PhotoHaus Fall 2012
PhotoHaus Fall 2012
PhotoHaus Fall 2012
The Download Zooming into 100% with Pro Retoucher S T EVE PIN TER
talks about inspiration, his rise through photojournalism & shooting the
CHRISTOPHER MORRIS
Plus
How Its Lit by WAYNE HOECHERL
vancouverphotoworkshops.com photohaus magazine fall 2012 1 VANCOUVER PHOTO WORKSHOPS FALL COURSE LISTINGS INSIDE
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t is with great excitement that I welcome you to this first edition of PhotoHaus, the new magazine produced and published by the team at Vancouver Photo Workshops (VPW) and PhotoHaus Gallery. PhotoHaus Magazine is written by photographers for photographers.We at VPW and PhotoHaus are passionate about photographic education, and we aim to infuse this same passion into each and every issue of PhotoHaus Magazine with a carefully curated selection of information and inspiration pertaining to the craft of image making. Well feature articles focusing on fine-art and commercial photography alongside interviews with up-and-coming as well as seasoned photographic professionals. Finally, our educational section will provide you with tips, tricks and technical know-how to take your photographic skills to the next level. PhotoHaus Magazine is written for you. Whether youre a fresh beginner, aspiring amateur or seasoned professional, were inviting you into our photographic family where we hope to showcase new work, share valuable insights and nurture this creative community.
contents 04
with Christopher Morris
th e in te r view
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08 09 10 14
th e pro file
Katie Huisman
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kids in th e f ra m e
Richard Amies We Dont Know What He Does Here
A jack of all trades and a master at...most of them! Richard is our resident designer, carpenter and one of the best photo assistants in town. He makes proper English tea, loves sandwiches and is nearly incomprehensible on the telephone.
16 17 18
by Mary Jensen
th e d own lo a d
master cla s s s e r ie s
Cover Image Christopher Morris All images contained with are Vancouver Photo Workshops and its contributors
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or local photojournalist Christopher Morris, shooting the 2010 Winter Olympicson home turf was a triumphant and well-deserved win in a twenty five year climb up the steep road to a successful career in photography. Two years later, his determination, ambition and passion are taking him across the pond to shoot the London 2012 Games.We caught up with Christopher shortly before he hit the road for his second go at this dream assignment.
When did you first know that you wanted to be a photographer? In University I was going to be a lawyer. I was doing a history poly-sci undergrad degree at Carlton University - the quintessential under-grad degree for law school. I just realized that I hated school, so I quit. I had been interested in photography in high school. Then sports and girls became way more interesting than photography.When I was in university people would ask what did I major in? and I said I majored in beer and I minored in squash. One of the things that I never cease to see the humour in is the fact that I failed math in high school and now there are times, when it comes to the technical aspect of photography, that I have to explain math to people. So I tell them, if I can get this, you can get this, because I have no capacity for math. So my academic career was an inauspicious one to say the least. After I quit school, I went to work in my stepfathers used bookstore. That gave me a little bit of money to pay for film. I had a darkroom in my basement where I would process my own film. My first job in photography was as an assistant. A neighbour of mine had a commercial studio. I worked there for about a year - just long enough to realize I didnt want to be a commercial photographer. Actually, going into it I knew I wanted to be a photojournalist. I saw this movie [Under Fire with Nick Nolte] that depicted a photojournalist and that sort of sealed the deal for me. Who were some of the first photographers that inspired you and are there any photographers whose work you admire now? I look at a ton of photography. Two of the first photographers that I remember were Mary Ellen Mark and Annie Leibovitz. My stepfather used to save photography books for me. Hed save anything that looked remotely interesting. There was this book that profiled Mary Ellen Mark and Annie Leibovitz. I remember being just blown away by their
CHRISTOPHER MORRIS
five photographers. It got bought up and suddenly I found myself as part of the collective. It was sort of like wed been absorbed by the Borg. Thats the way it felt at the time, but Corbis has been really good for me. I worked for Corbis for the 2010 Olympics and Im going to London for them in a couple of weeks. Id say probably the reason why Ive had such a good experience at Corbis is because Ive dealt with some really good people and right now, one of the best people Ive dealt with is my editor Seth. He
and I are going to be working together in London and I am just over the moon. Im really pumped and excited - I havent shot the summer games before. Working with Seth, my editor, is just going to be fabulous. This may sound ridiculous, and maybe it is, but I would say that it is harder to go to the Olympics as a photographer than it is as an athlete. There are fewer photographers at the Olympics than there are athletes. A lot of photographers that have been there, some of them are on their tenth
or twelfth Olympics. Every Olympic games, probably eighty percent of the athletes are new whereas for photographers, probably seventy percent of them have done it before, so the turnover of photographers that shoot the Olympics is low. It is humbling to be included in that group, because it is a really elite club and sometimes I question whether I should be there. The Olympics is the Olympics for the athletes but it is also the Olympics for the photographers!
