#798 Membership Questions

We launched our new adventure – Photo Memberships at HarryNowell.com. We answered some good questions!

Here is a summary:

• “How does the online membership works”

The summer introductory membership session offers regular photo learning content by email and web to help people develop their photo skills online. How? You can access the regular videos, notes, critique, etc at your pace anywhere you have an internet connection.
The best way to improve at photography is to practise regularly!
With constant new challenges, encouragement, critique and support from myself and other members online you’ll be encouraged to try new things that will help your photo skills grow.
Online photography class

Online photography course

• “What will I learn in the introductory three months at $75.00 (which is great).”

Different people will learn different things – unlike a course, membership learning is ongoing and organic – each member’s experience will be unique.

We do not have a set agenda for memberships (stay tuned for courses) but will be urging people to learn new techniques, test their limits, be inspired by others and have the opportunity to make mistakes to create better photos in the long run!

In the intro memberships we will be sending out emails with videos, notes, photos, etc. that you can watch any time. Generally we will be sending:
1. an introductory email to set up the month’s theme
2. the month’s challenge with tips, ideas to try (+ encouragement)
3. follow-up, with requests for photos to share with the online group
4. critique
Memberships are ongoing with new challenges and content every month.

• “What happens  after the intro summer memberships?  Will they also be $25 per month?”

There are two other phases to our online sessions:
Stage 2 Full Online Membership
Fall
We will be refining the memberships program with newer and more streamlined software offering a better experience for members.
We will offer a different cost structure – by the month or year. The $25 per month rate is the introductory rate!
Stage 3 Online Courses
Fall
We will be offering some of our traditional courses via the internet. Courses are finite – ie an 8 week session.
Online photography memberships

Online photo membership

• “What if I miss a week of the membership?”

No problem! For the memberships you participate as you can. You can pick up wherever you like

• “I am a beginner/advanced photographer. Is the membership right for me?”

Memberships challenge people at whatever level they are! We will be encouraging people to try new things and to do things differently! People grow at their own speed and will learn different elements based on their experiences!

Join us for the summer introductory memberships! It’s only $75 for the summer (plus tax).

#792 Sheep Shearing Photo Safari

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

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

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

Sheep Shearing Safari - Ottawa - © Sally McMullen

#788 Pro Photo Program Social

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

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 - Ottawa

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.

Pro photography course - Ottawa

ProProgram - © Erica McKay

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

Ottawa Photo Course

ProProgram - © Sue Fisher

 

#786 Creative Fundamentals Photography Class Review

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

Ottawa Photography Course - Creative Fundamentals

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

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

Creative Fundamentals Photo Class - Ottawa - © Ginny B

#783 – Close, Closer, Closest – Reader Photos on the Blog!

Recently we posted our Exposed! Photo Newsletter – “Close, Closer, Closest” with simple tips to improve your photos. We invited you to send in your close photos – thanks to everyone who did!

The top photo came from Nancy who cornered her cat with her iphone. She came out on top because she got really, really close!:

Closer Newsletter

Closer Newsletter - blog winner - ©Nancy B

And we’d like to give a shout-out to Willa who got close to her furry friend:

Closer Newsletter

Closer Newsletter - Blog Runner-up - ©Willa M

Nice work, everyone – keep getting closer!

What do you want to hear about in the next few photo newsletters?

#782 Bike Race Photo Safari

Last summer’s Bike Race Photo Safari pulled many photographers out to test the limites of their skills.

It’s fast. It’s fun!

But what makes this safari so amazing for photographers is the constant action – cyclists pass the photographers at high speed… every minute. “Oops, I missed the shot… Oh, here they come, again!”

It’s so popular we feel obligated to bring the Bike Race Photo Safari back this year!

Bike race photo safari

Bike race photo safari

The scoop:

We meet as a group and cover the ideas of shooting fast paced action as athletes warm up. We select 3-4 locations over the event while handing out challenges to push your limits. Cyclists race around a closed loop ensuring photographers get to shoot action every minute or so.

The event flies by.

Photos shine.

Smiles glow.

It was the perfect race for a safari and I picked up some good tips …  You have an excellent teaching style.

Harry, you are constantly coming up with innovative workshops.  This Safari was brilliant!  It gives us seasoned photographers opportunities to shoot something different and brush up on our skills.

Thanks so much for being Harry. You are always so consistent with making sure everyone understands the concept and getting it in our cameras.

Bike Race Photo Safari

Date: June 26th, 2012; 6-8:30pm (approx.) Rain date: July 10th; 6-8:30 pm (approx.)

Cost: $65 + HST

Location: 15 minutes from downtown Ottawa.

Details and registration.

Bike Race Photo Safari - Ottawa

Bike Race Photo Safari - Ottawa

#781 Exposure Modes – Manual vs Priority vs Auto

Last week I asked on Facebook:

“When shooting do you shoot in auto, aperture or manual exposure mode?”

And the answers flowed! Everything from:

• “Manual all the way…”

• “Aperture for quick shooting. Manual for detailed stuff.”

“Only manual.”

“Aperture, usually open full.”

