I'm not a bird photographer but I went on an outing with a friend who is. Getting out into nature and seeing eagles in their natural habitat was invigorating. Mind you, now I understand the phrase "bird on a stick photo". In the 45 minutes that I watched this eagle, it did nothing more than move its head from time to time.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
The Vancouver Street Photography Collective features a weekly theme on its VSPC Instagram account. I created these images for the upcoming theme Red with my iPhone.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
I made these photographs on short outings or walks in the area between Windsor and Reading in the UK. We were there for a family visit, so I didn't bother with my big camera. It's amazing the images that one can create with a smartphone.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Flying a drone opens a world of perspectives for the photographer. For me this image asks what is the story of this abandoned house and what creates the circular tracks surrounding it?
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Sometimes a clipped image tells the story better than the full image would. For this photograph I first found the location and was attracted to the leading lines and the triangles in the background. Then I waited for the right colourful collection of shoes to cross through the scene.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
On Canada Day, I joined friends for the fly-in at the Delta Heritage Airpark. As well as a great assortment of aircraft on display, there were many beautiful antique MG's for car lovers to drool over. I used it as an opportunity to work on patterns and colours in my photographs.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
A clear sky transformed into a sea of clouds. The sky swirled. Then the storm broke. I made this image in Graz, Austria.]]>
In June 2023 Vancouver's Paragon Choir sang in nine cathedrals and churches in Austria and Prague. It was a life experience to join them with my camera and witness these magnificent buildings coming alive with choral music.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Red, green and blue. Together they create an eye-catching image. This photograph was selected for the Vancouver Street Photography Collective's summer 2023 "Vancouver Mood" zine.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
In April I joined a photography outing with friends to Buntzen Lake. The organizer challenged us to create images of half a dozen suggested themes such as moss, spring blossom, fern. This is mine for "forest trail".
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
What do you see when, camera in hand, you spend 12 hours wandering the streets? On March 4, 2023 I was honoured to be one of the photographers doing that in an event organized by the Vancouver Street Photography Collective. Each photographer could pick their own hours and locations. I decided to challenge myself to include an outdoor clock in my photographs for each hour.
Besides providing a creative opportunity for photographers, this VanSPC event raised $1,000 for the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre. With VanSPC being prominent on social media, our outing became a catalyst for international response. Street photographers from Argentina, Cuba, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Nepal, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia among others jumped on the idea to go out and photograph in their own city that day.
To see more images taken during 12 hours, visit Vancouver Street Photography Collective on Instagram #vanspc_12hr
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Street photography can portray human lives without including anyone in the image. This image tells a story. It also raises questions. Who uses this space? Is it a refuge? Does this space allow for a moment away from work? What is the view from the porch?
Hint: there is more than one coffee cup.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>posted by Ted Nodwell
Does a photograph have to be razor sharp? What about taking the exact opposite approach? I made this image during a Vancouver Street Photographers Collective meet up. The theme for the day was "blur".
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
No wonder the Lower Mainland of BC is known as Lotus Land. Jogging in shorts with snow on the ground? Only in Vancouver! At least the dog is wearing warm clothes. I made this image on November 8, 2022 in Central Park.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Romania may not be top-of-mind as a tourist destination. It should be. The cities are vibrant and the countryside offers a relaxed setting with a unique character. Here are a few images that I made in Romania in August, 2020.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
A visit to the UK is always special, so much to see and do. These images are from London and from hiking routes near Bath. April, 2022.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Market day in Graz, Austria. Set-up crew was at work by 4:00am; shoppers were stocking up on a enormous selection of fresh produce by 7:00am.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
What is it about a photograph that draws us in?
In his lectures and workshops retired National Geographic photographer often refers to "second look" photographs. By that he means an image with something that compels the viewer to come back and look deeply at the image. My photography friend Richard Schoon describes both of these images as "slow look" images. The more you look; the more you see.
As your eye wanders over these images and as you take time with them, what stories, what questions, come up for you? Feel free to post comments.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
The fascinating scenes created by people going about life is what intrigues me in street photography. Sometimes though it is time to let the urban buildings tell their own story. I was fascinated by the contrasting drama of this building in downtown Vancouver against a dark sky. Look up, way up!
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
When we get a "blue bird" sky it's a great opportunity for dramatic, high-contrast photography. I was fortunate to go flying with my friend Ken on just such a day and to be able to make this image of Mt. Garibaldi between Whistler and Squamish, BC.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
After 18 months of pandemic delays, we were able to make our long-dream of a safari come true. It was amazing to spend two weeks in the bush seeing the animals co-exist without any human intervention. To see a few additional images, go to Ted's Galleries>Places.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
For a change, I left my full-frame camera at home and did some street photography with my iPhone. In my "Masks Mandatory" image I was attracted to the quirky graffiti arrow pointing directly at the young man's mask.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Boats are small; ships are big. The ship Drive Green Highway, which incorporates leading-edge marine environmental technologies, is MASSIVE! I made this image of Drive Green Highway as it was under way on the Fraser River heading out to sea. The contrast between the ship and the boats in Captain's Cove Marina in Ladner provides dramatic scale and context.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
A little piece of paradise exists in Vancouver's North Shore Mountains. I made these images with my iPhone 12 Pro in RAW format the other day after a fresh dump of snow. They were all taken at the Cypress Mountain Resort which fortunately is open for skiing, with protocols in place during the Covid-19 pandemic.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Sunny days with strong winter side light - that's almost as good as doing photography in the pouring rain (see my previous blog post)! The iconic Marine Building in downtown Vancouver.
posted by Ted Nodwell
It's monsoon season again in Vancouver. I'm always going on about how bad weather makes great photographs. So I just had to go out. I got soaked but created images that made it worthwhile. The camera stayed dry. The best photo accessory I have is a plastic bag with a hole in it for the lens.
posted by Ted Nodwell
I'm pleased that my slideshow, Color Us Covid, has been selected for PhotoMotion 2020.
PhotoMotion 2020 is now available online and it's free! Simply go to the website at https://pdpc.ca/photomotion-2020/
Here are tips to enhance your viewing pleasure:
- For the ultimate experience set aside one hour so you can watch PhotoMotion in it’s entirety in one sitting.
- Use as large a monitor as possible.
- If possible, set streaming to HD1080.
If you can’t watch it in one sitting, or you can’t watch it today, not to worry. PDPC will be leaving it posted for a few months.
Hope you enjoy it. Feel free to share the link with family and friends.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Gotta love "Big Sky Country"! I made this image with my drone on a recent road trip through southern Alberta. Those wide open prairies are ideal for drone photography.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
This photograph of the Milky Way is one that I made on a clear July night in Manning Park, BC. I read that the Milky Way, our galaxy, contains 100 billion stars. The sensors in today's digital cameras have a seemingly magical ability to reveal the grandeur of the night sky.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
The most AMAZING Vancouver sunset ever. I made this photograph with my iPhone while on a walk through Vanier Park.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Sometimes it's fun to try a new approach. Typically I like to photograph a scene to capture a moment, to tell a story. I do very little post processing. On a recent outing to Boundary Bay, I was attracted to the lines, patterns and colours of this scene. While the camera recorded the scene that I saw, in this case I felt it did not recreate the feeling that I had. So I switched my camera to Watercolor setting and tried again. Now it speaks to me.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
As part of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden artist talk series…
Evelyn Nodwell will be presenting “The Art of Photography” this Friday, June 5 at 2pm Pacific Time.
You are invited to join this free online Zoom presentation. For more information and to register please click on
https://vancouverchinesegarden.com/experience/events/?type=upcoming
]]>
Robson Street in Vancouver is a high-end destination for shoppers. During the Covid19 pandemic shops are shuttered. Artists have painted murals on the boarded-over storefronts. Here a montage of black and white portraits have been pasted up. This lone shopper was not coming from a store. His package is from an Amazon online pick-up location. I found it easy to maintain physical distancing as the bustle of Robson Street had gone quiet when I made this image in April, 2020. In fact the street was virtually empty of cars and pedestrians.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Feeling house-bound during the Covid pandemic? Macro photography is not my forte. But with the spring bulbs in our garden radiating brilliant colours, I thought I would try my hand at impressionistic close-ups. Enjoy!
