#918 Value of Photography (& creative talent) – Three Recent Stories

Posted on March 7, 2013 by admin

Last week I read three stories about the challenges of creative business. See links below.

One is local and all are a bit worrying. They face the realities of photography ten years after the web and digital cameras became mainstream.

Since digital cameras made photography seem more accessible and the web made sourcing photos easier than ever the perceived value of photography has plummeted!

It’s been an interesting challenge to explain the vast difference between the many levels of photos and photo services offered.

And it’s been an even tougher challenge to get people to pay sustainable rates for high quality photography work. Sigh…

Some of the stories:
1. Photographer vs Big Business
Local Ottawa photographer Barbi Cameron of Barabara Ann Studios butted heads with a prominent radio station when they used her photo in a promotion without appropriate licensing. The story went kablooie (over 4000 FB shares in a week!) through social media channels.

The situation is jaw-droppingly bad!

See the post on her Facebook page.
Read another version of the story here.

2. NYC Photo Blogger vs DKNY
On our Facebook page we shared Barbi’s story and one of our readers added this similar (but slightly less bad) story of unlicensed photo usage. Another story of inappropriate photo usage.

3. Writer offered to write for free – Atlantic Magazine
A sad story of the perceived value of another creative outlet. Thanks to veteran photojournalist, Rod MacIvor for sharing this one.

The GOOD News
From what I have seen the pendulum is starting to swing back to where it should be – people are starting to recognize good photography has costs and there is a difference in photos and photo services. Phew.

Fun video – “Pay the Writer”
I have posted this before but it is worth re-posting. Writer, Harlan Ellison discusses the value of his work. Makes me smile! WARNING – some poopy language!

#917 March’s Online Photo Challenge

Posted on March 5, 2013 by admin

Our online photo program brings a new course to your computer every month.

In March we bring members a creative challenge – capturing candid portraits without looking through the viewfinder or live-view screen.

“That’s crazy!”
Yes, it is – a little bit.

But there are good reasons and good results that come from this technique. This month we help members develop better candid portrait results.

Join the fun!

Candid portrait - from last summer's wedding season - shot without the viewfinder.

#916 Online Photo Program Special Offer!!

Posted on March 3, 2013 by admin

Our Online Photo Program is maturing. We’ve run it for almost a year and have been listening to (and implementing) member’s ideas

As an enticement to try the photo challenge (and a thanks to existing members) we are offering a 6 month membership at 30% off for the month of March, 2013.

For the month of March you can sign up for 6 months of ongoing contact, photo lessons & notes, challenges, group discussion and video critique…

… all for $125 instead of the regular $180.
• For photographers curious about the program this is an easy way to test our monthly challenges!
• Existing members can take advantage – adding the block onto their current membership.

Online Photo Challenge - Simple Studio Lighting - © Jeffrey Furry

What’s the online program all about?
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.

Recent comments:
“I’m happy to see that we don’t have to spend an arm and a leg in order to take good pictures. As always, I look forward to hearing your critique!”

“I questioned the cost before joining. But now that I have completed 3 months I believe that it is an excellent value.” (… and that was at full price!)

“Wow, was this fun! My dining room was a disaster for days (SImple Studio Lighting Challenge!), but boy, was it FUN! 🙂”

Online Photo Challenge - Simple Studio Lighting - © Maisie Ismail

Special Deal offered during March 2013
Six months of Online Photo Programming for $125.
That works out to a month’s worth of photo programming for $20.83 per month – that’s a special deal only until the end of March.
The normal price is $180 or $30 per month.

That means SIX online courses for just over $20 each!

Register NOW!

February’s Photo Challenge
Last month’s challenge on the Online Photo Program at HarryNowell.com was called “Simple Studio Lighting.”

Member’s learned to explore the world of studio lighting using only equipment they had at home.

Result’s were stunning…

Online Photo Challenge - Simple Studio Lighting - © Christa Rumleskie

#915 What’s going on in photo? Check out new Photo Facebook Page

Posted on March 1, 2013 by admin

I’ve had a presence on Facebook for a while – it’s been a mix of personal and photo fun.

A short while ago we put up our Photo Facebook page dedicated to photography.

Facebook Photo Page

What will you find there?
All kinds of photo related material – our regular photo tips and little nuggets from the photo world…

Recently posted links to:
• World Press Photo of the Year winning photo
• Photo Tips on: exposure, aperture choice, snowy weather shooting, compositional tips
• Photo News from working photographers
• Interview of Fine Art photog, Louis Helbig’s CBC interview on his Sunken Villages exhibition
• National Geographic Photo of the Day – NYC fun
• Announcements on upcoming photo classes and events
• Photojournalism Pictures of the Year – 2012 National Nominees

Like the page to get alerts for all the fun!

