Category Archives: Uncategorized

#104 Iceland Adventure

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We are back. The R&R involved 10 days of holiday in Iceland. My wife returned home and I stayed longer to do some work.

Iceland is stunning. And don’t let the name fool you! While there was certainly some rain and mild temperatures we did have some beautiful blue sky and warm temperatures.


Thorsmork – south Iceland 

I arrived late last night and am getting back up to speed with life and work. There is a lot of catch-up to do! Next week I will be posting some photos, stories and opportunities from Iceland.

Did I mention it is a stunning place? It is a photography paradise. The people are generally friendly and welcoming – the weather is mild and there are no snakes!

Stay tuned next week.

Harry

#103 R&R

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I have some work and play coming up that will consume much of my time. Alas, my blog posts over the next two weeks will be sparse. I will likely post a couple of notes but want to limit my time in the office to charge my batteries!

Perhaps in my relax time I will get a chance for a ride in an old roadster:Roadster @ ChelseaGallery.ca
Blur action in an old roadster – ChelseaGallery.ca

The Photo Story:

I developed this idea of highway summer photos in Chelsea, Quebec. I scouted the highway and found a nice background with a safe spot beside my car to get the fun perspective. Within minutes I was lucky enough to catch this classic roadster on the highway. I added the hint of motion with a slow shutter speed – slightly blurred roadster – that adds to the fun.

A police officer ‘moved me along’ a few minutes later! He was quite nice – no ticket – but a little perplexed at my project!

H

#102 Stock assignment

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I will be handing in the first installment of a stock assignment with the Canadian federal government. The shooting has been very fun – right up my alley – it involves people and motion.


Stock Photo @ HarryNowell.com

Shooting stock is what brought me into this business of photography. Naturally, my business has progressed to include other elements of work. The freedom and creativity shooting stock is what makes me smile the most!

I have an intriguing photo adventure coming up later this week. I’ll be smiling…

H

#101 Supply and Demand

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I just shot Ottawa Bluesfest for a couple of different media outlets. The festival has grown into an extravaganza of international music festival proportions.

Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean 

For the last night of the fest I was hired to shoot and file the headline show. I got called in the afternoon to see if I could cover more. That meant twice the work. “Yes,” I said and asked for a larger budget to cover the extra work. “No,” they said.
I stood my ground and said for the original budget I’d shoot the original assignment. Their freelancer’s rates are very low already. They changed the show I was to cover. Fine – same work but I was done earlier.

I saw the staff writer covering the event. “What?!” he exclaimed! He phoned the media outlet – my assigned photos wouldn’t match his review. The office spoke to me again and asked if I could shoot more – “Yes,” if there was a larger budget!

They ended up hiring a student on site at the last minute for the extra work. The student told me he was paid $40 to shoot. Apparently he borrowed a laptop to file the work. Another photographer told the student what just went down. “You just took Harry’s work!” …and accepted almost nothing to do it. The student was a little uneasy! I am not upset with him – but he has some learning to do!

Bluesfest crowd photo
Crowd at Bluesfest 

There are many people who see shooting Bluesfest for a paper a great opportunity with great exposure that could lead to great things. With an attitude like that it will likely lead to low, unsustainable wages.

“But he got $40! Better than nothing.”

No! With the amount invested in photo and computer gear, the price of gas and the cost of doing business the student would be far better pursuing other jobs that paid a realistic wage.

“But it’s Bluesfest!” (ie fun). The media outlets know there are many ‘wanna-be’ photographers with stars in their eyes! This scenario often leads to low, unsustainable wages.

I filed my assigned work, enjoyed the show for twenty more minutes and went home to my wife. I filed my invoice and said I was interested in other work “… if the rates were reasonable.” I may never get another call from them. That’s fine – I’ll be working for better clients!

Sam Roberts at Bluesfest
Sam Roberts 

If you have a new creative business BE CAREFUL OUT THERE! There are few clients who will pay you a penny more than they have to. They know there is a far greater supply of new photographers (or other new creatives) than there is demand for their services. They can often get away with paying low $. Saying “no” to low $ can get you further in the long run.

How can you learn the ropes of a creative business?

  • Consider a professional organization. I started a network group for “Working Creatives” in Ottawa.
  • Work as an assistant in the field.
  • Go to school!
  • Also consider my Creative Business Seminar November 1, 2008

#100 – A milestone

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This is the 100th photoblog post at HarryNowell.com — thanks for your messages, support, and most of all for taking the time to read about my working world!

Today some news about imagery theft and other elements of photos on the web.

There’s all kinds of hubbub over people using your photos from the web without permission and free of charge. First an interesting article by Krista Neher. She blasts the blasé idea that it’s ok to pilfer online pictures. She follows up with an article: “5 most outrageous photo thefts” posted at hyperfocal.com.

There is also an article posted at Photo District News about a new licensing agreement between stock giant Getty and Flickr. Read about the interesting photo licensing deal!