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
To me this image is both complex and simple. Theoretically an image with this many lines going in this many directions should confuse viewers. Yet in this case, it "reads". BTW, I was intentionally looking for a challenging situation to test the autofocus of the new Sony RX10iv.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
II love the serenity of this image. I made this from ferry to ferry on the Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen route (essentially Victoria to Vancouver). It was cold, quiet, and almost dark. No other passengers were out on deck; a perfect time for photography. Hand-held at 1/10 second, panning with the movement of the ship.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Yes it can snow in Vancouver! And bad weather makes for great photographs. When I saw this pedestrian slogging toward the sign, I thought everything would come together. When it did, click!
Images that are a little offbeat or have a touch of humour, cause the viewer to stop and ponder the scene.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Thanks to the good folks at Kerrisdale Camera for organizing a photowalk at the White Rock Pier today, the longest pier in Canada. I had to get up at 5:30am to be on site at the right time. Talk about an Early Bird, that was me! What do you do when a couple of dozen photographers, most with tripods, are scattered along the pier? Look up, and create a graphic detail rendering.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
There weren't any other photographers out on the streets when I made this image.
Did I come home soaked? Yes. Did my equipment need a thorough wipe-down? Yes.
Did I get "the shot"? YES!
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Sometimes I just have to move beyond the realism and detail that digital cameras are so good at capturing. Here's a little used feature built into my Sony A7S - art filters. During a recent visit to Van Duesen Botanical Garden in Vancouver, I decided to use my camera in art filter mode and have fun exploring what images I could create. This bold yet soft image speaks to me.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Making great images at a fair or rodeo is challenging. Yes there is color and action, lots of it. And therein is the problem - how to make a photograph that tells a story while separating the centre of interest from chaos in the background. Recently I took on that challenge at the PNE (Pacific National Exhibition) in Vancouver. First I looked for an interesting subject. Then I watched for a moment and a story. If my photograph has a touch of quirkiness so much the better, I enjoy capturing those moments and find they resonate with people. Every bit as important, I got in close to separate the subject from the background, really really close. I made this image with my zoom on full wide-angle to make the horn occupy most of the frame. But that meant I had to be almost in the horn. How to do that? In this case it was surprisingly easy. The audience had been standing back quite a distance and the band leader invited everyone to move in closer. So I did. Right up to the horn. (Of course, I didn't linger to avoid blocking the view of the audience for long.) As famed Magnum Photos photographer Robert Capa said "If your photographs aren't good enough, you're not close enough."
Posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Whenever I am at a public gathering, I am on the look-out for unique moments that tell a story. I made this image of Grandma Rose's Pies while enjoying the Powell River Farmers Market. This image speaks to me because it has story, moment, gesture, composition and color contrast.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Bad weather is the perfect time to get out and make good photographs. Stormy weather adds atmosphere and drama to a scene. And if we take our cameras out when others are putting theirs away, we stand a better chance of creating an image with a unique look.
Here my goal was to render a moody scene of a snowstorm in Vancouver. I wandered in the flying snow with my camera and tripod for about an hour looking for that magical moment. Later I found it from the comfort of my car while I was waiting at the SkyTrain station to pick up a visitor who wisely decided not to drive in the pandemonium that even a small snowstorm causes on the streets of Vancouver.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
First snowfall of the winter, Lake O’Hara, British Columbia. © Ted Nodwell 2018
When I walk in the mountains, I am in awe of the majesty and beauty. Yet when we try to preserve the scene, our images most often fall short. Our camera has recorded what we saw but not what we felt. Why is that?
Nature is messy. Our eye moves like a video camera and our brain can selectively focus on one thing at a time, separating the subject from the clutter. A stills camera faithfully records all that is in front of it and compiles everything into a single two-dimension rendering. So as photographers we need to work hard on subject separation, layers and lines.
Landscapes are often thought of as being static. They are not. Clouds move. Wind ripples across a lake. Sunbeams strike a peak but leave a valley in shadow. A rain shower blows through. Catching these moments is what creates landscape photographs that have a life.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Mountains, rivers, rich green farm fields, dedicated bike paths, friendly people and fabulous food – this is cycling in Austria. In September 2018 we spent a week pedalling from Innsbruck to Salzburg.
It is possible to join a guided tour with other cyclists, or sign up for a self-guided tour where your accommodation is pre-booked for you, however Evelyn and I decided to head out on our own. As photographers we need the independence of being able to stop when and where we want. Cycling between Innsbruck and Salzburg can be done in five days but we stretched it to seven to give ourselves more flexibility for creating images. By going from Innsbruck to Salzburg, rather than the other direction, we were heading downstream following the rivers. That meant we averaged an easy 60 km/day.
We rented bikes from Crazy Bikez in Innsbruck. Their service was great, setting up excellent bikes to fit us and providing helmets, panniers and a GPS unit with the route pre-loaded. Once we had stuffed the panniers with anything we would need, we left our suitcases with Crazy Bikez and for a reasonable charge they delivered our suitcases and picked up their bikes when we arrived in Salzburg.
Our route out of Innsbruck followed the Inns River as far as Jenbach where we turned for a gentle climb up the Zillertal Valley. At Zell am Ziller we loaded our bikes onto a hikers bus and hitched a ride over a gruelling pass into the valley that would lead to Salzburg. On this part of the trip we went past the beautiful Zell am See lake and the waterfall at Krimml.
The Austrian countryside is ideal for cyclists and hikers with a network of dedicated and mostly paved trails or little-used farm roads. On the weekends you will find entire families out either cycling or walking. E-bikes are becoming common and can be rented, however we used traditional bikes. Although people with e-bikes could pass us going up hills, by the end of the day we would often finish ahead of them. Whenever we needed a break, a welcoming gasthaus would be close at hand serving excellent food and drink. Since we were riding in the off-season we did not book accommodation in advance and always found a wonderful family-run hotel, two of which had been in the family for 500 years.
Innsbruck and Salzburg are worth extra days at the start and end of the trip. They are always full with tourists so in those cities we did book accommodation in advance. Our timing was perfect for Innsbruck where we enjoyed boisterous evening celebrations during the autumn wine festival in the narrow streets of the old town.
This was our second cycling trip in Austria. We’re already looking forward to going again.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
A special thanks also to the staff and volunteers at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden who made the opening such a success.
"Moments: Life As We Live It" is on until September 14, 2018.
photographs of opening reception by Richard Schoon & Terry Fuller
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
This collection of images tells our story.
My photographs in "Moments: Life As We Live It" were made in Canada, China, Japan, Vietnam, France, Turkey and Argentina. While wide-ranging geographically, the collection nonetheless portrays human moments that can occur anywhere. By freezing small, whimsical, moments in everyday life, the exhibit reveals the 'oneness' of us all no matter where we live or what we do.
The exhibit is in the Hall of One Hundred Rivers, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Vancouver, from August 12 - September 14, 2018 and is included with admission to the Garden.
Opening reception: Saturday, August 18 3:00pm - 4:30pm. Complimentary admission to the photographic exhibit.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>In the Spring of 2018, Evelyn and I were invited by the Guizhou Tourism Development Commission to join a group of Canadian photographers exploring this area of southwest China. Guizhou is home to many ethic groups and we visited several villages of the Miao and Dong people. Spring and Fall are festival times in the villages. One of our photographic highlights was the Sisters’ Meal Festival when people don silver-laden traditional clothes, and which includes everything from musical performances, to food stalls, to bull fights.
Our group consisted of two-dozen photographers from Canada. After a week of making photographs we had a huge collection of striking images. Overnight the tour organizers pulled together an exhibit of 115 custom enlargements all beautifully mounted and framed. The opening reception of the exhibit “Picture of Guizhou – What Canadian People See”, which brought together Canadian and Chinese photographers, officials and sponsors, and the media, was staged with spectacular imagination and warm hospitality.
After the official tour several from our group went to another part of Guizhou to see Huangguoshu Falls which is the largest waterfall in China. Some of our photographers hired a car and driver so they could explore more of the remote villages of Guizhou. Several boarded a high-speed train to Yunnan province where they were hosted to a stay at a tranquil resort run by a famous Chinese poet.
Photographers looking for a picturesque destination that is in the early stages of being “discovered” by other photographers and travellers would do well to consider Guizhou province in China.
posted by Ted Nodwell
Locations visited include: Jiabang terraced rice fields; Qingxi Gorge; Wuyang River cruise; Shuanghe Cave National Geopark; cities of Guiyang and Kaili; villages of Zhaoxing, Basha, Yintan, Datang, Taijiang, Matang Gejia; and Shuanglong Ancient Town.
