#786 Creative Fundamentals Photography Class Review

Posted on May 6, 2012 by admin

Last week we finished our longest running photography class (Creative Fundamentals has run since 2001) at our Ottawa studio.

Ottawa Photography Course - Creative Fundamentals - © June C

Creative Fundamentals continues to be popular because it helps beginners and intermediate photographers either learn or solidify the basic building blocks of photography – elements many people never learn. The class was eager and fun – with laughter mixed in with lessons.

Creative Fun Photography Class - Ottawa - © Victoria

The class did well with improvements made all round.

The next opportunity to learn the magic of fundamentals is either through a condensed Custom Course – available throughout the year – or in our September group session of Creative Fundamentals on September 19th (eve), 22nd (day), 26th (eve), 2012.

You can register on the Creative Fundamentals web page or contact a real human by email.

Creative Fundamentals Photo Class - Ottawa - © Ginny B

#785 On Location Lighting with Blair Gable – review and photos

Posted on May 3, 2012 by admin

Last weekend students gathered to critique their work on the On Location Lighting Workshop with Blair Gable. The workshop sold out quickly and we are offering a second section in July.

On Location Lighting Photo Class with Blair Gable - Ottawa

Blair Gable is an independent photojournalist supplying photo work to Reuters, MacLeans magazine, Globe and Mail, and many other national and international magazines, newspapers and agencies. Blair has photographed Obama, Princess Kate, the Queen, Stephen Harper, Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Blue Jays.

On Location Lighting Photo Class with Blair Gable - Ottawa

The demands of his work have forced him to light quickly, effectively with simple equipment. We’re lucky to have his expertise available for a photo class in Ottawa! See some of the top student work, below:

On Location Lighting Photo Class with Blair Gable - Ottawa - © Scott Martin

Participant’s comments:

“Friendly. Always willing to answer questions. In line with what I have come to expect from Harry(‘s workshops).”

“Very helpful. I really got to see how Blair sees light and shadows. Worth time/money. Very good.”

On Location Lighting Photo Class with Blair Gable - Ottawa - © John Rathwell

“Relaxed, to the point, critical, informative.”

“Great workshop – pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to use new techniques.”

On Location Lighting Photo Class with Blair Gable - Ottawa - © Frank Duggal

“Blair was a very good teacher. I did not really sign up for the technical content. I was mostly interested in the image making aspects of location portraiture, and Blair did not disappoint. There was very strong content about what makes a compelling image. My eyes have been opened to some new possibilities and ideas.”

The ideal participant is a photographer who wants an introduction or review of the possibilities of creative lighting using off camera flash.

On Location Lighting Photo Class with Blair Gable - Ottawa - © Deana Scott

The next session of this workshop will have a slightly different format than the first – only three spots remain at time of writing.

You can register directly from the On Location Lighting workshop page or contact us to register with a human.

Thanks to everyone who came out!

On Location Lighting Photo Class with Blair Gable - Ottawa - © Mark Horton

#784 Photo Goals on the blog

Posted on May 1, 2012 by admin

Better photos require many things – practice, learning, mastering fundamentals.

One thing that rarely gets mentioned in photography is goal setting.

Goals?!

Goals help you improve. It’s true.

Photo Goals - set your sights!

The process of developing your photo ideas takes time, practice, brainstorming, discussion and the commitment of thinking things through on a structured, regular basis.

The classic model to achieve this is through goal setting – forcing yourself to think through what you want to do and (more importantly) how you might get there – on a regular basis. The goals are less important than the process – visiting the ideas and goals regularly to help your photos get wherever they’re going – quicker!

The process is active. Goals change all the time. But the result of this ongoing brainstorming process has been documented to create and accelerate results.

What are your photo goals for the summer?

Me? I want to create 10 new exhibition quality pieces for the Watershed collection by the end of July. There, I’ve said it. I better get to work!

#783 – Close, Closer, Closest – Reader Photos on the Blog!

Posted on April 29, 2012 by admin

Recently we posted our Exposed! Photo Newsletter – “Close, Closer, Closest” with simple tips to improve your photos. We invited you to send in your close photos – thanks to everyone who did!

The top photo came from Nancy who cornered her cat with her iphone. She came out on top because she got really, really close!:

Closer Newsletter - blog winner - ©Nancy B

And we’d like to give a shout-out to Willa who got close to her furry friend:

Closer Newsletter - Blog Runner-up - ©Willa M

Nice work, everyone – keep getting closer!

What do you want to hear about in the next few photo newsletters?

#782 Bike Race Photo Safari

Posted on April 27, 2012 by admin

Last summer’s Bike Race Photo Safari pulled many photographers out to test the limites of their skills.

It’s fast. It’s fun!

But what makes this safari so amazing for photographers is the constant action – cyclists pass the photographers at high speed… every minute. “Oops, I missed the shot… Oh, here they come, again!”

It’s so popular we feel obligated to bring the Bike Race Photo Safari back this year!

Bike race photo safari

The scoop:

We meet as a group and cover the ideas of shooting fast paced action as athletes warm up. We select 3-4 locations over the event while handing out challenges to push your limits. Cyclists race around a closed loop ensuring photographers get to shoot action every minute or so.

The event flies by.

Photos shine.

Smiles glow.

“It was the perfect race for a safari and I picked up some good tips … You have an excellent teaching style.”

“Harry, you are constantly coming up with innovative workshops. This Safari was brilliant! It gives us seasoned photographers opportunities to shoot something different and brush up on our skills.

Thanks so much for being Harry. You are always so consistent with making sure everyone understands the concept and getting it in our cameras.”

