#590 Ottawa Portraits

Posted on March 6, 2011 by admin

Recently, we shot some portraits for an Ottawa area writer – Ann – who wanted a portrait for press releases, author info and marketing purposes. She asked for a simple natural author portrait. For her that meant a sincere look without big smiles.

We met at our photo studio Ottawa Studio Works – which was perfect for her as she works in central Ottawa.

She enjoyed the session and I had to work to make her stop smiling so much – see the portraits, below. Drawing the desired personality – that’s the fun for me. The technical camera work is only the beginning.

Monday we’re back in the studio run a Custom Photo Class for two people looking for an introduction to studio skills.

Ottawa Portrait - with smiles

Ottawa Portrait - more authorly!

#587 Who’s Doing What?

Posted on March 2, 2011 by admin

At our Ottawa Photo Studio web site blog we feature news and links about other photographer’s projects every Friday. And we often write about other photo events in the region.

Over the last few months we have posted links to:

a lecture on the invention of photography (March 3rd!)
public art exhibits
reviews of art shows
photographer’s and their current work

See what’s going on and who’s doing what:

OttawaStudioWorks.com/blog

Ottawa Studio Works - photography studio

#586 Winter Landscape Photo Workshop

Posted on February 28, 2011 by admin

Last week, one of our ProProgram students who shoots in the Arctic with PolarHorizons.com asked for a custom photo course to cover Winter Landscapes. Shooting in the winter & in the cold has its challenges – and photography is only one of them.

We had beautiful weather. It was quite cool at -15C.

Winter photo landscape course © France Rivet

For France’s photo workshop we first met in Ottawa at our studio to cover the ideas of staying warm in winter’s cold as well as shooting ideas for the wilderness.

There’s no need to be cold when shooting in the winter! With the right knowledge and preparation you can be warm and capture some stunning work at sub zero temperatures.

We took France to some secret spots in Gatineau Park including a location with abandoned vehicles surrounded by acres of wilderness!

Winter Landscape Photo Workshop © France Rivet

France did well. We were in the cold for 6 hours – far enough from any shelter to make it a true wilderness shooting expedition.

She said:

“The preparatory discussion on the Sunday was very beneficial as it gave me an excellent idea of what I was to bring.

The chosen location was perfect.

I appreciated the fact that you provided suggestions when you saw something of interest which had gone totally unnoticed by me (e.g. getting the star bursts behind the evergreens).”

Nice work, France!

#583 Review – Ottawa Hockey Photo Class

Posted on February 20, 2011 by admin

Two weeks ago, we brought photo and hockey enthusiasts to a big treat – we brought students to shoot the Ottawa 67s hockey team alongside mainstream media photographers. The Ottawa 67s beat the London Knights handily.

Ottawa Hockey Photo Workshop © Alan Dunne

These teams are the next NHL stars. London’s goalie, Bobkov, won the Jr World Champs for Russia recently so the skill level is high and the players are hungry (ie work hard) to make an NHL team.

Hockey Photography Workshop Student

The photo course went well with students progressing nicely. We covered technical aspects, of course, but also encouraged our photographers to experiment with different lenses, styles, and subjects – not all the action is on the ice.

Ottawa Hockey Photo Class - © Barb M

Students excelled. See some of the photos from the hockey photo workshop throughout this post. Three students wrote about their experiences – read their posts – thanks Alan, Barb and Wayne!

Ottawa Hockey Photo Class - shooting with media: Valerie Wutti

And student’s loved the photo class:

“Harry is a personable and gifted teacher, drawing upon a wealth of photographic and other life experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop.” 2011 student

Ottawa Hockey Photo Class © Wayne S

A big thanks must go out to the Ottawa 67s for providing access for the course. And thanks to Valerie Wutti, graduate of our first Hockey photo workshop, who now shoots the 67s fanblog at every home game, for encouraging the students.

Ottawa Hockey Photo Student

Get close to the action on our Ottawa Hockey Photo Course!

#582 Where’s Harry!?

Posted on February 18, 2011 by admin

Ok, ok, this last week we have been slow on the blog posts.

I could tell you that I was on a fabulous photo assignment to capture northern Finnish ski culture.

Or that I was teaching a photo course in California’s Cascade Mountains.

But I was not!

Whitewater ski vacation

I was in southern BC skiing myself silly.

I took a fun and relaxing ski break to visit friends and telemark ski some of the most fun ski hills out west.

I wanted to find low key ski hills that were far from the glitz of Whistler, Tremblant and geared towards skiing and local community, good snow and friends.

I wasn’t disappointed – the terrain made my quads burn, heart pound and my face smile. The people were small town friendly and old friends became new again.

Whitewater Ski Photo

I spent almost a week in Nelson and Rossland in southern BC skiing at Whitewater and Red with friends. It was fun. Really fun.

“So, Let’s see all the photos!!”

Well, see, there’s the problem.

I was skiing. On vacation. Time off.

I have a few snapshots and I shot a little with medium and large format film for the photo art side of the business… but I went to ski.

