#630 Where are they now?

Our first ever ProProgram graduate jumped in head first and completed her photo classes in record time. Nathalie Madore worked hard! She started with average hobby skills but without technical finesse or artistic flair that comes with dedication, instruction and guidance.

Nathalie Madore - Photo Course graduate

 

She pursued her shadowing and assignments with passion and graduated with photos she never thought possible. Her passion is in the outdoors and covering active people in motion. I remember she took our Intro to Studio Lighting course and she quipped she wasn’t really interested in the indoor, manufactured realm of studio lights. But she LOVED it!

Nathalie Madore - Photo Course graduate

 

So where is she now? She lives in Gatineau and took her new skills, upgraded her equipment and started shooting. She now covers events, portraits and other work in the Ottawa area.

Two of her clients are SDV Magazine and the Canadian Press, CP. That’s a pretty amazing accomplishment for someone who started photographing seriously about two years ago. I am always jealous to see someone like Nat accomplish in one year what it took me 5-7 years to develop without instruction!

Please help us send Nathalie a cheer to congratulate her accomplishments!

 

#627 Ottawa’s Farm Photo Safari

Near the end of May we ran the Farm Photo Safari in central Ottawa at the Museum of Agriculture. Participants were treated to dog agility tests that tested their cameras, sheep shearing, cows, horses and contending with an event that won’t wait for slow photographers.

Farm Photo Safari - Ottawa

Farm Photo Safari - Ottawa

Our group smiled their way through the session, learning new tips and developing better skills.

Farm Photo Safari - Ottawa

Farm Photo Safari - Ottawa

One participant said: “I wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed the Farm Safari.  I found the format very good, starting with less challenging shots and working up. You were very organized and eager to help everyone no matter their level of expertise.

Farm Photo Safari - Ottawa

Farm Photo Safari - Ottawa

A big THANK-YOU to the staff at the Museum of Agriculture for making our safari work well!

Museum of Agriculture

Museum of Agriculture

Why take a safari with HarryNowell.com? We have good events and locations – but more importantly is the knowledge we share that will help you develop your photo skills better and faster than going to the farm by yourself!

 Farm Photo Safari - Ottawa

Farm Photo Safari - Ottawa

Join us for the two photo safaris in July:

Join us test your cameras during some fast paced bike race action.

Capture the wild antics of leading street performers lined up for your cameras.

 

 

#626 Ottawa Marathon Photos

This year the Ottawa Marathon ran right past our photography studio on Preston St. So we camped out to cheer friends and family in the full marathon and half marathon.

Ottawa Marathon 2011 photos

National Capital Marathon Men's Lead Group at 3km

 Ottawa Marathon 2011 photos

Top Three Women in the Ottawa Marathon - 2011 - at 3km

National Capital Marathon 2011 photos

National Capital Marathon 2011

National Capital Marathon 2011 photos

National Capital Marathon 2011 photos

Ottawa Marathon 2011 photos

Ottawa Marathon 2011 photos

Luc Rock – we have featured him before in 2008 as he was preparing for the Reykjavik Marathon in Iceland. Go, Luc, go!

Ottawa Marathon 2011 photos

Ottawa Marathon 2011 photos

Ottawa Marathon 2011 photos

Ottawa Marathon 2011 photos

Ottawa Marathon 2011 photos

Ottawa Marathon 2011 photos

National Capital Marathon 2011 photos

National Capital Marathon 2011 photos

Two of our ProProgram students shot the event:

Nathalie Madore was our first graduate of the program. She took many workshops in sports and other photo disciplines.

Wayne is currently in our program – soaking up photography and gaining experience!

Congratulations to everybody!!

And thanks to all volunteers and organizers who made this event happen!

 

#623 Where are they now?

We recently asked some ProProgram graduates what they have done since graduating from the Program. We were impressed!