#913 Round-up and a BIG THANK-YOU! – Media and Celebrity Photo Contest

Posted on February 25, 2013 by admin

“WOW,” popped in my head as I stood in the quiet, empty studio late Saturday night. Saturday was the finale of a very fun photo contest and campaign to raise awareness and $dollars for the Ottawa Food Bank.

© Peter Simpson's entry into the Photo Contest

On Saturday we opened the doors to celebrate the photo efforts of Ottawa’s media, celebrity elite, as well as, the general public. We challenged them to photograph “What I love about Ottawa/Gatineau” and they rose to the test!

Many people flowed through the studio doors including:
• Mayor Jim Watson
• Ottawa Citizen’s Peter Simpson
• CBC’s Alan Neal
• Ottawa Magazine’s Sarah Brown and Jane Corbett
• Public contest winner, Christophe Ledent
… and many, many more.

The Citizen's Peter Simpson and his entry in the photo contest (BarbMcKenzie photo)

The photos were auctioned and should now be on their way to beautifying the new admirer’s walls.

Danielle Donders (Danigirl.ca) and her entry! (BarbMcKenzie photo)

Bidding started early – the first person showed up before we were open (I was shovelling the front step with our young son perched on my hip!) and talked her way into an early bid because she REALLY wanted a chance to purchase Sandy Sharkey’s crows and this was the only time she could make it. And it continued all day.

Ottawa Councillor David Chernushenko and Jo-Anne from the food bank manage bids. (BarbMcKenzie photo)

People also bid generously on items donated by local businesses. A big thanks to them:

• $50 gift certificate for the Henry’s Photo Store
• Prize Package from Ottawa 67s Hockey Team
• A signed print of the Canadian Women’s Hockey Team; gold medal winners
in Vancouver 2010 (donated by Ottawa councillor David Chernushenko)
• A box set of two films: Powerful and Be the Change (donated by Ottawa councillor David Chernushenko.)
• $50 gift certificate from Mountain Equipment Co-op
• $50 of deliciousness from ‘Une Boulangerie dans un Village‘ (aka Old Chelsea Bakery)
• $100 gift certificate to Zak’s diner

Christophe LeDent - winner of the public contest (BarbMcKenzie photo)

And thanks to the local businesses who offered their services to produce the photos for the auction:
• Artopix – Digital Printer and long time print service provider in Gatineau (Hull).
• Patrick Gordon Framing – Custom framing, repair and installation serving fine artists and art dealers.
• Dave Andrews – Fine Art Printer. David is humble but provides printing service to high end artists and clients. His prints hang in prestigious galleries across North America.
• Ottawa Studio Works – Ottawa Photo Studio on Preston St. and the home of HarryNowell.com for photo exhibitions, portraits and photo classes.
Thanks to the local businesses!

Mayor Jim Watson's photo in the photo contest!

… A big thanks to the participants of both the online public contest and the celebrity contest. See the entries in the public contest (thanks Allison Burnett for pulling this together!)

See also Christophe Ledent’s post on the auction.

CBC's Alan Neal (R) and Harry Nowell (BarbMcKenzie photo)

Media and Celebrity Participants:
Sandy Sharkey (Ottawa personality)
Stuntman Stu (Majic 100 Radio Host)
Jim Watson (Ottawa Mayor)
David Chernushenko (Ottawa City Councillor)
Peter Simpson (Arts-editor-at-large for The Ottawa Citizen)
Graham Richardson (CTV News Anchor)
Alan Neal (Host of All In A Day, CBC Radio One)
Ian Black (Climatologist, CBC News Ottawa)
Sarah Brown (Ottawa Magazine Editor)
Jane Corbett (Ottawa Magazine Art Director)
Trevor Greenway (reporter – Low Down to Hull and Back News)
Andrea Tomkins (Blogger)
Peter Tilley (Executive Director – Ottawa Food Bank)

Ottawa Food Bank's Peter at the Photo Contest! (BarbMcKenzie photo)

And more thanks to support people:
• Sarah, Samantha, Jo-Anne and Peter from the Ottawa Food Bank
• Barbara McKenzie and Morina Reece, photographers (and past students of the ProProgram) for providing support and photography.
• Allison Burnett and her digital marketing class at Carleton U. for coordinating the Public Online Contest
• Early brain-storming collaborator Kathryn.
• Cait and Quinn for all their support!!!
• And a BIG thank-you to all of YOU for sharing, tweeting, blogging and cheering for the event.

Final Results!!
So how did the campaign do?
Because of all the efforts of many people, awareness of the Ottawa Food Bank increased significantly in a traditionally quiet time for the charity.

$1529.85 was raised for the Ottawa Food Bank.
That supports a lot of families directly and indirectly!
Sarah at the Food Bank says “Thank you so much. This is an amazing contribution!”

Thank-YOU!

It was fun. Stay tuned for more fun! What would you like to see next?!
Stay connected with our Facebook page.

