Night Stock Photo
 

Summer 2011

 

Many months have past since my last update, but it's been a wonderful spring, and I'm preparing for a full summer of night photography.

 

I have lots of exciting news to share with you.  One of the biggest changes in photography life is that I am taking a break from teaching photography. I resigned from Metro Continuing Education in February.  I now have free evenings  and I'm focusing on building up the photography business.

 

On a personal note, I bought a horse.  Bonita is a young, sweet Thoroughbred - Andalusian.  We are now a four horse family, and I look forward to scouting out  night photography locations while we go trail riding.

  

 
Shot of the Night
Green Auroras Reflecting on Kananaskis
Green Auroras Reflecting on Kananaskis River

 

 This was a frustrating photo shoot because the weather was not cooperating. When weather is bad, no problem,  I catch up on sleep. In Kananaskis this April, the weather went from one extreme to the next. From rain, snow, and blah grey sky, to clear starry skies and dramatic moonlight. To make matters more challenging, bad weather continuously rolled through every night, and would only clear for an hour at a time. I toughed it out, and just waited around for the right conditions for three nights in a row.

 

 I returned home after this photo shoot discouraged because I thought I was coming home empty handed.  Fortunately, and to my surprise, I did create some unique images on this photo shoot. This photograph of the green northern lights reflecting on the Kananaskis River is a prize.  Intense auroras are rare. This was the first time I'd ever recorded auroras reflecting on a river. Cool! To view the photographs from this night shoot check out the new gallery on my website, www.nightstockphoto.com .

 

The weather seems to be a hot topic for my newsletters. For an outdoor person, who hikes, climbs or skis, weather considerations are important. When I discuss weather conditions,  I'm not just making small talk - because for the outdoor photographer... weather,  location, and light is everything. High impact outdoor photographs, shot day or night, must have dramatic light.
 
Residential Gallery
Ghostly Light
Ghostly Light

A couple years ago, I attended a seminar on marketing by Mitche Graf. Mitche stressed the importance of self-promotion, and recommended that photographers advertise their work by hanging prints  in their studios. He said even if you don't have a studio, you should set up a "Residential Gallery," and hang your photographs in your home. 

 

While I've been on sabbatical, setting up my residential gallery has been my top project. We've been our new home for over a year now, and I have finally had the opportunity to plan, prepare and design my residential gallery. My home is not a high traffic area for art consumers, but surrounding myself with my prints creates and atmosphere of inspiration. 

 

 The image Ghostly Light is one of the images on display in my home. It was captured on an icy outcrop on the Bow River in the town of Banff. I was in this location to photograph the Banff Springs Hotel, and to my delight, when I turned around the the moon was rising over the river.  This images is a good example of all the elements of weather condition, location and light all coming together at the right time and place.  It was a magical experience.


Tips for Designing Your
Residential Gallery
  
 
Moonlight Shadows
Moonlight Shadows, Elk Island National Park

How many photographers have fantastic images stored on their computer that never get printed? Digital photography and the Internet have changed the way we view and share photographs. Most of us post our images online, or upload to a website, but we don't automatically print our images. One of the primary advantages of creating large prints is you can test the quality of your digital file. Blow it up big, and test if the image has the brightness, colour and sharpness that you desire.

 

Here's some tips for setting up a residential gallery in your home:

 

 

1. Select a room or a wall that has good natural light. A room that is well lit with window light will not need supplemental lights during the day. In the evening, I light my prints with warm tungsten light and use photo lights that attach to the frame or canvas for extra illumination.

 

2.  Show your best work.  Choose images that show your technical and creative photography skills, and then get feedback from other photographers to ensure you have made the best selection.

 

3.  Print it large or make a collage of smaller prints.  Group images according to a theme, subject, location, or colour. The display of photographs on the wall should be a unified composition. 

 

4. Experiment with different types of paper, framing, and mounting techniques. Try glossy or metallic paper, or have your images prepared as a stretched canvas. A two inch gallery wrap canvas looks great for a dynamic landscape. 

 

5. Shop around to find a good quality printer and framer.  Print small test prints  and make necessary adjustments to it before you produce the enlargements.  Nothing worse then hanging a wall portrait, only to then realize that the image looks flat and is lacking in contrast!

 

Another advantage of having your photographs professionally printed, framed and on display in your home, is for when the opportunity arises to show your work in an exhibit or an art gallery, you  have images ready to go. So it's a good idea to sign your print or canvas, or even sign the mat around the photograph so that it looks professional.

 

 I taught with Metro Continuing Education in Edmonton for five years.  One thing that I have always promoted, whether you do photography for profit or for pleasure, is to strive to improve your skills. Be the best photographer you can be, and allow your dedication to the craft to be reflected in the quality of your work. 

 

Help me to grow my distribution list. Please  pass  this newsletter to friends and family that have an interest in photography.

 

Have a wonderful summer of photography. I look forward to chatting with you soon,

 

Chantal

 

 

Chantal and Bonita
Chantal and Bonita

 

Contact Information
Website: www.nightstockphoto.com 
Phone: 780-417-1919

 

 

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