Silver Creek Photography

Many of you have been asking about photographing weddings, either as a sideline or a full time profession. Too often people take this on without knowing the ins & outs of the business, and run into difficulties. Photographing a wedding, while rewarding and often a lot of fun, is a huge responsibility, and this course will help you be prepared for every situation. I’m teaching it at the Arboretum in Guelph, where we will be able to use the gardens as a backdrop for our practice session with models. Check my workshop schedule for all the details.

Once again the annual juried Insights show is open at the Wellington County Museum near Elora. Many art forms are represented, including painting, photography, fibre art, ceramics and sculpture. I am pleased to say that I had two pieces selected for the show, and received the third place overall award for one of my photographs, an untitled study of sand and water. The show features the work of leading artists, and I am honoured to be included. Every year the show seems to get better, and this year’s is no exception. Check out the Wellington County Museum website for more information.

What a wonderful night we had for the Night & Low Light Photography Workshop on June 25 at the Guelph Arboretum. We started by photographing the sunset, with dramatic cloud patterns and vivid colours. The full moon rose on cue, providing a perfect backdrop for the garden structures and trees at the Arboretum. Once it was fully dark, we experimented with “painting” with flash, and flashlight, creating stunning images of the fountains by moonlight. Even the bugs stayed away. I love teaching this class, as I have as much fun as the participants.

I will be posting my fall workshop schedule shortly, so check back and keep an eye on the listings. We have expanded the program at the Arboretum, and of course, I still will be offering courses at the Elora Centre for the Arts, and F-Stop Cameras in Orangeville. I don’t want to wish the summer away, but I’m looking forward to the fall program.

Be sure to stop by Art in the Yard, at the Elora Centre for the Arts next weekend, July 10 & 11. This annual event showcases the work of over 50 artists in the grounds surrounding the Centre. Plan on staying for a while…there’s live music, mimes, great food, and a creative area where you can make your own masterpiece. The artists are selected by a jury of their peers, and all works are originals. I’ll be there both days, with a variety of new work from the past year, as well as cards and autographed copies of my book “A Living river by the Door”. I look forward to seeing you there. Check out the ECFTA website for more information.

Join us for a Night & Low Light Photography Workshop at the Guelph Arboretum on Friday, June 25 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Timed to take advantage of the full moon, we’ll be outdoors shooting in the dark, painting with flash, photographing moody night scenes and more. Dress for the weather, and bring a flashlight. Check my workshop schedule for registration information.

Due to popular demand, we have added a morning session of Garden & Wildflower Photography at the
Guelph Arboretum. This one will run from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. The first half will be in the classroom for instruction, then we head outside to the forests and meadows of the Arboretum to practice. Contact the Arboretum to sign up…don’t leave it too late, as this is a really popular class.

Due to weather issues, I have rescheduled my Advanced Equine Photography Workshop for Sunday, May 30. The class runs from 10:00 until 4:00, and is held at Travis Hall Equestrian Centre near Fergus. You will learn about shooting action photos of various disciplines including dressage, jumping, western events and mounted. There will be riders to practice on throughout the day. You need to bring a DSLR/SLR style camera and lots of extra memory space. The cost for the day is $150 + GST. Lunch is included. Pre-registration is required, as the class size is limited. Contact me if you need more information, or would like to sign up.

I have scheduled a full-day Introduction to Photoshop class for Saturday, May 8 at the Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville St. in Elora. The class will run from 9:30 until 4:30 or so, with a 1 hour lunch break.

This is a hands-on class, where you will be editing a variety of photos to learn about the most common Photoshop features, including photo correction & enhancement, as well as working with layers and higher functions to create composite images and special effects. If possible you should bring your own laptop with either Photoshop Elements 7 or a higher version installed. You can download a 30 day trial from www.adobe.com. There are a few computers available t use as well. You will receive extensive notes with this class so you can practice later as well.
This course is outside the normal programming at the ECFTA, so you would need to contact me directly for more info, or to sign up. You can also be added to my waiting list for the next class if this date doesn’t suit you.

I will be teaching Photoshop classes in small groups this spring, as many of you have been asking. The course will cover basic editing and manipulation, and will include working with layers and adjustments. We’ll look at creative techniques to simply enhance your images or delve into the realm of photo-impression. Classes will run either on a few evenings, or a full day of a weekend. You would need your own laptop, or let me know if you need one of mine. Actual dates will be determined once I have enough people for the course. Let me know if you want to be included, and I’ll add you to my list.

I am honoured and thrilled to announce that I have received the “Best in Show” Award for my photograph “Pond Study”, at the Spring Awakenings show at the Alton Mill, near Orangeville. I would also like to congratulate the two Honourable Mention winners, Kai-Liis McInnes for “Guys Night Out and No Where To Go” and Catherine Cadieux for “The Last of the Snow.”

The image “Pond Study” represents a style of photography I have been pursuing over the past few years. It is a reflection of trees on a pond surface, with waterlilies floating above the trunks. A twist of perspective gives an other-worldly effect, and hints at a dream world beneath the surface. Often our impressions are arrived at hastily, but this image invites the viewer to study it and perhaps bring their own ideas into the scene.

The show features the work of many talented Headwaters Arts members, and includes both two and three-dimensional art forms. Join us for the grand opening of the show on May 1 and 2 for a celebration of arts, gardens & music at the historic Alton Mill.

I hope to see you there!