#705 Student Success! ProProgram photo graduate

Trumpets blare.

Smiles stretch.

We have another graduate from our ProProgram and we would like to celebrate Lou Truss‘ successes on our photo blog.

Lou entered the program with basic skills and aspirations to work as a photographer. Her photos have blossomed and her confidence has bloomed.

Lou Truss - Photo Course graduate!

Lou Truss - Photo Course graduate!

I love seeing the difference in student’s work from beginning of the program to the end. And Lou worked hard through many photo classes and workshops.

See her photos throughout this blog post. Visit her website. Cheer her successes!

Lou says:

 Yay, I have finally completed the Pro Programme which took a little longer than planned!  I guess that’s what makes the Pro Programme so special as it caters for your needs. 

For me, It fitted perfectly around a young child and a husband that travels alot with work.  

The last two years has been an amazing journey.  It has allowed me to do what I love most… take pictures with confidence as well as the knowledge I have picked up on the Pro Programme.  

It’s been an incredible journey – I’ve met some amazingly talented people on the way. 

Lou Truss - Ottawa Photo Course graduate!

Lou Truss - Ottawa Photo Course graduate!

Thank you Harry for opening my eyes and giving me the confidence to follow my dreams.

Thank YOU Lou. We are cheering for you. Please blow your trumpets to congratulate Lou’s successes!

Stay tuned for Lou’s photo exhibition at Ottawa Studio Works in September 2012.

Lou Truss - Ottawa Photo Course graduate!

Lou Truss - Ottawa Photo Course graduate!

#703 Ottawa Photo Exhibition – Mark your Calendars!

A while back we announced an art exhibition and print sale by up and coming Ottawa Valley photographer Kevin Foisy.

Kevin has developed a style and techniques that fill a room with light. Below are some recent pieces you may see at his show.

Details:

Kevin Foisy presents “Love through the Lens

Friday, November 25; 7-10pm

Ottawa Studio Works; 160 Preston St. Ottawa

Kevin Foisy - art exhibition - Love through the Lens

Kevin Foisy - Ottawa art exhibition - Love through the Lens

A Walk through the Forest

The sun peaks through a canopy of yellow and lingering green.  A gentle breeze rustles the leaves and fills the air with a soft shimmering sound.  The scents of autumn leaves and pine needs fill the air.  In this abstract image, I  capture the feeling of standing in the forest as the sunlight penetrates the canopy and lights a pathway through the trees.
Kevin Foisy - Ottawa art exhibition - Love through the Lens

Kevin Foisy - Ottawa art exhibition - Love through the Lens

The Minds Eye

As if still in my childhood days, I often enjoy laying on my back on a summer day and staring up at the clouds drifting by.  Youth hangs on hard as I paint images in my mind from the puffy white shapes.  Many pieces of abstract art have that same appeal, enticing us to create our own pictures, holding our interest so much longer than a literal image.  In this image, I have captured a literal scene and without manipulation of any kind, I present it as abstract.  For me, I see a lone tree on the shore of a lake.  A cold stormy sky and a distant tree line is reflected in the choppy water.  What do you see?  Once your mind creates its own picture, it can become very difficult to see what it actually is.
Kevin Foisy - Ottawa Art Exhibition - Love through the Lens

Kevin Foisy - Ottawa Art Exhibition - Love through the Lens

Marsh Breeze

Long strands of cattails bend gently in the autumn breeze and dance in the warm sunlight.
Mark your Calendars…

#702 DIY Portrait Update

In the fall we announced our new Do-it-Youreself Portrait Service. So far so good!

DIY Portraits?

People have been making their own portraits in our studio with our studio lights. They just plug and play while we are available for help if needed.

One young family loved it so much, they booked a second session to bring MORE family. Smiles and giggles erupted from the photo studio as balloons pffrttttt-ed across the room (see below) and people climbed into position awaiting the burst of light that freezes the photo.

Do-it-Yourself - Photo Studio - Ottawa

Do-it-Yourself Portraits – Photo Studio – Ottawa

Some answers to common DIY questions:

So do you  (Harry) set up my camera?

We set up the studio lights and then help you set up your camera. I give you the settings and, together, we make sure the camera and lights work. We do a few test photos to make sure everything works well and then you start taking the portraits – I remain in the back rooms of the studio in case you need any help during your session.

Do you (Harry) take the photos for us on our cameras?

No. I help you set up your camera properly and am there if you have questions. But I am not involved in the picture taking.

Who owns the copyright? What does it cost to get prints?

As you are taking your own photos on your own camera and memory card YOU own the copyright! That means you can print your photos wherever you like – at home, at a discount lab or at a pro lab. You have control of your photos, printing and printing costs!

