Tag Archives: photo

#141 Wool and photography

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Last summer I did some work for Johanna Nousiainen – talented fibre artist specializing in felted wool. The work is quite amazing:

Some of her work will be exhibited in November at the Karsh Masson Gallery in Ottawa, Canada. The show will be hosted by the Finnish Embassy as a tribute to Johanna’s home and this traditional Scandinavian art form!

Johanna is talented! She took the ‘wool’ from my dear old dog’s many brushings and turned it into a set of Finnish styled mitts that I adore – dear old Tigger!

I’ll be photographing Johanna’s new work at the show. Yippee!

H

#140 More Student Success

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Last year I got a call from a mom and potential student looking to learn more about starting a ‘baby, child and family portrait photography‘ business.Mom took two Custom Courses and the Natural Light Portraits course.

I just heard from her. She’s doing well:SweetFacePhotography.ca SweetFacePhotography.ca

Her business is small but growing. She has a website – SweetFacePhotography.ca – and has some realistic expectations about her business. Goals and expectations are an important bench mark for anyone learning about a new business!

SweetFacePhotography.caSweetFacePhotography.ca

Mom said “Thanks Harry… I’ve spent a bit of money since starting this and I feel that the money for the course was as necessary as the money for the camera…”

Keep up the good work, Mom!

Harry

#138 Personalities shine

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I captured more people pictures this weekend. Four adult family members wanted portraits:

  • Casual
  • Candid
  • Personalities revealed

I suggested we meet at McKenzie King Estates in Gatineau Park. We visited the ruins and hiked the Larriault Trail as I eased some personal portraits from them.

“What?! I thought you were taking their portraits not hiking.”

Yes. Portraits. Gentle hiking. Family fun. It’s a good mix.

I find that, in some cases, personal portraits can be best achieved by disguising the portraits as something else. As a fly on the wall, clients forget I am photographing them. Their true selves shine as they did for the portrait, below, of a man and his dog, captured during some fun in the snow.

Ottawa Portraits

So during this weekend’s portrait session we walked a little. Brian brought his watercolours. And I was able to capture individual and group personalities far better than in a studio or traditional portrait session.

A recent client commented on this approach: “… the day was filled with emotions that Harry captured beautifully, being a ‘fly on the wall’. When we saw the photos the first time, it was stunning to see how well they told the story… Yep, I had tears in my eyes again!”

H

#137 Creative Fundamentals kick-off

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My second section of Creative Fundamentals started last night at Arts Court.

On Saturday we venture to Gatineau Park where we learn about proper exposures, focus tools, motion, composition and observation while surrounded by the vivid hues of the fall colours.

Creative Fundamentals Photo Workshop

Creative Fundamentals Photo Workshop

Spring Creative Fundamentals Focus and Motion exercise – photos by Love Bunny Photography

The final Creative Fundamentals section of the year runs October 23, 25, 30 likely hosted at the Museum of Civilization.

Have fun,

Harry

#136 Handed in

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Yesterday, I presented two projects to clients:

  1. Ottawa Magazine assignment on the Whitewater Slalom National Team Training site in downtown Ottawa – the “Pumphouse”
  2. A wedding assignment

Ottawa Magazine – Jane was pleased with the work – “I always get good results when the photographer is passionate about the subject.” I enjoyed shooting it, too!It’s due out next spring/summer.

We talked about a photo project for next summer that looks promising. Jane is also on the Working Creatives list – a networking group for people working in creative fields.

candid fun           Fly on the wall photography

Wedding assignment – The newly married couple were all smiles of, course! They had a very small wedding and wanted someone to document the fun. I really don’t enjoy the formal, posed wedding style – it’s cold, rigid and staged. Blechh.

The photo above is far more my style – taken years ago from atop a chair – posted with permission. The bride’s smile is honest and true!

I am hired to be a fly on the wall. Consequently, my photographic instructions for the bride and groom are simply “forget about me.” And the candid, wonderful emotions start leaking out. The recent couple really wanted me to capture the stories, the gestures and the nuances. That’s my kind of wedding photography!

I was hired once because, as the bride put it, “your portfolio was the only one that had me on the verge of tears.” A big formal wedding is hard work! Shooting candidly is way more fun and makes my clients tears flow!

