#975 Exposed! Photo Newsletter – Photo Tips = Better Pictures

Posted on July 23, 2013 by admin

Photos are easy to make – aim and click. Almost everybody has a camera device and there are trillions of, erm, bad photos out there.

Good photos take time and patience and learning…

How would you:
• make white snow white? (most people produce gray snow)
• make a waterfall turn into a milky smooth masterpiece?
• showing a hint of motion in the water and oars while keeping the boat and background crisp?

Regular photo tips can help!

In this edition of Exposed! we offer some of the most important (and fun) tips.

Read the tips.

Photo Tip #201 – Anticipate your subject’s actions.

#971 Photo Contest!!

Posted on July 14, 2013 by admin

Photo Contest!!

Last year four lucky (and talented) workshop graduates had their photos featured on our workshop poster and brochures:

Photography Course Poster

This year we are looking for four new photos! You’ll get:
• Bragging rights
• Beatured on the blog and get a chance to promote your photography
• Three free months on our Online Photo Program!

Contest rules:
• Photos must be from graduates of one of our workshops, classes, safaris or programs.
• Photos may be taken anytime in the last year – they do not have to be from a workshop.
• You must have permission from any recognizable person/people in the photo to have their face in our promotions.
• You grant HarryNowell.com the right to use your photo in posters, brochures, websites and other ways to promote what we do. You, the photographer, retain copyright (that’s a good idea!)
• Final photos must be available at 6″x9″ @300dpi, unwatermarked. This is a 14mb uncompressed file.
• We will credit you as the photographer and list your website, if applicable/appropriate, in promotions.

How to submit:
• Please send a maximum of three jpeg photos to Harry@HarryNowell.com.
• Send photos for consideration as 1024×768 pixels at 72 dpi or similar – this is 2mb or less.
We will only be asking the winning photographers for printable files – 6″x9″ @300dpi, un-watermarked.

Deadline for entires?
Monday, July 29th; 9pm.
We’ll be contacting the winners by early August.

Send us your best!

#965 Photo Student Wins Int’l Credit! + Fall Photo Class Planning

Posted on June 28, 2013 by admin

Summer has just arrived (yay!) but that means we are busy planning our fall photography classes. And we want YOUR help! See below.

…But first we’d like to congratulate Morina, a graduate of our photo program!
This morning I received an email from Morina, a ProProgram graduate. She has taken many photo courses within her program. This morning she sent a message and a page from Photography Week:

“Harry, you’ve taught me well! You are the first person I want to thank – highly commended for my photo in the international magazine Photography Week. You said “Do something different” – I did and look what has happened. So excited….”

Really, we just kept feeding Morina photo skills. She worked hard over 2 or 3 years to turn that knowledge into award winning photography!

Congratulations, Morina!

Student Success – Morina Reece’s photo “Highly Commended” in Photography Week Magazine. Good work Morina!

Preliminary Fall Line-up
We’ve started to load some photography courses on the fall’s agenda:
• Creative Fundamentals (Sept/Oct) – A classic course (that’s already a quarter full.)
• Night Light (Oct) – Popular course chasing the magic light of the night.
• On Location Lighting with Blair Gable (Oct) – Learn lighting from a leading photojournalist.
• Photography for Communications Professionals (Nov) – We help you get better workplace pictures!
• Mastering Lightroom with Peter Handley (RGD) (Fall – dates to be set) – Improve your post processing guided by a prominent graphic designer.
• Online Photo Program (start anytime!) – Our monthly challenges keep you consistently engaged and help you improve your photography!

Photo Class Help!
But we need YOUR HELP. Most of our courses are developed because YOU requested them.

What do you want to learn!?
Let us know via email or in the comments, below.

#913 Round-up and a BIG THANK-YOU! – Media and Celebrity Photo Contest

Posted on February 25, 2013 by admin

“WOW,” popped in my head as I stood in the quiet, empty studio late Saturday night. Saturday was the finale of a very fun photo contest and campaign to raise awareness and $dollars for the Ottawa Food Bank.