Today we feature Scott Martin who finished his program in 2010. He started his program and quickly developed a passion for music photography. That seems to have done well – he combined his background in web development, music and photography to develop SpotLightOttawa.com.

Scott says:

There were a lot of avenues I wished to explore with my photography. The problem was, I was feeling pulled in too many directions. I needed a starting point. For me, that was music. I’ve been a music junkie since I was 13. I love discovering new music/bands, and going to live shows. Tagging along with friends to Ireland 10 years ago for their weeklong tour was the reason I bought my first digital camera. So music it was.

Spotlight Ottawa

SpotlightOttawa.com

Earlier this year, I had someone from a media relations company contact me asking if I wanted to attend one of their artist’s shows and do something with the artist. It seemed open ended. What did that mean?? I enquired about an interview. Granted. Oh no!! Now what? I didn’t really want to post interviews on my photography site. I racked my brain for a few days. Because of that initial contact, my online music magazine Spotlight was born.


Four months in and I’m having a ball. We’ll see where it takes me. Being as shy as I am, that first interview was terrifying! I’ve done 4 more since. I’ve attended and photographed many shows. I have met new people. I have taken an interest in learning to become a better writer to post articles on my site. I have never been a fan of the word for word question/answer style written interview.
People talk about doing personal projects to help grow your photography. This online music magazine is my personal project.

It has opened up a new creative path in my life. Writing? Interviews? These aren’t things I envisioned myself doing a couple of years ago, but I’m having fun with it all. I hope I’m helping to introduce people to the great music coming out of Ottawa, as well as some of the great artists we have coming to Ottawa to perform.

Nice work, Scott. He’s grown well in many ways – photography, networking, contacts and business – all part of the ProProgram!

 

 

#620 Student Success

Good news!

Two past students have combined forces and landed a photography exhibition at the Gatineau Park visitors centre. The exhibit includes other photographers and highlights reptiles and amphibians in Gatineau Park… and it’s on until the end of August.

Photo student art exhibition

France and Shelley's Exhibit

Shelley Ball combines her biologist background with a passion for photography to run 44th Parallel Photography

Photo student art exhibition

Shelley's photo of an Eastern Newt.

France Rivet runs PolarHorizons.com and has taken many of our photography classes as part of her recently completed ProProgram.

Visit the show! Send some cheers.

Photo Exhibit

Shelley and France at the exhibit

 

#608 Student Success!

France Rivet of Polar Horizons joined our ProProgram a little over a year ago. She had specific goals to help her photography business – built around a love for the polar regions – to grow.

France came, learned and grew, enormously!

Help us send her congratulatory cheers as she graduates from the ProProgram. See her photos and visit PolarHorizons.com

France shares her recent photo experiences and photos:

I first heard about the ProProgram in the fall of 2009 when you came to talk about stock photography & Iceland. Hearing one of your first pro-program students, Nathalie Madore, & you talk, I quickly realized that it was a program I could definitely benefit from.

Student Success - Photo Course Graduate - Gatineau

Student Success - France River - Photo Course Graduate

About a year earlier, I had decided to make a drastic career change and wanted photography to be a major part of my new career path. I had so much to learn not only on how to improve my photography skills but also about the business side of things.

The ProProgram was a wonderful opportunity to benefit from the experience of someone who had gone through the process, who was willing to share his knowledge, skills, etc. Less than a month later I was registered.

Student Success - Photo Course Graduate - Gatineau

Student Success – France Rivet Photo Course Graduate – Gatineau

The main benefits I got from joining the program include :
• My photography skills have undoubtebly improved. I feel a lot more confident. This year is the first time that some of my images made the short list of a provincial-level photography contest. I couldn’t believe it when I was told that not just one but three of my four images submitted had been selected.

• I have explored brand new areas of photography. I can’t wait to photograph new scenes, new destinations at the magical time of day.

