Our photo students challenged their skills on our weekend workshop at the first annual Peanut Polo Cup in support of Canine Rescue efforts.

Galloping horses, cute puppies and fast paced action offered the cameras plenty of play. Shooting the event, students learned to:

• manage equipment
• choose appropriate tools for their task
• freeze unique speeding subjects
• balance shooting the event – much of the action is off the field
• stay comfortable for optimal shooting all day

Vistek‘s equipment offer allowed students to test new equipment.

It was a full day.

Stay tuned for more polo photos in the days to come:

Our workshop with David Trattles and Canadian Geographic filled up with lightning speed. Dave is a mild mannered, superman of the social documentary photo world.

We have scheduled a second session at Canadian Geographic Headquarters in Ottawa to fit his busy schedule. Same price ($375 + taxes). Same agenda. The new workshop dates are:
October 5 (eve),
October 7 (eve),
October 9 (eve),
October 10 (afternoon), 2009.
(approximately three hour sessions)

Workshop Details

Today I found a fun article on painting with light by the prolific Chase Jarvis. Light painting has been around for a while but people continue to experiment with new ways to play!

• Read the Chase Jarvis article.

• See some different examples of the wild world of lights at night, below…

1. Taking advantage of available light:

2. Light Driving – do not try this at home:

3. Complex scenarios including light painting, existing lights and HDR effects from a student on our workshop:

We’re pleased to announce we will be presenting a workshop through Wallack’s Art Supplies: “Photographing Artwork for Promotion.”

Promoting artwork on your website or submitting photos to a juried show, gallery or other art organization takes quality work and quality photographs of your work. Creating appropriate photos can be done inexpensively with simple equipment.

We will be teaching and demonstrating the ideas behind documenting artwork at Wallack’s Nepean store on Sunday, September 20th, 2009 in the afternoon.

There are only 25 spots available – they are charging just $25 per person.

Please register through Wallacks.

In the spring we presented a similar session to the Ontario Craft Council.

Ontario Craft Council – March 2009 Conference

Sara Washbush of the Craft Council wrote:

“Harry’s workshop was one of the main attractions for attendees… Harry’s presentation was full of simple effective solutions, explained in a fun and lighthearted way.”

If you missed that opportunity you have a second chance!

Last weekend we traveled to the Augusta Polo Club to capture some of the thundering fun in preparation for our Sport Photography Workshop covering the Peanut Polo Cup in late August.

Polo is often misunderstood. Many people have the idea that Polo is played only by the upper echelons of society – Prince Charles, etc. Not the case!

Accessible 

Augusta Polo Club’s Kathy and George told me Polo is one of the most accessible equine sports in North America – polo ponies can be inexpensive to purchase and equipment is limited. Best of all polo can be played on a simple, open field. If you can ride you can play Polo!

The Game

The game is played on a large field – 300 yards x 100 yards. While that may seem massive, experienced riders get around at lightning speed – remember, horses can gallop 50km/hr or faster.

An experienced game is fast. Play is broken down to 7 minute ‘chukkers’ with riders mounting a fresh horse every chukker to keep the play pulsing.

Horse Safety

And what about the horses? They are trained to perform at polo – making sure they are accustomed to close competition. The sport is gear towards the safety of the magnificent animals.

The Photo Workshop

Our sport event will be challenging – learn about event photography:

• equipment choices – Vistek Camera store will be offering some free rentals
• evaluating shooting locations
• staying safe while shooting a sports event
• performing under pressure
• producing the best photos possible under game conditions

As part of the workshop you will receive media passes giving participants access to restricted areas.

Support Animal Rescue Programs

At the Peanut Polo Cup you will also have the chance to photograph many classic canines. The event is used to support canine and equestrian rescue programs.

That’s a long title and feels a little stodgy. It doesn’t do justice to Dave’s upcoming workshop.

More apt might be:

“Dave’s photo workshop on life, laughter, and how to create an intimate story with people at  street level.”

or…

“How to capture the social fabric of a people or community with Dave”

or…

“Burst with smiles and laughter as David Trattles guides you through the essence of street level photography.”

Dave’s no normal photographer, thank goodness. Where most photographers might spend an hour taking a photo, Dave spends a month getting to know his subject.

He has spent 20 years around the world on a bike getting to know people and telling their stories through a camera. He’s passionate, whacky, and loves people. His website proudly offers:

“All photography that involves people. Documentary, Travel, Portrait and Weddings.”

“Taking photographs of ordinary people who do extraordinary things by looking into themselves and their friends, family.”

Extraordinary Things

Dave does things in extraordinary ways including how he leads the workshop. A past HarryNowell.com student asked “Will there be any… practical application, or is it all lecture?”

I don’t think Dave would ever lecture – and I mean that in a positive way. His sessions are lively, provocative and will teach you more than you would ever learn at a semester of photo classes.

Dave says “the workshop will be a series of assignments followed by review and discussion with the intention of building narrative.”

Dave does things differently – how many people waltz up to the Prime Minister and get the reaction above? – even security is smiling. He does not teach f-stops, exposures and photoshop. He helps you see how to see and how to tell a story.

The Workshop

The workshop is based at Canadian Geographic Headquarters (and not in the field) because what Dave teaches is best taught in many, small doses with your day’s fresh catch on the screen.

When I contacted Kathy and Gilles at Canadian Geographic HQ they needed no convincing to be involved with this David Trattles workshop. They have donated time and space and advertising, asking for nothing in return. They love how he works with people.

Canadian Geographic magazine

His photos glow. His students smile.