© Peter Simpson's entry into the Photo Contest

On Saturday we opened the doors to celebrate the photo efforts of Ottawa’s media, celebrity elite, as well as, the general public. We challenged them to photograph “What I love about Ottawa/Gatineau” and they rose to the test!

Many people flowed through the studio doors including:
• Mayor Jim Watson
• Ottawa Citizen’s Peter Simpson
• CBC’s Alan Neal
• Ottawa Magazine’s Sarah Brown and Jane Corbett
• Public contest winner, Christophe Ledent
… and many, many more.

The Citizen's Peter Simpson and his entry in the photo contest (BarbMcKenzie photo)

The photos were auctioned and should now be on their way to beautifying the new admirer’s walls.

Danielle Donders (Danigirl.ca) and her entry! (BarbMcKenzie photo)

Bidding started early – the first person showed up before we were open (I was shovelling the front step with our young son perched on my hip!) and talked her way into an early bid because she REALLY wanted a chance to purchase Sandy Sharkey’s crows and this was the only time she could make it. And it continued all day.

Ottawa Councillor David Chernushenko and Jo-Anne from the food bank manage bids. (BarbMcKenzie photo)

People also bid generously on items donated by local businesses. A big thanks to them:

• $50 gift certificate for the Henry’s Photo Store
• Prize Package from Ottawa 67s Hockey Team
• A signed print of the Canadian Women’s Hockey Team; gold medal winners
in Vancouver 2010 (donated by Ottawa councillor David Chernushenko)
• A box set of two films: Powerful and Be the Change (donated by Ottawa councillor David Chernushenko.)
• $50 gift certificate from Mountain Equipment Co-op
• $50 of deliciousness from ‘Une Boulangerie dans un Village‘ (aka Old Chelsea Bakery)
• $100 gift certificate to Zak’s diner

Christophe LeDent - winner of the public contest (BarbMcKenzie photo)

And thanks to the local businesses who offered their services to produce the photos for the auction:
• Artopix – Digital Printer and long time print service provider in Gatineau (Hull).
• Patrick Gordon Framing – Custom framing, repair and installation serving fine artists and art dealers.
• Dave Andrews – Fine Art Printer. David is humble but provides printing service to high end artists and clients. His prints hang in prestigious galleries across North America.
• Ottawa Studio Works – Ottawa Photo Studio on Preston St. and the home of HarryNowell.com for photo exhibitions, portraits and photo classes.
Thanks to the local businesses!

Mayor Jim Watson's photo in the photo contest!

… A big thanks to the participants of both the online public contest and the celebrity contest. See the entries in the public contest (thanks Allison Burnett for pulling this together!)

See also Christophe Ledent’s post on the auction.

CBC's Alan Neal (R) and Harry Nowell (BarbMcKenzie photo)

Media and Celebrity Participants:
Sandy Sharkey (Ottawa personality)
Stuntman Stu (Majic 100 Radio Host)
Jim Watson (Ottawa Mayor)
David Chernushenko (Ottawa City Councillor)
Peter Simpson (Arts-editor-at-large for The Ottawa Citizen)
Graham Richardson (CTV News Anchor)
Alan Neal (Host of All In A Day, CBC Radio One)
Ian Black (Climatologist, CBC News Ottawa)
Sarah Brown (Ottawa Magazine Editor)
Jane Corbett (Ottawa Magazine Art Director)
Trevor Greenway (reporter – Low Down to Hull and Back News)
Andrea Tomkins (Blogger)
Peter Tilley (Executive Director – Ottawa Food Bank)

Ottawa Food Bank's Peter at the Photo Contest! (BarbMcKenzie photo)

And more thanks to support people:
• Sarah, Samantha, Jo-Anne and Peter from the Ottawa Food Bank
• Barbara McKenzie and Morina Reece, photographers (and past students of the ProProgram) for providing support and photography.
• Allison Burnett and her digital marketing class at Carleton U. for coordinating the Public Online Contest
• Early brain-storming collaborator Kathryn.
• Cait and Quinn for all their support!!!
• And a BIG thank-you to all of YOU for sharing, tweeting, blogging and cheering for the event.