- connect with people and, if they accept you, stick around and become part of their world, then make your images
- the backs of people are boring, get in front
- make sure all the layers and people separate and look for a clean background
- search for something incongruous, edgy or mysterious to transform it from travel photography into street photography
and of course... get close, get closer!
posted by Ted Nodwell
Top photographers of British Columbia and the Yukon went head to head with their best work at the 34th North Shore Photographic Challenge on March 17, 2018. Evelyn Nodwell received an Honourable Mention.
The annual open-theme competition showcases classic landscapes, portraits, nature, architecture, street photography and the latest digital techniques in abstracts and altered reality. The North Shore Challenge is recognized as one of the premier photographic competitions in Western Canada.
Winning images can be seen at https://www.nsps.ca/galleries/
While much of BC and Alberta currently has heavy snowfall and cold temperatures, here in Vancouver we finally got a few sunny breaks from the dull sky and rain. I jumped at the chance to go to the Fraser River and make this image. Bad weather is an opportunity to create great photographs; and so are moments when the bad weather breaks.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Can you find the jogger in this photograph? I made this image one morning recently when I woke early and went downtown to photograph the early morning passers-by (who I assume couldn't sleep either).
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
"The Decisive Moment" is a juried exhibition of photographs that provides a contemporary interpretation of Henri Cartier-Bresson’s philosophy. Vancouver photographer Evelyn Nodwell has one image included. Retired National Geographic photographer Sam Abell, the juror for this exhibition, has chosen 32 photographs for the PhotoPlace gallery exhibition in Vermont, and an additional 37 photographs for display in the online gallery. To see this collection of striking yet disparate images, please visit the PhotoPlace online gallery
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
The website of the International Garden Photographer of the Year now profiles winners of this prestigious annual photography competition. Evelyn Nodwell has had a total of five photographs selected by the judges, with one taking First Place in the Bountiful Earth category in Competition 10. You can see her winning garden photographs in the Profiles section at International Garden Photographer of the Year
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Vancouverites love their coffee, even if they have to put a lid on to keep the autumn leaves from falling in.
I made this image on Commercial Drive when I went out with 14 photographers from the Pacific Digital Photography Club. That outing was a hands-on follow up to a presentation on street photography that I gave at the club earlier in November.
I will be doing a similar workshop for the Victoria Camera Club on March 8, 2018.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>Sailing between Port Hardy and Prince Rupert was the first leg of a trip I did this September. Once I off-loaded my car from the ferry, I drove east toward the lava fields north of Terrace, then on to Smithers, Prince George, the Cariboo region, and finally through Lillooet and back to Vancouver.
I plan to produce a slide show on this water and road trip for Photomotion, the annual slideshow extravaganza put on by the Pacific Digital Photography Club. It will be held at the Inlet Theatre in Port Moody on November 18, 2017.
posted by Ted Nodwell
On August 21, the day of the solar eclipse, I had the good fortune to be flying over Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. An old school-chum, Ken Holmberg and I took off from Boundary Bay Airport in a Cessna 172. I was keen to see how the light and shadows would appear seen from above and how different the city would look during the eclipse.
As we passed above the Fraser River I was intrigued by the patterns of log booms. From our altitude I thought they looked like bouquets of flowers.
And what change did the eclipse make to how the city looked? Answer. None. The photo that I made as we passed over the North Shore was taken during the totality of the eclipse.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
photo © Evelyn Nodwell 2017
Time & Space, an image by Vancouver photographer Evelyn Nodwell, has been selected for the Abstraction exhibition at Darkroom Gallery in Vermont USA. The exhibit runs until July 16,2017.
Darkroom Gallery showcases exhibitions of juror-selected photographic images created by international contemporary photographers. Each monthly exhibit expresses a single theme.
For the Abstraction exhibit, the jurors were seeking photos in which color, form, design, and shape take the place of a representation of reality. Abstraction in art and photography is defined as the use of a visual language of color, shape, form, and line to create an image that may exist with an independence from visual references in the real world.
View the exhibit at Darkroom Gallery - Abstraction
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Evelyn just discovered that BBC News included her winning image in their coverage of the International Garden Photographer of the Year competition's 10th Anniversary.
International Garden Photographer of the Year is the world's premier competition and exhibition specializing in garden, plant, flower and botanical photography. The competition is open to everyone anywhere in the world with no distinction being drawn between professional and amateur photographers.
A major exhibition of winning photographs is staged annually at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, with touring exhibitions in the UK and over the world following. A book is published and media coverage is extensive.
The BBC posted the winning garden photographs in the In Pictures section of their website on February 4, 2017. Click on the link below and scroll down to the Bountiful Earth category.
Winning photos of great gardens - BBC News
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Here is Evelyn's photograph that was displayed in an exhibition held at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in London, England during the Spring of 2017. Her image won First Place in the Bountiful Earth category of the International Garden Photographer of the Year competition's 10th Anniversary.
International Garden Photographer of the Year is the world's premier competition and exhibition specializing in garden, plant, flower and botanical photography. The competition is open to everyone anywhere in the world with no distinction being drawn between professional and amateur photographers. A major exhibition of winning photographs is staged annually at Kew, with touring exhibitions in the UK and over the world following. A book of the exhibition is produced each year.
photograph of the exhibit courtesy of Margaret Arcus
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
"Gone Flying" was a sign that I used to hang on my door. The sign is long-gone and my pilot's license has lapsed. So imagine my surprise when an old school chum tracked me down through my website and invited me to go flying with him. Ken Holmberg credits me with sparking his life-long interest in aviation when, shortly after getting my pilot's license while in high school, I took him for a ride in a small Cessna.
Now he has returned the favour. On a warm May day, we took-off from the Boundary Bay airport, crossed Vancouver, and flew along the North Shore before making a right turn toward Squamish. I made this aerial image just south of Whistler. It was a perfect "Gone Flying" day.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>My image was made in the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires. It portrays the on-going call for support of veterans of the Guerra del Atlántico Sur (Falklands War). At the time I made this image, claims of inhuman treatment of conscript soldiers by their officers had been widely aired but little resolved for more than 30 years. Suicide has reportedly stalked as many as 454 of the Argentinian veterans. History will judge whether this war was launched for national identity or as the act of a desperate junta. What I do feel is that a government’s decision to go to war always falls most heavily on its citizens.
The video can be seen on YouTube at https://youtu.be/1iB9pp4AFIE
posted by Ted Nodwell
This view of Vancouver was new to me. I made this photograph while walking the Spirit Trail in North Vancouver. A gust of wind blew in a rain squall at just the right moment. The weather; the compositional elements; and the relief of the colourful flags in an otherwise monochromatic scene, feels like the essence of Vancouver.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Vancouver photographer Evelyn Nodwell has won First Place in the Bountiful Earth category of the International Garden Photographer of the Year competition for 2016. Winners were revealed at a reception and exhibition held at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in London, England on February 2, 2017. Evelyn also had an image selected as a Finalist in the Greening the City category.
International Garden Photographer of the Year is the world's premier competition and exhibition specializing in garden, plant, flower and botanical photography. The competition is open to everyone anywhere in the world with no distinction being drawn between professional and amateur photographers. A major exhibition of winning photographs is staged annually at Kew, with touring exhibitions in the UK and all over the world following. A book of the exhibition is produced each year.
In last year’s competition, Evelyn Nodwell had three images awarded Commended status.
Winning photographs can be seen on the Competition's website, click here: International Garden Photographer of the Year
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
The Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival parade was held on January 29, 2017. This was the 44th year of the parade. It is rumoured to attract rain almost every year and this year was no exception. To celebrate the "Year of the Rooster" lots of people, including the Prime Minister, turned out anyway.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Nature provides a surprise skating rink in Mill Lake Park in Abbotsford, BC. Winter continues its firm grip on the Lower Mainland, so people are getting out skating and photographers are out making images. It's a practical example of "if you can't beat em, join em".
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
The snow in Vancouver really put the "Merry" into our preparations and festivities before Christmas this year. Wishing you a warm festive season and all the best in 2017.]]>
A major storm was blasting the Italian coastal area of Cinque Terre when we arrived the day before. Today the trail was wet; the air was getting chilly as night approached. Time to pack up the camera?
