#1007 Online Program September’s Photo Challenge

photo challenge

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!

online photo challenge

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!

Photo Course

Online Photo Challenge – Light Variations – © AL Garner

#1006 Web Distractions

Welcome back! – we have more web distractions from our readers (thanks!)

Mistakes and their value
Daphne Gray Grant of the Publication Coach posted this link in her weekly newsletter. I LOVE the video. I’ve been preaching about the lovely potential of mistakes for a long time.

Touching remembrance
Peter Handley brought our attention to this link about many lives lost on a Normandy beach.

Who’s Doing What in Ottawa Photography
This is our weekly roundup of Ottawa photo fun…
Fun photo projects and work …

Better Photos

Photo Projects…

Wedding Oops 
Denine Wrixon mentioned this slightly comical but slightly dark wedding video. ALWAYS, speak to the wedding officiant before shooting a wedding. Always…

Beauty in Everyone
Debbie sent us this link about your beauty.
Beautiful.
Thanks.

• Prime Photo Tips
And we bring you some of the latest photo tips with guest posts from Justin Van Leeuwen.

Ahem, somebody that likes our Facebook page of photo tips this month will win a free three month membership in our Online Photo Program.

… We’re always looking for photo tips and web distractions. Send us your best!

Better Photos

Photo Tip – Take time to stop and observe!

#1005 Assignment Spotlight – Stock Assignment

In August one of my assignments was to capture imagery for one of Carleton University‘s science departments.

My job?
To capture students, professors and labs in a stock assignment for the school’s promotion.

I had great people to work with and they loved the work.
Thanks…

Stock photo assignment Ottawa

Stock Photography Carleton U

Stock Photography

Stock Assignment – Carleton U.

Stock Assignment - Ottawa

Stock Photo – Carleton U

 

#1004 Building a large format camera.

I’ve chatted about large format cameras before and have been shooting on medium and large format film for years for Watershed and other work.

Small Big Format
My current large format camera is a 4″x5″ Graflex Press Camera – it’s cutting edge technology from the 1930’s. It was THE camera for photojournalists back then.

In the scope of large format cameras the Graflex is small.
4×5 is massive compared modern SLR cameras. But, well, it’s not big, really big.
I want big.

Large Format Prints

Watershed Exhibition @ Ottawa International Airport – Large Format Prints

Benefits of BIG
Big is nice because it’ll allow BIG prints. Yes, yes, good, big prints can be made by modern digital cameras. I have a giga-mega pixel camera that I use commercially (and I love it.)

But what I really love is the process of BIG. It’s slow and forces you to be precise. And instead of looking at hundreds of teeny previews on the back of your camera or monitor you get to look at a few large, beautiful transparencies or negatives – the way photography was intended to be seen.

Lovely.

8x10 Camera

Camera Building

Building Big Cameras
I’ve been looking for an 8×10 camera and while there are hundreds/thousands out there, it seems most people refuse to part with them. New is nice but, erm, pricey.

So, after hours of internet snooping and talking to people, I decided to build one.
It’s well on it’s way, thanks to John, friend, neigbour, engineer and grade 7 classmate.

I’ve also been excited about trying two new things that haven’t been done much.
Fun and exciting for Harry.
Stay tuned.

#1003 David Trattles SocDoc and Travel Workshop Student Success!

Photo course

© Robin Michetti
The Travel & SocDoc Photo Class with David Trattles

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.

photo course

© Marc Nagainis – Assignment – David Trattles Photo Workshop

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…”

Photography Assignment

© Marcel Mathurin – Assignment – David Trattles Photo Workshop

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.”

SocDoc & Travel Photo Class

© Robin Michetti -Assignment – David Trattles Photo Workshop

#1002 Exposed! Photo Newsletter – Three BORING Tools to improve your photography.

They’re not sexy.
They’re not cutting edge.
They’re not even hard to find.

But they are indispensable for better photos.

This month we round up three of the most boring ways to improve your photography.

Read about the tools to improve your pictures!

Photography tools...

Boring tools for better photos…

 

#1001 Building Magic Worlds with Photoshop and Richard Desmarais

Photoshop Seminar

© Richard Desmarais – Building new worlds with photoshop

Good news!
Our Lightroom Seminar with Peter Handley is almost full (at time of writing.)
And we’ve just booked Richard Desmarais to share his skills in Photoshop.

Creating Fantasy Worlds with Photoshop
In November, Richard will be helping people learn to build new worlds using specific elements of Photoshop.

About Richard
Richard has spent 30 years working as a photographer for high profile clients. In that time his photoshop skills developed enormously. He brings some of these skills to you in this seminar!

Details
November 10th, 2013; 1-5pm
$100 + HST

Register! And see more details.

One Thousand Blog Posts

[Trumpets blare]
Today’s a big day.

This is our one-thousandth blog post at HarryNowell.com.

Welcome

Welcome!

Starting the Blog
I started the blog in February, 2008 on the advice of a web developer who’s now my wife.
My initial response was “Why would I do that?! Sounds like extra work!”

Five years later it’s become a fun part of my work week – sharing, connecting and hearing from our readers.

First Blog Post
Our very first blog post was a bit, erm, uncertain. I had no idea what to write about…
The posts got better (phew) and I’m very happy our readers have stuck with us on the adventure as HarryNowell.com grows and finds new adventures.

Early on in my career David Trattles told me to:
Surround yourself with supportive people.

Thanks for being there.
Without YOU – readers, clients and photo students – none of this would be possible. Your ongoing support and $business helps keep me, blog posts, photo tips, photo newsletter and workshops possible.

THANK-YOU.

Thank-you!

Harry Nowell – thank-you!

 

#999 Oh, exciting…

We have a few developments coming up. They are almost ready to announce but I can’t contain myself.

Coming soon we will be offering:
• a Photoshop Seminar to help you make magical worlds out of ordinary photos. It’ll be lead by a veteran working photography with a passion for digital imaging.

• a framing seminar on how to frame artwork yourself… Coming thanks to Patrick Gordon Framing.

• a Platform Series presentation from a climbing Clark Kent (superhero and humble) – Doug Pratt Johnson as he present his solo climb of the iconic Yosemite climbing area.

Stay tuned…

 

#998 Web Distractions

Welcome back – this collection of web distractions comes from many people (thanks!)

Good news for film!
First up Peter Handley (link opens to his course) & Dave Andrews both brought my attention to good news in the film department! Ilford is opening a black and white film lab in California based on the success of its lab in the UK. That IS good news.

Overused photo tricks
Steve Gerecke posted this fun – overused photo tricks…

• Prime Photo Tips
And we bring you some of the latest photo tips at PrimePhotoTips.com.
Ahem, somebody that likes our Facebook page of photo tips this month will win a free three month membership in our Online Photo Program.

Photo Tips

Photo Tip #241 Look for ways your background can support your subject:

Tips for sunset photos and drops…
Nancy Belanger found some fun photos and tips on:

Liquid Art

Milky Way photos
Carol Halls (link opens to her business) of Sutton, Qc offered us this fun Facebook page of Deep Space photos!

Photo Tip - add some motion!

Photo Tip #254 Add some motion to your photos!