#962 Rowing Photo Safari

Posted on June 21, 2013 by admin

A couple of years ago I spent the summer shooting at the Ottawa Rowing Club for an assignment for Ottawa magazine. It was a fun job – I rowed at university and my father rowed for Britain in the 60s – that let me relive the fun of the sport!

Rowing Photography for Ottawa Magazine

Ta-daa!
We’re offering a very small rowing photo safari next week on a weekday evening.

The Rowing Safari
We’ll be taking one or two people to the club to experience photographing a training session. I’ll be coaching the photographers to capture the on-land preparation fun, photojournalistically, and then jumping in a coach boat to follow the rowers on water.

Rowing Photography Safari

The session will be an evening of photo learning and opportunities. Approximately three hours of photo fun.

Interested in the spot? Interested in a session later in the summer?
Contact me by email for details…

Rowing Photo Safari

#948 Summer Portraits Photo Class

Posted on May 20, 2013 by admin

Better photos

Summer Portrait Class!
We keep getting asked to run our portrait course in the summer (usually run in Jamuary) so we are running Natural Light Portraits in August!

It’s one of our most popular courses – perfect for capturing informal (or formal) portraits at summer events – weddings, BBQs, birthday parties or at family gatherings.

Better birthday portraits!

Why it’s Popular!
It’s popular because we take people from their fundamentals of photography to specific portrait elements of photography. We cover some technical elements:
• exposures with portraits in mind – ie what shutter speeds and apertures are appropriate for different scenarios.
• introduction to use of flash in portraiture
• choice of different lenses for different portraits

Better people picture

We also explore the creative side of portrait photography:
• location selection – dealing with the harsh light of midday sun.
• elements of style – what is most appropriate for you and your portraits – candid or formal portraiture?
• working with people to create natural looking smiles and emotions (this is hard!)

Want better people pictures?
Join us this summer for some portrait fun!

Natural Light Portrait Workshop

#947 – Tulip Photo Course Successes!

Posted on May 16, 2013 by admin

Tulip Photo Safari - © Morina Reece

Thanks to everyone who got up really early to take advantage of Louise Tanguay‘s wealth of experience in the macro, nature, tulip photo department.
The safari was well attended!

Tulip Photo Safari - © Lynn Gaulin

The photo safari met this week with a quick lesson and lots of practical tulip shooting.

They loved it:
“Here are a few shots from my best day off in years. It was my first try at macro photography and I loved it.”

Tulip Photo Safari - © Cheryl Kreiss

Louise is also teaching our Macrophotography Photo Workshop at the end of May – it’s currently full but, so far the waiting list is empty. If you want a spot you could be first in line if there is a cancelation! Just send us an email.

Tulip Photo Safari - © Johanne Blain

Tulip Photo Safari - © Stéphanie Beauregard

Tulip Photo Safari - © Taylor Shurie

#939 Creative Fundamentals Photo Workshop – Classic Course Results

Posted on April 28, 2013 by admin

Our longest running, most frequently run and well-loved photo class is Creative Fundamentals. We started it in 2001 and tweaked the curriculum as the course grew.

It’s popular because:
1. digital photography, for many people, is scary with too many buttons, menus and complications!
2. before photography, I was trained to teach people and develop curriculum in outdoor sports like alpine, tele, xc skiing and paddling while helping people achieve their goals.
3. I’ve learned to take scary ideas and convey them simply!

Creative Fundamentals Photo Workshop © Liz R.

Scary to beautifulness!
Last week we finished April’s Creative Fundamentals course. It was a fun group. As usual, many people arrived a little nervous and somewhat confused about all the buttons on their cameras.

By the end of the course people were smiling and producing beautifulness!! What they said:
• “I wasn’t sure that I learned much on the first class (theory) but the exercises (exposure, histograms) were a big breakthrough for me…” (ahem – see point 3 above!)

• “I got far more out of this course than ever expected!”

• “I feel much more comfortable with the concept of exposure… Money very well spent.”

• “The best part? The One-on-One opportunities to get feedback from Harry.”

Next Creative Fundamentals Course Opportunity!
Join the next Creative Fundamentals group class on September 25, 28, Oct 2, 2013.
Can’t wait that long?! Take Creative Fundamentals almost anytime as a Custom Course.

Ottawa Photo Fundamentals Course - Better Photos © Miranda K

#935 On-Location Lighting Photo Class with Photojournalist Blair Gable

Posted on April 16, 2013 by admin

It’s back. We had to.

Last spring we offered the first Blair Gable On-Location Lighting workshop.
It sold out quickly.

Blair Gable - lighting course, Ottawa

Blair offers his vast expertise on setting up, quick, simple, effective lighting scenarios for portraits (or other subjects) when time, space and other commodities are limited.

“You say ‘Blair & vast expertise.’ Who is Blair Gable?!”
Blair is one of Canada’s leading photojournalists shooting & supplying photos to mainstream news media. He’s been assigned to shoot, oh, just about everybody prominent you hear about in the news – President Obama, Queen Elizabeth, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Blue Jays, etc…

Soak up Blair’s offerings while spaces are available. Comes up in October, 2013.

#931 Smartphone Photography Seminar with Award Winning Photojournalist Blair Gable

Posted on April 7, 2013 by admin

iPhone photography workshop safari seminar

iPhone photography safari

Loving your smartphone (or iOS device)?
Want better photos?

