A couple of weeks ago our photo studio – Ottawa Studio Works – hosted the first show of new photo artist Kevin Foisy. For a first show Kevin’s work is impressive and filled our studio! It was well received in the media:
A few photos show the fun:
Kevin Foisy at Ottawa Studio Works
Kevin Foisy Photo Exhibition at Ottawa Studio Works
Kevin Foisy Photo Exhibition at Ottawa Studio Works
Yep, it was fun.
On Saturday night we opened the doors to our photo studio for a fun filled evening of music, photography and smiles. The studio was full.
The Open House doors were thrown open to celebrate a number of things:
• Watershed - I unveiled a Sneak Peek of ‘Watershed’ – see photos. It’s a photo exhibition launching in 2012, that presents photography along 8km of a creek flowing through pristine beauty and concrete mega structures that allow people to get over the ‘little creek.’
Ottawa Studio Works - open house - Watershed unveiling
• Student Work - Participants from our photo classes had an opportunity to show off their successes
Ottawa Studio Works - open house - Watershed unveiling
• Christmas gift buying season - we have cards, posters, prints and limited editions for every budget on your list. Contact us if there are people still needing gifts on your list. And a big thanks to everyone who bought from us – supporting local artists and main street merchants goes a long way in supporting the grass roots of our economy!
Ottawa Studio Works - open house - Watershed unveiling
• Friends and Supporters of HarryNowell.com - the Open House was our way of saying THANK-YOU to everyone who has helped our business stay in business, providing smiles and services to the community. (… As I write this a large family is laughing and smiling their way through a DIY portrait session – where we rent our photo studio for people to take their own portraits.)
Ottawa Studio Works - open house - Watershed unveiling
A big thanks to everyone who made last night such a success. We had help from many – Cait, Quinn, Jess. Photos are courtesy of Nadine Lamoureux – thanks! And we bought yummy cupcakes from Nancy B and were pleased to use DJ services from Ron LaVoie.
Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you.
Ottawa Studio Works - open house - Watershed unveiling
Visit our annual Open House:
160 Preston St, Ottawa
Saturday, December 3rd, 2011 - 7pm onwards
Why should you come:
• Gift ideas – anything from cards, posters to fine art prints to photo courses & safaris – something to fit any budget.
• Do it for the Dogs! – We’re collecting money and food for the West Quebec SPCA.
• Limited Edition Cupcakes. Yum.
• See a selection of our student’s work.
• Enjoy the funky festive atmosphere with tunes by DJ Ron LaVoie.
• Sneak Peek – get a preview of 2012′s ‘Watershed’ photo exhibition – photographs along 8km of a watershed.
What more do you need?!
Hope to see you at Ottawa Studio Works, 160 Preston St – December 3rd, 7pm.
Ottawa Studio Works - Open House & Print Sale
Yep, That’s right, Kevin Foisy‘s ”Love through the Lens” opens at Ottawa Studio Works on Friday, November 25th. Make it fast – it’s a one night show!
Details:
Where: Ottawa Studio Works; 160 Preston St., Ottawa
When: Friday, November 25th, 2011; 7pm onwards.
The show:
Perth area art photographer, Kevin Foisy, combines traditional and new photographic tools to create images of love that combine the literal with the abstract. ”Love through the Lens” features recent works, each connected by a theme of love; love of nature, love of fellow man, love of family, love of life.”
Art Exhibition - Ottawa Studio Works
Today we have a guest blogger – Kevin Foisy – who is exhibiting “Love Through the Lens” at our photo studio, Ottawa Studio Works, November 25th, 2011.
Kevin writes:
“Become a Better Photographer through Sharing.
We are taught as children to share with others but when it comes to our photos, we sometimes cringe at the thought of it. A photograph is a reflection of the photographer; by sharing, we expose a part of ourselves that might be a bit uncomfortable.
“What if they think it’s terrible?”, “My work isn’t good enough,” “Other people’s work is so much better.”
These and many other thoughts go through our minds before we take the plunge to start sharing our work on a regular basis.
I can remember when I first started sharing. I would email a picture out to a few friends here and there. To my surprise, they were quite kind and offered valuable feedback. I started to see my work through other people’s eyes, learning that everyone has their own perspective, likes and tastes. Other people see my work differently than I do and are generally very kind.
With time, I was encouraged to broaden my list of friends and so I scoured through my address book and invited many others. The more people that I added, the better, fuller, richer the experience became. It’s one of the things that I really love about photography … the sharing and the feedback.
Kevin Foisy - recent photo work
“So, how exactly does it make you a better photographer?”
The process of sharing invokes more thinking around the photos you’re sharing. It encourages you to tell a story about the photo.
Why did I take it? What does it mean to me? What do I see in it?
When you share, you are forced to think about these things and that practice makes you better. Soon, you are thinking about these things before you take the photo instead of after and that leads you to being a better photographer.
