#1036 Platform Series Seminar – Photography for Art Promotion

Posted on December 20, 2013 by admin

We’re teaming up with La Fab in Old Chelsea, Quebec to host Photography for Art Promotion.

We developed this seminar to help artists and crafts people create better photos of their own artworks for the purposes of juried exhibitions, archiving, and promotion.

“Harry’s [Photographing Artwork] workshop was one of the main attractions for attendees. Harry’s presentation was full of simple, effective solutions that were explained in a fun and lighthearted way.” Sara Washbush – Ontario Craft Council – Photographing Artwork for Promotion.

Photography is expensive and complicated!
Anyone can click a picture. But to get technically perfect renditions of your art is tough!
We present two different systems (simple or complex) to help you understand and create better promotional photos of your work.

Join us March 22nd in the evening at La Fabrique:
Register now!

Paul Saindon – fine artist

#1032 “Watershed” Project from the Big Camera

Posted on December 8, 2013 by admin

I’ve been working on the Watershed collection since 2001 – large beautiful prints of a little creek in Chelsea that happens to run behind our home. I’ve now followed it about 14 km with panoramic, medium and large format film equipment – capturing the very different facets of the waterway and the interrelationships with everything that it’s connected to.

It’s been a long project. Much of the work is hanging in an exhibition space at Ottawa International Airport.

Recently, as many of you know, I built an 8×10 large format camera. And I’ve started taking it out to the Watershed. It’s a lot of work – the new camera (including tripod) weighs about almost 14kg (approx 30 pounds) but the results are beautiful.

The whole point of an 8×10 camera is the beauty of enormous prints attributable to the large piece of film capturing every scrap of detail.

I’ve been using the camera in a different way. I am putting light sensitive paper (instead of traditional film) in the camera.
Quoi?

The ‘film’ I place in the camera is the final product that hangs on your wall.
Each photo is an original.

Also, there is NO post processing or darkroom manipulation to correct or enhance. The finished art comes straight from the camera and is a test of my camera skills and a showcase of my preferences at time of shooting.

I love it.

Interested in the art work?
Let me know…

8×10 print – straight from the camera, literally

#1029 People’s Choice Award Winner

Posted on December 1, 2013 by admin

We opened our doors to the fourth annual Studio Open House at Ottawa Studio Works.

We offered:
• New works from our Watershed series created with our Large Format Camera.
• Winter and spring workshops
• An exhibition of student photos selected by jury.

Open House – Ottawa Studio Works

Student Photo Show
One visitor asked “Who shot these photos?”
Harry – “Our photo workshop students.”
Visitor – “But they’re good.”
Harry – “Exactly.”

Open House at the photo studio – People’s Choice second place is awarded to Julius Liptak’s “Cuban Patriot” – featured here!

People’s Choice Award!
For the student show we asked visitors to vote for their favourite photo. By the end of the evening we had a decisive and clear winner.

Marie Josée L’s macro shot of droplets suspended on the stamen of a flower won over the Open House visitors. Her photo is the People’s Choice! And for her efforts she wins a free three month session of our Online Photo Program.

Second place went to Julius Liptak’s Cuban Patriot (see above) and there was a very close tie for third: Al Garner’s Green Oasis, Morina Reece’s ‘Vintage’ Portrait and Cheryl Kreis’ Dogs in Flight.

Congratulations to all…

Thanks again for the fun. And thanks to our sponsors who made this show possible:
Artopix.ca
DaveAndrews.ca
PatrickGordonFraming.ca

Thanks to our sponsors!

#1028 Large Format Camera Heats Up

Posted on November 28, 2013 by admin

Literally.

I’ve been shooting with the new 8×10 Large Format camera for a few weeks on two related projects:

1. Watershed
Capturing Watershed on unique 8×10 paper positives. The paper in the camera is the final artwork. Lovely and fun.

2. Sun-tracking Landscapes
I’ve been using a very old technology to track the sun in some landscapes using a different in-camera paper capture.
It’s a lovely process.
And powerful.
So powerful that the sun BURNED THROUGH THE PAPER in the camera – see below.
I love it!