Do-it-Yourself Portraits - Photography Studio - Ottawa

Do-it-Yourself Portraits - Photography Studio - Ottawa

How do we take our own pics . . do I put on the timer, etc . .

There are a number of ways you can take your own photos:
1. Set your camera to a self timer mode – usually you can set the camera to 10 second delay which is enough time to join your family/friends.

2. Some cameras (Nikon D200, D300 and others) have an interval timer feature where you hit ‘go’ and the camera takes photos every second or few seconds. It can be programmed to take 1 or 10 or 25 photos in a row at set intervals. One group did that recently and got some fun results!

3. You can use an infra red ‘self portrait’ remote. We have one that you can use with many Nikon cameras. For Canon, etc, they are fairly cheap – $25?

4. You can buy a remote control device – expensive!

5. One of the group can act as photographer and physically take the photo.

Beyond the set-up/test phase I do not take the photos – but offer support as needed.

Do-it-Yourself Portraits - Ottawa Photo Studio

Do-it-Yourself Portraits - Ottawa Photo Studio

Upcoming dates:

Sunday November 6th – Only 9am slot available.

Monday, November 7th

Thursday, November 17

Sunday November 20th

Sunday, December 4th

Weekend Time slots: 9am, 10:15, 11:30, 12:45, 2pm, 3:15pm, 4:30pm

Weekday Time slots: 6, 7:15, 8:30pm

By appointment only – Please contact us to see what is available.

Location

Ottawa Studio Works 160 Preston St., between Gladstone and Somerset bordering on Little Italy and China Town.

Ottawa Studio Works is a working photo studio offering an 11×24 main studio with a support room available for make-up and styling. Bathroom and kitchenette are also available to support your portrait session. We also rent the photo studio by the day or half day.

Introductory cost for 1 hour session

$125 + HST

Reservations required. Book your session for an hour. The second consecutive hour is $100.

Registration

Space is limited! Contact us by email or by phone at 819-827-9460 for more information and book your session.

#701 – Photo Contest Winner Announced

It’s the end of October and that means we have a new winner for the Reader’s Photo of the Month.

We are pleased to announce top dog this month is Cheryl Kreis for her photo “Lift Off.” Cheryl has entered this contest before. Persistence has done her well! This month her flying hound grabbed our hearts. We love the motion and the fun and the timing. Nice work Cheryl!

Ottawa photo contest winner!!

Ottawa photo contest winner!!

Cheryl says:

Being a dog walker I’m so fortunate to capture such funny scenes.  I love this one because it show just how high this little Jack Russell can fly.  The game they are playing is catch me if you can … Enjoy...”

For her efforts Cheryl wins a LowePro Nova 1 photo bag, courtesy of a couple of our readers – Thanks Andrew and Gwyn!

Next month Canadian Geographic has kindly donated a one year subscription to their amazing magazine. A big thnaks to Can Geo.

Canadian Geographic Magazine

Canadian Geographic Magazine

See all the winners. We are wrapping up this photo contest at the end of November, 2011. So you have just ONE opportunity to win!

Keep clicking and submitting – make us smile!

#700 Exposed! Photo Newsletter – Bad Weather Shooting

November is upon us and the weather report looks grim.

Many people pack their cameras away and wait for better weather but this month’s Exposed! Photo Newsletter contemplates Bad Weather Photography with reasons to get out shooting and ways to do it comfortably!
Learn why you should get out and shoot in the rain.
Bad weather shooting

How to photograph, comfortably, in bad weather and why you should shoot in this weather!

#699 Night Light Photo Workshop Review – ghosts and all

Recently we ran our annual Night Light Photo Course in central Ottawa. It’s one of the most fun workshops we offer. This year we were blessed with wet weather that pumped up the reflections and vibrant KAPOW of the photos. We stayed mostly dry shooting from sheltered locations.

This workshop draws some of our biggest smiles – Student photo worlds open wide with new techniques and vibrant lights offered at night.

The course is designed to teach new photo techniques at night and I must say, this the most fun I’ve ever had in a photo workshop.” BM

Learned lots as usual. Your transparent approach and effective teaching methods keep bringing me back for more!” SR

I REALLY REALLY had a wonderful time.” PR

See some student photo below. See some more student work at Barb’s site. She saw ghosts.

Stay tuned for Night Light next year. Can’t wait? We teach this course, anytime, as a Custom Course!