Was 2010 your first experience shooting an Olympic games? Yes it was. As a freelancer at Canadian Press and Reuters I was always so jealous of the photographers going off to shoot the Olympics. It was only the best that were chosen to go and to go now is really a privilege. Were you with the same editor in 2010? Yes, but he was in LA, so I was just transmitting >>
is if you go out and chase it down, wrestle it to the ground and make it yours
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The number one thing that affects photographers is access...the correlation between access and the quality of the pictures is a straight line
pictures directly to him. In London hell probably be at half the venues Im at, so Ill just hand him cards and that will give me the opportunity to shoot more. Im hoping to do the same thing that I did in Vancouver, which is to shoot two events a day. Its grueling. I think the most sleep I got during the Olympics was five hours a night. On more than one occasion I got just two hours of sleep. Id finish transmitting pictures at two am and then Id have to get up at four to get the position I wanted at the venue. Getting through security with bags of gear is always a hassle - you just have to resign yourself to the fact that its just a part of the Olympics. Unfortunately, its the world we live in now. I spend more time getting through security and waiting for an event to start than I do shooting. Shooting time per day is maybe three or four hours and then the other fourteen hours is getting to and from venues, through security, downloading cards, editing, processing, FTPing themthats the vast majority of it. The proportion of shooting to other stuff is the same in all of photography. Whether its talking to clients, billing clients, doing paper work, filling out insurance forms, permits...its all the same. The photography is the fun part and its all the other stuff before and after that makes the photography possible. Do you choose the events that you shoot at the Olympics? That is something that Seth and I will discuss, but the criteria is: what will make great pictures? Im already thinking of ideas. I already have an idea - if I can make it work - the logistics of this are horrific, but I would love to shoot a picture at Wimbledon centrecourt with a perspective control [tiltshift] lens just focused on the base line, and that needs to be fired with a remote camera up in the top row. Thats a picture that Im already visualizing in my mind. I positioned some remotes at the 2010 games but Im hoping to position at least one remote at every venue I go to, which will be hard. Its really good to go into these events with an idea of what I want to do because the best pictures are usually made - they are planned in advance. But at the Olympics there are a lot of restrictions about what I can do and access, so that all needs to be negotiated. And you have to do that yourself [position your remote cameras]? Yes. I dont have any minions. [laughs] And the thing is, I wouldnt want someone to install a remote for me because shooting a remote picture is no different from looking through the viewfinder and pushing the shutter and I dont want anyone else doing that for me either. So, you know, you can sleep when youre deadnobody gets any sleep during the Olympicsits just one of those things. Theyre eighteen to twenty hour days. You start installing remotes at 6 am but even before that, I go and put my bag down to secure my spot. Youre not supposed to do that but theres a sort of honour among thieves - that if somebodys bag is there, you dont move their stuff and take their spot. Not all photographers honour that code but for the most part its something that people respect. So, Ill put my bag down and then wait for maybe three, four, five hours for the event to begin. We call that hurry up and wait. Then I shoot. Hopefully Ill shoot some
great pictures. If there is any break in the action Ill download the cards or give them to my editor. After the event is over, download the cards, back them up, then pack up and go to the next event and do it all over again. Ill maybe finish up at around eleven oclock at night. If Im waiting for four or five hours at the next event, thatll give me some time to edit my pictures. There is no WiFi at the Olympics - you have to go to the press centre to plug in to get an Internet connection. So if Im not using my laptop, Ill take my stuff that I dont need, like my rolling bag and my hard drives, and Ill stake out my spot in the press room and then go out and shoot the event. But if I can, Ill do all that editing sitting in my spot while Im waiting for the next event and get everything queued up. That means selected, all the post processing, cropped and captioned. Captioning is a pain in the ass because youve got to make sure everyone is identified. Thats very time consuming, making sure that the captions are accurate because a great picture is useless without an equally good caption. Sometimes it means hauling my computer around asking people at the event, Who is this? Do you recognize this athlete? In some sports the numbers are really obvious but in others [theyre not], or if youre doing something more artistic like a pan or a blur, sometimes its hard to figure out whos who. So you try to track down a coach or somebody from the team who can help you identify them. Does your editor help you with that? He will, yeah. Thats what Im looking forward to. Ill hand him the cards and say have fun Seth and go off and shoot some more. Im hoping to get more shooting in, but that may be offset by the additional security and the hassle of getting around London. Thats the thing - the Olympics is all about the logistics. Its no different from a studio photographer who spends three or four days pre-planning a shootand then another week or two on the other end working on all the other elements. Its the same idea - its the logistics. People think its so glamorous, and truth be told it is great - you get a front row