#1067 Kids Art Safaris with Claudia Salguero

Posted on April 24, 2014 by admin

We get asked regularly if we offer kid’s art sessions at the studio…

We’ve just booked the talented artist Claudia Salguero to bring some art fun for your kids!

Join us in June for two sessions hosted by Claudia:
• Sand Madalas
A session of creativity and hands-on work on your own design, creating your own sand colours and expressing your self through the possibilities of sand as an artistic medium.

• Salt Dough Magic Faces
With home made salt dough (recipe provided) participants will experiment the creation of faces or masks. With their eyes closed, they will feel the material and the possibilities of working with their two hands at the same time.

Salt dough faces

Dates are June 7th and 21st.

More details and register!

#1066 Back from away

Posted on April 22, 2014 by admin

We have just returned from the Netherlands and Copenhagen where we relaxed, biked, saw some sights and visited family working in Europe.

It was a fun with the focus on family and fun.

Trip highlights?
• Family – It was good to remove most (there were a few deliverables) of the pressures of work to play and enjoy family all the time.
• Bikes – I love bikes and all about them. And while I knew both countries were bike oriented, the bikes and bike culture were a high point of my trip. Everything revolves around bikes – city planning, transit, etc.
• Windmills – Not just the pretty postcard windmills (of which we had a tour – loved it!) but everywhere we went we saw power-generating, efficient, clean windmills.
• Tastes of Europe – Cheese, craft beer, chocolate… We sampled and smiled.
• Photography, lack of – I brought an iPhone and a ‘half-framer’ Ricoh film camera (which, erm, we left in Montreal airport, in case anyone finds it…) I took a few photos mostly of family giggling and enjoying themselves! It was time to recharge.

Leiden Windmill, Netherlands, iPhone photo

I am officially back at work Wednesday and will take a few days to be running at normal speed.

What’s coming up?
• Workshops – In the next couple of weeks we offer the classic Creative Fundamentals and introduced the more challenging Fundamentals II.
• Acrylic Painting Presentation (this Wednesday!)
• we’ll be announcing new arts based workshops later this week featuring Claudia Salguero.
• Producing work for two ongoing collections – Sunstreaks and Watershed.

Stay tuned!

Ahhhh!

Posted on April 9, 2014 by admin

We’re taking some time off to recharge batteries.
What does that mean? Perhaps:
• Biking
• Skiing
• Sleeping
• Family and friends
• Relaxing
• Fun Photo Time
• … and a break from blog posts, email and work.

I’ll be opening the office later in April to continue this blog, the OttawaStudioWorks blog, and respond to your emails. Until then I will do my best to not visit the office!

The studio will still be active as resident photographer Bonnie Findley continues to serve her clients from OSW.

Very early morning iPhone capture of the Ottawa skyline as I prepared an all day SunStreak with my big 8×10 camera

#1063 University Stock Assignment

Posted on April 4, 2014 by admin

Stock assignment

One of my most fun assignments last month was shooting promotional material for a university recruitment program – effectively a stock assignment.

I spent a couple of days developing imagery with students, professors in two areas of the university.

My instructions were to capture some fun, vibrant activity and students and professors in action.

I am limited in what I can show but included are a couple of shots.

Very fun – and good people to work with…

Thanks for the fun!!

Stock photo – teaching laboratory – social work

#1062 Web Distractions!!

Posted on April 1, 2014 by admin

Welcome back to our current instalment of Web Distractions. And thanks for your part in sharing your finds on the web!

We have a full slate of photo and arts based web investigations.

• “Absurdly Expressive” dog portraits
I love dogs!
And I think Debbie S. knows it. She shared this collection of canine portraits.
🙂

dogs!

• Best photographers in film
Thanks to Rod MacIvor, retired photojournalist, for this link to some amazing films involving photographers.

• 4500km China walk – with camera
Nichole McGill provided this link to a man’s amazing photo trek through China…

• “Leica photography is dead.” … interesting view on an amazing camera line-up
Dave Andrews posted this link link. Interesting…

• Illegal photo taking in Hungary – the controversy!
Nathalie Madore shared this link to a new Hungarian law that’s shaking things up!

• Shy photographer gets noticed
Ken H offers this fun story…

• Montreal’s underground photographic beauty
Danigirl brought us this look at what lurks, beautifully, under Montreal.

• Vivian Maier’s hidden photo talent and collection
Liz links to this documentary of a hidden talent who wanted nothing to do with the fame she is generating! Amazing story…

A big thank-you to contributors! Keep sharing your photo and arts links!

DavidBarbour.com with his Leica

#1060 Online Photo Program – Student Success!

Posted on March 24, 2014 by admin

We offered a “simple” challenge to our members in the online program – photographing sunrises or sunsets.

But sometimes the simple things can be the toughest!

Sunset Challenge – © Marcel M.

That’s right, sunsets can be really tough.

Why?:
• it’s an advanced lighting challenge with often two or three very distinct light levels to choose from.
• The sun will not wait for your schedule! Finding the time to be in the right place and right time can be tough!
• Weather can thwart best intentions. March is usually quite mild but many of our members live close to Ottawa. And Ottawa is enjoying an unusually lonnnng winter which makesit tough to get out and shoot!

Sunrise Challenge – Maisie I.

Our members braved the cold and embraced the challenges to produce some amazing work. Yep, I am proud!

Students also learned a lot!:
“This was a great challenge Harry and you pushed me to get out there and take photographs regardless of the weather. This is what I love to do!
I am really enjoying this and I am hoping that your on-line program stays around for a long, long time.”

Sunset Challenge © Marie-Josée L

“Your program provided really great information… I’m totally hooked!”

“I will definitely want to continue until September. Its a great program… Definitely great value in my view.”

We’re offering a limited time offer on 6 months of the online photo program – $30 off until Saturday, March 29th. That’s just $165 (plus tax) for 6 months of online photo fun.
(Ahem, the registration button was broken last week – it’s been fixed!)
Register Online.

Sunset Photo Challenge © Al Garner

#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!

#1057 – Upcoming events

Posted on March 12, 2014 by admin

Upcoming arts events?

• Artist Talk – Harry Nowell: “Large Format Originals – Straight from the Camera”
Thursday, March 13th, 7pm.
La Fab; 212 Old Chelsea Rd, Chelsea, Qc; beside St Stephen’s Church

I’ll be presenting large format equipment including a home made BIG camera and discussing why I’ve chosen such large equipment and the idea of producing artwork straight from the camera – the substrate in my camera is the finished product!

More details.
Join us!

• Artist Talk – Rosemary Leach: “Aching for a Little Character”
Wednesday, April 23^rd; 7PM.
Ottawa Studio Works; 160 Preston St., Ottawa.

Join us as Rosemary discusses her own journey as an artist – She’ll present works and answer questions about her life as an artist.

More details.

#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!