Last week we sent out our latest Exposed! photo newsletter.
In it, we explore creative passions and where they can lead. We also look at reality and those who preach based on their rocketing rise to success!
Read more.
Follow your own path!
Follow your own path
Last month we brought our online program the challenge of getting very, very close to their subjects.
© Chris Payant – Macrophotography class
With new spring flowers bursting from winter’s depths online members got their camera’s clicking. But members captured more than just blossoms!
© Jeffrey Furry – close-up photography
What members said:
“I loved this challenge (my fave) and I found what I love to shoot the most (I think!)
Your on-line program is absolutely great and I have to say I have learned the most from it because of the different challenges and just the way you teach it.
Thanks for your inspiration and sharing your expert knowledge. You get us out of our comfort zone for sure.” CP
© Gilles G – Macro – different worlds!
“What a fun challenge! I have always wanted to try and get a shot of a field of dandelions and could never figure out how, but I finally got one thanks to this challenge.” JS
I’ve been teaching photography for almost 15 years and I never get tired of seeing people grow!
Thanks for the fun!
© Maisie I. Creative Macro!
This week we were very pleased to hear from long-time photo student, Al Garner.
Al won a contest hosted by Darwin Wiggett‘s Oopoomoo!
© Al Garner – Spring Macro Tulip
Darwin is a well known stock photographer and photo educator from Alberta.
I was very excited. Al took his first photo workshop with us many, many years ago. He had some good photos for a beginner but, erm, had lots to learn.
Over the next ten years Al took many of our courses – some twice! Steadily Al gained valuable skills and confidence that helped him create beautiful work.
© Al Garner – self portrait
Al says:
“Hi Folks: Something pretty exciting for me has happened. The website oopoomoo.com, which is run by Darwin Wiggett and Samantha Chrysanthou ran a contest. I submitted a photo and to my surprise and delight it was chosen as one of three winners. The other two shots are amazing so be included with them is really nice.
Al”
See Al’s winning photo and the other two winners at Oopoomoo…
Congratulations Al!
I’m proud of you!
Last week we released the latest Exposed! photo newsletter.
In our recent look at creativity we suggest the effect of other creative influences on your work and offer the best of our recent web distraction posts including “absurdly expressive dog portraits!”
I am grateful for your feedback! Thanks.
Get influenced by these links!
Dog Portrait
People keep asking… so we’re offering a workshop for people who want a challenge beyond the DSLR.
Join us this summer as we introduce different large formats to the group while exploring a couple of locations from my Watershed Collection which involves 20 kilometres of exploring a waterway.
Large Format Photo Workshop
For the last 22 years I’ve worked as a photographer. It’s only since 2007 that I have owned a digital cameras…. the early ones were terrible (technically) and I held out as long as I could. I’m now happy with current available digital equipment but still have a passion for film.
I’ve owned and shot many formats including:
• 18x24mm (half framer)
• 35mm (standard SLR format)
• 6×7 cm
• 24×50 mm (panoramic)
• 4×5 inch (large format)
• 8×10 inch (large format)
8×10 Large format – photographing Watershed
There are many reasons to shooting film and big formats:
• a new (or old) challenge – Think you’re a good photographer? Can you capture a technical shot with one click and no preview?!
• large file sizes
• tangible archival back-up material
• slow process
• There’s been a renaissance in film!
Dates – July 17 (eve), 19, 20, 24 (eve), 2014
Locations – Ottawa Studio Works (central Ottawa) & Chelsea Watershed (just north of Ottawa.)
Cost: $375 + taxes
Click here for more information and online registration.
From the home made 8×10 camera
This edition of Web Distractions is brought to you by many of our readers and supporters! Thanks for keeping the links coming…
• 55 Best Photographers, Ever
We stumbled upon this list and I was curious who got the number one spot…
• Pre-Pantone Colours
Norman P offered this link about a book of colours described hundreds of years before Pantone.
Film Photography
• Photos of Tears
Gina R suggested this link with photos about the uniqueness of tears.
• Historic Negatives Found at Thrift Shop
Wojciech J. posted this link about a story of negatives that surfaced in a Thrift Shop.
• Motorbikes and their Loads
Peter H brought our attention to this light hearted look at heavy loads.
• Oops, wrong photos in a big news story
‘Anonymous’ suggested this NY Times story about the wrong photos being used for a mega news story
• Post-Baby Beauty
Murielle C posted this link challenging perceptions of beauty.
• Photographer Round-up
Check who’s doing what in the photo world – expand your horizons.
A big thanks for the links – keep them coming!
Bye for now…
I dropped a camera in the lake – submerged…
Oops.
I trekked into Fortune Lake to continue my “Watershed Project” with two cameras:
• a ‘small’ 4×5 Graflex large format camera
• big hand-made 8×10 wood camera
With supporting gear, I hauled 50 pounds of equipment to a remote part of the lake.