8×10 capture Sun Track

I’ll be showing the early results at our Open House on Saturday:
Saturday, November 30th; from 3-10pm
Ottawa Studio Works
160 Preston St.,
Ottawa.

A big thanks to our students who supplied much of the show’s imagery.
And another big thanks to the businesses who helped pull the prints together:
Artopix
Dave Andrews
Patrick Gordon Framing

#1022 Open House Update – Free Photo Craft and Demo

Posted on November 15, 2013 by admin

In two weeks we are hosting our:
Our Annual Open House!

3-4pm Photo Craft for kids of all ages (while supplies last)
4:30-5:30pm Large Format Camera Demo
6-10pm General Celebrations & People’s Choice Awards
Saturday, November 30th.
OttawaStudioWorks.com
160 Preston St, Ottawa.

This year we are highlighting the work of our student’s successes. Their excitement and breakthroughs keep me smiling and excited to keep teaching:

“[My photos improved over the last year…] It’s all thanks to you, the course and the forum! I know that I wouldn’t have learnt as much just taking a class here and there. For this, I can’t thank you enough!” MI, Online Member

KIDS Photo CRAFT
We’ll also be offering a kid’s photo-based craft from 3pm-4pm. Bring a youngster (at heart) and get them to try a hands on craft – they can bring their art home (while supplies last.) No camera needed.

Large Format Demo
We’ll be offering a demo on Large Format Cameras from 4:30-5:30pm. Come and see the simplicity and beauty of large format!

People’s Choice Award
Come and vote for your favourite student photo. One person will be celebrated at the studio based on YOUR votes. Pick your favourite, bring your friends!

Student Exhibition – Deadline has Past!!
Want to share your successes? The deadline is looming.
We’ve got many great submissions but if you want to be involved, please submit photos by Saturday, November 16th:
DEADLINE = November 16th, 2013
• maximum 450 pixels wide (Small web files please!)
• include your name in the filename
• sharp, engaging photos from 2013
• Send your photo submission with “Open House” in the subject line to Harry@HarryNowell.com.
• If chosen we will need a LARGE file size to create your print.

BIG thanks to our supporters!
Without them, this event would not be possible.
• Artopix.ca
• DaveAndrews.ca
• PatrickGordonFraming.ca
You will receive a beautifully matted print of your photo after the show.

Artopix

PatrickGordonFraming

DaveAndrews.ca

Our Annual Open House:
• 3-4pm Photo Craft for kids of all ages (while supplies last)
• 4:30-5:30pm Large Format Camera Demo
• 6-10pm General Celebrations
Saturday, November 30th.
OttawaStudioWorks.com
160 Preston St, Ottawa.

#1016 Annual Open House – Ottawa Studio Works

Posted on October 30, 2013 by admin

Mark Your Calendars!
Our Annual Open House is coming up soon:
Saturday, November 30th.
OttawaStudioWorks.com
160 Preston St, Ottawa.

Details:
Saturday, November 30th, 2013;
3-10pm.
3-4pm Photo craft for kids (while supplies last)
4:30-5:30pm Large format camera demo
6-10 General celebrations and people’s choice award!

We’re exhibiting a selection of student photos this year!
See below for details…

Art Exhibition – Ottawa Studio Works

We’ve had a great year.
Some highlights:
• First Annual Media & Celebrity Photo Contest
• Online Photo Program Celebrates One Year!
• Platform Series launched
• We are soon to introduce the newest photographer at OSW
• Darkroom space in development
• New big camera developments
• Artwork successes
• Photo Classes continue to help students soar!

And this year’s Open House is dedicated to highlighting our student’s work.
That’s where YOU come in!

Student Photos Wanted!
We’d like to feature YOUR work in the main studio and we’re having a juried show.
If your photo is chosen for the exhibition it will be printed and presented by our site sponsors:
• Artopix.ca
• DaveAndrews.ca
• PatrickGordonFraming.ca
You will receive a beautifully matted print of your photo after the show.