Bike Race Photo Safari

Date: June 26th, 2012; 6-8:30pm (approx.) Rain date: July 10th; 6-8:30 pm (approx.)

Cost: $65 + HST

Location: 15 minutes from downtown Ottawa.

Details and registration.

Bike Race Photo Safari - Ottawa

#781 Exposure Modes – Manual vs Priority vs Auto

Posted on April 24, 2012 by admin

Last week I asked on Facebook:

“When shooting do you shoot in auto, aperture or manual exposure mode?”

And the answers flowed! Everything from:

• “Manual all the way…”

• “Aperture for quick shooting. Manual for detailed stuff.”

• “Only manual.”

• “Aperture, usually open full.”

Even mid tones - fine for aperture priority

Manual Mode

Manual mode means the photographer has to determine all the settings that affect exposure – iso, shutter speed and aperture. Manual mode gives full control and creates better photos more often – especially in tricky lighting. But it takes time and practice to learn.

Aperture Mode

Aperture mode means the photographer has to choose iso and aperture. The camera chooses shutter speed. Aperture offers the ease of letting the camera do the work. In subjects that offer mid tones throughout the scene aperture priority will work well. In tricky lighting aperture priority can give poor exposures.

Why?

Your camera compares everything to mid tone grey. It also tries to make all photos mid tone grey on average – EVEN if the scene is a white wedding dress or white snow.

Who has seen photos of grey snow? That’s the result of the camera misreading the scene.

“Manual is too hard!”

Manual mode is harder to learn. Yep. Once learned it will help you produce better photos. Guaranteed.

Of all the facebook comments, working photographers were choosing manual mode more often. There’s a reason for that!

Tricky lighting - silhouetted and backlit Harry

More Info

Want more info? Read this Exposed! Newsletter. Or this one.

Want some help? Consider our Creative Fundamentals Course. This weekend’s session is full – next group session is in the fall. Custom course is available anytime.

#780 Dancing Horses Photo Safari Review

Posted on April 22, 2012 by admin

A week ago a group of photographers joined us to explore the equine world of dressage with their cameras at a private farm – Northern Equestrian Centre. Our host, Alison, was very good to us, lining up horses and riders as well as near perfect weather for the shooting session (Thanks Alison and riders!)

Dancing Horses - Ottawa photo class - Anne Gale

Weather was warm and the nice diffused light helped photographers. We started with a warm-up exercise of horse portraits with more challenges as the afternoon progressed. Photographers were encouraged to push their own levels a little – everyone got something they liked.

Dancing Horses - Ottawa Photo Safari - © June Cairns

And the students enjoyed themselves:

“Overall the safari was great. I wasn’t sure what to expect as this is the first safari or formal photography workshop I have done. I really liked the structure and definately the subject matter.”

“…really enjoyed it. photographing something that big had some challenges but it was fun. i loved doing the portraits.”

“Thank you for organizing this workshop, I really enjoyed it.”

“You were great as well, I know some of the people there are regulars of yours but you made me feel welcome.”

Stay tuned for more safari fun. In May we have the Sheep Shearing Photo Safari – with dogs, sheep and some challenging flower fun.

In July we have the Urban Composition Safari designed to push your compositional limits.

We are also working on another active summer safari to stretch your photo limits. See our current list of photo courses.

#778 Music & Photography Art Show at the studio

Posted on April 17, 2012 by admin

Last year at the photo studio we had an exhibition of music photography shot over the last 10 years of Ottawa music festivals.

It went so well that we are doing it again… but a little differently.

THIS year we are turning into a one night show to celebrate and welcome music festival season in Ottawa. And some of the city’s finest working music photographers will be sharing their work – stay tuned – we’ll be announcing the line-up soon.

The Date:

Saturday, June 16th, 2012; 7pm onwards.

The Location:

Ottawa Studio Works; 160 Preston St, Ottawa

Mark your calendars.

Music Photography Exhibition - Blind Boys of Alabama

#777 Elmwood Art Students Exhibit at Ottawa Studio Works

Posted on April 15, 2012 by admin

It’s true!

Elmwood School‘s art students present new works at our photo studio in May. We’re very excited to see the talented young artists exhibit their work. Please join us and help cheer the young artists. Details below.

Elmwood School Art Exhibit @ Ottawa Studio Works

The show:

Grade 9, 11 & 12 art students from Elmwood School showcase their finest pieces for the public to critique.

The Art program at Elmwood encourages students to explore beyond their boundaries. They are challenged with projects in painting, drawing, sculpture, mixed media and digital art. They learn both traditional and contemporary practices in art to build tools they need to make ideas based work.

In depth creative problem solving with a focus on contemporary art issues is the basis for the projects.

Elmwood School Art Exhibit @ Ottawa Studio Works

The School:

Elmwood School is the pre-eminent all-girls’ school in Canada’s capital. An independent day school for outstanding girls from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12, Elmwood has been a fixture in Ottawa since 1915.

Inspiring each girl to reach her full potential is our mission. Elmwood develops inquiring lifelong learners; creates compassionate, engaged global citizens and builds confident, caring leaders. We know that the best way to develop strong, resilient girls is to allow them to explore, create, experiment, grow, achieve, and express themselves in a safe, positive and encouraging environment.

Details:

Vernissage: May 18th 7-9pm;

May 16th-June 1st, 2012.

Wednesday to Friday: noon-5pm

Saturday and Sunday: 1-5pm

Monday and Tuesday: Closed

Location:

Ottawa Studio Works

160 Preston St., Ottawa (between Gladstone and Somerset.)

Directions

Join us to celebrate the work of talented new artists!

Elmwood School Art Exhibit @ Ottawa Studio Works