8×10 hand-made sliding box camera
Sploosh!
I set up and shot a scene with the 8×10 camera after which I set the Graflex on a tripod and went for the film holders. With my back turned (just a minute) I heard sploosh! One tripod leg had slowly shrunk causing the camera to pitch into the water.
Graflex 4×5 camera
Clean-up and Recovery
I fished the camera out of the water and immediately took the lens off and dismantled it – the nice thing about large format lenses is you can unscrew most elements of the lens without tools.
I cleaned & cleaned & dried & dried with a soft cotton, absorbing cloth for 10 or 15 minutes and then went to save the camera by draining water and drying it as best as possible.
Once home, I took out the affected gear, warmed the oven to 200F, turned the oven off and put the camera and lens parts inside for a couple of hours.
Nikkor 75 mm lens with 4×5 coverage – easy to disassemble!
Results
I am happy to report that all critical elements are functioning – I did damage the Graflok spring back but there’s an easy work-around until I can find a part… Anyone have spare parts for a Graflex?
Support
Ottawa’s Camera Trading Company did not have the part but did have the expertise to help me make the camera usable without the Graflok back – that’s the value of Tom and Mark (and sometimes Bob) in the store – they know a lot!
David Barbour
As I was leaving the store I bumped into David Barbour, veteran working photographer. He smiled commenting about my camera-in-lake Facebook post. “Never turn your back on a tripod!”
Thanks David.
In 1997 I assisted Malak in the Yukon. At 82 years old he had seen it all. He told me “I’ve made every mistake in the book!” It’s comforting to know others have big ‘oops’es.
I am a big, big fan of simple, mechanical equipment.
… I love it!
© AlG – Advanced Techniques – LightPainting balanced with night light
Last weekend we ran Advanced Fundamentals – a photo course designed to take people beyond the basics of “manual exposure mode” that we cover in Creative Fundamentals.
The idea of the workshop is push people’s skills beyond their comfort levels… just a bit.
©GillesG Exploring Shape, Line and Form
We offered:
• traditional exercises to help with composition, perspective
• unusual tasks to make participants think (and shoot) differently
• advanced challenges dealing with light, shape and form
Advanced Challenges… How is the background (metal bars above) blurred and the portrait subject sharp? (It’s not done in post processing!) © AGarner
All in all, it was a productive weekend. We dodged the rain retreating into some underground and covered secret spots I’ve discovered over the years.
Enough from me…
Students said:
“I would happily recommend – urge – anyone interested in improving their photography to take one of your workshops.”
Finding Beauty in Chaos © GGagnon
“Harry is very attentive to the student needs and is always available to help and answer questions – The course took me out of my comfort zone… that is good.”
“Thanks again for a fun Creative Fundamentals 2 workshop. It was very helpful and it enriched my photographic knowledge beyond what I expected.”
© ALG Secret Spots shared with participants.
This edition of Web Distractions is brought to you by many of our readers and supporters! Thanks for keeping the links coming…
• 2014 Scotiabank Photography Award goes to…
Mark Ruwedel! Congratulations…
• Sun Streaks to Analemma
Gilles saw my SunStreaks project and sent me this link to the related Analemma – very interesting! Thanks Gilles…
iPhone Ottawa Sunrise
• Custom-Cameras
Mike V of PhotoKibitz offered this link to Custom Cameras… very fun!
• NY Times: Alternate views of animals
Debbie S shared this article on different photos depicting animals.
• Powerful photos…
Thanks again to Deb for this link!
• Photographer Round-up
Check who’s doing what in the photo world – it’ll help you develop your own vision!
A big thanks for the links – keep them coming!
Building a picture – soak up as many influences as possible!
In it’s 14th year we offered this spring’s Creative Fundamentals session.
Creative Fundamentals Photo Workshop © Kathleen
Typical progression:
• Classroom Theory Session – Wide-eyed wonder
• Practical Session (early) – Trepidation
• Practical Session (late) – Smiles and relief
• Critique Session – Smiles and (early) confidence
Creative Fundamentals Photo Class – © Richard Provencher
The course went well.
Photos and skills progressed.
Smiles became more frequent.
Creative Fundamentals – Photo Class © Lisa Nabe
Students said:
“Positive. Fun. I appreciated the prep work and care.”
“Amazing. Harry’s easy-going, well-explained style is perfect for this beginner’s course. His knowledge came through very easily using simple, easy to understand language… I came to this course very much intimidated by my camera. In a very short time I felt confident about what I was doing.”
Creative Fundamentals Photo Workshop – © Virginia
“I learned so much with this workshop. I went from knowing nothing about exposure, iso, aperture and shooting in ‘auto’ to shooting in ‘manual’ and understanding.”
Thanks for the fun!
Creative Fundamentals © Gabriel