#1087 Web Distractions – Exposed! Newsletter

Posted on July 10, 2014 by admin

“I’ve lost my photo passion!”
I hear many photographers that burn out creatively.

There are many remedies.
One is to look for inspiration.

In this month’s Exposed! Photo Newsletter we look at our reader’s new suggestions for inspiration from the web. A big thanks to our readers for continuing to send links that inspire and engage, creatively.

Twirling on a 30 deck

This month we link to:
• Stunning views of Iceland
• 6+ years of a selfie-a-day
• Tech news from Apple
• Photoshop variations from around the world
• A video interview of a National Geographic adventure photographer
… and more.

Read the newsletter. Get inspired by the links!

#1081 Exposed! Photo Newsletter – Following your Passions

Posted on June 15, 2014 by admin

Last week we sent out our latest Exposed! photo newsletter.

In it, we explore creative passions and where they can lead. We also look at reality and those who preach based on their rocketing rise to success!

Read more.
Follow your own path!

Follow your own path

#1078 Student Success!

Posted on June 5, 2014 by admin

This week we were very pleased to hear from long-time photo student, Al Garner.

Al won a contest hosted by Darwin Wiggett‘s Oopoomoo!

Darwin is a well known stock photographer and photo educator from Alberta.

I was very excited. Al took his first photo workshop with us many, many years ago. He had some good photos for a beginner but, erm, had lots to learn.

Over the next ten years Al took many of our courses – some twice! Steadily Al gained valuable skills and confidence that helped him create beautiful work.

Al says:
“Hi Folks: Something pretty exciting for me has happened. The website oopoomoo.com, which is run by Darwin Wiggett and Samantha Chrysanthou ran a contest. I submitted a photo and to my surprise and delight it was chosen as one of three winners. The other two shots are amazing so be included with them is really nice.

PS special thanks to Harry for all the help and encouragement over many years!

Al”

See Al’s winning photo and the other two winners at Oopoomoo…

Congratulations Al!
I’m proud of you!

#1075 Web Distractions

Posted on May 25, 2014 by admin

This edition of Web Distractions is brought to you by many of our readers and supporters! Thanks for keeping the links coming…

• 55 Best Photographers, Ever
We stumbled upon this list and I was curious who got the number one spot…

• Pre-Pantone Colours
Norman P offered this link about a book of colours described hundreds of years before Pantone.

Film Photography

• Photos of Tears
Gina R suggested this link with photos about the uniqueness of tears.

• Historic Negatives Found at Thrift Shop
Wojciech J. posted this link about a story of negatives that surfaced in a Thrift Shop.

• Motorbikes and their Loads
Peter H brought our attention to this light hearted look at heavy loads.

• Oops, wrong photos in a big news story
‘Anonymous’ suggested this NY Times story about the wrong photos being used for a mega news story

• Post-Baby Beauty
Murielle C posted this link challenging perceptions of beauty.

• Photographer Round-up
Check who’s doing what in the photo world – expand your horizons.

A big thanks for the links – keep them coming!

Bye for now…

#1074 Join Us – New Works

Posted on May 21, 2014 by admin

June offers the New Art Festival in the Glebe’s Central Park in Ottawa.

Hundreds of artists congregate to bring you their latest works with innovative ideas.

Hand bult 8×10 camera – photographing the Watershed project

This year I’m presenting:
• BIG Watershed prints

• My latest Watershed works shot with my hand built camera – these photos are originals – the photograph is the medium that gets exposed in the camera.

Watershed 4×5 Black&White Print – this photo is the material loaded in the camera… there is only one.

• Sunstreaks – For a year I’ve developed a way to capture the sun streaking across familiar landscapes with an old process not intended for the camera. These pictures also come straight from the camera.

Sunrise over Ottawa – an 8×10 original. The photo is straight from the camera. That is why it is backwards!

• and some work from the archives.

Join us!
I appreciate your support and purchases – there will be a range of prices and work to suit everyone.

Details:
June 21, 22, 2014
Ottawa’s Central Park in the Glebe.

#1073 We’re Expanding

Posted on May 16, 2014 by admin

We’re expanding!

As many of you know, I’m a stock/assignment photographer and educator.
I operate out of Ottawa Studio Works in Ottawa’s Little Italy on Preston St.

