Newsletter No. 102: January 2014

Newsletter No. 102: January, 2014
© Chris Harris. All rights reserved.

CONTENTS:

1. 2014 Photographic Seminars & Workshops: A Chance to ‘ Learn & Leap’ into the world of Creative Photography
2. 2014 Photographic Tours: Unparalleled Photo Opportunities
3. BC Fjord Lands: 6 Days & 5 Nights of endless Photographic Creativity
4. The “Great White Wave”: The True Taste of Organic Farming
5. Artist’s Studio: Studying Composition in Ireland

Hi everyone,

An exciting new year begins!
As I say in all my workshops and seminars, “I’ve never been so excited about photography as I am right now”. I might also say, I’ve never been so excited about sharing what I know about photography as I am right now.

This year, as an extension of my Newsletters, I am offering a series of seminars, workshops and tours to assist photographers in taking their creativity to a new level.

I am excited to share the creative process. I hope you can join me on one of the opportunities described below.

I will also take you to an artist’s studio in Ireland, an organic farm, and out to BC’s fjord lands to see what we might expect to photograph on one of this year’s photo tours.

 

1. 2014 Photographic Seminars & Workshops: A Chance to ‘ Learn & Leap’ into the world of Creative Photography

One-Day Seminars: This year, I am offering a series of one-day photo seminars based out of the Chris Harris Gallery. They are designed for the beginner, and advanced intermediate.

In photography, we express ourselves by the arrangement or juxtaposition of compositional elements, the techniques which our cameras allow us to use, and our interest in the subject matter we choose to photograph.

In these seminars, we will first discuss what those elements of composition are, and how to recognize them with ‘photographic eyes’. I will then demonstrate the most effective ways to arrange those elements, and the techniques you can use to better communicate how you feel about your subject.

Critique sessions will emphasize the strengths and weaknesses of creative techniques and communicative composition.

By the end of the day, you will see the world around you differently, and you will have become a more creative photographer.

Three-Day Workshop: After a comprehensive review of the most important aspects of composition, we will spend time in the field learning how to recognize strong compositions, and how to use the camera techniques available to us to express how we feel about the subject matter we are photographing.

During 1 1/2 days of intensive field work, you will have assignments and you will be challenged. There will be individual assistance and instruction throughout these assignments.

The final day of open discussion and critiquing of images is always felt to be one of the most constructive and valuable learning experiences. By the end of the workshop, you should feel inspired to see more deeply, and to express both your feelings, and that of your subject, in more creative ways.

 

2. 2014 Photographic Tours: Unparalleled Photo Opportunities

 

In 2014, my shooting priority is for my final and most comprehensive book on the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast region of BC. My goal is to capture the most powerful imagery possible. In response to many requests, I have chosen to share three of my photographic excursions with a limited number of people who wish to join me.

To operate these trips, I have chosen three dramatic landscapes, and three outfitters who know these landscapes intimately. All are dedicated to assisting me in accomplishing my photographic goals.

 

These trips are tours designed to take us to unique photographic locations; places where people are unlikely to get to on their own. My primary goal each day will be to photograph for my book assignment. Everyone will be a part of my daily shoot preparations, the entire day’s shoot and my complete shooting workflow. I will be a resource person for participants, but without a formal workshop program.

 

 

I’m excited to be heading out, and I am looking forward to the company of other dedicated photographers, all in the search of beauty and creativity.

3. BC Fjord Lands: 6 Days & 5 Nights of Endless Photographic Creativity
In this, and the next two Newsletters, I will share a few images that might give you an inkling of the photographic potential on each of this summer’s photo tours.

In the order of tour departure dates, let’s first visit the fjord lands of the central BC coast, more commonly known as the Great Bear Rainforest.

This past October I spent just two days visiting the coastal town of Shearwater. In that brief time I was amazed at the diversity and photographic opportunities.

 

I hope some of you can join me on a true voyage of discovery on the BC central coast.

4. The Great White Wave: The True Taste of Organic Farming

This past summer I had the pleasure of visiting and photographing the beautiful 2000 acre Big Bear Ranch, nestled in the foothills of the Cariboo Mountains. I was welcomed by Rainer and Gigi Krumsiek, owners and operators of this self-created family farm.

On my initial tour of the farm, I was shown how their grass fed beef, lamb, and pasture-raised pork and poultry, were all sustainably and humanely raised in a natural, low stress environment. They so obviously believed in a holistic balance between land, plants, animals,and people.

I call this image the ‘great white wave’, as a flock of White Cornish meat birds follow Florian and Stefanie Krumsiek. As chics they are put outdoors as soon as possible where they and their portable shelter are transferred daily to fresh green pastures. They are even fed crushed oyster shells for extra calcium.

 

I have seen two documentaries on the chicken industry; both were repugnant. The American documentary ended by stating that over 60% of chicken industry inspectors no longer eat chicken.

I no longer eat chicken in restaurants, but I sure enjoy eating chicken at home where I know where and how the birds were raised. The Krumsiek’s take pride in how they manage their organic farm, and here at home, Rita and I take pride in what we eat and which farmers we support.

The benefits of eating locally (as locally as possible) grown organic fruit, vegetables, and meats, are many. I say, ‘support your local farmers and ranchers as best you can for a healthier and more sustainable planet.’ As the Krumsiek’s pointed out to me, it takes 435 calories of fuel to bring a 5 calorie strawberry from California to British Columbia.

This photographic project has been in support of Rita’s community-building and local agriculture economic development activities with the South Cariboo Agri-Culture Enterprise Centre; seen here in an introductory video.

5. Artist’s Studio: Studying Composition in Ireland

Last month I visited my sister, Jane O’Malley, in Ireland. Jane is an acclaimed painter whose signature still life paintings of jugs, pots and flowers have become internationally recognizable. I always find it a thrill and an inspiration to visit her studio.

One evening I had the idea of photographing Jane at work from outside the studio (thinking outside the box!) instead of the usual indoor shot.

Composition: In my workshops, I spend a considerable amount of time discussing the importance of composition. In general terms, composition is the delightful arrangement of elements within the picture space, which has the most powerful effect in attracting our visual attention, and maintaining that attention for as long as possible. Those elements are things like colour, line, form, texture, perspective, patterns and balance.

 

These two still life paintings are set against the volcanic landscape of Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands. Nowhere are the elements of composition more apparent. Examine how one’s eyes move through each painting. The rhythm and balance of the lines, shapes, and colours guides us around the entire painted space; yet we always return to the main anchoring subject.

 

At no time do our eyes want to leave the painting; this demonstrates the structural strength of the composition.

As photographers we benefit from studying all forms of art. I pour over Jane’s paintings and study her compositions in detail. I learn and am inspired. I then take that knowledge and inspiration out into the wilderness with my camera.