I’ve been out of touch for a month. Sorry about that. I seem to be busier now than when I had a full-time career. Recently, I had the pleasure of heading out with my photography club to its annual “retreat”. A chance to immerse myself in all things photographic for a full weekend. We chose a destination that we could drive to in an afternoon, but also one that would require disconnecting from all the demands back home. It was wonderful. Continue reading “In Full Retreat”
Category: Nina Kirienko
Why Are My Photos Blurry?
Something a bit different for today’s post. I gave a short presentation at my local camera club today to answer a question on why photos taken by club members are sometimes blurry. You might find some of this information useful. Continue reading “Why Are My Photos Blurry?”
To Print or Not to Print, That is the Question
We didn’t learn about printing photographs during my training in digital photography. Some of you might say “What did you expect, it was a DIGITAL photography course?”
Good point. But I always felt there was something missing in my training and I recently attended a two day course on printing photographs. It opened my eyes to the value of a hardcopy print. Here’s why. Continue reading “To Print or Not to Print, That is the Question”
Another Year
We all reflect at this time of year on the things we’ve accomplished, the friends we cherish and how life in general has treated us. In my case, health issues took centre stage, but have ended positively. I also finished school and started to dabble in photography more seriously. I’ve settled into retirement from a full-time career and now have much more flexibility than I have ever had in deciding what to do with my day. And I’m sharing the holiday season with friends and family and having a blast.
But it is time to get serious again and do some planning around where I would like my photography to go next. Continue reading “Another Year”
Adapting to Change
You might think that this is a piece on new photography technology or techniques, but it’s more fundamental than that. A month ago today, I received a new hip, courtesy of the Ontario healthcare system and the wonderful folks at Sunnybrook’s Holland Orthopaedic Centre in Toronto. I’ve affectionately named my hip “Metallica Chalybs”, in honour of the materials out of which she is made. Continue reading “Adapting to Change”
Graduation Day
After two years, 20 courses and a not so trivial investment in gear, I’ve received my diploma in digital photography from Durham College, Canada. I am now a photographer.
My Portfolio
Yesterday, I completed my program in Digital Photography at Durham College, Oshawa, Canada. Although not official until June, I’m ready to strike out on my own and find my niche in this competitive world.
Our last few weeks of school were about defining our photographic style, preparing a compilation of our work, deciding how to present it in print and electronically, and staging a show for industry and family. I found this to be the most revealing and meaningful segment of my education. I emerge from this experience with a better understanding of my interests and style, and with a full portfolio of work to share. Continue reading “My Portfolio”
Why I Shoot Photographs
In a mere three weeks, I will be completing my college education in Digital Photography. I’ll be let loose upon the world to hopefully make a mark. One of the last tasks in our college lives is to assemble a portfolio of work that represents our style and area(s) of focus (pardon the pun). In putting my portfolio together, I thought long and hard about whether I wanted to make my mark commercially or artistically. I decided the latter was more important. Easy for me to say since I have an alternate source of income.
Once that decision was made, I needed to be able to explain my photographs – why I shot them, what they represented and what impact they had on me. Typically labelled an “artist’s statement”, these short spans of text are often poetic and lofty, serving to both reveal and conceal information about the author. By conceal, I mean create some sense of mystery in that the reader would want to know what might come next.
Continue reading “Why I Shoot Photographs”
Seeing Like the Camera – My First Year as a Photographer
As the next college year approaches, I’ve been thinking about what I’ve learned so far about photography, both in and out of the classroom. All the technical and operational basics, for sure, along with lots of creative details that more experience and practice will make stronger. It’s been a great year.
But there is one thing I continue to struggle with overall – it’s simply vision, in all its many forms. That includes seeing clearly as my old eyes dim with time, developing a personal style and creative direction for my work overall, and maybe most puzzling, understanding how the camera, lighting and all of the other gear can be fully exploited to fulfill that vision.
Continue reading “Seeing Like the Camera – My First Year as a Photographer”
Isn’t It Ironic?
Many people find it hard to find the one thing they want to do with their time that makes them happy. For some, they know from an early age that they will be a doctor, lawyer, baker, etc. I never knew. Still don’t. But I do love photography. Over the past year, I’ve immersed myself in it, studied it, practiced it. But it’s been a bit of a hard road. Continue reading “Isn’t It Ironic?”
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