CONTENTS:
1. My Fraser River Photo Workshop: Part III – Learning to See more Deeply.
2. Flyover: Counting Down to Lift-Off. A Touch of Blue.
3. Capturing that Emotional Response: When Land and Light Unite
4. Capturing that Emotional Response: When Human Interest Moves You
5. Night Photography: Super Moon
6. Camera for Sale: My Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III
1. My Fraser River Photo Workshop: Part III – Learning to See more Deeply.
I am getting very excited about my upcoming Fraser River photo tour/workshop. The variety of landscape, wildlife, and action photography will be stimulating.
Each participant on this trip will receive a list of thought provoking words and creative techniques. We will use these every day to inspire new and creative ways to see more deeply. We will challenge ourselves visually.
Imagine if we were standing on a river sand bar looking out around us wondering what to photograph, and I said, “think of the word ‘motion’ and then make 5 images”.
Where do you think that thought would take us? I can almost guarantee, that all of our visual thought patterns would change. We would start to see new possibilities. Maybe we would see possibilities such as this:
Photographer’s notes: EOS 5D MkIII; iso 200; f-32; 1/3 sec.; focal length: 135mm. On a tripod. |
What if I then said “think of the word ‘shadows’ and then make 5 images”. Maybe we would see something like this:
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s notes: EOS 5D MkIII; iso 200; f-11; 1/250 sec.; focal length: 58mm. On a tripod. |
What if I then said “think of the word ‘erosion’ and then make 5 images”. Maybe we would see something like this:
“Canyon Wall”
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s notes: Canon EOS-1D Mark II; iso 200; f-10; 1/250 sec; focal length 145mm; On a tripod. |
We all need a regular dose of inspiration and fresh perspectives on seeing the world around us, and that is what each of us will receive on this photo trip. There are now millions of mediocre images being made every day. The goal on this trip is to examine the process of making outstanding imagery. This process is fueled by new ways of seeing and new ways of thinking.
For more information about this trip of a lifetime, visit our website.
To register, visit the Fraser River Adventures website.
2. Flyover: Counting Down to Lift-Off cont’d. A Touch of Blue.
The Flyover book is moving right along. We have just finished doing a last proof so we are getting closer to sending the final output to the printers.
On our “countdown to lift-off” series of articles, I will
continue to share some of the images I made while shooting this
exciting project
“Glacier Ice”
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s notes: One aspect of aerial photography which I really enjoyed, was making instant compositional decisions based mostly on intuition. Evaluating the results on my monitor, as I am doing right now, is a wonderful learning experience. The options ranged from wide angle representational landscapes to telephoto abstractions like above. With my two cameras, I tried to do both. EOS 50D; iso 800; f-8; 1/2000 sec.; focal length: 190mm. Handheld. |
I fell in love photographing glaciers. In the latter part of summer when the snow has melted enough to reveal the ice below, the rhythm, the repetition of lines, and the beautiful shades of blue ice are a photographers dream. Making these kind of images was so exhilarating; not only from a photographers perspective, but as a former mountaineering enthusiast, these crevasses brought back those adrenalin packed feelings of traversing crevasse fields like this…well, not quite like this!
“Trapped Iceberg”
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s notes: The colour and tonal contrast within the iceberg was the only element on the lake that allowed composition to occur. I simply zoomed in and over exposed by 2/3 of an f-stop to ensure the snow remained white. EOS 5D MkIII; iso 800; f-8; 1/2500 sec.; focal length: 108mm. Handheld. |
I am especially proud of this image. We had left the mountain side with its dramatic glaciers, and were flying over a large frozen lake. It could have relaxed, because frozen lakes covered with snow don’t offer much more than just ‘white’.
Fortunately I stayed alert, and what appears to have been a floating iceberg during the summer, was now trapped firmly in the jaws of a frozen lake. Strong winds prevented snow accumulation, revealing this amazing shape and colour of blue ice.
When I saw the image on my monitor I was thrilled. The composition is simple but there is a sense of intrigue and wonderment that draws me into this image.
3. Capturing that Emotional Response: When Land and Light Unite
For me, one of the most powerful and rewarding aspects of being a landscape photographer, is the emotional response I feel when land and the light unite to create a scene that is compelling, evocative, and spiritually uplifting. This was one of those moments.
