#1058 – Online Photo Program – Special Offer (for a limited time!)

Posted on March 17, 2014 by admin

Our online photo program has been going almost two years.
We’re offering a special offer for a 6 month membership for a limited time…

Online Photo Challenge – © Al Garner

Members are talking:

“There is zero chance that I would have taken these shots without the online photography program. I think I get the biggest bang for my buck from the online program. Keep it coming!”

“This course has accomplished two things for me. First, it has renewed my love of photography and second it has made me a better photographer.”

“Yes, I am totally hooked…”

“Thanks Harry – I have signed up for another 6 month session. I like the challenges. It stretches my creativity.”

Online Photo Class © M. Reece

The Online Photo Program
• A new photo challenge every month
• New content 4 times per challenge
• Ongoing feedback via a private Facebook group
• Member critique video at the end of each month

Special Offer!
For 12 days only we’re offering $30 off the regular price of $195 for a six month membership. That’s a 15% savings.

But only until March 29th…

More Online Program Details
Register now and save!

Simple Studio Lighting Challenge – Members learned to take photos like this with simple household tools!

#1055 Online Program – White Challenge Success!

Posted on March 6, 2014 by admin

Our Online Photo Program members worked hard last month on a tough technical challenge.

I asked them to only shoot colour scenes that were offered only black or white elements. The hard part was the photos had to be exposed perfectly straight from the camera.

Background
One of my pet peeves in photography are photographs that are poorly exposed or photographers who rely on post processing to correct exposure mistakes made when shooting.

If you aim you camera at something predominantly white or black the camera will get the wrong exposure – EVEN in Manual Exposure Mode if you don’t know how to over-ride the camera’s brain.

Our most popular course is Creative Fundamentals. We teach people how to get correct exposures all the time without relying on the computer. Better still, we use simple steps to help people understand exposure.

For many people exposure is scary! We make understanding exposure accessible.

Member’s Photos
There were some growing pains this month. But people did well!! Help me congratulate our members for another successful challenge!

Join us to challenge yourself!

Leah E – good exposure with a slight colour cast – that’s ok for this assignment! The histogram shows bright whites and dark blacks!! Good work.

#1054 Exposed! Photo Newsletter – The Low Down on High ISO

Posted on March 3, 2014 by admin

At the end of February we sent out our latest photography newsletter based on a question from one of our Online Program Members:

“… shouldn’t I keep the ISO low whenever shooting?”

My answer has steadily changed as the world of photography has re-invented itself.
Get the latest ISO details to know when to use what ISO:

“The Low Down on High ISO”

Until fairly recently I would never have dreamed of shooting at 1600 ISO for a client shoot. (Many years ago) when I first started shooting stock I did not dare shoot above 100 ISO!

#1049 Winter and Spring Photo Classes

Posted on February 17, 2014 by admin

Our line-up of winter and spring photography courses is almost complete!

Better photos @ HarryNowell.com photo classes

For those close to Ottawa and Gatineau, we’re offering something for everyone:
• a course for communications staff to create better work-based photos
• Macro workshop (almost full) and tulip safari with Louise Tanguay
• Smart phone photography with Blair Gable
• Creative Fundamentals – our most popular course to help people with the basics of photography plus an advanced fundamentals course for those wanting fundamentals support but more than the basics.

For those further afield we offer our Online Photo Program – all you need is a good internet connection and a desire to learn from our members!

… And there are more courses listed and soon to be announced. Stay tuned…

Better pictures through HarryNowell.com

#1045 Five Reasons to Leave your Tripod at Home

Posted on January 29, 2014 by admin

Some photo students secretly roll their eyes when I suggest they bring out their tripods. I can feel their loathing as they pull out the cumbersome, heavy, boring tripods.

In this month’s photo newsletter we offer FIVE reasons to leave the tripod at home. We also offer just one reason to bring it. And then we leave the decision whether to haul the tripod out up to you!

Read this month’s Exposed! photo newsletter…

Winter Landscapes

#1039 Online Photo Program – Post Processing Challenge

Posted on January 8, 2014 by admin

In December we offered Online Photo Program members a “before & after” challenge.

We asked them to capture photos in JPEG format and process their photo into something even better!

It’s a tough challenge with many software platforms from which to choose!
Many people use post processing to tweak photos or correct mistakes (ahem, that should be fixed at time of shooting.)

We encouraged students to do more!

And challenge them it did:
“Yet another great challenge Harry. You have a knack for getting us out of our comfort zone.

I have learned a bunch and there are lots of resources, but your direction is priceless to get things going in the right direction.”

This month members are almost half way through their challenge of black & white environmental portraits – a challenge on two levels:
• creating portraits of people in their normal surroundings
• producing the portrait as a B&W final photo!

Join the fun soon and you’ll get access to January’s challenge for free!

#1038 Web Distractions

Posted on January 6, 2014 by admin

We’ve been away from the blog while we recharged batteries over the holidays.
Thanks for the fun last year.
Welcome back!

Thanks to you we have a whole new slate of web distractions.
• 2013 in Pictures
Felix offers this look at 2013 in photos.

• Find a darkroom worldwide
Dave Andrews offered this link – need a darkroom while traveling?

• Fabulous photos
Ginny Fobert posted this link about photographer’s favourite photos.

• Death of Photography
Yan H. offered this interesting read on the future of photography.

• “The photography teacher nobody wants”
Claude Brazeau suggested this link exposing the finest teacher of photography. I agree.

Keep the links coming – hope to see you soon!

#1036 Platform Series Seminar – Photography for Art Promotion

Posted on December 20, 2013 by admin

We’re teaming up with La Fab in Old Chelsea, Quebec to host Photography for Art Promotion.

We developed this seminar to help artists and crafts people create better photos of their own artworks for the purposes of juried exhibitions, archiving, and promotion.

“Harry’s [Photographing Artwork] workshop was one of the main attractions for attendees. Harry’s presentation was full of simple, effective solutions that were explained in a fun and lighthearted way.” Sara Washbush – Ontario Craft Council – Photographing Artwork for Promotion.

Photography is expensive and complicated!
Anyone can click a picture. But to get technically perfect renditions of your art is tough!
We present two different systems (simple or complex) to help you understand and create better promotional photos of your work.

Join us March 22nd in the evening at La Fabrique:
Register now!

Paul Saindon – fine artist

#1035 New Seminar – Portrait Retouching Process with Blair Gable!

Posted on December 16, 2013 by admin

Based on past popularity Blair Gable is back with a new seminar – the portrait retouching process!

Capturing a portrait in-camera is one set of technical skills. Processing is a skill set that requires a whole new set of skills.

Join Blair as he shares skills he’s developed while shooting for clients like MacLean’s, Reuters and Globe and Mail.

Portrait Retouching - Ottawa photo class

Details
February 22nd, 2014
Time – 4 hours
$100 (+tax) for a 4 hour safari with one of Canada’s leading photojournalists.
Central Ottawa.

Join us!
Register online at the bottom of this page.

Portrait Retouching with Blair Gable

#1034 Exposed! Photo Newsletter – Printing Your Photos at Home!

Posted on December 12, 2013 by admin

Printing Your Photos at Home!

Recently, I was approached by a biplane pilot I had photographed years ago for a stock assignment. He wanted reprints and I offered a digital file and permission to reproduce…

He wanted to print the photo at home.
That makes me nervous!
Why?

Printing is tougher than people realize and I often hear “the printer is broken” or “the file is bad.” Usually, the problem is somewhere else… and this month we help you navigate the printing process to help you decide what to do.