#1007 Online Program September’s Photo Challenge

Posted on October 7, 2013 by admin

Online Photo Program © Maisie I. Light Variations

In August we asked our members to shoot things from a different perspective.

Last month we offered a new challenge to members of the Online Photo Program – one to get them thinking about different light variations to help them go from an ok photo to something stunning!

Members were urged to shoot a scene in different ways (with guidance) to achieve photos like they’d never shot before! Tips and techniques were offered to help with starbursts, night shooting, star trails, sunsets, light painting as well as daytime shooting.

Results were awesome!

Light Variations – Online photo Challenge – © Gilles Gagnes

Some comments, this month, about the program:

“Yes, I am totally hooked…”

“I learned a tremendous amount and it was a refresher in night photography – something I don’t often do.”

“I found just dealing with all of the lighting conditions extremely challenging but overall the process very rewarding. I learned a great deal about lighting and my camera. It was alot of fun and the reading on lighting effects was fascinating.”

“Looking forward to your lessons in the critique and what others have produced. There was some impressive work on the forum!”

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

We’re proud of the student successes. They deserve some applause!

Interested in challenging yourself with weekly support and a supportive online photo group?
Join us for the Online Photo Program!

Online Photo Challenge – Light Variations – © AL Garner

#1003 David Trattles SocDoc and Travel Workshop Student Success!

Posted on September 26, 2013 by admin

Thanks to everyone who joined Dave Trattles for his Ottawa session of the SocDoc and Travel Workshop at Ottawa Studio Works.
The course was full, again.

We’ve run this workshop many times and it often makes many people re-think photography!

People said:
“Great experience. Photography is so much more than f-stops and shutter speeds and Dave teaches this so very well.”

“Loved it… the learning curve is high… What a character.”

“Great combo of tips, showing our work and critique…”

Missed this workshop but want to soak up some of Dave’s wonderfulness? Join him for his “Best Quality South India Bicycle (and Photo and Yoga) Adventure.”

#995 Online Photo Program – Bad News / Good News

Posted on September 8, 2013 by admin

We’ve offered our monthly challenges for 15 months now. We have bad news and good news!

Online Photo Program – Fast Photo Challenge – © Cathy Vanners

The Bad News is that, after 15 months, we’re raising the price. Just a little. The cost used to be $180 for 6 months – that’s $30/month. We’re raising it to $195 for 6 months. That’s only $2.50 extra per month.

The good news is we’re offering a fall promotion that makes the Online Program cheaper… for a limited time!

Yes, we’re offering 6 months of the Online Program for $160. That’s just the price of one dinner at a restaurant each month!

This offer only lasts until Wednesday, September 18th!
$160 + tax for 6 months of photo challenges, video tutorials, tips, photo community and personal critique.
This deal has finished but you can still join at the regular price:
Register NOW!

What do you get from the Online Program?
Think of it as a new photo class every month with:
• a video lesson
• course notes
• weekly email check-in with tips, encouragement and news
• ongoing group support through a private Facebook group for Members only
• and a compreshensive video critique of member’s photos at the end of the month.

Member Comments:
• “We’re lucky we have you to guide us”
• “Thanks so much Harry, couldn’t have done it without you and the online course.”
• “I am very much enjoying the challenges and the format of what you’ve created here with the online program. For me, just the right balance of freedom to work at your own pace and structure to keep you honest and get something done. With good advice along the way. I appreciate it, and am very happy to support it.”
• “It was a tough assignment and needed a lot of elements to come together for it to work. But a great learning experience. I’m loving this and the FB group is terrific.”

Watch a sample video on YouTube. This is from one of our more technical challenges.

See one (there are three) of the critique videos from the lesson above on YouTube.

This offer only lasts until Wednesday, September 18th.
$160 + tax for 6 months of photo challenges, video tutorials, tips, photo community and personal critique.
This deal has finished but you can still join at the regular price:
Register NOW!

#993 Gatineau Park Photo Safari Photos

Posted on September 4, 2013 by admin

Photo Safari MacKenzie King Estates © Morina Reece

Last weekend we ran a photo safari at MacKenzie King Estates in Gatineau Park for the NCC.

Many smiling faces joined us as we explored this year’s theme of Nature.

Some fine photos resulted. What do you think?!

Missed this photo adventure?
Join us for Creative Fundamentals as we help people get comfortable with their cameras in Gatineau Park

Gatineau Park Photo Safari © Marcel Mathurin

Gatineau Park Photo Safari © Suzanne Rochford

Gatineau Park Photo Safari © Nathalie Fortier

#992 Online Photo Class – New Perspectives

Posted on September 1, 2013 by admin

In August we offered a new direction in challenges of our Online Photo Program.

