#811 New Camera – Old Skills

Posted on June 28, 2012 by admin

I often get asked “What camera do you use?”

My usual answer is “It doesn’t matter.”

And it does matter to some degree, of course. But some people get more hung up on tech and ignore the skills needed to make it perform.

Point and shoot cameras

I’ve waited for the right time to upgrade equipment. I have many good cameras but had specific requests for any new camera:

• large file size capability

Large file size means little unless you want to print BIG – it’s not often I need to print big for commercial or editorial clients but I want the possibility for artwork like Watershed. Watershed is shot mostly on medium and large format film because of the large amount of data from 6×7 and 4×5 film.

• High iso capability

Gives way more versatility for event coverage. This feature has been around for a while but not necessarily in tandem with my other wants/needs.

• Video capability

A new tool that boosts what I can offer. We’ve started offering video based newsletters. This summer we also started offering video critique and lessons via our Online Photo Program.

… There are many other features on cameras that are pitched to help entice buyers. Often the features are over-rated. 11 frames per second? Hmm. I’ve almost always shot single shot – it takes practice to time the click. Many features I turn off.

The one feature no camera has so far built in are the skills needed to use the camera effectively. For the last ten years manufacturers have promised “easy, easier, easiest.”

It takes time and patience… A few years ago I was contacted by someone who wanted to start a photo business – quickly: “I want you to teach me everything in two weeks.”

I taught her the fundamentals class and she quickly learned, like any trade, it takes years to get a modest base of skills.

Ok, so what camera did I buy?

It doesn’t really matter. It’s good and will help my work. But my old skills are what keep me going, photographically.

Graflex - cutting edge technology in 1930s

#808 Photo Newsletter – Photo Adventures Close to Home

Posted on June 21, 2012 by admin

In this month’s photo newsletter we explore photo adventures close to home. You DON’T need to go to exotic places to get amazing results!

Read the article. Submit your best photo from the homework challenge – we’ll be posting a reader’s photo on the blog.

“Top Summer Photo Adventures”

: Night photo shot from our driveway!

#800 Watershed Exhibition – New Art Festival

Posted on June 3, 2012 by admin

On the weekend we offered our largest showing of Watershed to date. We had a booth at the New Art Festival – many people braved the rain over the weekend to see Watershed and the work of many fine artists.

Thanks to everyone for visiting us – we will be showing Watershed (and the medium, large and panoramic formats that captured the work) at venues later this year. Stay tuned!

And stay tuned for the Music Photography Exhibition featuring six fine photographers at Ottawa Studio Works on June 16th.

Thanks to all that helped and Dave Andrews for the photo below!

Watershed Photo Art Exhibition at the New Art Festival - Ottawa © DaveAndrews.ca

#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?

#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.

#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