Not a chance. When others are heading indoors is the perfect time to be out creating images. Photography means "writing with light". And the light is what elevates this from an ordinary to a compelling image.
photograph & blog by Ted Nodwell
]]>
We were thrilled to receive our copies of "Oh West Canada", a book of contemporary artists in which we both had the honour of being included. The book was published as part of the Imago Mundi project. The original artwork joins the Luciano Benetton Collection and, it is anticipated, will be exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 2017.
"On West Canada! Contemporary Artists from Western Canada guides one through the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, introducing them to the cultural topography and the artists who inhabit it as well," says Jennifer Karch Verzé, curator. "It is all about artistic interpretations of the Canadian West."
More than 240 works were submitted for consideration leading to a rigorous selection to choose the works to be present in the catalogue and exhibitions. For more information and to see the full collection, please visit www.imagomundiart.com
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>Miao Folk Art, on display in Vancouver from October 1 to November 30 at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, offers a peek into the lives of the Miao people, one of many diverse minority groups in China. Vintage and modern dress, embroidery, batik pieces, religious masks and jewelry are on display. The exhibit, the brain-child of artist Caesar Jun Hu, draws extensively on photographs by Vancouver photographer/anthropologist Evelyn Nodwell.
Miao Folk Art is being produced by the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden in partnership with the Asia Pacific International Artist Foundation, the City of Burnaby and, most notably, the inspiring people of the Miao villages in Guizhou province, China.
http://vancouverchinesegarden.com/events/
Photographer/anthropologist Evelyn Nodwell (right); curator Leticia Sánchez; artist Caesar Jun Hu during the installation of the Miao Folk Art exhibit.
posted by Ted Nodwell
Vancouver photographer Evelyn Nodwell has rotating exhibit space at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sun Classical Chinese Garden. Her images on display during the summer act as a lead-in to the Eastern Echoes Exhibit by Etsu Inoue and Ana Diaz-Drew. The exhibition focuses on gilding. The term gilding covers a number of decorative techniques for applying fine gold leaf or powder to solid surfaces such as wood, stone, or metal to give a thin coating of gold.
Thundering fighter jets to graceful parachute ballets, the Abbotsford International Airshow has it all.
From August 12 to 14 2016, I was fortunate to be selected as one of the photographers with access to the Panasonic Photo Pit, that was positioned right beside the flight line, and to restricted aircraft staging areas.
At an event like this the challenge is to not be overwhelmed by action and colour. Some photographers may have success with "spray and pray", capturing everything that comes in front of their lens. My approach was to keep reminding myself that I still needed to create images that told a story, had drama and composition, and that could stand on their own as photographs outside the context of an airshow.
Each photographer was asked to upload ten digital files before the airshow wrapped up. While the photographers were free to select their favourite images, they did need to portray certain themes set out by the event organizers such as in-the-air shots; crowds; and static displays.
USA Today in 2013 called the Abbotsford Airshow one of the ten best airshows in the world. During the past five decades it has distinguished itself as an event focused on aviation excellence and advancement, and on community participation.
The sponsors of the photographer's event was the Abbotsford Airshow itself plus Black Press Community News Media and London Drugs. Staff from Black Press handled logistics and representatives from both Panasonic and London Drugs were on hand with a range of gear for the photographers to try.
posted by Ted Nodwell
Winter Pool by Evelyn Nodwell; © 2016.
Sometimes you just have to try something different.
These Mexican dancers were performing on an outdoor stage in bright sunshine. I could have used a fast shutter speed. Instead, I opted for the opposite. My intention was to show the feeling of the dance, to use my camera not as a recording device but as an artistic tool.
I knew that I would have to have my shutter speed slow enough to create just the right amount of movement. I knew the dancers would have to come into a tight pattern in my frame, so I was watching for that. And I knew that the photograph would be stronger if one element, in this case the shoe, came sharp.
This image was done at 1/8 second hand-held. I was jammed in with other spectators and only took four shots.
Sometimes things come together.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
The Pacific NorthWest Art School in Coupeville, Washington was packed on June 4, 2016 for a public lecture by former National Geographic photographer Sam Abell. Sam's talk on his lengthy career with National Geographic and his approach to creating images that "have a life" coincided with an exhibition of photographs by Sam's alumni students from PNAS. Both Ted Nodwell and Evelyn Nodwell had images in the exhibition, which was a fund-raiser for PNAS's 30th anniversary. Sam Abell has been leading summer workshops at the Pacific NorthWest Art School for 16 years. The exhibition was curated by Vancouver photographer Janice Williams.
posted by Ted Nodwell; photo by Lisa Bernhardt
]]>
Today Evelyn and I were invited to a seminar sponsored by a leading camera manufacturer. Instead we opted to take our cameras out and see what images we could create. This image, which I call Cycling Stanley Park, is a result.
To my mind, we decided to go for learning by doing versus learning by listening. Photography is an art form that takes a lot of practice. I enjoy a photographic outing. I learn something every time. And when I create an image that speaks to me it is extremely gratifying.
We can all learn from listening to and talking with others. But in the end the most important thing is to just do it.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
On Facebook or Instagram, in photography contests and magazines, I see images that have had large dollops of post-processing cosmetics applied. Two current favourites are High Dynamic Range (HDR) and pushing the colour saturation to the max. There is no question that these highly processed images have impact at first glance. But do they have staying power? In a few years most of them will be passé like the "red canoe" photography of the 1960's.
Many photographers create stunning fresh images by using visionary post-processing. Others however go for over-zealous use of HDR and/or the saturation slider because everyone is doing it these days. That just adds flash, not substance. The challenge for us as photographic artists is to create not eye candy, but images that have a life.
Call me a traditionalist but I try to shoot it right in the camera and use post-processing to enhance, not fundamentally change, an image. That said, I have to admit that I applied both HDR and high saturation to my image in this post. I thought I should try it. And I like the result. Heck, it might even win a photo contest where the judges go for over-the-top processing.
Heaven forbid though if you say this is the best image I ever took!
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Evelyn Nodwell receives a copy of the International Garden Photographer of the Year book that includes two of her images.
Winners in the International Garden Photographer of the Year competition were revealed at a reception and exhibition held at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in London on February 5, 2016. Vancouver photographer Evelyn Nodwell had three images awarded Commended status with two being published in a book of the stunning winning images. More than 20,000 entries were received. A selection of images can be seen on the International Garden Photographer of the Year website.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
I made this image at the International Buddhist Temple in Richmond, BC. The International Buddhist Temple delivers the philosophies of Buddhism to the western world through meditation, traditional ceremonies, charitable giving, and the impeccable art of Chinese craftsmanship. It is well worth a visit and taking the time to discover the serenity to be found there.
This photograph may be included in Following the Silk Routes & Beyond in Vancouver exhibit. The purpose of the exhibit is to interest the public in knowing more about the exchange of goods, culture, ideas and philosophies through the ancient Silk Routes and how that has given shape to the world and city we live in now. The exhibit will run from April 16 to May 31 at the Chinese Cultural Centre in Vancouver. It is being organized by the Vancouver Asian Heritage Society as part of their annual explorASIAN festival.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>Final judging will take place early in 2016 with the results being made public in February.
For more information on the International Garden Photographer of the Year competition and to see images from prior years winners, please visit http://www.igpoty.com
NOTE: The photograph in this blog post in NOT one of Evelyn's images that were shortlisted in the competition and is provided only as a sample of her garden photography. Winning images will be posted on http://www.igpoty.com in February, 2016. Please check back then.
posted by Ted Nodwell
As we head in to 2016 I think how the message in this image is so important to photographers and to all creatives. In the digital age we tend to see the latest technology as our road to inspiration. Really it is about getting out and looking; taking inspiration from whatever we come across. Happy New Year and may 2016 be filled with inspiration!
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
We are fortunate to be photographers during a time of rapid technological advances. The options open to us are greater than ever. Of course that can be bewildering too.
I switched to mirrorless cameras with the release of the first Olympus PEN several years ago and now use a Sony A7S with full-frame sensor. I have always been a fan of small, nimble cameras which is a strength of both Olympus and Sony. I find the electronic viewfinder in mirrorless cameras adds many features that help me nail technically better images. Evelyn continues to prefer the heft of her traditional Nikon DSLR.
