This weekend we hosted Ottawa’s Sheep Shearing Photo Safari including some active herding dog photography! Lined up for the morning was sheep shearing, herding dog agility and some sheep herding.

Sheep Shearing Photo Safari - Ottawa © Cheryl K

Our photographers braved the high heat of the day to learn tips on shooting challenging events including:

• how to prepare for the events to maximize opportunities

• dealing with exposure for greatest control in a wide range of creative opportunities – blurring backgrounds, panning with motion, freezing fast action, shooting in low light – you can control all of these situations!

• choosing locations to get best results

It was a challenging safari!

Someone said “Must say, this was a challenging Safari.”

Someone else said “… it was neat to photograph something totally new, and to learn some new tricks of the trade:-)  I enjoyed myself, even if it was far too hot!”

And finally… “Very impressed with the amount of information that was given/practised on how to photography such a challenging event as this one turned out to be.  A Safari is so jam packed with techniques, that every time I go on one, I learn a couple more.”

Sheep Shearing & Dog Photo Safari - Ottawa - © Erica McKay

Coming up later this summer are more photo challenges:

1. Bike Race Photo Safari

A challenge for photographers with a need for capturing speed! We cover a bike race – cyclists pass you every 60 seconds for a perfect teaching scenario.

2. Urban Compositions Landscape Safari

Ideal for those that want to push their composition skills, wherever they are. We explore urban settings to investigate line, form, shape and other elements dealing with the construction of a well built photo.

3. Online Photo Learning

Designed for people who cannot make normal photography courses or safaris. We bring photo learning to you through the internet. Join us for our latest photo adventure!

Thanks to all the photographers who joined us to capture the sheep and dogs! Thanks for the fun – summer shooting fun has just begun!

Sheep Shearing Safari - Ottawa - © Sally McMullen

Earlier this week our ProProgram organized a social to meet, shoot and socialize. This bonus of the program is designed to get Programmers out together to exchange ideas and meet others pursuing photography in a serious way.

Pro Photography Program - Ottawa

We meet as a group every 2-3 months and in May we met in the wilds of Gatineau Park to photograph on the escarpment overlooking the Ottawa Valley. It’s a magical time for two reasons:

• young leaves are beginning to green the desolation left by winter’s freeze

• the ravenous, carnivorous bugs are still relatively dormant.

Pro Photography Program - © Erica McKay

We hiked into the location, spent some time shooting, made it back to the start point as it was getting dark and promptly reconvened for more discussion at the Old Chelsea Pub.

ProProgram - © Erica McKay

Thanks to the ProProgrammers for keeping this part of my work fun!

ProProgram - © Sue Fisher

Last week we finished our longest running photography class (Creative Fundamentals has run since 2001) at our Ottawa studio.

Ottawa Photography Course - Creative Fundamentals - © June C

Creative Fundamentals continues to be popular because it helps beginners and intermediate photographers either learn or solidify the basic building blocks of photography – elements many people never learn. The class was eager and fun – with laughter mixed in with lessons.

Creative Fun Photography Class - Ottawa - © Victoria

The class did well with improvements made all round.

The next opportunity to learn the magic of fundamentals is either through a condensed Custom Course – available throughout the year – or in our September group session of Creative Fundamentals on September 19th (eve), 22nd (day), 26th (eve), 2012.

You can register on the Creative Fundamentals web page or contact a real human by email.

Creative Fundamentals Photo Class - Ottawa - © Ginny B