seat to history - but people dont understand the amount of work that goes into getting to the spot where you are shooting - to where you have your hand on your camera. So thatll be my Olympics. Some people say Aw, youre so lucky you get to go to London and sit in the pub and drink beer! Yeah, thats exactly what Ill be doing sitting in the pub and drinking beer, shooting the odd picture as somebody runs by. [laughs] Which events are high on your priority list? Events that I think will make cool pictures. Track cycling, diving, gymnastics, BMX...I also like the pictures from the white water events. The kayaking is really coolI think that will make for some good pictures. This will probably be my only opportunity to shoot at centre-court at Wimbledon. I dont know that I can make that happen but Im hoping I can work that in. The marathon. The marathon is where the Olympics started and its also one of the few events where I will be able to situate the games in London. Beach Volleyball is another one that will be great because theyre putting a beach
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in front of the Royal Horse Guards Parade, which is supposed to have a really spectacular background and you can situate it in London. Triathlon - I have to shoot some triathlon because my wife is a triathlete and if I dont shell kill me [laughs]. But another reason I want to shoot triathlon is because theres a good story. The Brownlee brothers from Britain are very likely to finish first and second in the mens triathlon. Another good story will be the womens boxing. Theres an American woman who is slated to be the next Mohammed Ali. Shes set to dominate the sport and thats a great story. That means I need to do research going into the games, to know whats important and to know whats going to make for interesting pictures. The pictures that Im shooting are not for the newspapers the next day. these are for long term. I need to take the long view on this, so these have to be pictures that will sell between now and the next summer games. Thats what Corbis wants me to shoot, and what I want to shoot, because to me thats more interesting - pictures that stand on their own merit, as opposed to just a record of somebody who did something on a specific day and, really, the picture doesnt have any photographic merit but it has interest just because it was interesting at that particular moment in time. Those kinds of pictures Im not as interested in making. I want to make the kind of pictures that, a year from now, two years from now, somebody will look at and go Wow thats cool. I like that. What gear is in your bag? Everything. Everything but lights and a tripod. You are not allowed to use flashes, so no strobes. Tripods are not allowed at the Olympics - they take up too much space. I will be taking four or five camera bodies. Ill be using two Nikon D4s, a D800, a D3 and a D700 - probably shooting with two or three bodies in the spot that Im in, and another one or two installed as remotes. Nikon has been fabulous. Theyre helping me out with gear. Ill need two 1724mms because if one is stashed away somewhere on a remote, I need to have one with me as well.The lenses that I need doubles of are the 14-24mm and the 70-200mm. There are certainly sports where a 600mm is what I need - Nikon will be there with a huge pool of equipment that I can borrow on a daily basis. Of my own gear I will have two 14-24s, 24-70, two 70-200 f/2.8s, 1.4x extender, 1.7x extender and a 200-400. That will probably be my main lens for the long lens stuff. When necessary I will borrow from Nikon a 500 or a 600 or a 400 f/2.8. I wheel it all around in a rolling Think Tank bag so I dont
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severely compress my vertebrae. Ill also have a backpack to move that amount of gear around. When youre working long days any unnecessary gear just makes your day longer and harder. Youre slower and it takes longer to get from place to place. Youve got to be smart about what youre using. It sounds like a lot of gear but Ive thought long and hard about every piece of it. Is there anything you learned from 2010 that will help you in London this time around?
out to the Richmond oval, I know Cypress, I know Whistler, I know BC placewhat Skytrain to get off at. Just getting around London I know Im going to get on the wrong Tube and end up going in the wrong direction, so everything is going to take me that much longer, but I am as prepared as possible for the logistics. I tell all my students that the number one thing that affects photographers is access - the access you have, meaning the access to locations and access to somebodys time. The correlation between access and the quality of the pictures is a straight line. Its very difficult to get access during the Olympics, to be where you want to be, to make the pictures you want to make and it can be very frustrating. I have to work hard to play well with the other children. I, like most photographers, dont respond well to being told no. I know where I need to be to make the picture. So I guess the biggest thing that I learned in Vancouver would be patience, which doesnt come easily to me when Im working. Its hard to be patient. The reality is, getting worked up about stuff like that is counter-productive because it makes the days harder and longer. The amount of energy you have in a given day is finite and if you waste a lot of it getting frustrated and upset its not productive. There is already enough pressure on you to get the shots that you are there to get Yeah, absolutely. While its a privilege to be among the worlds best photographers, its a tremendous amount of pressure. Their pictures are going to be out there instantly and my editor can see those pictures, and if Im sitting in the same spot as where those pictures came from I better bloody well have those pictures. Thats why Im paid to be there.
The Olympics is the Olympics for the athletes but it is also the Olympics for the photographers!