All camera manufacturers offer great gear these days. Which one you choose comes down to personal preference.
When it comes to creating unique images, it is who is behind the camera that counts.
posted by: Ted Nodwell
]]>
The Allard Prize is awarded every two years to an individual, movement or organization that has shown exceptional courage and leadership in combating corruption, especially through promoting transparency, accountability and the Rule of Law. The $100,000 prize is one of the world's largest awards recognizing efforts to combat corruption and to promote human rights.
The Allard Prize Committee also oversees the semi-annual Allard Prize Photography Competition, which recognizes photographic excellence reflecting themes of the Allard Prize. Up to six photographs are selected every six months.
Two African journalists known for exposing corruption in their respective countries of Kenya and Angola were named the joint recipients of the 2015 Allard Prize for International Integrity. The Peter A. Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia presented John Githongo and Rafael Marques de Morais with the Allard Prize at a special ceremony on October 1 2015.
The winning images from the Allard Prize Photography Competition were projected onto large screens during the ceremony and reception for the 2015 Allard Prize for International Integrity. Canadian photographer Ted Nodwell was honoured to have one of his photographs accepted in this prestigious event.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
I found this fascinating hoodoo in Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park about 100 kilometres from Lethbridge, Alberta.
As always, composition and lighting are important in this image. The background and the clear sky reveal the setting. The rock itself, as it seems to defy gravity, adds drama.
Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park is one of the largest protected prairie parks. It is an important spiritual place for First Nations peoples and contains many ancient rock paintings. The park is also known as the Áisinal'pi National Historic Site of Canada.
One of the joys of photography is traveling to other countries to see something different. Sometimes the exotic locations are close to home.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Evelyn and Ted Nodwell each have an image accepted to the Imago Mundi collection of Contemporary Artists from Western Canada.
Jennifer Karch-Verzè, Canadian-Italian Curator from Verona, Italy, meets with the artists at the Port Moody Arts Centre.
Imagine setting out to create a mapping of the contemporary artistic experiences of our world. Luciano Benetton of Italy had such a vision. The Imago Mundi Project was the result. From Latin, Imago Mundi translates as "images of the world".
Artists around the globe have been invited to submit one image. While the size of the artwork is set at 10x13cm, artists are free to create any image that speaks to them. By collecting by country or region, the curators at Imago Mundi are curious to see what sense of place or shared vision emerges.
"Art talks, it is a common dialogue across borders and politics," says Jennifer Karch-Verzè, curator of the Contemporary Artists from Western Canada collection.
We are pleased that we each have an image accepted. Our works are photographic pigment prints on canvas. There will be three Imago Mundi Canadian collections: Contemporary Artists from Eastern Canada; Contemporary Artists from Western Canada; and Contemporary Inuit Art. Each artist is included on the Imago Mundi website and in printed fine-art catalogues. The reason for the consistent size of submitted artworks is to facilitate traveling exhibits. It is anticipated that the work of the Canadian artists will be exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 2017.
posted by Ted Nodwell. photo credits Guiseppe Verzè.
]]>
Ah! Paris! Those iconic circular billboards. An iconic stone church and an iconic wrought-iron fence in the background. And an... wait... a skateboard?
I look for images with an element of incongruity. I made this one on the streets of Paris this summer. The young Parisian skateboarder brings a "touch of today" to the stereotypical view that we may bring with us as travellers.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Here are two amazing things coming together. Nature combined a spectacular sunset with a full rainbow. Engineers and software developers combined a panorama photo feature with the cell phone that I had in my pocket.
The possibilities for creating appealing photographs are "anytime, anywhere". This image also illustrates that the best camera is the one you have with you.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Join Austrian-born anthropologist and award-winning photographer, Evelyn Nodwell, whose travel photographs have been praised by National Geographic photographer, Sam Abell; and Ted Nodwell, whose earlier career as a commercial photographer took him on assignments from the Arctic to Japan. They will guide you through an authentic, postcard-beautiful part of Austria not often seen by tourists.
You will have the opportunity to photograph lush landscapes, colorful people and events, and intriguing close-ups. Learn from our experience, and share the adventure with like-minded photography and travel enthusiasts. We will talk about photography strategies, provide coaching, plan one-on-one sessions to review your photos, and share/discuss photos with the whole group.
Tour dates: September 16 - 25, 2015
The tour package is being handled by Finisterra Travel. http://www.finisterra.ca/portfolio/austria-a-photographic-dream/
Our itinerary includes: a farm-stay in the spectacular Dachstein mountains, where we join their colorful procession of decorated cows herded down the mountain from their alpine pastures to their winter farm home; walking in one of the world’s prettiest vineyard districts and stopping for an elaborate ploughman’s lunch of local foods and wine; visiting a beautiful castle that doubles as a winery and also produces Austria’s famous pumpkin oil; and much more. Fall is the perfect time. Weather is mild, harvests are bountiful and tourists are few. A photographer’s dream!
Our Austrian experience starts in Graz, whose medieval city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We enjoy a full day at the annual Styrian festival throughout the old-town, which is alive with the sights and sounds of traditional dress, dance, music and local food. We enjoy views over the city (and a beer) at the top of the Schlossberg, the historical mountain park in the middle of the city, as well as many other city sights. We spend another day visiting one of Europe’s largest outdoor museums with a wealth of historical insights and photographic opportunities.
Some evening time will be devoted to an introduction to the area, a presentation about photo techniques we will work on, a one-on-one session for each participant with Evelyn/Ted to get some constructive feedback on your photos, a screening and discussion of participants’ images. Photographers should bring whatever camera you prefer to use. Your best tools are your eyes, your willingness to experiment with what you have, and your engagement in your surroundings.
Do you have a spouse who would love to see this side of Austria but has less interest in photography? This tour will be a delight for photographers and non-photographer partners alike.
]]>
If you are in West Vancouver in the next while, stop in at the municipal hall and check out Evelyn's latest photography exhibit. Her works in "Art in the Hall" reflect a spontaneous approach to environmental portraits.
Her previous exhibit at Hycroft Gallery explored the implied messaging in a high-key approach to street photography. At UBC's Irving K Barber Learning Centre her exhibit, which is currently running during Asian Heritage Month, illustrates an anthropological approach to rapid change in China.
"Art in the Hall", West Vancouver Municipal Hall, 750 17th Street. Monday through Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada. Check out the many explorAsian community events in Vancouver at www.explorasian.org
The events include an exhibit by photographer/anthropologist Evelyn Nodwell. "In the Season of New Rice" explores village and small town life in Guizhou Province during China’s growing urbanization. The exhibition runs from April 16 to May 31, 2015 at the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre at the University of British Columbia.
posted by Ted Nodwell
This exhibition is in partnership with explorASIAN 2015 Festival, in celebration of Asian Heritage Month.
]]>
Evelyn and I were thrilled to be invited to join an art and cultural exchange between China and Canada.
In April this year, several well-known artists from Guiyang spent a week in Burnaby with Canadian artists and photographers. Activities included: plein air painting in lower mainland locations; tours of Vancouver and Burnaby highlights; and casual in-home gatherings to official banquets. One highlight was all of us being joined by the public to create a mosaic mural for the Burnaby General Hospital. Works by both the Chinese and Canadians were exhibited at the Burnaby Art Gallery and at Deer Lake Gallery. Officials from the City of Burnaby and the City of Guiyang launched this year's Art Across the Pacific exchange with the signing of a friendship agreement.
In 2014 Evelyn and I traveled with Canadian artists to the City of Guiyang where we toured many fine art institutes; went on art outings; and put our photographs on display at the Art Museum of Guiyang.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
We are excited that our 2015 tour to Austria is going to be a photographer's dream!
Evelyn Nodwell is an Austrian-born anthropologist and experienced travel photographer. She and I will share with you her favourite spectacular scenes and events. Lush landscapes. Picturesque villages. Castles. Festivals. This custom excursion is not your typical tourist Vienna and Salzberg visit, as it takes you into the "green heart" of Austria.
For a detailed itinerary and to book your place on the "Austria: A Photographic Dream" tour, please visit the Finisterra Travel website. Finisterra specializes in unique tours for small groups.
Mark September 16-25, 2015 on your calendar!