Now it’s time to catch up.

Whitewater ski vacation

#579 Photo Course Follow-up

Posted on February 7, 2011 by admin

January is a big month for workshops at our Ottawa studio. We ran two sections of:

Ottawa Natural Light PortraitCourse - Student Photo

These are among our most popular photo courses.

Why? They cover photography’s base elements in a way that makes sense: “I enjoy your down to earth teaching methods – easy & clear…”

Teaching Creative Fundamentals Photo Course

I saw some stressed students develop the confidence to shoot well built photos with accurate exposures. Smiles grew as the photo class progressed.

The next sessions are coming soon:

Creative Fundamentals – April 7, 9, 14

Natural Light Portraits – August – dates coming soon.

Email us to save your spot!

Ottawa Photography Class Results - Natural Light Portraits

#578 Photo Courses – what they’re saying

Posted on February 4, 2011 by admin

Yes, we’re tooting our own horn but students say it time and again, loud and clear – they like our photography courses.

We collect feedback from people on our photography classes in Ottawa to help us make courses better. See what they’ve said recently, below. Find out why they say these things, at the end:

“[This course] should be coupled with every new DSLR purchase.”
Kevin Creative Fundamentals

“I enjoy your down to earth teaching methods – easy & clear understanding way of explaining techniques & methods. I love your honesty in critiquing my work. – You are a model for sharing your knowledge, I learned so much.”
Brenda Natural Light Portraits + Creative Fundamentals

“Organized, thorough. Well-tailored to our needs.”
anonymous Custom Photography for Communications Professionals

“Harry was very good at explaining complicated issues in plain language.”
RV Natural Light Portraits

“Very good. Easy to understand. Well explained. Learned more than in previous courses elsewhere.”
Manon Photography for Communications Professionals

“Learned a lot more than expected.”
Stephanie Natural Light Portraits

“I also appreciate the break down for flash use – much simpler to understand and apply.”
MDH Natural Light Portraits

“We hired Harry Nowell Photography Inc. to provide photography training to a few select staff as an economic alternative to hiring a photographer for major events. We found it worthwhile and cost effective to provide photo training for staff through Harry’s firm.

Harry Nowell brings the complex ideas of digital photography to a simple and achievable level. He is patient, organized and talented at teaching concepts of photography to diverse people who learn in different ways.”
J.C. NGO Custom Photography for Communications Professionals

So, how are we different from others?

I struggled with learning. I wasn’t a good student. I get frustrated easily. And I understand how hard learning a complicated skill can be!
I have solid photo skills based on almost 20 years of photography work.
I am a trained teacher. Not public school… Years ago I went through many technical training courses to develop training courses and teach skills: alpine skiing (Austria), staff training & student development (Outward Bound staff training) nordic skiing (CANSI), mountaineering (Yamnuska), telemark skiing (CANSI), canoeing (ORCA), etc.

So, we take care of our student’s needs in many ways. You’re in good hands at HarryNowell.com

Harry Nowell - working with students

#577 Hockey Photo Course – this weekend!

Posted on February 1, 2011 by admin

Yep, this weekend we are running our annual Pro Hockey Photography Course with the support of the future NHLers at the Ottawa 67s.

Ottawa 67s hockey

It’s a fun filled and fast paced photo workshop weekend starting with some help understanding the ideas of shooting hockey (or any pro field sport).

Ottawa Hockey Photography Workshop

We test photo skills a little on Saturday and make it to the big game on Sunday where the Ottawa 67s will host the London Knights. Game day is fast paced and the photographers are tested (and pretty tired) by the end of the game.

Ottawa hocky photography Course

A big thanks to the Ottawa 67s for making this workshop accessible to aspiring photographers!

#576 Ottawa Studio Works – Open House: Thank-you!

Posted on January 31, 2011 by admin

A BIG, BIG thank-you for making our first open house so memorable!

We had two evenings of festivities and many generous supporters that helped us celebrate our new photography studio based in central Ottawa.

Ottawa Photo Studio open house - © Alain Simard

People grooved to the tunes of DJ Ron LaVoie and ate the scrumptious Ottawa Studio Works cupcakes baked by past student (and fine baker) Nancy on Friday.

Our designer, Roberta G, below, was very excited to see her design work made into food!

Ottawa Studio Works open house

On Saturday night the celebration continued with some guests returning for their second night of fun!

By the end of the two night open house we were pretty pleased with the response to our new photo gallery, studio, artwork, photo classroom and community space on Ottawa’s Preston St.

We also raised hundreds of dollars and many pounds of food for the dogs (and all animals in need!) at the Aylmer SPCA and Ottawa Humane Society.

Big thanks to everyone else who helped make it such a success: Nancy and her cupcakes, Ron LaVoie’s DJ service, Bev Webster, Louis Helbig, Roberta, Alain, Caitlin and all the past and future clients, students, supporters, colleagues and friends at HarryNowell.com and OttawaStudioWorks.com.

Biscuit and Tigger say thanks to everyone who helped us help the dogs.