Yes - how to manage the logistics. I was very fortunate going into the 2010 Olympics, Ive got some very good friends - Andy Clark and Nick Didlick who, between the two of them, have probably shot nearly twenty Olympics. I sat down with both of them. Nick was actually the Photo Manager for the entire Olympics so hes over in London now. And another friend of mine who is the Photo Venue Manager is also in London now. So thats certainly helpful because I can email them and they can give me the heads up about what to expect. But the biggest unknown for me, the advantage that I had that Im losing - and I know this isnt your question - but I had home field advantage in Vancouver. I know how to get around Vancouver, Id shot in all the venues before because I shot all the test events. Id been
If there is one piece of advice that you could give someone wanting to start a career in photojournalism, what would it be? Shoot every single day. Go out and shoot. Probably the best place to start is the local minor league baseball field, or soccer field or something like that to hone your skills and just be out there shooting. My father was a creative director at a number of different ad agencies and a writer came in to see him one day to try to get work. My father said to him what did you write today? and the guy said to him well I didnt write anything because Im going around talking to people like you and my father looked at him and said well youre not a writer today. If you didnt write anything today, then youre not a writer today. And if you didnt shoot any pictures today then you cant call yourself a photographer today.
Check the VPW course listings for Christophers upcoming workshops
th e lig ht
the b reakd ow n
Canon T3i body Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens shutter speed 1/200 aperture f/20 Profoto Pro-7b battery pack beauty dish with grid
the d iagram
H OW IT S LIT
BY WAYN E H OE CH E R L
This shot is a reminder of the importance of thinking on your feet. We were shooting in studio but when I saw this sky, I decided to go up on the roof to take advantage of the natural drama.We stood the model on a platform draped in black fabric to get her above the roof line and shot from a very low angle to create that imposing, powerful feel. I under-exposed the background by stopping down my lens to f/20 [proper exposure would have been approximately f/8] and lit her with a single gridded beauty dish to play up the drama and angular lines of the face. This look can be taken further by adding a 2nd or 3rd source for a rim light. If youre blessed with the sun shining through the clouds, then use it as a rim or backlight. I decided to work with the single light and let all the drama come from the sky. Remember to keep an eye on your background. I had to shift my angle of view to ensure I had the best clouds in frame. Some subtle post-production including contrast and colour biasing as well as some retoucihng on the model complete the effect.
Wayne teaches one-day fashion and creative lighting workshops at VPW
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th e profile
KATI E H U I SMAN
Katie Huisman is a photographer, filmmaker, curator and lecturer. She produces, directs and shoots video-based work and short films collaborating with choreographers, musicians and other artists. Currently, she is producing a series of documentary films exploring contemporary artists who have become masters in their fields. This work recognizes the importance of cultural documentation and preservation. Katie has developed a series of fine art/photography workshops that facilitate critical thinking and constructive dialogue while implementing knowledge of historical reference and contemporary ideas. All of her workshops place a strong focus on style development and conceptual ideals.
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VANCOUVERPHOTOWORKSHOPS.COM
Level 1 - beginner
Introduction to DSLR Photography
10 Sessions
Level 2 - intermediate
Intermediate DSLR Photography
8 Sessions This is the next step in refining your skills and expanding your creative possibilities. This course takes you beyond the basics of exposure, white balance and composition, to take on studio lighting, post-production, lighting styles, direction, and in-depth demonstration and exploration of digital workflow using Lightroom, in a fun and relaxed environment.
For everybody looking for a great introduction to the exciting craft of digital photography using SLR cameras. Learn how to use your camera to its full functionality along with the fundamentals of exposure, depth of field, $150 composition and shooting in low light. Canon $300 daytime course $350 evening course 15/09/12
14/08/12 21/08/12 06/09/12 06/09/12 12/09/12 18/09/12 24/09/12 17/10/12 29/10/12 19/11/12 Tuesdays Mon & Wed Thursdays Thursdays Wednesdays Tuesdays Mondays Wednesdays Mon & Wed Mon & Wed 1000 - 1300 1900 - 2200 1400 - 1700 1900 - 2200 1900 - 2200 1900 - 2200 1830 - 2130 1000 - 1300 1900 - 2200 1830 - 2130 Nikon 16/09/12
Ever thought about how much you could improve your photography if only you really understood all the powerful functions of your DSLR camera? Canonites and Nikonians will each have their own brand-specific workshop. Youll leave this workshop feeling encouraged and empowered to get creative with your camera.
