#745 Mother’s Day DIY Portraits in central Ottawa

Posted on January 31, 2012 by admin

Mother’s Day is May 13th this year and we’ve booked the studio to treat a mom in your life.

Based on the successes (and laughter) coming from our fall Do-It-Yourself Portrait sessions we have reserved our studio on Mother’s Day, 2012 for your mom and the family.

Experience a photo session like no other in the city!

DIY Portraits - Ottawa

How it works:

Shoot your own family portraits in our well equipped photo studio ready to go in central Ottawa.

A photographer assists you to set up your camera in the studio.

Once you’re done shooting you leave the studio with your memory card full of family photos (and all copyright) to edit and print as you wish.

That’s right, direct your own shoot, photograph your own family, save money, control your photos. And it’s FUN!

To summarize:

book your session
arrive at the studio
plug in your digital SLR camera to the studio lights
family smiles
click, click
preview your work
leave the studio, owning your copyright and control your photos.

Also available at an extra cost:

camera rental
memory card purchase
downloading service, DVD burning

Mother's Day Portraits - Ottawa

What Mother doesn’t like a family photo and the memories of the day?!

May 12th & 13th, 2012 time slots available:

9am
10am
11am

Cost:

$150 + HST books you the studio for a 50 minute session for family use. A second consecutive hour is $100 + HST. Custom time slots and corporate DIY sessions are available.

By appointment only – Please contact us to see what is available.

Ottawa Portrait Session

Ottawa Studio Works is a working photo studio on Preston St. in Little Italy offering an 11×24 main studio with a support room available for make-up and styling. Bathroom and kitchenette are also available to support your portrait session.

Traditional photo studio rentals are also available.

Many clients take advantage of the many fine restaurants of Little Italy and China Town neighbouring the studio.

Reserve your spot Mother’s Day portrait session by reserving your session.

OttawaStudioWorks.com photography studio

#744 Photo Safari Successes

Posted on January 29, 2012 by admin

Composition Photo Safari - © Sarah R - Gatineau

A week ago we ran the Composition Photo Safari at the Museum of Civilization in Gatineau.

The session was geared towards helping participants see and understand elements of composition from:

recognizing the flow within the viewfinder
understanding the effect of tones on composition
learning to see the potential within the ordinary

Composition Photo Safari - © Anne G - Gatineau

Our exercises made participants scratch their heads and try new ideas:

“Always a great experience with your workshops and safaris.“

Composition Photo Safari - Gatineau

Our next photo safari is in April – Dancing Horses Photo Safari – a chance to test:

motion techniques
timing
compositional elements
photographing live subjects
managing equipment during a live event

… and of course investigating the beauty of horses.

Dancing Horses Safari details

Dancing Horses Photo Safari - Ottawa

#743 Creative Fundamentals Photo Workshop – Student’s Successes

Posted on January 26, 2012 by admin

This week we finished our longest running and most popular course – Creative Fundamentals.

Ottawa Photo Workshop

It’s popular because we take complicated ideas of f-stops, shutter speeds, iso and their inter-relationship and break them down into understandable concepts. Light bulbs go off and people smile.

Ottawa Photo Class - Willa

Students worked hard through the exercises – I love to see the different ways people interpret the same visual content.

Ottawa Photo Course - Laurie

Results are shown in the photos of this blog – we held the critique at our photo studio – Ottawa Studio Works.

Ottawa Photo Class - George

The next session of Creative Fundamentals is coming up April 25th, 28th, May 2nd.

Ottawa photography class - self portrait - Adrienne

Student’s said:

“I now know how to get my photos the way I want. It was fun!”

“Love the workshop!! Harry you are the best.” … Harry blushes.

Ottawa photo course - Christopher

Missed the last one? Don’t miss this one!

#742 Photographing Pro Hockey Photo Workshop with the Ottawa 67s

Posted on January 25, 2012 by admin

It’s coming up fast – our annual Photographing Pro Hockey Photo Workshop with the Ottawa 67s.

Dates:
Saturday, January 28th, 2012: hockey prep, 10am-1pm
Saturday, February 4th, 2012: Game Day, noon-6pm (approximately)
Wednesday, February 8th, 2012: Review & Critique, 6-9pm

Locations
Ottawa Studio Works and the J Benson Cartage Centre at Lansdowne Park.