In June we offered a Photojournalism Challenge and a (some said tougher!) Social Documentary Challenge in July.

Last month we asked our members to photograph the same subject AT LEAST 50 different ways.

Crazy, they said.
I don’t care, I replied.

Member’s resulting photos glowed, proving that my mad challenge had a purpose!

Online Photo Challenge – © Morina R

What member’s said this month:
“Always amazed to see the creativity folks display when taking on Harry’s challenges – constantly saying to myself,I wish I had thought of that.”
Al

Online Photo Challenge – © Jeffrey F

“I learned so much from the challenge and it was a lot of fun. The John Cleese video was especially entertaining and some really good tips on creativity. I really enjoyed it.
Thanks again for keeping us on our photography toes, so to speak.”
Christine

Online Photo Class – © April L

“Great challenge. – again!

I am off tomorrow morning to the Freeman Patterson workshop. Thanks to the 6 months of experience in the online course, I am feeling much more comfortable using my camera.

Will renew my online course when I return.”
Anon.

Online Photo Challenge – © Kevan E

“You guys and gals, have some wonderful shots. I am learning more and more each day.”
Michelle

“Just watched the critique and I learned something from EVERY photo submitted (and Harry’s advice of course!). Thank you all for sharing your efforts. All of you inspire me with your work! Looking forward to next month’s challenge …”
Maureen

Join us for the fall online photo challenges!

Online Photo Challenge – © Christine P.

#989 Portraits Photo Class – Review

Posted on August 25, 2013 by admin

Another session of one of our longest running courses is complete.

We offered the summer session of Natural Light Portraits in August and nerves turned into smiles all round.

Natural Light Portraits
© Marie Josée Leblanc

Let’s face it … making people pictures is hard. The photographers often get nervous and worry they’ll be good enough. Not only do they have to manage their camera’s technical elements and creative concerns but they ALSO have to engage with a person or people. That’s a lot to deal with even if you have experience!

By the end of the course students were more comfortable and relieved that their ability to capture good portraits had produced good results!

Portraits Course
© MJ Leblanc

“Great learning curve.”

“Very patient and positive instructor. Loved it.”

And the models were happy with their photos!Our busy workshop season is coming up with courses by photojournalist Blair Gable, socdoc photog David Trattles, Graphic Designer Peter Handley and myself, Harry Nowell. Courses range from Night Light to Fundamentals to Lighting to travel to processing.

See more workshop details and invest in yourself and your photo skills!

Portraits Photo Course
© Madeleine Bachand

#982 Photo Contest Winners Announced

Posted on August 8, 2013 by admin

In July we launched our 2nd annual photo contest for past students and we were very happy to see the results. Entires were diverse and spoke highly of the hard work (and fun) students have invested in their photo skills.

Photo Contest Winner! © Morina Reece

We selected four winners.

What were our criteria?
We were looking for:
• diversity in the photos
• technical excellence
• something different… There are many, many good photos out there – we wanted something that would catch the eye and make someone smile. We’ve always preached “Do something different.” Each of the winning photos stood above the norm.

Photo Contest Winner – © Eryck B

We’re very proud of all of our students.

Photography is tough. During the last ten years digital camera manufacturers have erroneously preached “EASY.” It’s NOT easy. It takes skill, perseverance, passion and many years of time to develop skills.

All the winners have been involved with our lessons for YEARS!

Alan and Cheryl have separately taken (almost) every course we’ve offered. They have taken a couple of courses more than once. Both are currently enrolled in our Online Photo Program with monthly challenges.

Yesterday Cheryl sent me a note after learning about her win: “I would have never got that photo if it wasn’t for your great teaching ability and getting me out of the box of ho hum photography.”

Eryck started with the Pro Hockey photo workshop and has grown from there reading our photo tips and newsletters, etc.

Photo Contest Winner – © Al Garner

Morina completed our ProProgram last year and has taken many of our courses. She commented about Natural Light Portraits – “Superbly challenging, informative, exciting & very practical!”

Thanks for sticking with us to develop your skills.

The winners all receive a free three month membership of our Online Photo Program.
Congratulations!

Photo Contest Winner © Cheryl Kreis

#980 Online Program – Social Documentary Photos

Posted on August 5, 2013 by admin

“I found so many levels of challenges within this month’s program but so far I have learned and grown far more than I could have imagined an on-line course could provide.”

In July we offered what is likely the toughest challenge we’ve ever posted on our Online Photo Challenge – to capture a story through a social documentary style.