As your list grows, you become very aware that what you send out is representative of your work. Soon, you find yourself striving for better and better images. You critique your own work with greater detail when you know that many people will view it. Things that would have passed before, will not pass now … but that’s ok because you’ll find yourself producing better and better images.There is another bonus! Your fans will be there when you are ready to step to the next level with shows and print sales. You now have a following of people that know your work and are excited to see it presented, displayed and celebrated – please visit my upcoming show and print sale at Ottawa Studio Works!
“When my work is good enough, I’ll start sharing it.”
I have friend that is a pro photographer; he’s been published in many magazines and has been shooting most of his life. He recently said, “Nobody will want to buy my work.”
You will never feel that your work is good enough! It doesn’t matter what level you are at. We always look up at the work of others and feel that our work is less and hence, “Not good enough.” It’s only through sharing that you will start to realize that your work is good enough.
Kevin Foisy - recent photo work
The fall colours are warm and vibrant but none that I have seen match the incredible vibrant reds of the burning bush. While most leaves have settle to the ground, this bush stands out as though it is on fire. Today, it was further saturated by rain droplets that settled on these fiery leaves.
“So, where do I start?”
There are several ways to start. The first and easiest is to start with an email list. Create a group in your email program and add your friends to the list. It’s a good idea to ask permission first because not everyone wants to receive pictures.
As you become more confident, grow your list by adding more friends and colleagues. Ask your friends if they have friends that would like to be on the list. Before you know it, your list starts getting pretty large. When the list grows large enough, you could consider using a hosted service like Google Groups, or Yahoo Groups. I recently switched to GroupSpaces which allows people to sign up to join my list and to also unsubscribe. This allows the list to “grow in the wild” so to speak.
Facebook is a great way to share your work too. I have a friend that is an amazing sculptor. He shares pictures of his work on Facebook and I love seeing what he’s working on. Your friends will feel the same way about your photos.
Use a blog. It’s free and it’s simple to setup with with Blogger or WordPress. These offer a great way to share and to keep a history of your work. I post my blogs to my website and to blogger.
Kevin Foisy - recent photo work
After a late evening of printing and preparing works for the show later this month, I rose before the sun and headed out to capture the world as the sun rises. A very cold night resulted in fabulous frost formations. An hour later, my toes were frozen and fingers numb, but I had captured an exciting sequence of shots. In this shot, long crystals of ice cling to these tiny twigs. To the passerby, this is a mere coating of frost. To the close observer, these micro crystals form shapes that resemble a spruce tree.
“But I already share my photos on Flickr.”
Flickr, Picasa, SmugMug and others offer great places to setup galleries where you can share your work. Though these are good, my preference is still the ‘photo a week’ type publication where you’re actively reaching out to people. Having a gallery is great but it doesn’t develop your skills in the same way that a reach-out type activity does.
Now go take your favourite photo from the past week and share it! Good luck and I hope to see your photos!
________
Thanks Kevin!
Join Kevin’s photo of the week email list.
Visit Kevin’s upcoming exhibition November 25th at Ottawa Studio Works - 160 Preston St, Ottawa!
A while back we announced an art exhibition and print sale by up and coming Ottawa Valley photographer Kevin Foisy.
Kevin has developed a style and techniques that fill a room with light. Below are some recent pieces you may see at his show.
Details:
Kevin Foisy presents “Love through the Lens”
Friday, November 25; 7-10pm
Ottawa Studio Works; 160 Preston St. Ottawa
Kevin Foisy - Ottawa art exhibition - Love through the Lens
“A Walk through the Forest
Kevin Foisy - Ottawa art exhibition - Love through the Lens
“The Minds Eye
Kevin Foisy - Ottawa Art Exhibition - Love through the Lens
“Marsh Breeze
Yep, it’s coming up – we are flinging open our doors to welcome you into our Ottawa studio to celebrate the season, Christmas and other festive holidays, snow, dogs, family, photography or whatever else needs celebrating.
Details:
160 Preston St, Ottawa
7pm onwards; Saturday, December 3rd, 2011.
Ottawa Studio Works - photo open house
Join us Saturday, December 3rd form 7pm onwards at Ottawa Studio Works, 160 Preson St, central Ottawa for some fun.
Fun? What kind of fun?
• DJ Ron LaVoie spins some festive tunes
• be seen hob-nobbing with Ottawa’s super cool photo community
• new photo work to ponder
• a chance to buy gifts – workshops, prints, greeting cards, critique sessions, DIY portrait sessions, regular portrait sessions – for friends and family. Remember to buy locally and support your community.
Refreshments will be served.
Fun will be had.
Donations gladly accepted -erm, urged- to support the dogs and, yes, ALL animals including the cats at the Aylmer SPCA. Please bring food or $.
A new project to be exhibited in 2012 will be unveiled at the open house.