Final Results!!
So how did the campaign do?
Because of all the efforts of many people, awareness of the Ottawa Food Bank increased significantly in a traditionally quiet time for the charity.

$1529.85 was raised for the Ottawa Food Bank.
That supports a lot of families directly and indirectly!
Sarah at the Food Bank says “Thank you so much. This is an amazing contribution!”

Thank-YOU!

It was fun. Stay tuned for more fun! What would you like to see next?!
Stay connected with our Facebook page.

CBC climatologist Ian Black's entry into the photo contest

#912 Saturday’s Exhibition and Auction – Celebrity and Media Photo Contest – Ottawa Food Bank Fundraiser!

Posted on February 22, 2013 by admin

It’s almost here!

The Media and Celebrity photo contestant’s work is all done:
• Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson
• CBC’s Ian Black and Alan Neal
• Ottawa Citizen’s Peter Simpson
• CTV’s Graham Richardson
• Sandy Sharkey
• Majic 100’s Stuntman Stu
• Ottawa Magazine’s Sarah Brown & Jane Corbett
… and other Ottawa personality’s photos are waiting to be auctioned to raise money for the Ottawa Food Bank.

© Sandy Sharkey’s “What I love about Ottawa/Gatineau”

• Celebrity photos are hanging in the studio.
• Additional auction items are ready forbidding…
• We’re putting up last minute touches.
• Public contest photo slideshow is almost ready.

We’re just buzzing while waiting for YOU to come and bid on the photos / prizes to raise money for the Ottawa Food Bank.

Big thanks to donor sponsors:
• Henry’s
• Mountain Equipment Co-op
• Old Chelsea Bakery
• Ottawa 67s
• David Chernushenko
• Zak’s Diner

… for the additional prizes!

And thanks to:
• Patrick Gordon Framing
• Artopix
• Dave Andrews
… for producing the artworks!!

See some recent previews of the show:
• Ottawa Citizen
• Postcards from the Mothership
• Ottawa Magazine Weekender

Exhibition and Auction
Want to see the celebrity and media photos? You’ll have to visit exhibition and auction raising money for the Ottawa Food Bank:

Ottawa Studio Works
160 Preston St. (between Gladstone and Somerset)

Saturday, February 23rd
Noon to 8:30pm.

Auction and “People’s Choice Ballot” runs until 7pm.
Presentation at 8pm

See you there!!

Ottawa Food Bank

#904 – Book Event at the Photo Studio

Posted on February 3, 2013 by admin

On Saturday night we hosted Jamieson Findlay’s book reading and literary quiz.

Jamieson Findlay reading at the Ottawa photo studio

Jamieson Findlay reading at the photo studio

It was standing room only and the literary quiz, erm, stumped me!! I am a better photographer than literary smartypants!

Jamieson Findlay chatting at OttawaStudioWorks.com

#898 Ottawa Celebrity, Media (and Public) Photo Contest Launched

Posted on January 20, 2013 by admin

It’s time to get clicking!

On Sunday we launched the Celebrity, Media (and Public) Photo Contest to raise funds for the Ottawa Food Bank. The event took place at Patrick Gordon Framing (thanks Patrick!)

Ottawa photo course - photo contest launch!

The theme is “Why I love Ottawa Gatineau.”

Ottawa celebrities, media and public arrived to pick up their packages and listen to our presentation of top photo tips to help them succeed in the contest and, really, help raise awareness and funds for the Ottawa Food Bank.

Ottawa photo contest launch - Mayor Jim Watson

After the photo tips Allison Burnett, Professor of a digital marketing course (“Marketing: New Tools & Approaches“) at Carleton University, introduced the public photo contest that will run alongside the celebrity challenge.

Allison Burnett - digital media professor

Anyone can enter online (via Facebook) and can also vote or ‘like’ their favourite photos. The photo with the most likes wins a spot at the final exhibition alongside the celebrity and media photos at Ottawa Studio Works on February 23rd. All photos in the exhibition will be auctioned off to raise funds for the Ottawa Food Bank.