“Canada Geese in Pre-dawn Light”
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s notes: The most challenging part of making this image was keeping the canoe still. Any ripples that disturbed the reflection would also destroy the stillness and the mood. EOS 5D MkIII; iso 500; f-8; 1/160 sec.; focal length: 35mm. Handheld. |
It was 5:14am, minus 5°C, the moon was still up, and there was no wind. The pre-dawn light combined with a deep stillness had my companion and I in a state of wonderment and awe. We never spoke. We both knew we were celebrating one of life’s special moments. As I lifted my camera, 5 Canada geese flew over the marsh at the perfect altitude. Click. The image above is a memory we will never forget.
4. Capturing that Emotional Response: When Human Interest Stirs You
On a back-country ski trip in Bowron Lake Park with Dave and Sheryl of Whitegold Adventures, I was blessed with what many would consider foul weather. I thought conditions were fantastic!
“Heading Home”
© Chris Harris
Photographer’s notes: My first consideration was to keep my lens dry. One large wet flake could ruin the image. A lens hood would have been useful here. My next consideration was shutter speed. I chose the slowest shutter speed that would render the people as being sharp, because I also wanted a shutter speed slow enough to capture motion in the snow flakes which would help emphasize the mood of the image. I think I got it right on!
EOS 5D MkIII; iso 400; f-16; 1/125 sec.; focal length: 105mm. Handheld. |
When the heavy wet flakes really began to come down, I felt an energy about the human story that was unfolding in front of me. When you look at this image there is no sense of place. These three people could be on an epic expedition across the Canadian North or the Siberian taiga. It’s about the struggle in each of their minds as they try to overcome adversity to reach some destination.
No matter how you may interpret this image, I felt moved by what was happening here. I felt compelled to capture that feeling. I left the track and plowed through deep snow to gain this perspective, of the skiers being separated. I paid special attention to their arm and foot movement. I wanted to see each pole and have their legs separated. By clicking the shutter at the wrong moment I’d have three one-legged skiers looking like they were about to do a face-plant.
I am very pleased to have captured a moment which powerfully drew me.
5. Night Photography: Super Moon
“Super Moon”
© Chris Harris
On May 5th, the full moon was 13,000 kms closer to 100 Mile House than it usually is, and it appeared 30% brighter and 14% larger than normal. It was an amazing sight.
Photographer’s notes: I decided to shoot this image as an HDR; three different exposures, each differentiated by 2 f-stops. Using Photomatics, I was able to bring out the small details within the illuminated townsite. Compositionally, it is the implied triangle of the truck, the moon, and its reflection that gives the image strength. EOS 5D MkIII; iso 100; f-11; HDR (3 images at various shutter speeds); focal length: 99mm; On a Tripod. |
I was sitting in my office working late when my friend Shayne called me at 9pm from Vancouver to see if I was out photographing the full moon. He said, “if it’s clear, you better get your ass out there NOW!”
Within 10 minutes I was speeding down Back Valley Road searching for the “super moon”. I couldn’t find it anywhere, so I went to the highway and drove toward town. I eventually saw the moon but there was nothing interesting as a foreground. Then I thought of the 100 Mile marsh on the side of town. A reflection would surely make for a grand foreground.
At 9:30pm I had chosen my composition and with my tripod set, I went to work. Thank you, Shayne!
6. Camera for Sale: My Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III 21.1 MP Digital SLR Camera – Black (Body Only)
The Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III is one of Canon’s high end camera models which still retail for over $7,000. Cdn.
I have used this camera for 5 years. It is in excellent condition and perfect working order. I have just had it inspected and cleaned by Canon Canada and it has not been used since. It comes with an L-Bracket and two batteries. Manuals and battery charger are included.
Before putting my camera on the open market, I am offering it first to my Newsletter subscribers at the special low price of $3,775.00. This is a firm price.
If interested, please contact the office here at the Chris Harris Gallery.
T. 250-791-6631
T. 1-800-946-6622
Email: photography@chrisharris.com
- 21.1 Megapixel
- Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
- 3.0″ LCD with Live View
- 5 fps Burst
- Dual DIGIC III Image Processor
- Self-Cleaning Sensor
- Fast AF system
- Picture Style Settings
- Weather Resistant Body
- Accepts UDMA CF Cards