Social Documentary photography differs from photojournalism. Both offer stories but:
• Photojournalism tells the story within one single photo (think of newspaper stories.)
• Social documentary work tells in depth stories over weeks or months and offers a collection of photography to tell a story (think of National Geographic magazine.) ‘Socdoc’ usually deals with social issues and people.

The social documentary challenge was tough because:
• it made people get involved with a story involving people or animals.
• it takes time. Many socdoc photogs spend months and many, many visits to learn about and capture their stories.
• Moments are fleeting – Technically perfect photos are less important than capturing the moment in SocDoc.

The group rose to the challenge and captured events, family, theatre, sports and (a popular subject) life at a local shop or boutique.

What members said this month:
• “It was a tough challenge this month. I’m excited to see what other people submitted to give me some new ideas – I have a feeling this challenge is going to be a bit of an ongoing project for me.” WM

• “I loved every single moment. I grew so much so fast that I felt the growing pains! Normally I would be sad that it’s over but I know I have more fun to come so I’m looking forward to the next challenge.

Thanks for all your straight forward advice and always being so encouraging while pushing us all to be better.” LG

• “Thanks for your encouraging words.” BB

• “Boy this was a very tough challenge! I learned a lot from this assignment and I had a lot of fun getting to know Jim and the small town hardware business.” CP

• “This month’s challenge was the most effort of all so far but that is what made it fun for me. I’m glad you pushed me… I am pleased with the outcome.” MM

• “I like the challenge and how it’s stirring up ideas. It’s a great subject for the monthly challenge. It involves creativity and spontaneous photography to capture the in-the-moment images that are so interesting in Soc Doc photography! A very good challenge!” GR

August’s program starts this week and we have a challenge to help members break out of comfortable shooting patterns (and growing as a photographer!) by urging them to shoot a subject in new ways.

Missed the social documentary online challenge but want to explore this medium? Enrol in our Travel and Social Documentary Photo Class with David Trattles in September. At time of writing there are only two spots remaining – availability will change without notice.

Join us to develop your photo skills!

Congratulations to ALL of the members. I am proud of your progress – with time, small steps will take you a long way!

#976 Student Success – Scott in the Photo Studio

Posted on July 25, 2013 by admin

Years ago I got a message from Scott Martin who was looking to advance his photo skills and get into some photo work.

His photos at the time were mere snapshots.
After a couple of years on the ProProgram his work blossomed.

What happened?
He worked hard.
And he took many of our photography courses lead by accomplished working photographers like David Trattles (award-winning, veteran social documentary photographer) and Blair Gable (leading Reuters photojournalist.)

There are a lot of photo workshops offered nowadays. Learning from experienced veterans goes a long way, just saying!

Scott now runs ScottMartinVisuals.com and SpotlightOttawa.com. He recently shot Liam Lloyd at our photo studio for a feature.

We’re proud of what he’s accomplished!!
Well done Scott.

#973 Traditional Technical Training for Modern Industrial Applications

Posted on July 19, 2013 by admin

This spring we were contacted by Ontario Power Generation in Southern Ontario about some specialized technical training for their staff. We developed a Custom Course to meet their needs.

Specialized Photo Training – Old technology for modern testing.
They needed training in traditional dark room skills to perform the (almost) 100 year old test that involves traditional photography. Steve explains it better himself:

“We work in a Performance and Testing department with Ontario Power Generation. Our group provides experienced engineering and skilled technical personnel to consistently provide high quality services in data analysis, performance verification, regulatory environmental emission data, and to support aspects of operation and projects.

The Gibson Test
The Gibson Test is one example of a performance test that our group offers. It is a method that was developed almost 100 years ago, that uses a pressure-time graph to determine water flow through a pipe.

Interestingly, the pressure-time graph that is produced during a Gibson Test is done through photographic means. A large piece of photographic film is wrapped around a column inside a canister. The narrow slit along the side of the canister allows light to strike the film.

Gibson Photography Graph

Technically…
A column of mercury is used that rises and falls as the pressure inside the penstock changes; this mercury blocks a portion of the light entering the canister. The canister rotates slowly, and the mercury rises and falls, creating a pressure-time graph on the photographic film.

The film is developed on site in a darkroom built and set up by our technicians. Since these Gibson Tests can occur at any of the remote hydroelectric stations across Ontario, creating an adequate darkroom setting can be challenging at times.

Results!
Thanks to Harry and Marie-Helene, we now have more of an expertise to create a darkroom and the skills necessary to develop this photographic film in the non-traditional settings we encounter with our work. Thanks guys!!”

And thank-you for coming from Southern Ontario for your taining!

1923 Gibson Photography - Film Canister for 20x24

1923 Gibson Photography – Film Canister for 20×24″ film – capture on an iPhone!