Newsletter No. 65: December 2010
Get an e-mail notification when a new newsletter appears on this site
CONTENTS
- Season’s Greetings
- In Appreciation
- Christmas Presentation Special at the Gallery: Please join us Dec. 29th
- Nature’s Gift of Beauty: A Christmas Decoration
1. Season’s GreetingsA Christmas Ritual
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s Notes: Canon EOS-1Ds Mk.III. This image was made with settings of ISO 400; f-8; 1/250sec; with a 24-105mm lens set to 55mm. The challenge with a group shot such as this is getting everyone to act natural. I purposely did not try to set this shot up, I merely kept trying to place myself in a good position to anticipate the natural occurrence of everyone being happy and in the spirit of Christmas. One approach is to play the odds-game by making 7-10 exposures in rapid succession and choosing the best one. I tend to observe closely and sense the exact moment when to press the shutter. I may do this 2 or 3 times and then choose the best. Less mechanical and more intuitive. From all of us to all of you, Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday.
The midwinter pleasures for us are simple: a cross country ski through the Cariboo countryside, a walk with our dog, having friends over to share Christmas cheer, and enjoying our family through lifelong traditions and rituals. Heading out to the forest to get a Christmas tree has been one of those traditions that Rita and I have shared with our respective families for a lifetime. Here we share it with family and friends.
For all of you, wherever you may live, we wish health, friendship and peace.
Blessings to all.
Chris, Rita, and Teresa
2. In AppreciationEven the Mountain Goats came to the Shows!
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s Notes: Canon EOS-1Ds Mk.III. This image was made with settings of ISO 400; f-8; 1/800sec; with a 100-400mm lens set to 320mm. Although it was August, there was a freezing wind and a snow storm was approaching. Using a tripod, I was concentrating on the shapes within the composition when a group of mountain goats came up onto the ridge. This provided an unexpected centre of interest which I immediately placed in the right-hand third of the picture space. This is a perfect example of using the ‘rule of thirds’ for compositional strength. Having the goats walking into the picture space is also important. If you examine how your eyes wander through this image, you will note the importance of the shapes as well as the small centre of interest. Over the past two months, Rita and I have travelled throughout a good part of B.C. on our Motherstone book promotional tour, making numerous slide show presentations and speaking to hundreds of people at Christmas Craft Fairs and Farmers Markets. At the grand launch in 100 Mile House, as well as the presentations on Quadra Island and in Campbell River, we were joined by writer Harold Rhenisch.
All in all, it was a rich and rewarding experience for all of us. Being able to meet so many of you personally, feeling your support, and hearing your appreciation for the entire endeavour, was a wonderful reward.
Harold, Rita, and I wish to sincerely thank all of you for joining us at our presentations, and visiting us at craft fairs. We feel deeply appreciative.
I’d also like to express my sincere appreciation to all my Newsletter subscribers; to all of you who have responded to these Newsletters with e-mails of encouragement and inspiration; and to everyone around the world who has supported me and my work.
As I have said before, I feel grateful to be a photographer, to live in this part of the world, and to be able to share my passion with so many people. Exploring and photographing this land enriches my spirit, and to be able to invite others in to that spiritual richness through the creative processes of making imagery and publishing books is to me ‘living the dream’. In order to do this I have the loving support of my partner Rita, along with so many friends and family who share with and inspire me in so many different ways. I am deeply appreciative.
Photographers such as my father Chic Harris, Freeman Patterson, and Jim Brandenburg have inspired me in my photography for years. I am also supported by family, friends, fellow artists, and technical people. In return I try and help those who come to me for guidance and support with their photography. This Newsletter is one of those ways in which I enjoy ‘giving back’.
Thank you.
3. Christmas Presentation Special at the Gallery: Please join usVolcanic Dyke with Christmas Decor!
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s Notes: Canon EOS-1Ds Mk.III. This image was made with settings of ISO 250; f-20; 1/100sec; with a 17-35mm lens set at 24mm. Examine the composition carefully. First, note how your eyes travel through the picture space. In the front part of the image there is an implied triangle; the beautiful volcanic dyke as the main centre of interest along with two rock boulders to the left and right of the dyke’s base. In the background are another set of powerful shapes. Each plays a role in the overall compositional balance. The arrangement or placement of each of these elements is critical to the strength of the overall composition. On October 16th we had the grand launch of the book Motherstone, but several of our friends were out of town and others couldn’t make it because of parenting commitments. So on December 29th at 2pm, we are going to present a shorter and more casual version of the presentation, especially suited for the children in the audience. Everyone is welcome; families with children as well as adults of all ages.
Also, we would appreciate an RSVP so that we have an idea of how many will be attending.
Please join us at:
The Chris Harris Gallery
5577 Back Valley Road
December 29th at 2pm
RSVP to 250-791-6631
4. The Gift of Nature’s Beauty: Christmas Bell‘ring the bells that still can ring’
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s notes: This image was made with settings of ISO 400; f-5.6; 1/640sec; with a 100mm macro lens set at 100mm. As I was lying flat on my stomach on the ice, trying to spread my weight so I wouldn’t fall through the ice and into the stream, I made this image without a tripod. Apart from drowning in freezing water, my main concern was to have just enough depth of focus to render the bell sharp. Having the background not sharp, would only give the bell a greater emphasis. While exploring the edge of a small frozen river, I saw this beautifully-shaped bell among the hundreds of icicle shapes. I had never seen anything like this before so was determined to photograph it. I tried a long lens at first to avoid the risk of falling through the ice but I didn’t like the perspective. Eventually I slithered across the ice on my stomach with my 100mm macro lens to make the image you see here. The added bonus of this perspective (which I didn’t realize at first) was the blue colour reflecting off the sky above.
One of the greatest aspects of photography is the exploring and the discovery of the unexpected. The gift of this simple, yet beautifully-shaped bell was the highlight of the entire day. It was a gift of Beauty.
Get notified when a new newsletter appears on this site