$295
Saturday 1000 - 1700 22/08/12 11/09/12 27/09/12 Wednesdays Tuesdays Thursdays 1000 - 1300 1900 - 2200 1830 - 2130
Sunday
1000 - 1700
Adding flash to your bag of tricks can take your photography to the next leveland learning how to use your speedlight can be tricky. Well ease you into flash photography in this brand-specific workshop and shine a light on this rewarding new skill. $150
Canon 29/09/12 Saturday 1000 - 1700
$295
03/11/12 Sat & Sun 1000 - 1700
DSLR Bootcamp
One Week Intensive
Designed for maximum immersion, this workshop will get you producing high quality and repeatable results using all the tools DSLR photography has to offer, in just The Beginners Roadmap to Adobe Lightroom 8 Sessions one fun creative week. This workshop is designed for photographers, new to $395 Lightroom, who need a gradual learning experience 24/09/12 Mon to Fri 1000 - 1700 to fully explore all that this software has to offer. Youll be guided through a streamlined approach to digital workflow including capture, editing, image processing Getting Started With Your DLSR Crash Course and output. 3 Hours Go from snap shots to great shots in only 3 hours with VPW Director Marc Koegel. Understand your camera and the basics of photography and leave taking better pictures with your DSLR. $45
13/08/12 Monday 1900 - 2200
$150
18/08/12 17/11/12 Saturday Saturday 1000 - 1700 1000 - 1700
$295
17/09/12 Mondays 1900 - 2200
$350
11/09/12
Tuesdays
1900 - 2200
If youre short on time but big on getting your digital image workflow streamlined, this intensive workshop is for Practical Location Lighting you. Well cover the entire Lightroom workflow from 1 Day capture through to output and all the steps in between. This one day intensive workshop is designed to provide you $195
03/11/12 Sat & Sun 1000 - 1700 with a basic understanding of the practical aspects of working on location with professional lighting equipment. We will cover technical concepts such as the inverse sqaure law and key shifting and apply that knowledge right away by shooting models in the afternoon.
Our famous Intro to DSLR Photography course condensed into one intensive weekend workshop to get you feeling comfortable and in control of your camera. This is a great workshop for people looking to refresh their skills and is a stepping-stone to further photography training. $295
25/08/12 22/09/12 20/10/12 Sat & Sun Sat & Sun Sat & Sun 1000 - 1700 1000 - 1700 1000 - 1700
$95
22/10/12 Saturday 1000 - 1700
This workshop, limited to six participants, offers an in-depth, step-by-step system for organizing your image files and streamlining your workflow in a hands-on and personal learning environment. $135
30/09/12 24/11/12 Sunday Saturday 1000 - 1700 1000 - 1700
$295
01/11/12 Thursdays 1900 - 2200
10
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Level 3 - advanced
Creative Lighting
1 Day This premium, intensive day of shooting is a format unique to VPW and will have you creating interesting and intriguing, images using top models and lighting equipment under the guidance of one of our most creative and seasoned photographers, Wayne Hoecherl..
3rd Annual
$350
26/09/12 Wednesdays 1900 - 2200
$225
09/09/12 Sunday 0900 - 1700
1 Day 24/11/12 Saturday 0900 - 1700 From portraits to landscapes to architecture, Lightroom has amazing tools to help you get the most out of your images. This semi-private workshop, limited to 6 participants, will teach you Small Strobes Bootcamp how to use the Lightroom Develop module to its full creative 2 Days potential with lots of hands-on and personal instruction. This workshop, lead by acclaimed local photojournalist $135 Christopher Morris, is designed for all you Strobists out there, looking not only to practice your skills in a professional 13/10/12 Saturday 1000 - 1700 environment but also to pick up additional tips and tricks that take your images to the next level.
Indulge in gourmet coffee and pastries from our friendly neighbours at Cocoa Nymph Enjoy delicious BBQ eats and cold drinks Browse our community Photo Gear Garage Sale
$350
20/10/12 Sat & Sun 0900 - 1700
$195
17/11/12 Sat & Sun 1000 - 1700
$350
31/10/12 Wednesdays 1900 - 2200
$150
19/08/12 18/11/12 Sunday Sunday 1000 - 1700 1000 - 1700
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[email protected]
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specialty workshops
Hands-On HDR
1 Day This workshop looks at how the process of HDR imaging can improve your photography for many different subjects. We will discuss how to know when HDR is the right technique for the final image you want to produce, and work through the process $295 of creating effective, jaw-dropping HDR images. 13/10/12
$350
03/11/12 Fri 1900 - 2200 Sat & Sun 1000 - 1700
$195
1000 - 1700
26/08/12 27/10/12
Sunday Saturday
$350
16/10/12 Tuesdays 1900 - 2200
$295
13/11/12 Tuesdays 1900 - 2200
$395
06/09/12 Thursdays 1700 - 2200
Photographing Kids
1.5 Days Kids are impetuous, unpredictable and absolutely full of energyso how do photographers get them to sit still for the camera? This workshop is a glimpse at some tricks of the trade, with a hands-on BYOK (Bring-Your-Own-Kid) shooting session to put your newfound skills to the test.