As Jane says “I always get good results when the photographer is passionate about the subject…”

Harry

#135 Student success!

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Recently I was hired to help a family with their photos. Mom and dad had a simple film camera and a digital point and shoot and wanted to learn to take better pictures of their young kids.

I produced a 4 hour Custom Course to teach the material of the Creative Fundamentals Photo Workshop. The session covers the base material of photography at a level to help anyone improve their photos.

After the course I got an email from ‘Mom’:

“Thanks Harry.  I am having fun with it.  I love the motion photos.  The kids are always running around so photos that show this energy seem much more depicting reality to me.”

These photos were taken by ‘Mom’ on a simple point and shoot. printed with permission:

family photos

Better photos is not rocket science. It has little to do with camera technology and everything to do with understanding the fundamentals of photography!

Take photos, have fun!

Harry

#133 Hot water!

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Jill Greenberg is in a little hot water… or is that the hot seat… or the spot light?

You see, she was asked to photograph Republican Presidential hopeful John McCain for The Atlantic. Greenberg, a democrat, did a fabulous job for the magazine and then shot some, erm, less glowing portraits for her own site – as reported in PDN.

The ‘scandalous’ move created some strong ethical debates and also got Greenberg some excellent press coverage! … bet you’ve just been to her site!

A less controversial self portrait below- experimenting with motion. Notice the background horizontal streaks. There was significant movement going on. How did I capture this self portrait?:

Self Portrait

RA Photo Club $100 draw winner to be announced Friday here at the blog!

Harry

#132 “Wanted: Photographer for well paid, exciting assignments”

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My new Exposed! newsletter has been sent to subscribers. Sign up to receive the newsletter above, right.

You can read “Wanted: Photographer for well paid, exciting assignments” and learn about the obstacles and successes of running a photo business!

Obstacles   Successes

The RA Photo Club also asked me to attend their open house last night to present my latest offerings of photo workshops. A draw will be made today for a $100 gift certificate awarded to one of the attendees. Winner will be announced on Thursday or Friday here at the blog!

Have fun!

Harry

#130 Photos, sponsors, Olympic medals

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I have been talking about a couple of athletes who competed for Canada at the Beijing Olympics in whitewater slalom paddling:

Sarah Boudens 

James Cartwright

Canadian elite athlete’s jobs – full time pursuit of their sport – are hard enough. What makes their work harder is the financial constraints they face. Money! They need to be business savvy as well as athletic to ensure they can survive and train.

I finished a photo shoot with Sarah. As I approached my car she was getting ready to leave. I took a photo of Sarah with her car, below. Thanks to Lapointe Brothers Auto Dealer! That generosity, I am sure, goes a long way!

One of Sarah Boudens sponsors!

Also, have a look at Zina Kocher‘s video supporting her pursuit to the biathlon podium at the 2010 Olympics. Olympic athletes, like photographers, need a good business plan and foresight!

Thanks Dave McMahon for the link to the video.Support the Olympians.It’ll make them smile.

Harry

PS ‘Exposed!’ comes out next week – this week got too busy!

#128 Stock Photography List

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My photo career started with a very narrow goal – to shoot and sell stock:

stock photo

The stock aspect of my business continues through agencies and my office, but my business is more diverse now than I ever dreamed it would be.

Why? Partly because other photo work intrigued me and became commercially successful. And partly because the stock industry started changing in big ways in the mid to late 90’s:

  • Royalty free hit the market, offering “ludicrously low prices” on stock imagery.
  • The web had a huge impact and made more imagery more available.
  • Crowdsourcing undercut the “ludicrously low prices” of royalty free!

Stock is still one of the most fun parts of my business. I found a blog posting recently from APhotoEditor.com that lists many stock agencies worldwide – mine included – it’s a fun list to cruise.

My favourite stock subject – anything dynamic, fun, different- see swing above.

My biggest sale – fun, dynamic, different shot of a car in rush hour shot from above the driver’s window. Licensed in Columbia through AGEFotostock.com

My image with most sales – bowling pins being blasted by bowling ball – with motion. Licensed by FirstLight.com

Shoot what you enjoy – it’ll make a difference!

Harry