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>Impressionistic? Yes. I had just come from admiring the work of painters like Monet who created such evocative images in the impressionist style. That was a catalyst to try something different. This image may never win a typical photography contest but I would be happy to hang it on my wall.
posted by Ted Nodwell
The photographic works featured in this exhibition were taken in Vancouver, B.C, Paris, France, and China, and appear in conjunction with the 100th Anniversary at UBC Library. The exhibition is free to attend daily.
Evelyn Nodwell is an Anthropologist and Ph.D. graduate of UBC and has exhibited in Vancouver, Canada and in China. As an Anthropologist, Nodwell has worked in British Columbia and India. Based on her research in India, she produced two television documentaries in collaboration with Knowledge Network.
For more information please visit Irving K. Barber Learning Centre
posted by Ted Nodwell
I made this image on a rainy February winter night. Who was it who first said "bad weather makes for great photos"? I couldn't agree more. The square was nearly empty yet I caught this lovely moment that to me reveals a location, a mood and a story.
posted by Ted Nodwell
The Opening Reception is Wednesday, January 7, 2015 from 6:30 - 8:00pm. Hycroft Gallery is located in a converted mansion at 1489 McRae Avenue, Vancouver (just east of 16th and Granville).
This juried show also features abstract landscapes by Tina Townsend.
posted by Ted Nodwell
"I have created 'high-key' photographs with a new feeling and intent," says Evelyn Nodwell. "These photographs create a mood or atmosphere by highlighting only the key elements of an image, leaving the rest to be imagined by the viewer, giving a feeling of mystery."
Hycroft Gallery showcases the work of talented BC artists and designers by featuring diverse styles and mediums. This juried show will also feature oil paintings by Tina Townsend.
Opening reception - January 7, 2015 at 6:30pm.
For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/events/737526326316928/
Day 1 - "Autumn Monochromes"
Autumn colours are spectacular. So why photograph them in black and white? Once that was the only option open to photographers. This is my attempt to "go forward to the past".
Day 2 - "Our Town"
The juxtaposition of the text Our Town which is both specific and generic; the horizontal line of the blind obscuring identity so that this could be any of us; and the vertical line of the windows sill cutting sharply through the image, all create an "alone together" feeling. When I saw this setting I knew right away that it would create an iconic statement about cities. Unfortunately there was no one at that table. So I came back 15 minutes later. Bingo!
Day 3 - "Soccer Practice"
There are little stories everywhere. Here the ball that missed the net tells the story. I like the clean graphic design. The young players in the distance round-out the context.
Day 4 - "Walking"
On this image I went all-out with special effects. I boosted the colour saturation in Lightroom, then did the B/W conversion in Nik SilverEffects, and applied a Film Noir filter. Software processing and filters are all the rage for smartphone images. Is that because post-processing really works for phone photography, creating a new art form? Or is it because the quality from these tiny sensors demands that the photographer mess with the image to hide the low resolution?
Day 5 - "Coffee Time at the Market"
On the final day I decided to see what the iPhone could do with an everyday indoor scene.
The Black & White 5 Day Challenge was great fun. And I discovered there is something addictive about iPhone photography.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Why take a photograph with my iPhone when my pro camera is close at hand?
Fun. Exploration. Experimentation. These are ingredients in the recipe for artistic vision. Even if the result comes out half-baked, nothing is lost. In fact much is gained.
For every creative photographer playing with images is "time well wasted".
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>At Nitobe Memorial Garden the other day, I decided make a point of looking for the light first. No light, no photograph. I wandered the garden for some time without raising my camera, just noticing where light created a mood.
Eventually I discovered the light in this area. Only then did I set about composing the scene. What was missing was a centre of interest. And I like to add a human element to my images. At that point I turned to the approach advocated by National Geographic photographer, Sam Abell. Compose... and wait.
There were few visitors to the Garden on that day. How fortunate then that the perfect person in the perfect outfit came into my scene and paused in the perfect place.
I made my image.
posted by Ted Nodwell
A long telephoto lens would have let me get right in on this heron fishing from a rock. But I didn't have a long lens with me. If I had said to myself: heron = bird; bird = bird photography; bird photography = long lens; I would have given up. Instead, I looked at the bigger scene. I knew the heron would fly off eventually and I waited for that. I used the heron as the finishing element in the total composition.
posted by Ted Nodwell
Sometimes the best photo is not the one you set out to make. I was doing a wide-angle view of Vancouver's harbour when, seeing this scene developing, I quickly switched to a telephoto lens and created this sparse but powerful industrial moment. The last light of the day was going, the boat was moving fast, the bridge that I was on was vibrating from passing traffic. I boosted the ISO and went with a hand-held fast shutter speed.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>In my caption for this photograph I mentioned how, for me, it portrays our technological age. We live in amazing times - the sensitivity of sensors in today's digital cameras plus the amount of light that tablets give off, made this available light shot possible. I like to keep my camera out and keep shooting long after what would have seemed reasonable just a few years ago. Anyone remember Kodachrome film with an ISO of 25?
Your Shot is National Geographic's online photo community. Its mission is to tell stories collaboratively through Your Shot members best photography and expert curation.
posted by Ted Nodwell
http://yourshot.nationalgeographic.com/profile/373758/
The Your Shot team from National Geographic was in Vancouver on September 6, 2014 to host a meet-up of local photographers. They were joined by three Vancouver based professional photographers who provided portfolio reviews to Your Shot members. Then about 40 trigger happy photographers descended upon Granville Island.
A few of my images from the day are attached.
To see more of what came out of the Your Shot Vancouver Meetup, visit:
http://yourshot.nationalgeographic.com/search/?q=%23YourShotMeetup#tags
posted by Ted Nodwell
The Olympus E-M1 is feature rich. That enables every photographer to customize the camera to his or her liking and way of working. For the new owner, all of these options seem overwhelming.
The other day I met with a group of new Olympus E-M1 owners. They wanted me to guide them through what button does what, and where in the menu you change things. There were several benefits to this impromptu photo shoot.
First, each photographer knew something about the camera (and more than they were giving themselves credit for) and were able to share tips with each other.
Second, I structured our outing to “build from the ground up” by having them set their cameras on “manual everything”. That made them the decision-maker about everything from exposure to depth of field, making them think about the effect of changing shutter speeds, aperature and ISO. It put them in control. At coffee break we talked about various features like focus peaking and about how to set the camera up for their style of photography. I suggested we head out and do more photography and that if they were still feeling overwhelmed, they could set the camera on P and let it make the decisions and see how that worked for them. Nothing doing! They liked using manual and the features that they had set up. So we headed out again and everyone came back with impressive images. They made a huge step from viewing their camera as a complex piece of technology toward using it as an artistic tool.
posted by Ted Nodwell
photo credit: Evelyn Nodwell
]]>
Here is another image I made while relaxing in my zero gravity chair in my backyard.
Okay, I admit it, the scene didn't really look like this. On this one I did something I almost never do. I manipulated the image by using the Cross Process Art Filter built into my Olympus OMD EM-5.
That got me wondering if special effects, whether applied in-camera or later using software, are a boon or a bane?
In landscape photography it seems de rigour these days to boost colour saturation to unrealistic levels. Instagram type filters rule in iPhone photography. And at the computer, many photographers apply an array of image manipulation software to their digital files, heavily modifying them.
This in itself is not a bad thing. The results can be visually arresting. Pity though the traveler who visits the Grand Canyon and finds it less captivating in reality than in published photographs.
Photographers face a dilemma. Strive to capture reality, a moment in time, a story as photojournalists and street photographers do? Or, go free-form and create an image as an end in itself?
It comes down to intent.
Many lens-artists create works where the out-of-camera image was always seen as only a starting point and where a different final result was always the goal. That is much easier to justify than trying to salvage a so-so image with post-production software, or adding unwarranted whizz-bang.
Other photographers want to use their cameras to show life around them and so do minimal post-processing. Or, more accurately, to show life as they see it.
I count myself in the latter camp. But hey, it was fun to flip the camera onto Art Filter and play.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
But what of the opposite approach? Can we let images come to us?
The other day I kicked back in my zero-gravity lounge chair. It was warm and sunny, a slight breeze caressed my cheek, roses bloomed on our patio and I could hear the gentle music of the wind chime harmonizing with the buzzing of bees.
