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:
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

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

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 

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!

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 

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

I will be photographing a Canadian Olympic athlete, Sarah Boudens, as part of a feature for a magazine. She is a slalom whitewater kayaker - a very fun sport!

See these photos from a low key slalom race last summer.

Harry

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:

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

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!

Football at ChelseaGallery.ca

Have Fun,

Harry

Herbie Hancock - another great name in music appeared at the Ottawa International Jazz Fest this week.

Many performers shy away from the media spotlight and photographers working in the media pit. Bob Dylan was enormously restrictive in last year’s performance - no photography.

Mr Hancock was welcoming and played to the crowd and photographers. He came to the front of the stage and talked to the audience while photographers worked hard. I was so close if I could have touched his shin if I raised my arm.

The Photos:

Herbie Hancock greets the Ottawa Jazz Fest crowd

Hancock talks it up

A large crowd came to see Hancock perform

Hancock doing what he does best

Hancock brought the Fazioli piano from Toronto

Have a great weekend,

Harry

One of the finest trumpeters alive, Wynton Marsalis played the Ottawa International Jazz Festival last week.

I was shooting for the Ottawa Sun Newspaper. It was fun, of course, but a significant challenge as Mr Marsalis sat in the middle of the back row of the Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra - very hard to capture from the media pit!

Some photos:

Mr Marsalis at the Ottawa Jazz Fest - June 2008

Marsalis plays to the crowd

Marsalis shapes the sound

Tomorrow… Herbie Hancock.

H

Ok, here are some recent photos I shot from the Ottawa International Jazz Festival. I shot a couple of days for the Ottawa Sun - other freelancing. The Jazz Fest continues to July 1. Check it out!

Over the next few days I will be posting a few highlights starting with Buddy DeFranco - an 85 year old master clarinetist. He’s been performing for 73 years and, I imagine, has no desire to retire.

Coming up later this week I will post photos of Wynton Marsalis and Herbie Hancock.

Neil Swainson gets into the groove - Ottawa Jazz fest

The crowd watching opening act Félix Stussi

Master clarinetist, 85 year old Buddy DeFranco

Joe Cohn captivates with a guitar solo as Buddy takes a break!

Jazz great Buddy DeFranco plays to the Ottawa Jazz Festival crowd.

Tomorrow - Wynton Marsalis.

Friday - Herbie Hancock

Next week I will post leftovers from this week - student photo and copyright - “boring”… but important!

Have fun,

H

This week at the photoblog of HarryNowell.com we hope to share:

• news and views of my work at Ottawa Int’l Jazz fest
• a report on a stunning person’s camera ability
• new info on copyright
• a student photo
• a review of my stock goals
• and today… the answer and winner of the last week’s photoblog quiz and contest

Last week I showed this photo and asked:

What was the shutter speed used to capture the motion of the swing photo?
What was the approximate aperture?
Where was the camera?

The Answer: I shot this with a slow shutter to get the blur - 15th second and a small aperture - f16 or f22. I used a fixed focal 15mm on a film rangefinder camera - no zoom. Camera was held in my right hand - just plain motion blur.

Curious to learn more? Consider my Creative Fundamentals Photo course in September in Gatineau Park.

The Prize Winner: Al G. of Ottawa was the first to correctly provide a good answer. Congratulations Al! He chose this ChelseaGallery.ca photo prize:

More tomorrow…

H