Ottawa photo contest launch - CBC Radio One Host of 'All in a Day' interviews competing photo contestant Danielle Donders - Danigirl.ca blogger.

To enter the contest visit and like this page:
https://www.facebook.com/OttGatLove
… and click on the camera symbol to vote or upload photos.

So, GET CLICKING!
Enter often.
Vote.
And tell your friends.

You have until February 16th to enter!!

Also, follow the fun on twitter using the contest’s hashtag – #OttGatLove

A big, BIG thank-you to Morina Reece, photo course and ProProgram Graduate and for providing the photography for the event!!

Ottawa photo contestants from left Mayor Jim Watson, Sandy Sharkey (BobFM Radio co-host), Peter Tilley (Executive Director - Ottawa Food Bank), Ian Black (CBC climatologist)

Low Down News reporters Lucy Scholey and Trevor Greenway (photo contestant) discussing photo strategy.

#895 – Public Participants Chosen for Photo Contest

Posted on January 13, 2013 by admin

Last week we announced a project we have been working on since the fall last year.

In support of the Ottawa Food Bank we are raising money through a Media and Celebrity Photo Contest. We have many loved Ottawa personalities including the Ottawa Citizen’s Peter Simpson, CBC’s climatologist Ian Black, CTV’s News Anchor Graham Richardson, BobFM’s SandySharkey and many more.

Ottawa Food Bank

Two Spots to the Public
We offered two spots in the main contest to the public and invited people to submit a short response as to why they should be in the contest.

The response by email and blog comment was, erm, excellent and we had a tough time choosing the two participants. But in the end we chose two very fun people:

The New Contestants!
Allison Burnett – Professor of a digital marketing course (“Marketing: New Tools & Approaches“) at Carleton University. Allison was excited about the contest as well as including her students as an exercise to help their skills (and help the Food Bank.) Wow!
Danielle Donders – Social media program manager for a big Canadian government department and blogger, mother, photo fan. She loves photography and also talked about the opportunity to help the food bank.

Your response was great! It was a tough choice to select the two spots available.

Why did these two people win the lucky spots? They were both interested in the photo side but both were interested in helping people – the Food Bank and students. Also, they both have the ability to spread the word wide and bring more support to the Food Bank.

Now, because we had such good response, we’d like to add an online-only part of the contest. This will be open to the public.

How to Participate in the Online Contest
People may join us for the launch on January 20th to hear the photo tutorial. There are photo tutorial packages and technical guidelines for the 15 participants of the Media and Celebrity portion of the contest.

We will also be giving out Top Photo Tips to anyone interested (while they last) in the online public contest. People may submit photos to the online contest from January 20th to February 16th. “How to Participate” details will be released at the launch and online January 20th onwards.

The Launch
Sunday, January 20th, 2013; 10-11:30am
Patrick Gordon Framing
160 Elm Street, Ottawa, Ontario – enter off City Centre Ave.

Congratulations to Allison and Danielle!!

#893 – Ottawa Celebrity and Media Photo Contest to support the Ottawa Food Bank!

Posted on January 8, 2013 by admin

We’re very excited!

This winter Ottawa media and celebrities hone their photo skills to participate in a photo contest and exhibition at Ottawa Studio Works with an auction of the artworks to support the Ottawa Food Bank.

There’s a chance for member(s) of the public to participate with the media and celebrities. Keep reading!

Ottawa Food Bank photo

How it works:

• Event Launch
Sunday, January 20th, 2013; 10-11:30am
Patrick Gordon Framing
160 Elm Street, Ottawa, Ontario – enter off City Centre Ave.

Everybody is welcome to the launch at Patrick Gordon Framing to:
1. Hear their photo challenge and logistics.
2. Pick up their top photo tips sheet.
3. Learn some photo tips in an on-the-spot photo tutorial to help participants produce the best shots possible.
4. Learn how anybody can enter an online version of the contest

“Why I love Ottawa/Gatineau!”
The 15 celebrity and media participants then have until Monday, January 28th to email us up to three photo entries depicting “Why I love Ottawa/Gatineau!” Their photos will be printed, displayed by our sponsors and auctioned at the final exhibition February 23rd at Ottawa Studio Works.