Ottawa Studio Works – shared space

Last year Bonnie Findley brought FindleyFoto to the studio.
Who’s Bonnie?
She’s an established Ottawa photographer – stay tuned for a proper introduction!

Expanding!
We’re looking for a complimentary small business (ideally a graphic designer, event planner, etc.) to round out the space at the studio – we have a 7×10 office space with access to shared meeting space and studio for rent for the right small business.

The Space:
70 square foot private space – includes utilities and internet with shared access to other parts of the studio – is available for rent for $250/month + taxes.

The Bonus
We’re both looking for the right small business person to support our businesses – web updates, wedding packages, managing clients and ideas. The right person for the studio and our businesses (our creative hub) can rent an affordable space and get two new clients at the same time!

Interested?
Send Bonnie and Harry an email with your relevant info and questions.

Blair Gable at presenting his photojournalism work at OSW

#1072 Oops, I dropped a camera in the lake.

Posted on May 11, 2014 by admin

I dropped a camera in the lake – submerged…
Oops.

I trekked into Fortune Lake to continue my “Watershed Project” with two cameras:
• a ‘small’ 4×5 Graflex large format camera
• big hand-made 8×10 wood camera

With supporting gear, I hauled 50 pounds of equipment to a remote part of the lake.

8×10 hand-made sliding box camera

Sploosh!
I set up and shot a scene with the 8×10 camera after which I set the Graflex on a tripod and went for the film holders. With my back turned (just a minute) I heard sploosh! One tripod leg had slowly shrunk causing the camera to pitch into the water.

Graflex 4×5 camera

Clean-up and Recovery
I fished the camera out of the water and immediately took the lens off and dismantled it – the nice thing about large format lenses is you can unscrew most elements of the lens without tools.

I cleaned & cleaned & dried & dried with a soft cotton, absorbing cloth for 10 or 15 minutes and then went to save the camera by draining water and drying it as best as possible.

Once home, I took out the affected gear, warmed the oven to 200F, turned the oven off and put the camera and lens parts inside for a couple of hours.

Nikkor 75 mm lens with 4×5 coverage – easy to disassemble!

Results
I am happy to report that all critical elements are functioning – I did damage the Graflok spring back but there’s an easy work-around until I can find a part… Anyone have spare parts for a Graflex?

Support
Ottawa’s Camera Trading Company did not have the part but did have the expertise to help me make the camera usable without the Graflok back – that’s the value of Tom and Mark (and sometimes Bob) in the store – they know a lot!

David Barbour

As I was leaving the store I bumped into David Barbour, veteran working photographer. He smiled commenting about my camera-in-lake Facebook post. “Never turn your back on a tripod!”
Thanks David.

In 1997 I assisted Malak in the Yukon. At 82 years old he had seen it all. He told me “I’ve made every mistake in the book!” It’s comforting to know others have big ‘oops’es.

I am a big, big fan of simple, mechanical equipment.
… I love it!

#1070 Web distractions

Posted on May 6, 2014 by admin

This edition of Web Distractions is brought to you by many of our readers and supporters! Thanks for keeping the links coming…

• 2014 Scotiabank Photography Award goes to…
Mark Ruwedel! Congratulations…

• Sun Streaks to Analemma
Gilles saw my SunStreaks project and sent me this link to the related Analemma – very interesting! Thanks Gilles…

iPhone Ottawa Sunrise

• Custom-Cameras
Mike V of PhotoKibitz offered this link to Custom Cameras… very fun!

• NY Times: Alternate views of animals
Debbie S shared this article on different photos depicting animals.

• Powerful photos…
Thanks again to Deb for this link!

• Photographer Round-up
Check who’s doing what in the photo world – it’ll help you develop your own vision!

A big thanks for the links – keep them coming!

Building a picture – soak up as many influences as possible!

#1068 How to Boost your Creativity

Posted on April 29, 2014 by admin

This month’s Exposed! photo newsletter launches today.

“His photos were beautiful but he was stuck. Our workshop student was frustrated that he had hit a plateau and couldn’t get beyond it…

The workshop student’s photos made beginners jealous – they were classic compositions – beautifully framed and well exposed. He had come on the workshop to get out of a rut.

In this edition of Exposed! we look at ways to:
• boost your creativity
• fuel new adventures in your artwork
• get out of your rut….”

Learn how to ignite your imagination’s fire!

Boost your creativity – try new formats and techniques…