At our Music in Print show I spoke to many people coming through our photo studio. With one photo enthusiast we talked about the merits of cropping – when, why (or why not), and how…
I often see students cropping photos to answer compositional challenges. I shake my head – the REAL challenge is to use every speck of the viewfinder available.
In this month’s Exposed! photo newsletter we investigate the world of cropping.
Photo Cropping... When, why (or why not) and how
On Saturday night as our Music in Print photo exhibition came to a close I covered Bluesfest for the Ottawa Sun – specifically to shoot the comeback performance of ‘Death from Above 1979‘ – a punk/rock band from Toronto.
Bluesfest coverage for Ottawa Sun
The crowd was rocking and rowdy and the music harsh – as was expected!
Bluesfest coverage for Ottawa Sun
Our ‘Music in Print’ exhibition received much attention and media coverage including Peter Simpson at the Ottawa Citizen. It is still open – by appointment – until mid August.
Bluesfest photo coverage for Ottawa Sun
In August, Reuters photographer Blair Gable takes over at the gallery of Ottawa Studio Works with a photojournalism presentation and show in conjunction with the War Museum’s presentation of the World Press Photo of the Year Exhibit.
Come join us August 18th – 6:30pm for the World Press Exhibit (War Museum) and 8pm for Blair’s presentation at OttawaStudioWorks – 160 Preston St, Ottawa.
I met Hagen Hohn almost two years ago when he signed up for his first photo classes based in Ottawa. He was keen. So keen that he enrolled in our ProProgram.
Hagen Hohn photography
He took to the program well – taking many classes, meeting regularly for sessions to discuss his advancement and pursuing some shadowing with others in the industry. Hagen quickly developed good skills and followed his passion towards cars and photography. He graduated from the program in 2010.
Hagen Hohn photography
We still connect regularly and I recently asked him to share what he is up to now. He answered, below:
“With the start of the summer ‘car’ season, I’ve been pretty busy trying to get as much face-time with as many people in the car enthusiast world as possible. That means hitting as many of the show-and-shines, car shows and events as possible. And there are a lot of them: 33 car clubs in the Ottawa valley and some special interest groups adds up to an average of 8 events each week. I’ve also made several presentations to local car clubs, on how to improve their own car photography.
Hagen Hohn photography
Building my portfolio and continuing to develop my style has also been a focus through the summer. In addition to the print portfolio, I am working at continuously evolving and changing the content and photos on the web page.
Finally, the printing business I have targeted towards photographers, has done fairly well, and from the feedback I’ve gotten, clients seem to be happy.
Hagen Hohn photography
Overall, the summer is tracking to my 5 year plan: two large weekend long jobs and a few individual clients have allowed me to ensure I am tracking to client and market expectations.”
Visit Hagen’s site and blog and join us in cheering for his passion and business!
Hagen Hohn photography
Tonight we had a good turnout and great weather for the Bike Race Photo Safari in Ottawa.
Ottawa Bike Race Photo Safari
We had a wide range of photographers – some have taken our photo classes before and some are newcomers. Our mission tonight was to cover a criterion bike race like the one we shot in June.
Ottawa Bike Race Photo Safari
Cyclists race a closed course of about 1km ensuring to give ample opportunity to try new photo skills. The pack comes by about every minute!
Ottawa Bike Race Photo Safari
I doled out challenges and the photographers ate them up – I was impressed with the results I saw quickly at the safari. Stay tuned – we hope to show some of the student successes on the blog soon. And judging from the smiles at the end of the night the photographers enjoyed the adventure!
Ottawa Bike Race Photo Safari
And a big thanks to the organizer, Ross, who made this all possible!
Ottawa Bike Race Photo Safari
We have another photo safari coming up fast – the ‘Fire-Breathing, Unicycle-Riding, Flaming Juggler Photo Safari!‘
Over at our sister site we have a blog featuring happenings in the Ottawa photo community including links to “Who’s Doing What” – teasers leading to other photographer’s sites and the interesting projects and work they do.
Ottawa Photography Studio
What will you find? Links to:
There are new posts every few days.
Visit the blog at OttawaStudioWorks.com
Ottawa Studio Works - photography studio
It’s up.
This week we prepared for the Music in Print Exhibition and Print Sale featuring work from the last ten years of Ottawa’s Bluesfest, Jazzfest, etc.
Please come and visit Friday and Saturday from (approximately) 4-8pm and next week – Thursday to Saturday evenings.
Join us at Ottawa Studio Works – 160 Preston, Ottawa – and you may see the Blind Boys of Alabama, ZZ Top, George Clinton, Ben Harper, Great Big Sea, Feist, Broken Social Scene and many others:
Ottawa Studio Works - music photography exhibition
We have some new photo courses coming online this fall – from low tech to high fun.
• Creative-Exploration Through Photography with Dominique Larocque
September 21, 24, 28, 2011. $375
Join us for a photo journey to greater creative outlets. Break through and explore!
Creative Wheel Centre - Creative Exploration photo workshop
• Landscape and Wildlife Photography with J David Andrews
September 28, October 1, 5, 15, 19, 2011.
We ran this course for the first time in the spring and received great reviews. Back by popular demand!
Student photo - ANne G - landscape and wildlife course
• Intro to Film Photography and Darkroom Skills
October 18, 22, 25, 29/30 2011.
Also a new addition to the photo class line-up this spring. And again, feedback was positive. If you missed your chance at shooting film grab a camera and meet us this fall.
Film Photography and Darkroom Class - Ottawa and Gatineau
For a decade I have been covering music festivals like Ottawa Bluesfest, Jazz Festival and others. Just last week we covered Chick Corea at the Jazz festival for the Sun.
Broken Social Scene
Coming up this week we are exhibiting ten years worth of music photography at our studio – Ottawa Studio Works at 160 Preston St. Who’ll be displayed on the walls?
Visit our studio Ottawa Studio Works at 160 Preston St. Ottawa on the evenings of July 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16 as you walk from Little Italy to Bluesfest!
Michael Franti
Blue Rodeo, Allison Krauss, Buddy Guy, Feist, Ani Defranco, John Prine, Herbie Hancock, Metric, Great Big Sea, Hedley, Xavier Rudd, and many more.
Blind Boys of Alabama
We’ll be at the studio evenings later this week and next:
July 7, 8, 9
July 14, 15, 16
Drop in on your way to and from Bluesfest – if you want to see the exhibition at other times please just let us know – we can arrange to show you our work
Feist
Happy Birthday Canada!
We’re still on a little R&R – back to regular programming on Monday.
What to do to celebrate CanadaDay…
On Monday night I covered some of the Ottawa Jazz Festival for the Ottawa Sun. It was a simple assignment, but as usual with music festivals, it was on the fun end of the work spectrum.
Jazz Festival Photo - Chick Corea
My assignment was to cover Return to Forever IV lead by Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke – ground breakers in the fusion of Jazz and Rock in the early 70s.
See more of my photos from Monday night’s Jazz Festival concert on the Ottawa Sun website. On Tuesday we start some light R&R – a break with our new baby – I’ll be checking and responding to emails that require immediate attention but we are taking a slow week, work wise.
July gets busy with work including our Music in Print Exhibition and Print Sale celebrating shooting music festivals for the last decade.
We also have some assignments and new photography courses to announce for the fall – stay tuned!