the time I used to spend shooting Bluesfest? Work on projects that provide greater rewards.

… And, perhaps, catch a show from the crowd.