I started looking without analyzing, without framing, just looking. Soon I was seeing visual dances. I reached down for my camera and, without stirring from my zero-gravity chair, let images come to me. One was on the patio roof above me, another on the wall beside me, and a third on the tiles at the base of my chair. All of these images were done within the space of a few minutes and with just a normal lens, which is what I happened to have on my camera.
I am known for my street photography that often portrays whimsical moments. So these “zero gravity” images are a fresh visualization for me. They are contemplative images that came to me because I was in the moment and was open to receiving them.
Yes, we often need to work to make strong photographs. And sometimes maybe we just need to play. Or just be.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
I feel honoured that the photograph I made of that scene has just been selected in the Allard Prize Photo Competition.
The headline of the poster proclaims “31 Years of Denial & Neglect” in support of veterans of the Guerra del Atlántico Sur (Falklands War). Claims of inhuman treatment of conscript soldiers by their officers have been widely aired but little resolved. Suicide has reportedly stalked as many as 454 of the Argentinian veterans. History will judge whether this war was launched for national identity or as the act of a desperate junta. What I do feel is that a government’s decision to go to war always falls most heavily on its citizens.
My photograph shows one instance of people striving for recognition and justice. Photographers from India, Italy, France and Germany have had images similarly recognized by the Allard Photo Competition. It is run the UBC Faculty of Law in conjunction with the Allard Prize for International Integrity which recognizes efforts to promote transparency, leadership and rule of law around the globe.
posted by Ted Nodwell
Join Austrian-born anthropologist and award-winning photographer, Evelyn Nodwell, whose travel photographs have been praised by National Geographic photographer, Sam Abell; and Ted Nodwell, whose earlier career as a commercial photographer took him on assignments from the Arctic to Japan. They will guide you through an authentic, postcard-beautiful part of Austria not often seen by tourists.
You will have the opportunity to photograph lush landscapes, colorful people and events, and intriguing close-ups. Learn from our experience, and share the adventure with like-minded photography and travel enthusiasts. We will talk about photography strategies, provide coaching, plan one-on-one sessions to review your photos, and share/discuss photos with the whole group.
Suggested tour dates: September 12 -21, 2014
Please email us an expression of interest by Friday June 13th, and we will be happy to hold a place for you ( [email protected], [email protected] ). A commitment with deposit will only be required once we have confirmed details and costs. Tour package is being handled by Holidays For Humanity.
Our itinerary includes: a farm-stay in the spectacular Dachstein mountains, where we join their colorful procession of decorated cows herded down the mountain from their alpine pastures to their winter farm home; walking in one of the world’s prettiest vineyard districts and stopping for an elaborate ploughman’s lunch of local foods and wine; visiting a beautiful castle that doubles as a winery and also produces Austria’s famous pumpkin oil; and much more. Fall is the perfect time. Weather is mild, harvests are bountiful and tourists are few. A photographer’s dream!
Our Austrian experience starts in Graz, whose medieval city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We enjoy a full day at the annual Styrian festival throughout the old-town, which is alive with the sights and sounds of traditional dress, dance, music and local food. We enjoy views over the city (and a beer) at the top of the Schlossberg, the historical mountain park in the middle of the city, as well as many other city sights. We spend another day visiting one of Europe’s largest outdoor museums with a wealth of historical insights and photographic opportunities.
Some evening time will be devoted to an introduction to the area, a presentation about photo techniques we will work on, a one-on-one session for each participant with Evelyn/Ted to get some constructive feedback on your photos, a screening and discussion of participants’ images. Photographers should bring whatever camera you prefer to use. Your best tools are your eyes, your willingness to experiment with what you have, and your engagement in your surroundings.
Do you have a spouse who would love to see this side of Austria but has less interest in photography? We provide a concurrent itinerary for non-photographer partners, at a reduced rate. They visit the same places at the same time, but move at a different pace and may enjoy some alternate activities. This tour will be a delight for photographers and non-photographer partners alike.
]]>In China I experienced a strong support for the arts. Evelyn and I were invited to join ten other Canadian artists on a cultural exchange to Guiyang in April 2014. Guiyang is the capital of Guizhou Province, located in southwest China.
China is a land of contrasts. Farmers continue their annual cycle of planting and harvesting by hand in terraced rice paddies. Meanwhile massive super-highways and bullet trains are being built in straight lines right across (or through) the rugged terrain. Industry is booming with people at all levels keen to make money. Yet, even in the frenetic pace, many Chinese take time to appreciate the arts. Perhaps it is the legacy of a long-established civilization that has always thought of art as being an integral part of life?
Our group was invited to exhibit our paintings and photographs in the Art Museum of Guiyang. We were allotted half of an entire floor of the gallery with Chinese artists exhibiting their works in the other half. Gallery staff and artists worked together to mount the exhibit. The Vice-Mayor of Guiyang, a city of more than four million, attended the opening ceremony, which also included large-screen AV presentations, live music and elaborately costumed models.
We met with instructors and their talented students from the local Art College, from the Fine Arts Department of Guiyang University and from the Fifth Middle School. In every case our visits were a chance to learn from each other and to share ideas about art. The excitement and camaraderie were electric.
The Guiyang Foreign Affairs Office, which promotes friendship between the City and foreign countries, sponsored accommodations for the exchange and organized outings for plein air painting and photography. Artists from both Canada and China participated in the outings, which included the Guiyang Karst Park, a visit to Anshun Village, and a full day along scenic Qing Long River.
Hospitality was warm and gracious. Food is central to Chinese hospitality. The City of Guiyang hosted a dinner, and lunch or dinner was provided by each educational institution or park that we visited. Local businessmen who are keen patrons of the arts sponsored dinners too, at times bringing musicians into the festivities. A famous Chinese singer hosted one dinner and on another evening we were treated to an ethnic minority extravaganza at the new performing arts centre.
We went to China. We saw a culture that holds art in high esteem.
posted by Ted Nodwell
photo credits:
Jiaxiu Tower, Guiyang. Ted Nodwell
Exhibit Opening Ceremony. Ron Sangha
Welcome Burnaby Artists. Evelyn Nodwell
Fifth Middle School. Nick Fong
The FVI theme for 2014 was "Industrial". This annual showcase and competition is sponsored by the Langley Camera Club. Images can be seen at http://langleycameraclub.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=213
posted by Ted Nodwell
The "International Eco and Humanities Arts Exhibition of Guiyang China and Burnaby Canada" ran from April 16-22 2014. The exhibit was hosted by the Chinese as part of a cultural exchange between Burnaby, Canada and Guiyang, China. The exhibit was launched with a dynamic opening ceremony and was well received during its run. The group also had great inter-action with art students from two universities and a high school; were taken to several scenic locations for plein-air painting or photography; and were feted with fabulous dinners.
posted by Ted Nodwell
Photo Captions:
Evelyn Nodwell outside the Art Museum of Guiyang
Visitors looking at street photography by Ted Nodwell
Evelyn Nodwell being interviewed by the media
Comments about the images ranged from "stunning"; "exquisite"; "they look like they were taken by an anthropologist, we see people, a feel for place"; "these are so real, they look just like rural China"; "there is so much amazing detail they seem to come right out of the frame"; "joy and peace…comes through the photos" to "beautiful, very human, photographs".
Guest speakers Dr. Brian Pendleton, Department of Asian Studies at Langara College and China scholar Dr. Yu Li provided guests with a brief overview of ethnic minorities in China. Several board members of the Guizhou Canadian United Association attended the opening and the Vice-President expressed best wishes on behalf of her organization.
A very big "thank you" goes to the staff and the volunteers of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden for their outstanding work in making the opening such a success.
The exhibit runs from March 1 - 30, 2014.
posted by Ted Nodwell
Join Sam Abell and Evelyn Nodwell 2:00 pm Saturday March 15, 2014 for an illuminating conversation about photography at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. Mr Abell, renowned National Geographic photographer and teacher, will present a talk drawing on his 30 years as a world-ranging photographer. He will then join his friend, Vancouver photographer Evelyn Nodwell, for a walking conversation of her works on display in the Garden's gallery.
GUIZHOU CHINA, In the Season of New Rice
March 1 - 30, 2014 Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, 578 Carrall Street, Vancouver BC
(Exhibit Opening 2:00-4:00 pm Saturday March 1)
This photography exhibit by anthropologist and award-winning photographer Evelyn Nodwell explores village and small town life in Guizhou Province at a time of China’s growing urbanization.
