#55 Workshops and whitewater

I had one of my Creative Fundamentals groups on the practical part of their course this weekend. In the spring I choose a spot where there are often whitewater paddlers to photograph. Sometimes this course coincides with the Level Six Capital Cup. It’s a fun whitewater kayak and canoe rodeo event put on by Stig and Tyler at Level Six.

The course went well and the festival atmosphere added to the fun for my students! Thanks Level Six!

Stig and Tyler paddled on the Canadian National Team as they started their business. Here is Stig at Ottawa’s downtown Pumphouse slalom paddling site – the site has just undergone major renovations:

Stig at the Pumphouse

Have fun,

H

#54 My apologies!

Sorry for leaving you without content the last couple of days. Occasionally, I get days that stretch from very early to quite late – Wednesday and Thursday left no time for extras.What was I doing?

Creative Fun is going well. It’s my most popular course – ons graduating student wrote: “I’ve come away with exactly what I needed to get – Thanks!”

My assignment was to photograph Malcolm Isaac’s super insulated house near Wakefield, Quebec. It is built with the ideas of a European Passivhaus that consumes 10% of the energy of a conventionally built Canadian home. The cost is marginally more than a normal house but the $energy savings are astronimcal!

This is Malcolm’s photo of his house (mine must go directly to the magazine – they have first rights!):

Malcolm's Passivhaus

Have fun,

H

#53 Photo of the Month

Summer is coming…

I have just posted the current photo of the month – race photography from a “criterion bike race.”

I have also just announced a new sport photography workshop – photographing an elite bike race!

For the skiers – there is still snow in “them hills” – yesterday I skinned up Camp Fortune and had a fun tele-descent! Gatineau Park xc trails have less snow.

Have fun,

H

#46 More judging photos

It’s Harry again – quick post today.

I received a photo from RA Photo Club member Catherine Duncan of the three judges from the Interclub Photo Competition last week. From left Terry Sametz, Harry Nowell and Lois Segal. Thanks Catherine!

Judge photo by Catherine Duncan

The photo is a good example of flash combined with a long exposure to allow sharpness in the main subjects with ambient light illuminating the background – a technique taught on my Natural Light Portrait Workshop. Nice work Catherine!

More blogging tomorrow from my assistant – Scott – of Algonquin College’s photo program.

Harry

#44 Second day on the job

Hi everyone. This is Scott, Harry’s new assistant. Today was my second day on the job but my first blog posting of many to come over the next week and a half.

Windsurfer getting big air time

As Harry explained in the last posting, I am a graduating student from the Algonquin Photography program and will be assisting him as part of my 2 week field placement. I quite enjoy outdoor sports, specifically windsurfing and kiteskiing, and as such, has naturally become the subject of my photography.

My photo on the left was taken at Lake Champlain and shows the reason I most enjoy photographing windsurfing, as well as doing it myself.

I’m very excited to be working with Harry because there is much I can learn from his experience with both the photographic and business aspects of the industry. Plus, the job perk is sharing our passion for the outdoors and slipping in the occasional ski break in our day.

I look forward to making more posts and keeping the blog updated with all that happens here at Harry Nowell Photography Inc.

#43 Introducing…

Introducing Scott, the photography student from Algonquin College.Scott

Scott contacted me recently about a photo placement. To fulfill his photography course requirements he is expected to shadow a photographer in their weekly work.

We met and agreed to work together for the two week session. Scott’s first day was today and, being interested in outdoor sport shooting, we had to finish the day with a quick ski at Fortune… since that’s what I’d be hoping to do in my regular work day anyway…

Scott will be posting some blog items this week and next…

H

#42 – Judging photos

Wednesday night was a late one after judging and sending out Exposed!

Below are a few photos – thanks to Cynthia at PhotoBuddies for the first two photos:

The judges debating:

A slightly wobbly P&S portrait (taken by me) with some camera club members:

Also some bureaucratic good news… in theory. I got an e-mail from Corporations Canada:

” The Paperwork Burden Reduction Initiative (PBRI) involves measuring the costs and
impact of regulatory compliance on business, including small businesses, and pursuing
opportunities to reduce, rationalize and simplify regulatory requirements across federal departments and agencies. It was launched in February 2005 in response to the
Government of Canada’s 2004 Budget commitment to measure the impact of regulatory compliance on businesses and make measurable reductions in paperwork burden.”

Fulfilling federal and provincial obligations like paperwork is a very large task for a small company like mine. I have spent many hours filing, phoning and visiting gov’t offices trying to comply with their policies – it IS a burden! Sometimes there is unfortunate bungling that costs significant time. The Corp Can e-mail was fresh air that seems to be moving at a rather glacial speed – at least it’s moving!

#41 Exposed!

It was a busy day yesterday with normal photo work, ski break, judging a city-wide photo contest and posting my Exposed! newsletter. I started at 9am and finished at 2am. A bit too long!

Exposed! newsletter photo:

World Cup Ice Climbing

Exposed! goes out to ~1000 subscribers around the world and is available through blogs, photo sites and, of course, HarryNowell.com. Traditionally ‘Exposed! day’ generates a spike in traffic from readers everywhere.

Read Exposed! and learn about Mary Primary and Scott Secondary.

It includes my photo, above, of the Ice Climbing World Cup in Quebec City a while back. To subscribe to the monthly ‘Exposed!’ and receive it automatically just sign up above, right!

#39 – Late night

Remember, I took off in the middle of last week to go skiing for two days? Well, Saturday was a pretty full workday and I was busy working at the computer late Sunday night.

Guess who e-mailed me at 10:21 pm and 10:45 pm Sunday eve? Two other self employed entrepreneurs with business questions and ideas. Self employed people have the strangest work hours but I do enjoy the flexibility.

Coming up this week:

  • Exposed! Newsetter
  • photo contest presentations
  • prep for upcoming courses
  • uploading of new ChelseaGallery.ca material including the photo, below, from beneath a jumping horse

I got to bed close to midnight…

H

Horse jump

#35 Creative Fun and skiing

So there will be another Creative Fundamentals offered this spring – in May.

It looks like Urban Landscapes will be moved to August. Dates will be confirmed this week. Check the workshops page for details later this week.

Today’s diversion:Ok, I love photography and skiing (particularly nordic and tele) and after a quick google search found the blog of Canadian John Dougall – skier, model, photographer. Have a look! All I know is what I read – but looks fun.

More photos and stories late tomorrow eve…