$195
22/10/12 Mon 1900 - 2200 Tue 0900 - 1200
$295
22/11/12 Thursdays 1900 - 2200
Femme Fatale
9 Sessions This workshop is designed exclusively for women who are drawn to fine art nude photography. Through lectures and workshops youll explore evocative lighting concepts with an emphasis on figurative language. Regular critique sessions will encourage critical thinking and aesthetic awareness and help you to grow as an artist.
$595
11/09/12 Tuesdays 0900 - 1200
Pinhole Photography
2 Days In this digital age of megapixels and megabites, a step back into retro photographic processes can be a fresh and inspiring perspective on creative photography. In this workshop the basics of photography will be explored through the construction of a simple box camera. Youll be surprised and delighted by the unexpected images created using this historical process.
Macro Photography
2 Days Mini landscapes and colourful abstacts are limited only by your imagination. Macro photography opens up endless possibilities for $350 the photo enthusiast. 22/10/12
$195
Mondays
1830 - 2130
$295
08/12/12 Sat & Sun 1000 - 1700
15/09/12
1000 - 1700
$295
22/10/12 Fri 1900 - 2200 Sat & Sun 1000 - 1700
$195
21/09/12 Fri 1900 - 2200 Sat & Sun 1000 - 1700
$350
27/10/12 Sat & Sun 1000 - 1700
$195
28/10/12 Sunday 0900 - 1700
12
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master classes
Greg Gorman
Weekend Workshop Vancouver Photo Workshops proudly presents this intensive weekend workshop, Greg Gorman on Portraiture with internationally acclaimed photographer Greg Gorman.
photo tours
Photo Tour: World Heritage Urban Destination Quebec City
7 Days
Join photographers Richard Hulbert and Marc Koegel in le Vieux-Qubec for a photographic experience steeped in history. Set in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia, this is an incredible Imagine 7 days of visual delights in one of the select UNESCO opportunity to expand your visual horizons under the guidance World Heritage Cities on the planet . . . Old Quebec City, of one of the great masters in contemporary photography. Take Quebec, Canada part and experience a renewed sense of energy, inspiration and $1695 vitality in your photography. Sept 22 - 29, 2012
$1295
31/08/12
See Website
Follow veteran photographer Kaj R. Svensson through his favourite photography destination. Kaj will guide you through one of Americas most striking landscapes on a photographic journey Vancouver Photo Workshops proudly presents this intensive two day hands-on workshop,Learn to Light with internationally designed specifically to maximize your shooting opportunities. renowned photographer and workshop leader Don Giannatti. Youre sure to come away from this trip with the best travel After the great sucess of Dons workshop in 2011, we knew we photos youve ever made. had to get im back to Vancouver! Contact us for pricing and itinerary details This is really like no other workshop out there! Oct 14 to 21, 2012
Check out our website for earlybird discounts on select workshops and courses. Register for any of our courses and workshops using our secure, fast and convenient online registration system. We accept Visa and Mastercard for online registrations. Debit, cash and cheques are accepted in person at our Vancouver studio. Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm [email protected] 778.898.5256
Course details and dates are subject to change. Please visit
$650
13/10/12 See Website Sat & Sun
$650
30/11/12 See Website Fri, Sat & Sun
Douglas Kirkland
Weekend Workshop Vancouver Photo Workshops proudly presents this exclusive weekend workshop, A Master Class with Douglas Kirkland with iconic photographer Douglas Kirkland from Los Angeles. This will be Douglass first ever workshop conducted in Vancouver, and VPW is proud to be bringing him up here! This workshop is for aspiring and professional photographers that are looking to advance their photographic skills to a level only an iconic photographer like Douglas Kirkland can elicit. During this weekend workshop, Douglas Kirkland will give students exposure into the mind of one of the photo industrys most influential artists.
$1100
18/01/12 See Website Fri, Sat & Sun
Freeman Patterson
JUST ANNOUNCED! Freeman Patterson will be returnng to Vancouver in January 2013. Check website for full details.
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SOUTHWEST
PHOTO TOUR
AMERICAN
Certain things catch your eye, but pursue only those that capture your heart.