Costs
$325 + taxes

Ottawa Hockey Photography Course

Ottawa 67s hockey

We’ve been running this photo course for 5 years – it’s a great opportunity to test your photo skills in the high paced action of professional hockey. Players are working hard to earn spots in the NHL and participants of this course get within inches of the action.

Hockey photography Workshop

It’s a chance of a lifetime!

Course details

Ottawa hockey photo course

Photos for this blog post have come from past workshops with the 67s. Join the fun and test your skills!

Ottawa Hockey Photo Workshop

#741 More Etta James on the blog

Posted on January 22, 2012 by admin

Over the last decade I have been lucky enough to photograph many stars on the stage while covering Bluesfest, Jazzfest, Tulip and other events.

I love seeing fresh new acts and stars who have shaped our culture. Thanks, Etta, for all you have done!

Etta James, 2006:

Etta James 2006 Ottawa Bluesfest

#740 Etta James – 2006

Posted on January 20, 2012 by admin

Etta James: 1938-2012

Photographed in 2006 on film – Ilford Delta 3200:

Etta James

#739 Student Success – Portraits

Posted on January 20, 2012 by admin

Last weekend we ran our Natural Light Portraits photo class. It’s one of our longest running courses. Earlier we posted some behind the scenes photos.

The course challenges students – by the end of the practical shooting day they have tired smiles – a sure sign they have worked hard and had fun. Some comments:

• “I absolutely LOVED this experience. I learned so much more than I though I might – about techniques and also about myself as a photographer.”

• “For the first time APERTURE & SHUTTER SPEED & ISO correlation made sense to me completely. I would give it A+.”

Missed this session? Check out more of the fun.

Below are some of the successes. Congratulations to all!

Portraits Photo Workshop

#738 Photo Studio Open Hours

Posted on January 17, 2012 by admin

Photo Studio Open Hours

Ottawa Studio Works will be opening doors to the public again next week:

Monday, January 23rd; 6-8pm.
Tuesday, January 31st; 6-8pm.

Come by to see the artwork, ask about workshops or enquire about hiring a photographer.

Ottawa photo studio

Photo Newsletter Video Feedback

Last week we posted our first video through our Exposed! photo newsletter. It was called Rise and Tilt, featuring a way to get a cleaner background in your photos.

The video happened because a colleague – cartoonist and videographer Paul Mason – had been urging me to do a video for over a year. I procrastinated and he persisted.

Late last year we pulled it together and launched the first video. The response was great. Web stats spiked. Comments came in:

“Great stuff Harry! I burst laughing when I saw your “fight” with the cardboard TV. Very funny!”

Readership was up and I had way more fun producing the video than solely writing the newsletter. We have a second related newsletter lined up – look for it in the next few months.

Big thanks go out to Jess and Joel for acting, Ian Tamblyn for supplying the music and Paul Mason for persisting! And thanks to you for reading/watching!

Paul Mason

#737 Portraits Workshop on the blog

Posted on January 15, 2012 by admin

Ottawa Portrait Workshop

On the weekend we ran our Ottawa based portraits workshop. This course covers the groundwork for people pictures from technical elements to managing people in the pictures.

Ottawa Portrait Workshop

The course is intense and participants earned their rest on Sunday – it’s a tough course with lots to learn. Stay tuned – student results will be posted in a week or so. Below is some of the fun. See some of last year’s results.

Ottawa Portrait Workshop

Coming up next week is the Composition Photo Safari and Photographing Pro Hockey is just around the corner.

Ottawa Portrait Workshop

A big thank-you to models, students and our hosts at the gallery!

Ottawa Portrait Workshop

#736 Dancing Horses Photo Safari

Posted on January 12, 2012 by admin

Dancing Horses - Ottawa Photo Safari

In April we have confirmed a visit to some dancing horses near Ottawa. Some lucky photographers will have the opportunity to photograph graceful horses and their riders as they train for the discipline of dressage.

We will spend two hours exploring stables, horses and the training arena or outdoor training area with your cameras.

Challenge yourself to capture the beauty, power and precision of the horses.

Dancing Horses Photo Safari

Date:

April 15th, 2012; 1-3pm

Location:

30 minutes from central Ottawa – car pooling is encouraged!

Cost:

$75 plus taxes = $84.75

Register by contacting us to reserve your spot. We ask for payment (credit card by phone or cheque in the mail) and a complete registration form.

Enrolment is limited to ten people. Challenge your photo skills in April!

Dancing Horses Photo Safari

Dancing Horses - Ottawa Photo Safari