160 Preston St, Ottawa
7pm onwards; Saturday, December 3rd, 2011.
RSVP appreciated.
Ottawa Studio Works - open house - do it for the dogs
We’re pretty excited.
In November, Perth photo artist, Kevin Foisy joins us at Ottawa Studio Works for his show of new works – “Love through the Lens.”
I’ve been watching Kevin’s work develop over the last year + and like what I have seen!
The show:
Perth area art photographer, Kevin Foisy, combines traditional and new photographic tools to create images of love that combine the literal with the abstract. ”Love through the Lens” features recent works, each connected by a theme of love; love of nature, love of fellow man, love of family, love of life.
Kevin’s imagery and written words connect the viewer with the subject matter, teasing their emotions from within. This is the first opportunity to purchase Kevin’s most recent work.
Kevin Foisy – photo exhibition – Love through the Lens :
This baby racoon scurries up the tree, relinquishing its new found freedom in favour of the safety of its mother. In human psychology, this stage of development is called "rapprochement". This image captures the love of mother and child.
Kevin Foisy, Artist Statement:
“In an increasingly digital world, we long to experience the essence of life beyond BlackBerries, iPhones, and social networks. We crave a connection with the natural world around us and there are few mediums left that can create that connection.Photographic art is a language for me. On its own, a photograph can provide a viewer with a simple visual experience. But an artistically expressed photograph imparts a powerful visual medium, using a vocabulary that conveys deep emotions such as love, compassion, peace, joy and sorrow in a very personal way that requires no words. My art reaches into people’s hearts, tapping into emotions that long for release. It appeals to a side of us that desires the natural world experience, longing to be one with the world around us.
Kevin Foisy – photo exhibition – Love through the Lens:
Love of the Sea
Abstract art has always engaged my mind, enticing me to draw out my own story, my own images, turning the wheels of my imagination. When an abstract piece is connected to something tangible, the abstractions become even more powerful and I feel a delightful sense of engagement that keeps me interested far longer than a literal image would. My work draws upon this understanding
I often stand before a subject and contemplate the underlying emotions behind the scene that I am about to capture. Using a combination of in-camera shooting techniques and post-processing artistry, I combine the literal image with its abstract essence. The literal image grounds the viewer in the place or thing, while the abstract engages the mind, drawing out the underlying emotions of the experience. This combination allows the viewer to feel the true nature of the subject matter.
Each day, each experience, each emotion provides a fresh canvas to paint as I strive to use photographic light and artistry in ways that remind us of the emotions within.”
Love of Colour
Please join us in November to celebrate Kevin’s new works:
Where: Ottawa Studio Works; 160 Preston St., Ottawa
When: Friday, November 25th, 2011.
Tonight at the photo studio we hosted a photo exhibition by Ottawa photographer Blair Gable after a visit to the World Press Photo of the Year Exhibit at the War Museum.
Blair Gable photojournalism presentation and photo exhibition
We had a packed house with people in the back hall and lobby craning necks to see Blair present recent photojournalism work including photos of Stephen Harper, the Queen, Obama, Ferraris and other excitement.
Blair Gable photojournalism presentation and photo exhibition
Approximately 60 people passed through the studio over the evening. Many questions and smiles ensued.
Steven Darby - Museum Photographer
Guests included other photographers, past workshop students, hobby photographers and one very cute dog. Some of the guests included:
… and many others.
Ashley Fraser - News Photographer
The show & presentation was one night only however the show remains hanging in the studio for at least a couple of weeks – if you missed it a viewing can be arranged – just let us know.
Blair Gable - photojournalism presentation
photojournalism presentation and exhibition
A big thanks to Blair and everyone that made the event a success!
photojournalism presentation and exhibition
photojournalism presentation and photo exhibition
#691 Ottawa
Thursday, October 6th, 2011This summer I’ve been working on an assignment to cover the Ottawa Rowing Club for a fine magazine. It’s been a fun assignment – my only grumble was that rowers usually start their days at ‘far-too-early‘ o’clock… while I don’t enjoy early mornings I’ll do anything for a good photo.
Many visits, many good people and many motor boat rides chasing sleek, rowing shells have produced a body of work that will come out next spring or early summer. Stay tuned. I’ll keep you posted.
Ottawa Rowing Club
In other news, Canadian Geographic posted a piece featuring three Ottawa photographers – Tony Fouhse, David Trattles and Remi Theriault – written by Ottawa Magazine‘s Sarah Brown.
In it she says “In May, [David Trattles] held a show of portraits taken in communities across Canada as well as in India. Unfortunately, it was a one-night affair in a studio that packed in around 50 lucky souls.” Our Ottawa Studio Works hosted the lucky souls who got to see Dave’s show.
David Trattles's photo exhibition at Ottawa Studio Works
All three photographers deserve a shout-out for their works.
Tags: commentary, exhibition, photo
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