- Unknown
Its high noon and Im standing on the surface of the moon being buffeted by a hot cross-breeze. The vista that unfolds before me is otherworldly. Red and white rock collides into a jagged layer cake of ancient history, and its so arresting that I cant look away. This is the American Southwestspecifically; the Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada, and its the last stop on a week-long road trip that has taken me from Las Vegas, east to the South Rim of the majestic Grand Canyon, then north to the awe-inspiring Bryce Canyon and finally to this wind-swept land so ancient and arid that its like being swallowed by a classic western film. The sun, heat and wide-open space were a welcome respite from the long dreary Vancouver winter, and as I drove in a wide arc around the Southwest Mountain States I was surprised, almost hourly, at how much the landscape changed. Mocha-coloured flatlands would suddenly drop away into gaping canyons. Rolling ranch land would spring up into majestic red spires reaching for the sky. From a photographers perspective, the aesthetic appeal of the terrain is undeniable, but its the history of the place that gives depth to the dramatic panorama. Prehistoric humans occupied the Valley of Fire as early as 300 B.C. and their legacy is left behind in scores of petroglyphs peppering the red rock formations. In recent history it was the early settlers whose romantic tales of conquering this rugged frontier were, until this journey, only the stuff of Hollywood flicks. The reality is even more enchanting than the fiction. By Christa LeCraw
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Yunnan
PHOTO TOUR
China
Yunnan China is famous for its striking scenery, eclectic culture and diverse ethnic population. Colours and textures are bountiful in this varied landscape, providing endless inspiration for adventure-seeking photographers.
Photographers have unique travel habits. We like to take our time, and wait until the light is just right. We plan our days around those magic sunrise and sunset hours and lug around heavy gear to capture the magic before us. Vancouver Photo Workshops is partnering with Silkway Travel & Cruise to bring a new travel experience to photography enthusiasts with tours designed specifically to maximize photographic opportunities in some of the worlds most breathtaking natural and urban settings. Join our experienced photography guides in discovering new corners of the world while capturing it all in the best travel photos youve ever taken.
vancouverphotoworkshops.com
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KIDS IN THE
FRAME
BY MARY L G JENSEN
-nationally accredited portrait photographer MPA, F/PPABC
The only way to photograph children is to get them to come to you. What I mean is, you need to engage them and get them interested in doing what you want them to do; Sit up straight? Look at the camera? Smile? Get your finger out of your nose? They have no interest in doing what you want just because you want it. You have to make them want it and I find the way to get kids to want what I want, is to make it fun! Its important to focus entirely on the kids while youve got their attention, and that means being set up and 100% ready for them. Its no fun running after kids while dealing with technical glitches. You have to plan ahead, be prepared, and do what it takes to make it happen. Then, you can achieve great lighting, great backgrounds and great expressions, all in one frame.
Mary will be teaching a new workshop on photographing children in October. See VPW course listings for fulll details.
Lets touch on three of these depth cues here: Vertical and Horizontal Planes Think of the walls and floors of buildings and rooms as physical planes that, if composed appropriately, can make a huge difference in creating a feeling of 3D space. The location of the camera relative to these planes has a significant effect on the creation of the sense of depth for the prospective buyer. Subject or Object Overlaps Overlapping objects add to the feeling of depth. The staging or placement of furnishings in a photograph can increase the perception of depth. Windows and doorways can be used to further provide a sense of depth. Photographing through portals from one room to another can set up a great on-line or on-paper home tour for a potential buyer. Size Progression of Like Elements When the viewer of a photo senses like elements that get progressively smaller or larger, the notion of depth is enhanced. These elements might be columns, windows, light fixtures,or patterns in the floor or ceiling of buildings that can be used to advantage.
For a hands-on photography experience covering real estate, architecture and design, check out Richards VPW course listings.
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vancouverphotoworkshops.com
th e d ow nloa d
wi th
In this climate where the creative tides are rising, Pinter is staying afloat by adapting to new technologies & evolving his aproach to digital imaging.
St e ve Pin t er
What are your thoughts on CGI and how do you see it impacting the photography industry? I see CGI as just another tool in the arsenal of image making. Does it really matter if the image was created entirely in CGI or shot in camera or a Photoshop composite of dozens of images? In the end if you create a compelling image, how you got there is irrelevant. As far as how it is impacting the photography industry - anything that needs to look perfect - a car, bottle of beer, a wristwatch, or cosmetic product - these are already transitioning to CGI. It's the best way to represent these objects. Now a photographer can lament the loss of work in these categories or see an opportunity to be the visionary (read: Director or DOP) in the CGI studio. What is the photographer's number one talent? Seeing light. It doent matter if its film or digital or CGI - that eye for quality of light is what is needed to make that great image. Do you think there's still a place for darkroom and other conventional processes? Yes. I have a lot of respect for B&W printing - seeing the image come up in the developer. It's still magic to me. But, I find that I don't have the precise control, the repeatability that I have gotten used to with Photoshop....and I don't miss the chemistry. What other types of media inform your work? I love to look at painting - the Dutch masters in particular. It is amazing how they made such photorealistic images with the careful application of dabs of paint. I find it incredible to look at a painting and see the detail, the brilliance, and then look closely and see what tricks they played on the eye. Who are the photographers you'd absolutely love to work with? What photographers, dead or alive, inspire you? Elliott Erwitt is my all time favourite photographer. I love his sense of humour. He is a keen observer of people and he finds humour just about anywhere. Micheal Kenna, for his beautiful B&W work and his reserved style of presentation. Arnold Newman, for his portraits. And W. Eugene Smith, for some of the most compelling prints I have ever seen. What's your favourite blog or website? www.aphotoeditor.com www.macperformanceguide.com Does the Mac or PC debate really matter, or does it all come down to Adobe? This is the same as the C vs N debate. It is a religious war and you can not reason with fanatics. Either platform is a viable choice.