You may want to show off your stunning photo successes on the web – and you have good reason to be proud! But be careful out there:

  • sometimes your photos can be snatched and illegally used around the world. So what? How would you feel if someone stole your car, skis, stereo? It also brings commercial photography to a new low making it harder to make a living!
  • read Facebook’s policies for photos. An edited excerpt: “By posting User Content to any part of the Site, you automatically grant … to the Company (ie Facebook) an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid, worldwide license … to use, copy, publicly perform, publicly display, reformat, translate, excerpt … for any purpose etc.” Yikes! I won’t post my photos there outside my headshot!
  • watermark your photos – it promotes the idea that your photo is worth signing and makes it harder to pilfer. It also advertises your work if you include your website.
  • any photos posted online should be small files! 300-500kb.

Take care out there!

Harry

#98 Loose ends

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Bluesfest continues – looks like I may be shooting for the Ottawa Sun again this weekend – Donna Summer and Wyclef Jean.

Another of the new photos at ChelseaGallery.ca:

ChelseaGallery.ca
Thundering Horse at ChelseaGallery.ca

I love shooting motion but horses and show jumping were new to me! I was invited to travel to Kingston, Ontario for a stock shoot centred around the world of horses and jumping.

My photographic style has always drawn me close to the action with wide angle lenses. After many jumps and discussions we were all feeling pretty comfortable with each other’s technical abilities.

The idea of a photo from beneath the horse was discussed. After some safety and technical discussions I planted myself under the a substantial jump. Timing was, of course, an issue but the thundering hooves vibrating through the earth gave me a clear indication when shooting time had arrived. My new friends soared beautifully above me as I caught the slightly blurred hooves of my magnificent new equine friend.

H

#97 Exposed! Photo Newsletter

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Our monthly newsletter, ‘Exposed!‘ is going out today – we discuss “Passion in Portraits“:

“… Many of my Natural Light Portraits students fall into the same trap. They are so stressed about getting the right light, location and composition that they forget they are working with a living, breathing, emotional creature. Their portraits often mimic a lifeless boulder in a desert landscape…”

The article illustrates pitfalls of portraiture with tales from the studio! To receive ‘Exposed!’ automatically – sign up above, right.

There is also new work at ChelseaGallery.ca – some renovations going on at the site, too!

ChelseaGallery.ca
Football at ChelseaGallery.ca

Have Fun,

Harry

#96 Copyright revisited

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I had two slightly disturbing comments in response to my post (#94) on copyright. They both came from the same ‘anonymous‘ person – no name was attached & only a ‘fake e-mail’ was given. They demanded that I “Delete this post (#94)”!

My best guess from the mystery person’s angry responses was, perhaps, they hired a wedding photographer and there was a misunderstanding as to who had what rights to the photos and files. That’s a tough scenario and illustrates a good reason to have a written agreement clearly outlining details of the service.

There are two common wedding scenarios:

  • The traditional wedding photographer usually offers coverage of the wedding for a set fee and then sells packages of photographs to the couple.
  • Sometimes, a photographer will offer an inclusive package (for a higher price!) including the negatives or digital files and the rights to reprint the photos as they wish.
  • It is important to know what you are paying for! Either way, the photographer generally retains copyright.

Some comments from the Mystery Person:

  1. “… why should the consumer be jerked around…“
  2. “This law was designed to be as anti-consumer as possible.”
  3. “you (photographer) should be allowed to use the photos you sell by default for non-profit/ personal use.“
  4. “… shouldn’t be allowed to turn around and use photos from my wedding and sell them to a stock photo company.“
  5. “if it was as bad as you say, how have people lived so long in your business?“

Some responses to the angry person’s comments:

#s 1&2. Sounds like something went terribly wrong in their experience. That’s a shame!

3. “… you should be allowed to use the photos you sell by default for non-profit/personal use.”

Working photographers run photography businesses with the goal of earning a profit that supports a person or family. Selling only for “for non-profit/personal use” does not pay the bills!

4. “… shouldn’t be allowed to turn around and use photos from my wedding and sell them to a stock photo company.”

The mystery person is onto something here. As I understand it, a wedding photographer cannot license wedding imagery of recognizable people or private property without a proper agreement from the people or property owners. For exact specifics consult a lawyer!

5. “… if it was as bad as you say, how have people lived so long in your business?”

Running any small business is tough and hard work. Long hours, few certainties, changing markets and angry, anonymous messages add to the challenges. The business of photography has grown more demanding over the last twenty years. Some photographers have survived using good business practises, adapting to market changes and educating themselves on important issues like copyright!

Normally, I will not acknowledge angry, anonymous, impolite rants. But I hope this helps the Mystery Person and anyone else out there!

Interested in learning more about a creative business project? – consider my Creative Business Seminar in November, 2008.

Take care out there,

Harry

#95 Student successes!

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I taught a custom course last month to a woman working for the federal government – she was given the task to photograph the Canadian government’s apology to survivors of the native residential school system. See post #81.

She went from an occasional hobby photographer to being in the photo hot seat – capturing a highly emotional event with our highest elected and appointed officials!

Talk about stress!

Terri arranged for some of my photo training through her workplace to help her achieve some good photos. We spent time refreshing ideas of photography – this won’t make anyone a pro but it will help achieve results.

Terri did well – see her photos – posted with permission:

student photo
Assembly of First Nations leader Phil Fontaine

student photo
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper

student photo
Canadian Governor General Michaëlle Jean.

Nice work Terri!

A custom course makes sense for the workplace when there is no budget for a pro photographer but good photos are required!

Harry