Enter the Public Contest!
To enter the contest. Visit and like this page:
https://www.facebook.com/OttGatLove
… And click on the camera to submit your photo or vote.

So, GET CLICKING!
Enter often.
Vote.
And tell your friends.

You have until February 16th to enter!!

Also, follow the fun on twitter using the contest’s hashtag – #OttGatLove

"Why I love Ottawa/Gatineau" Ottawa Media and Celebrity Photo Contest

• Final Exhibition and Silent Auction
Saturday, February 23rd, 2013; noon to 8:30pm
Ottawa Studio Works
160 Preston St. Ottawa.

Auction
Thanks to our sponsors, participant photos will exhibited at Ottawa Studio Works where they will be auctioned to the highest bidder with proceeds to aid the Ottawa Food Bank. Donations will also be gladly accepted.

People’s Choice Award
The public will have their chance to vote on their favourite photos.

Visit the studio for your chance to meet the media and celebrities throughout the day on Saturday, February 23rd.

Media and Celebrity Participants:
Sandy Sharkey (co-host, Cub and Company, 839 BOB FM)
Stuntman Stu (Majic 100 Radio Host)
Jim Watson (Ottawa Mayor)
David Chernushenko (Ottawa City Councillor)
Peter Simpson (Arts-editor-at-large for The Ottawa Citizen)
Graham Richardson (CTV News Anchor)
Alan Neal (Host of All In A Day, CBC Radio One)
Ian Black (Climatologist, CBC News Ottawa)
Sarah Brown (Ottawa Magazine Editor)
Jane Corbett (Ottawa Magazine Art Director)
Trevor Greenway (reporter – Low Down to Hull and Back News)
Andrea Tomkins (Blogger)
Peter Tilley (Executive Director – Ottawa Food Bank)

Ottawa Magazine

About our Sponsors:
• Artopix – Digital Printer and long time print service provider in Gatineau (Hull).

Artopix.ca

• Patrick Gordon Framing – Custom framing, repair and installation serving fine artists and art dealers.

PatrickGordonFraming.ca

• Dave Andrews – Fine Art Printer. David is humble but provides printing service to high end artists and clients. His prints hang in prestigious galleries across North America.

DaveAndrews.ca

• Ottawa Studio Works – Ottawa Photo Studio on Preston St. and the home of HarryNowell.com for photo exhibitions, portraits and photo classes.

Ottawa Photo Studio

About the Beneficiary of the Event – Ottawa Food Bank

“The Ottawa Food Bank was founded in the basement of the former police station on Waller Street in 1984. Originally intended to be temporary in nature, the Ottawa Food Bank has grown to become a staple food relief organization in the Region. Today, we support 140 emergency food programs that feed approximately 48,000 people per month – 37 per cent of whom are children.

Our mission: To collect and distribute food to Member Agencies serving people in need in the Ottawa area.

Our vision: That no one goes hungry in the Ottawa area.”

Ottawa Food Bank

Come and join the fun! Thanks to all that help to make this work!

#410 Photo Quiz – Banff Film Fest Ticket Prize!

Posted on January 21, 2010 by admin

Coming up Monday, January 25th is the annual Ottawa showing of the “Best of Banff Film Fest” at the Bytowne Theatre. It’s a fun event with some wild films on outdoor sports.

We have one spare ticket and will give it away to a clever photo detective. All you have to do is answer the questions based on the photo below.

The winner will be drawn from people with reasonably correct answers. Please email your answers to Harry@HarryNowell.com including contact info – name and phone or email address – by midnight January 21st. Name will be drawn January 22nd. If we cannot find you (quickly and easily) we will draw another name! Winner will be announced on the blog.

The questions:

What was the shutter speed used? Explain rationale.
What was the aperture used? Explain rationale.
Describe the placement of the camera.

Reasonably correct answers will qualify for the draw. All decisions are final!!

The Photo:

A self portrait taken taken in Gatineau Park near Black Lake.

Ottawa bike photo contest

Good luck!

Harry