here were you born? Vancouver. I always joke that I am one of three people actually born in Vancouver. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? Race car mechanic. My parents taped an interview with me when I was two or three years old and I say I want to fix race cars. My insensitive dad asks 1969 Chevys? I say no, I want to fix green ones. I now take that to indicate Lotus or Aston Martin. You know, British racing green. What is your absolute, can't live without, favorite Photoshop tool? Curves What is your most used/ useful Keyboard short cut? That's easy. Command Z [undo] Canon or Nikon and why? The contrarian in me says why so narrow minded? How about Apple iPhone for snaps, Fuji X100 for serious snaps, Hasselblad and PhaseOne for serious work? I have a soft spot for old Pentax glass so I use a Pentax K-5 for my personal work. There are bits of C and N gear that intrigue me....Canon's TS-E 17mm f/4 and Nikon's D800 come to mind. So, can I mount the TS-E 17mm on the D800? Of course not. Do you use any other software in your workflow? Yes, Lightroom, Capture One, Phocus, Photomatix, Modo
Whats your favourite visually inspiring film? Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon - some of the most beautiful cinematography in film. Any thoughts on the future of the photography industry? Adapt or die. There will be even more rapid changes than what we have seen in the past ten years. We have to be open to changing expectations from clients seeing opportunities as change comes. Some kinds of photography will be going away, but new opportunities with present themselves. Don't be average. The bottom is pushing upwards. The low end is getting better and you have to offer something extraordinary to not be drowned in the rising tide.
Do you listen to music while working at the computer? Depends on the kind of work I am doing. Sometimes I need total silence to concentrate on the task at hand. Other times I have either instrumental music, vocal music, or even podcasts like This American Life and Radiolab and All Songs Considered playing. Sometimes I have an audiobook playing. That's how I "read" the Steve Jobs Biography. How else do you like to spend your time, when you're not tethered to a computer screen? I am the current custodian two fine old Studebakers. Wash and drive.
Steve will be teaching a Photoshop course at Vancouver Photo Workshops starting September 26. See VPW course listings for fulll details
vancouverphotoworkshops.com
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D OU G L A S K I RK L A ND
See a master at work and gain a more intimate understanding of that special connection between a photographer and his subject
This workshop is a rare opportunity for aspiring and professional photographers alike, to advance their photographic skills under the guidance of one of the industrys most influential artists. Mr Kirkland lifelong commitment to the pursuit of creative excellence is what drives our industry forward, and to experience such vigor straight from the source is an opportunity NOT TO BE MISSED.
DON GIANNATTI
Real world information you can use immediately to increase the level of your photography. And it is intensive... no sitting around, no wasted time, we even shoot through lunch! This is like no other workshop out there.
GREG GORMAN
on portraiture
Be inspired and guided by a true Master. Shoot amazing models, all cast by Mr Gorman himself, at incredible locations. And because this is a true Greg Gorman Workshop experience, we have even thought about the wine. Take part and experience a renewed sense of energy, inspiration and vitality in your photography.
W
STUDIOS
the natural eye with
WEST 7 STUDIOS
O P E N I N G FA L L 2 0 1 2
A N E W C R E AT I V E S PA C E
Allow your intuition to guide your creative response and gain an enlightened perspective on landscape photography. This workshop is a chance to transcend technical concerns and focus on the art and craft of fine image making. Youll learn to respond to the essence of the landscape around you and to translate that vision into successful imagery.
www.vancouverphotoworkshops.com/masterphotoseries
vancouverphotoworkshops.com photohaus magazine fall 2012
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Fall|Winter Exhibitions
09|07|12 C H I C [Open Call for submissions]
PHOTO H A U S GALLERY
Elegant and stylishly fashionable. Submission deadline: 08.17.12 Visit us online for more details.
09|28|12 N U D E I N T H E H O U S E
One house. One Model. Twelve photographers. Thirty minutes each.
A photographic exhibition featuring the work of ourexhibition and critique students, curated by katie huisman at PhotoHaus gallery
PhotoHaus Gallery 14 West 7th Avenue Vancouver, BC V5Y 1L6 Canada [email protected] www.photohausgallery.com vancouverphotoworkshops.com
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