Even mid tones!

Even mid tones - fine for aperture priority

Manual Mode

Manual mode means the photographer has to determine all the settings that affect exposure – iso, shutter speed and aperture. Manual mode gives full control and creates better photos more often – especially in tricky lighting. But it takes time and practice to learn.

Aperture Mode

Aperture mode means the photographer has to choose iso and aperture. The camera chooses shutter speed. Aperture offers the ease of letting the camera do the work. In subjects that offer mid tones throughout the scene aperture priority will work well. In tricky lighting aperture priority can give poor exposures.

Why?

Your camera compares everything to mid tone grey. It also tries to make all photos mid tone grey on average – EVEN if the scene is a white wedding dress or white snow.

Who has seen photos of grey snow? That’s the result of the camera misreading the scene.

“Manual is too hard!”

Manual mode is harder to learn. Yep. Once learned it will help you produce better photos. Guaranteed.

Of all the facebook comments, working photographers were choosing manual mode more often. There’s a reason for that!

Tricky lighting - silhouetted and backlit Harry

Tricky lighting - silhouetted and backlit Harry

More Info

Want more info? Read this Exposed! Newsletter. Or this one.

Want some help? Consider our Creative Fundamentals Course. This weekend’s session is full – next group session is in the fall. Custom course is available anytime.

#780 Dancing Horses Photo Safari Review

A week ago a group of photographers joined us to explore the equine world of dressage with their cameras at a private farm – Northern Equestrian Centre. Our host, Alison, was very good to us, lining up horses and riders as well as near perfect weather for the shooting session (Thanks Alison and riders!)

Dancing Horses - Ottawa photo class

Dancing Horses - Ottawa photo class - Anne Gale

Weather was warm and the nice diffused light helped photographers. We started with a warm-up exercise of horse portraits with more challenges as the afternoon progressed. Photographers were encouraged to push their own levels a little – everyone got something they liked.

Dancing Horses - Ottawa Photo Safari

Dancing Horses - Ottawa Photo Safari - © June Cairns

And the students enjoyed themselves:

Overall the safari was great.  I wasn’t sure what to expect as this is the first safari or formal photography workshop I have done.  I really liked the structure and definately the subject matter.

…really enjoyed it.  photographing something that big had some challenges but it was fun. i loved doing the portraits.

Dancing Horses - Ottawa Photo Course

Dancing Horses - Ottawa Photo Course - © Mary Raphael

Thank you for organizing this workshop, I really enjoyed it.

You were great as well, I know some of the people there are regulars of yours but you made me feel welcome.

Dancing Horses - Ottawa Photo Course

Dancing Horses - Ottawa Photo Course - © Barb McKenzie

Stay tuned for more safari fun. In May we have the Sheep Shearing Photo Safari – with dogs, sheep and some challenging flower fun.

In July we have the Urban Composition Safari designed to push your compositional limits.

We are also working on another active summer safari to stretch your photo limits. See our current list of photo courses.

Dancing Horses - Ottawa Photo Class

Dancing Horses - Ottawa Photo Class - © Ronnie Alexander

Dancing Horses - Ottawa Photo Classes

Dancing Horses - Ottawa Photo Classes - © G LaMadeleine

 

 

#775 Photo Blog Question – Who would you choose?

When I started working as a photographer I did it all wrong:

1. I didn’t get any training

2. I didn’t know anyone or have any network of working photographers to learn the ways of working photography.

Needless to say, it took many years to get any traction. I made it this far out of sheer stubborn-ness and a need to make it work (oh, and some good business decisions, etc.) At times it felt like I was carrying 100 lbs of gear up a long and steady hill with potholes happy to get in my way.

It would’ve been much easier if I had sought out help!

The Question!

If you could spend an hour or a day soaking up photo knowledge with any living, current photographer who would you choose? Why?

Ottawa Photography course

Ottawa Photography course

#774 Winter Landscapes Photo Course Review and Other Class News

Some photography workshop news:

•  Creative Fundamentals‘ spring workshop is now full. We are still accepting a few spots for the waiting list – Please contact us by email to get on the wait list! We also offer Creative Fundamentals as a Custom Course.

The next group session of Creative Fundamentals is in the fall (dates coming soon!)

• Macro Photography’s June workshop is now full. We are still accepting a few spots for the waiting list – Please contact us by email to get on the wait list! We can also offer related courses as a Custom Course.

We will be offering similar courses in landscape photography is in the fall – stay tuned.

• There IS space available in the Dancing Horses Photo Safari and the Corel Painter Seminar this weekend. Register by email or directly from the workshop page.

Below are a few photos from the Winter Landscapes Photo Course in late February. Many thanks to the adventurous souls who braved winter’s weather. There were many smiles and new skills learned!

Winter Landscapes Photo Workshop

Winter Landscapes Photo Workshop - © June Cairns

Winter Landscapes Photo Class - © Morina Reece

Winter Landscapes Photo Class - © Morina Reece

Winter Landscapes Photo Course - © Morina Reece

Winter Landscapes Photo Course - © Morina Reece