Student Success - Photo Class Graduate - Ottawa/Gatineau

Student Success - France Rivet - Photo Course Graduate - Gatineau

• I have learned so much through the ProProgram by being in contact with various individuals who are passionate about photography. Sharing our experiences is so beneficial. Some of the “second degree” contacts I have made following my participation in the ProProgram workshops have had a major impact on my photography and new long-lasting friendships were born.

• Shadowing was a fun and most beneficial exercise of the program. It forced me to meet established photographers and learn from their own way of doing things. Chatting about their life experiences, about their successes or failures proved to  be most useful.

Student Success - Photo Class Graduate - Ottawa/Gatineau

Student Success - France River - Photo Class Graduate - Gatineau

• Both the workshops and the shadowing have helped me identify where I really want (and where I do not want) to take my photography.

• I always appreciated the fact that whenever I sent you a question by email, the reply came in a timely fashion. Every time, I was amazed at how detailed the answer was. You had obviously taken the time and effort to provide me with more information. You have always been very open to sharing your knowledge.

Student Success - Photography Course Graduate - Ottawa/Gatineau

Student Success - France Rivet - Photo Course Graduate - Gatineau

Merci, France – I am always happy to see someone progress like you have in your ProProgram!

Félicitations!

#596 Portrait Photo Class

Recently, we ran a custom photo class in central Ottawa for a woman who wanted to learn about portraits.

KL did well, starting with good photo skills. She had a few portrait elements she wanted to develop.

We met and worked with a few very fun models who were very willing to make our student work for her photos – see below. Ok, a skill testing question… How was this hair shot made?!

Ottawa Portrait Photo Course © KLambert

Ottawa Portrait Photo Course © KLambert

My job? Well to teach and assist KL which included making the models smile:

Ottawa Portrait Photo Workshop

Ottawa Portrait Photo Workshop - behind the scenes © KLambert

#586 Winter Landscape Photo Workshop

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

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

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!

#574 Student Success – ProProgram graduate!

A big congratulations goes out to Scott Martin as he completes his time in the ProProgram. We’re proud of his successes and the challenges he (and everyone) goes through on this course.

Photo Course Graduate - Scott Martin Photo

Photo Course Graduate - Scott Martin Photo

ProProgram?

The Ottawa based photo based program will help you build your business knowledge, photography skills and network to help you pursue your photography goals. We work towards photo accomplishments and a portfolio of photos.

Photography courses, working experience and a network of photographers developed from the classes and sessions helps you find your photo success.

Scott started the program with basic skills… Read Scott’s description of his photo journey in the program:

When I first met Harry, most of my pictures were mere snapshots. With his help, my photography has improved, I have explored new subject matter, and I learned to experiment.

Photo Course Graduate - Scott Martin Photo

Photo Course Graduate - Scott Martin Photo

Looking back, I can see a huge difference in the quality of my photographs. Harry has provided me with a solid foundation to help me reach my goals. There is still a lot of hard work ahead, as I continue to build my portfolio, look for clients and grow my business.

But more important than the photography, the course helped me gain some self confidence and grow as a person.

I was recently contacted to do some portraits by a local band. I can say with some certainty, that had the band contacted me for portraits 1 1/2 years ago, I would have run the other way.

Photo Course Graduate - Scott Martin Photo

Photo Course Graduate - Scott Martin Photo

Today I am ready to continue working with them and chase down some more bands on my own.

Thanks Harry!

Scott has developed a diverse portfolio. See some of his other work at ScottMartinVisuals.com. I am proud of your successes Scott. Congratulations on your accomplishments!

#573 Portraits photo course preview

Last week we ran the Natural Light Portraits Photography Course in Ottawa. Students clicked. Models shone. Lots was learned.

I am always pleased with what is produced. Below is a preview of more to come from the workshop. This photo workshop is about portraits using available light and simple equipment.

We started a second session of the Portrait workshop this week. This second batch of students test their skills this weekend. Stay tuned for more inspiration!

Natural Light Portraits Photo Course

© Kevin F. - Natural Light Portraits Photo Course