Ottawa Night Light Photo Class

© Barb M - Ottawa Night Light Photo Class

Ottawa Night Light Photo Course

© Theresa H - Ottawa Night Light Photo Course

Ottawa Night Light Photography Class

© Sarah R - Ottawa Night Light Photography Class

 

 

#698 Fire & Steel Photo Safari – Photograph a Blacksmith

Last week we confirmed a new safari – the Blacksmith Photo Safari – just west of Ottawa. Test your photo skills to capture the heat, sparks and action of a veteran traditional blacksmith at work.

Blacksmith Photo Safari in the Ottawa Valley

Blacksmith Photo Safari in the Ottawa Valley

Meet new friends. Learn some photo tips!

We spend two hours with your camera in the working blacksmith shop.

Blacksmith Photo Safari in the Ottawa Valley

Blacksmith Photo Safari in the Ottawa Valley

What to expect:

This very small group will get access to the blacksmith’s shop to photograph the beauty of fire and sparks. The emphasis is on fun, friends and photographic challenges!

 Blacksmith Photo Safari in the Ottawa Valley
Blacksmith Photo Safari in the Ottawa Valley

Date:  Saturday, November 26, 2011; 1-3pm.

Location:  We meet in Carleton Place, 30 minutes from central Ottawa. Car pooling is encouraged!

Cost:  $75 + taxes for small sized photo safari.

See more details… Contact us to register!

Blacksmith Photo Safari in the Ottawa Valley

Blacksmith Photo Safari in the Ottawa Valley

#697 Student Success – new ProProgram graduate

A couple of years ago Sandra Finner contacted me about taking her photography to the next level with the idea of shooting weddings and portraits in Ottawa.

She joined the ProProgram and started working. Developing photo, networking and business skills suitable for photo work is a long process.And Sandra dove in head first.

After completing five of the program’s courses, ‘One-onOne’s’ and some shadowing Sandra is taking bookings for portraits and weddings. She’s smiling, too. She has every reason to be! In the two years since I have met Sandra her work has blossomed. I am proud of her.

What does Sandra say?

As a recent graduate from the Harry Nowell Pro Program I wanted to take time to congratulate you on offering such a well designed program that has helped advance my photography faster than it would have taken in a larger, more formal classroom.

student success! - Sandra Finner Wedding Photography

student success! - Sandra Finner Wedding Photography

 The people I’ve met and the contacts I’ve made while in the Pro Program have absolutely helped me be a better photographer. This program not only teaches technique but by mentoring each photographer on an individual basis with one-on-one sessions, you help us understand our strengths & weaknesses and focus on areas that need attention.

student success! - Sandra Finner Wedding Photography

student success! - Sandra Finner Wedding Photography

The variety of courses offered, whether it be shooting with and developing film, night, studio & natural light photography, understanding flash photography or learning unconventional shooting techniques [in the David Trattle’s course] have all helped me learn how to progress from a casual picture taker to doing professional work that my customers have been excited about.

Thanks Harry for being so generous with your time and knowledge and introducing me to the Ottawa photography community. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all my time learning from you and I feel confident that my business will continue to move forward which was my goal.

student success! - Sandra Finner Wedding Photography

student success! - Sandra Finner Wedding Photography

I look forward to meeting the new students at the regular social events and following along with their successes as well.

Join us in cheering for Sandra!

 

#696 Photo studio open house – Ottawa Studio Works

Yep, it’s coming up – we are flinging open our doors to welcome you into our Ottawa studio to celebrate the season, Christmas and other festive holidays, snow, dogs, family, photography or whatever else needs celebrating.

Details:

Ottawa Studio Works

160 Preston St, Ottawa

7pm onwards; Saturday, December 3rd, 2011.

Ottawa Studio Works - photo open house

Ottawa Studio Works - photo open house

Join us Saturday, December 3rd form 7pm onwards at Ottawa Studio Works, 160 Preson St, central Ottawa for some fun.

Fun? What kind of fun?

• DJ Ron LaVoie spins some festive tunes

• be seen hob-nobbing with Ottawa’s super cool photo community

• new photo work to ponder

• a chance to buy gifts – workshops, prints, greeting cards, critique sessions, DIY portrait sessions, regular portrait sessions – for friends and family. Remember to buy locally and support your community.

Refreshments will be served.

Fun will be had.

Donations gladly accepted -erm, urged- to support the dogs and, yes, ALL animals including the cats at the Aylmer SPCA. Please bring food or $.

A new project to be exhibited in 2012 will be unveiled at the open house.

Ottawa Studio Works

160 Preston St, Ottawa

7pm onwards; Saturday, December 3rd, 2011.

RSVP appreciated.

Ottawa Studio Works - open house - do it for the dogs

Ottawa Studio Works - open house - do it for the dogs