CBC climatologist Ian Black's entry into the photo contest

#912 Saturday’s Exhibition and Auction – Celebrity and Media Photo Contest – Ottawa Food Bank Fundraiser!

Posted on February 22, 2013 by admin

It’s almost here!

The Media and Celebrity photo contestant’s work is all done:
• Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson
• CBC’s Ian Black and Alan Neal
• Ottawa Citizen’s Peter Simpson
• CTV’s Graham Richardson
• Sandy Sharkey
• Majic 100’s Stuntman Stu
• Ottawa Magazine’s Sarah Brown & Jane Corbett
… and other Ottawa personality’s photos are waiting to be auctioned to raise money for the Ottawa Food Bank.

© Sandy Sharkey’s “What I love about Ottawa/Gatineau”

• Celebrity photos are hanging in the studio.
• Additional auction items are ready forbidding…
• We’re putting up last minute touches.
• Public contest photo slideshow is almost ready.

We’re just buzzing while waiting for YOU to come and bid on the photos / prizes to raise money for the Ottawa Food Bank.

Big thanks to donor sponsors:
• Henry’s
• Mountain Equipment Co-op
• Old Chelsea Bakery
• Ottawa 67s
• David Chernushenko
• Zak’s Diner

… for the additional prizes!

And thanks to:
• Patrick Gordon Framing
• Artopix
• Dave Andrews
… for producing the artworks!!

See some recent previews of the show:
• Ottawa Citizen
• Postcards from the Mothership
• Ottawa Magazine Weekender

Exhibition and Auction
Want to see the celebrity and media photos? You’ll have to visit exhibition and auction raising money for the Ottawa Food Bank:

Ottawa Studio Works
160 Preston St. (between Gladstone and Somerset)

Saturday, February 23rd
Noon to 8:30pm.

Auction and “People’s Choice Ballot” runs until 7pm.
Presentation at 8pm

See you there!!

Ottawa Food Bank

#911 – Really big camera

Posted on February 19, 2013 by admin

Remember last week’s post?:
“We’re starting a new feature on the blog – we’ll be bringing you a fun, recent photo story.”

Well, I’ve been following John Chiara for a while – doing something different: very, very large format photography.

Fun for me. Hopefully for you!

Watch the vid on YouTube

#910 – OttGatLove Photo Contest Winner Announced!

Posted on February 17, 2013 by admin

It’s been a race down to the wire.

In the public component of the Media and Celebrity Photo Contest the last week has been exciting as the top three photos have flip-flopped in lead of likes on the Facebook platform.

The winner’s photo exhibits along with the media and celebrity photos and gets auctioned off to raise money for the Ottawa Food Bank.

And the photo that landed top spot?
• Christophe Ledent‘s photo of central Ottawa squeaked into the lead.
• Helen Morris came just 8 likes behind with her photo of a foggy winter canal.

Congratulations to all contestants!

Auction and Exhibition this weekend:
We hope you visit the Auction and Exhibition!
Details
Saturday, Feb. 23rd
Ottawa Studio Works, 160 Preson St.
… to see and bid on prints (and other prizes.)

Ottawa Photo Contest - 3rd Place

An Honourable Mention!

#909 – More Auction Items for the Media & Celebrity Photo Contest Auction & Exhibition

Posted on February 14, 2013 by admin

We’re a week away from the auction and exhibition of the Media and Celebrity photo contest that will raise money for the Ottawa Food Bank.

Ottawa Food Bank fundraiser!

• The celebrity’s photos are being prepared.
• The studio is transforming for the show.
• The public part of the “What I love about Ottawa Gatineau” contest is almost closed (and there’s a race for the most ‘liked’ photo!)

And we have had some great support for the Ottawa Food Bank fundraiser from the community.

A BIG thank-you to the people/business’ below who have donated auction items for the exhibition:
• $50 gift certificate for the Henry’s Photo Store
• Prize Package from Ottawa 67s Hockey Team
• A signed print of the Canadian Women’s Hockey Team; gold medal winners
in Vancouver 2010 (donated by Ottawa councillor David Chernushenko)
• A box set of two films: Powerful and Be the Change (donated by Ottawa councillor David Chernushenko.)
• $50 gift certificate from Mountain Equipment Co-op
• $50 of deliciousness from ‘Une Boulangerie dans un Village‘ (aka Old Chelsea Bakery)

A BIG thank-you to the new sponsors who are helping us raise money for the Ottawa Food Bank at the OttGatLove Photo Contest Auction and Exhibition.

Details:
Saturday, February 23rd
Noon to 8:30pm.
Ottawa Studio Works
160 Preston St. (between Gladstone and Somerset)

Auction and “People’s Choice Ballot” runs until 7pm.
Presentation at 8pm.

Oh, and by the way, some of the photos are AMAZING!

MORE details…

Visit the auction and exhibition at Ottawa Studio Works on Saturday February 23rd. Support the Food Bank and meet a celebrity!