It’s your lucky day! We have booked one of Canada’s leading photojournalists and iPhone-ographers to bring you up to speed.

Who is Blair Gable?
• Award-winning wedding photographer.
• Leading Canadian photojournalist – Blair has photographed Obama, Princess Kate, the Queen, Stephen Harper, Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Blue Jays among a long list of well known names.
• Confessed iPhone junkie.

This workshop/safari/seminar will explore:
• photo device’s built-in cameras
• camera apps
• post production apps
• photo sharing and
• social media apps
• practical shooting.

More details!
Grab a spot.

iphone photography safari/seminar/workshop

#929 – New Photo Classes – Basics and Waterfalls

Posted on April 2, 2013 by admin

New photo courses are coming up.
Some basics and something more advanced.

Want better photos?

Interested in just a few quick tips on exposure and/or composition?
We’re offering some quick & dirty basics in either exposure or compositional elements.
Join our Basics Seminar!

Basics photo class - Ottawa

Want something a little more challenging?
We’ve launched our Waterfall Photo Safari for those people looking for the next challenge.
Take the plunge – join Waterfalls!

Waterfall Photo Class

#923 Online Program Special Offer

Posted on March 19, 2013 by admin

Earlier this month we announced an offer for our Online Program:
30% off a six month membership.
That’s $125 instead of $180 .

The offer has only 10 days left and we’d like to welcome our new members.
Welcome!
This month members are exploring candid portraits without looking through the viewfinder:

This month's challenge - shooting candid portraits without using the viewfinder!

So why are people signing up? what’s so good about the program?
• A monthly photo challenge with a video lesson and notes
• Weekly email with tips, notes and links
• Interactive feedback through a private Facebook group
• Group critique session
… all from your own computer.

The biggest way to improve your photography is regular shooting, critique and a fun way to keep you clicking in a sustainable way.

Better Photos!
Want better photos? More fun?
Take advantage of this month’s offer – $125 for six months of photo fun. That’s 30% off.
10 days left.

#919 “Photography for Communications Professionals” Photo Course

Posted on March 10, 2013 by admin

Many years ago we got asked to run a photo course for people in communications departments.

It seems many communications departments:
• need regular photos.
• don’t always have a budget to hire a photographer.
• end up with poor photos from well-meaning but inexperienced staff.

Photographing Events

This request turned into Photography for Communications Profressionals – a scheduled workshop in November and a Custom Course option for specific groups throughout the year, but especially in the spring!

Last week we ran a PCP course for a small group (and have another course lined up this week.) There were some nerves at the beginning but by the end of the day results and smiles glowed.

“Thanks again for your patience during the course. I learned a lot and am excited to practice the techniques!” PCP Partcipant

We offer a theoretical component in the morning with practical exercises (see below) in the afternoon that simulate the challenges of workplace photography! We also cover ‘challenges’ faced by ‘comms’ departments – consent forms, copyright, usage rights, archiving, etc.

On our photo course © M Savka - Harry teaches participants a traditional portrait technique - blurring the background: "Ok, see how the background gets blurred, bringing attention to your main subject?!"

See details of the PCP course (2013 dates have yet to be set for November) or info about the Custom Course.

#916 Online Photo Program Special Offer!!

Posted on March 3, 2013 by admin

Our Online Photo Program is maturing. We’ve run it for almost a year and have been listening to (and implementing) member’s ideas

As an enticement to try the photo challenge (and a thanks to existing members) we are offering a 6 month membership at 30% off for the month of March, 2013.

For the month of March you can sign up for 6 months of ongoing contact, photo lessons & notes, challenges, group discussion and video critique…

… all for $125 instead of the regular $180.
• For photographers curious about the program this is an easy way to test our monthly challenges!
• Existing members can take advantage – adding the block onto their current membership.

Online Photo Challenge - Simple Studio Lighting - © Jeffrey Furry

What’s the online program all about?
Think of it as a new photo class every month with:
• a video lesson
• course notes
• weekly email check-in with tips, encouragement and news
• ongoing group support through a private Facebook group for Members only
• and a compreshensive video critique of member’s photos at the end of the month.

Recent comments:
“I’m happy to see that we don’t have to spend an arm and a leg in order to take good pictures. As always, I look forward to hearing your critique!”

“I questioned the cost before joining. But now that I have completed 3 months I believe that it is an excellent value.” (… and that was at full price!)

“Wow, was this fun! My dining room was a disaster for days (SImple Studio Lighting Challenge!), but boy, was it FUN! 🙂”

Online Photo Challenge - Simple Studio Lighting - © Maisie Ismail

Special Deal offered during March 2013
Six months of Online Photo Programming for $125.
That works out to a month’s worth of photo programming for $20.83 per month – that’s a special deal only until the end of March.
The normal price is $180 or $30 per month.

That means SIX online courses for just over $20 each!

Register NOW!

February’s Photo Challenge
Last month’s challenge on the Online Photo Program at HarryNowell.com was called “Simple Studio Lighting.”

Member’s learned to explore the world of studio lighting using only equipment they had at home.

Result’s were stunning…

Online Photo Challenge - Simple Studio Lighting - © Christa Rumleskie