Artopix

PatrickGordonFraming

DaveAndrews.ca

Suggested Submission Guidelines:

DEADLINE = November 16th, 2013
• maximum 450 pixels wide (Small web files please!)
• include your name in the filename
• sharp, engaging photos from 2013
• Send your photo submission with “Open House” in the subject line to Harry@HarryNowell.com.
• If chosen we will need a LARGE file size to create your print

Open House: Ottawa Studio Works

We’ll be raising money and food for the West Quebec SPCA.
What else is going on at the Open House?
• Cards and print sales
• Meet our newest in-house photographer
• Meet other photographers and our instructors
• Discounts on courses (available at the Open House only!)
• Ask about our soon-to-be darkroom

Past Open House

OttawaStudioWorks.com
160 Preston St, Ottawa.

Join us…

#1004 Building a large format camera.

Posted on September 30, 2013 by admin

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.

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.

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.

#997 Watershed Exhibition at Ottawa Airport YOW

Posted on September 13, 2013 by admin

In August I was asked to hang a show at one of two exhibition spaces at Ottawa Airport.

It is the largest single showing of Watershed works to date covering much of the printed material along the 13km I have explored starting from the little creek behind our home.

Watershed Art Exhibition – Chelsea, Qc and Gatineau Park

Details
Watershed Exhibition
Departures Lounge (near Gate 14)
Ottawa International Airport YOW
August 2013 to January 6th, 2014.

Watershed Art Exhibition at Ottawa Airport YOW

It all started in 2001 as I started exploring the local waterway with my dear old dog, Tigger. We followed the creek upstream to the headwaters and later started following it downstream.

After a number of years of muddy, wet, fun wandering I realized my explorations warranted a photographic documentation. Realizing the works would best be presented BIG I started shooting the scenes predominantly on medium and large format equipment.

My aim is to show the length of the watershed as it exists and reacts with all elements surrounding it, human or otherwise. The human infrastructure especially intrigues me as the small creek has been seen to overpower concrete and steel feats of engineering.

Watershed Art Exhibition at Ottawa Airport YOW

Many years later I have explored the ‘little creek’ for many kilometres.

You can see the exhibition at Ottawa Airport in the Departures Lounge near Gate 14. It’s hard to miss as it stretches 60 feet long.

Please visit – send your comments, please.

Watershed Art Exhibition at Ottawa Airport YOW

#991 Art Events in Ottawa

Posted on August 30, 2013 by admin

1. Portraits of Bluesfest
Last night I soaked up the fun at Peter Simpson‘s annual Portraits of Bluesfest Event at Patrick Gordon Framing.

What I love about this annual show is the diversity of work. There are a few photos but most the work are interpretations inspired by the festival.

Fine Bluesfest oriented artworks are auctioned off to raise money for Blues in the Schools. This year Peter estimated they raised close to $10,000. Pretty nice!

Michael Franti – Bluesfest Ottawa

2. Oil/Change
Danny Hussey, accomplished Ottawa artist has recently opened a new studio Central Art Garage in Ottawa’s China Town and is kicking off the fall season with a show with other celebrated Canadian artists.
Worth a visit!

Details
Central Art Garage
September 13th 2013 7PM 10PM
66B Lebreton St. N. Ottawa, Ontario

3. Watershed Exhibition at YOW
More coming later… but our Watershed Exhibition is now hanging in the Ottawa Airport in the departure lounge.

Ottawa Airport Exhibitio (thanks to Lisa Forbes for the photo)

#988 Watershed Photo Exhibition + Assignments + Photo Class

Posted on August 22, 2013 by admin

I realize I’ve been slacking on sharing some projects I’ve been working on…

What’s been going on this summer:
• Just finished an editorial assignment that sent me shooting a municipal political portrait and sunrise in a canoe for the same article.

• Finishing a stock assignment with an educational client.

• Finished Natural Light Portraits photo workshop. It’s always a good sign when nobody leave at the end of a course – makes me smile.

Better Portraits – Natural Light Portraits Photo Class

• Handed in some product shots a while back of some BEAUTIFUL custom furniture.

• Preparing some promotional material for our workshops.

• Installing Watershed at the Ottawa Airport very, very soon.

Watershed Art Exhibition

Details and photos will be coming as they become available for sharing…