On Saturday we opened the doors to our Ottawa photo studio for our 3rd annual open house. It was fun.

Yes it was.
We tested a new format – opening the doors for the afternoon AND evening at the suggestion of people who couldn’t make the evening.

Two things happened:
• We had a great turnout – bigger numbers than before
• It was less packed than past years as people were spread out over more time.

© Kevin Foisy - Ottawa photo studio open house

Thanks everyone for last night’s fun:
• Our students thank-you for admiring their successes
• SPCA dogs (and cats) thank-you for the gift of your donations
• And we thank-you for your support.

Without your purchases of art/cards, enrolment in our workshops and hiring of our services the fun that was last night could not keep happening.

Each one of your purchases is very important to us and helps keep us in business!

Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!

© Morina Reece - Ottawa photo studio open house

Thanks to Morina Reece and Kevin Foisy for the photos.

We will be open some evenings and weekend afternoons as Christmas approaches – dates coming soon. Please let us know if you missed the show or want to see Watershed – we want you to see the fun.

© Kevin Foisy - Ottawa photo studio open house

Mark your calendars and take a trip to the streets of Turkey through Ottawa Studio Works.

We feature a photographer’s three years of seeing Turkey through her upcoming photo show at Ottawa Studio Works.

Vernissage Details:
Saturday, October 13th; 3-8pm
OttawaStudioWorks.com
160 Preston St. (between Somerset and Gladstone)

Come walk the streets of Istanbul is a collection of photographic images from four Istanbul neighborhoods: Tarlabaşı, Eyup, Galatasary and Taxim.

The featured photographer is a teacher and photographer who spent 3 years living and working in Istanbul.

“Come walk the streets of Istanbul” ©

“In Istanbul, there is a café that has all the original glass, wood and brass fixtures from its construction in the 1840.  The walls are decorated with large tile mosaics depicting two of the four seasons.  The tiles were shipped over from France, but two seasons did not survive the voyage, so only spring and autumn are displayed. 

Here at the Café Markiz is where I enjoyed my first Turkish coffee, served with a glass of water and a piece of Turkish delight.  Proper Turkish coffee is rich and smooth, with creamy foam on top, served in a small espresso cup with a saucer. 

“Come walk the streets of Istanbul” ©

You have to be still when you drink it, because moving around will disturb the grounds and muddy the flavour.  It has to be savoured because the cups are small and you can’t drink it all the way to the bottom.  It is not really like coffee at all – more like a rich, sweet dessert – like a truffle – to be enjoyed at the end of a meal, or as a special treat late in the afternoon when you need a boost of energy.

I loved it so much that I had my Turkish colleagues teach me proper technique and we took turns making Turkish coffee for the office.  It became a friendly competition – who was closest to perfecting their technique? 

Turkey is filled with many such experiences for those who are willing to slow down, be still and embrace the unexpected; the beauty of the landscape, the layers of history, the mixtures of modern and ancient, the variety of food and regional delicacies, and most rewarding and beautiful of all, the warmth, generosity and civility of the people… A country with many flavours.

The collection of photographs in this exhibition is a visual short story of my experience with the human landscape of Istanbul.  So, come take a walk with me.”

“Come walk the streets of Istanbul” ©