Guizhou is among the least developed of China’s provinces. Many villages are still accessible only over rough, winding and narrow gravel roads; some are only accessible on foot. More than one-third of Guizhou’s towns and steep, green hills are populated by an ethnically diverse population of many indigenous ethnic minorities.
After the fall harvest, villages stage festivals, a traditional time for courtship. Festival activities include fireworks, water buffalo fights, bareback horse races, dancing, lusheng pipe playing and stalls of food, balloons and crafts.
Women dress in a wide range of clothing, from elaborate embroidered and silver-adorned festival dress, to jeans and high heels. Festival dress, also worn at weddings and other important events, is carefully stored in trunks and handed down within families.
At weekly markets, too, many women wear their traditional ethnic clothing, often a very dark blue-black or brownish indigo which is locally grown and made into a dye. Throughout Guizhou, spinning, dying, weaving, elaborate types of embroidery and batik are widely practiced by women, some of whom are recognized as master textile artists.
Rice is an important crop. Fall festivals are often called Tasting New Rice Festivals. The dried rice stalks are important fodder for animals and are stacked in the fields in characteristic pointed dome shapes.
The beauty and spontaneity of these photographs is thanks to the welcoming openness and good nature of the Guizhou people.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
As an anthropologist, Evelyn Nodwell has worked in Vancouver and India. Based on her research in India, she produced two television documentaries in collaboration with Knowledge Network. As a photographer, Evelyn has had photos published in Canadian Geographic magazine, The Province newspaper and Vancouver Coast and Mountains Tourism publications. Her prints have been included in the Burnaby Art Gallery sales and rental division. She has given photo workshops, and judges for camera clubs in Vancouver. In 2013 one of her images from China, A Good Laugh, came in 4th out of 280 photos at the North Shore Challenge.
Evelyn Nodwell embraced digital photography early for the degree of control that it gives her. In 2004 she produced the first slideshow in digital format for the annual Showcase at the Shadbolt Center for the Arts. Being a new technology, it was accepted with some trepidation by event organizers and became the winning show that year.
“First come the acts of seeing and experiencing - a heart-stopping play of light or color, a mood, an atmosphere, a human moment, an interaction.” she says. “There quickly follows the impulse to capture the moment or inspiration. Then comes the desire to communicate and share it. Photographing both nurtures and requires slowing down to savor the moment, to be fully engaged with the life around, and to see every sight and experience as if it were new.”
As an anthropologist Evelyn Nodwell is interested in people’s everyday lives. Whether she is photographing quickly to capture a fleeting moment or waiting patiently for compositional elements to become clear, she does not control a situation but looks for what happens. She strives to create images that give insights into an inner life, actions that speak about lifestyle, and interactions that speak about connections and context.
ABOUT DR. SUN YAT-SEN CLASSICAL CHINESE GARDEN
The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, the first of its kind outside of China, is an authentic representation of an age – old garden tradition which reached its peak in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Garden is characteristic of the private spaces within a Ming scholar’s residence. With its asymmetrical arrangement of rocks and plants, its winding paths and corridors, and the vistas that overlook its courtyards, the Garden emulates the rhythms of nature.Ming dynasty scholars, the elite of their time, lived and worked in their garden, sharing these enchanting spaces with friends and family of all ages. Like any home, a scholar’s garden was filled with energy, but also offered quiet moments for contemplation.
The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden was named "World's Top City Garden" by National Geographic and, in 2012, "Canadian Garden Tourism Garden of the Year".
When I look at this photograph that I made recently in Paris, I wonder how much it represents a typical street scene and how much it reflects the way that I see things? Powerful images reveal both the subject and the artist.
While in Paris I had the good fortune to visit the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay and the Musée Marmottan Monet and see paintings by Rembrandt, Cézanne, Matisse, Renoir, Rousseau, Monet, Toulouse-Lautrec, Gauguin, van Gogh, Monet and Picasso as well as by many lesser-known equally talented artists. It is amazing to see the original paintings. One can move in close and see the three-dimensional effect of the brush strokes; or step back and feel the power of the painting in its original, often very large, size.
Touring the collections of these vast museums reveals the influence upon the artist of the social, political and religious context of the times. To what degree are the photographs that we are creating today as much a product of our times as of ourselves? One’s own culture is invisible and invasive.
As the times changed, the overall “style” of artists changed. So for example the Impressionist Movement evolved, then blossomed, then was replaced. Many of these artists knew each other, indeed they often painted in the same locations. While they may have shared similar views about art, each had a personal style within the generic style of the time.
Different viewers prefer the work of different artists. Does that make one style better than another? Not at all. All of the art in these galleries is powerful.
What counts is what the artist saw and what they had to say about it and how they interpreted light, line, colour and space to do that.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>Recently I attended a presentation about photography by Rick Hulbert, an award winning architect and urban designer. As a photographer, Rick has been named a laureate within the Nikonians community. The theme of his discussion was "Photography with an Architectural Attitude".
His premise is that by appreciating architecture one becomes a better photographer. Architecture and photography draw on many of the same principles of course, such as light, space, lines, foundation, texture and edges. But something that I heard for the first time, and which really struck a chord with me, is that architecture is about a triad of organism, environment and activity. All organisms exist in an environment that is crucial to the activities they undertake.
So, whether we are photographing animals in the jungle or people in the city, it seems to me the strongest images will be those portraying the interplay between these three key elements.
Visit Rick Hulbert's website at http://www.rickhulbertphotography.com
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
posted by Evelyn Nodwell.
An Austrian Autumn.
No doubt that Vienna and Salzburg are the hearts of Austrian high culture. But there is so much more to enjoy and experience in Austria. Take Graz, Austria's second largest city, with its medieval town centre, A UNESCO World Heritage Site (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/931). In the province of Styria/Steiermark, Graz and its surrounding regions provide countless opportunities for experiencing fall the way Austrians themselves do.
On a warm September day our first excursion would normally be a walk up the 260 stairs to the Schlossberg, the small mountain in the centre of the city. The terrace on top is our destination for a coffee and apfelstrudel, as we we look over the quilt of red-tiled roofs punctured by sharp church steeples (not to mention, by the blue bulge of the Kunsthaus Graz, the modern art museum), and beyond to the surrounding hills.
But early this morning every street and lane in the old town is already bustling with people in traditional Austrian dress (trachten) finishing their last-minute set-up of performance stages, food and drink kiosks and display tables. We are drawn by the excited sounds of musicians, yodelers and singers warming up; and by the smells of roasting pork, fresh pastries, pumpkin soup, and hot, spiced wine. Today is Aufsteirern, the annual nine-hour Styrian (Steiermark) folk festival.
An autumn holiday in and around Graz can take in both traditional and contemporary culture, urban and rural experiences, and seasonal eating and drinking. A few days after Aufsteirern follows Steirischer Herbst (“Styrian Fall”), a three-week, city-wide International Festival of Contemporary Arts. Simultaneously, the rural region just south of Graz, features a “Culinary Fall” with a “Day of the Open Door” where food producers give tours and provide complementary tasting. At the vinegar-makers we tasted a twenty-five-year-old sweet balsamic vinegar, next door several flavours of schnapps, while down the road at Zotter chocolates we almost made ourselves ill with tasting ten grades of melted chocolate, and various flavors of wafers and hot chocolate.
Not far away is a pumpkin festival, featuring Styria’s famous pumpkin oil and all kinds of delicious pumpkin dishes. Want to see the Lipizzaner horses but can’t get to Vienna? In September they come down in procession from the Styrian mountain pastures, three quarters of an hour from Graz. And to do as the Austrians do, a trip into the romantic rolling-hill wine region south of Graz is a must, to have lunch at a Buschenschank, a vineyard tavern serving elaborate ploughman’s lunches with their wine made from home-grown grapes. A favorite drink available everywhere, but only in fall for as long as supplies last, is the new, semi-fermented wine called sturm (meaning “storm,” from its cloudy appearance). On our way back to Graz, we stopped at a roadside stand for fresh roasted chestnuts and another glass of sturm. If, after all this, you would like to squeeze in another experience, go to the tourist office to find out which churches have an Erntedankfest, the festival giving thanks for the harvest. Or join an Alpine Club hike as a visitor to tour the outlying regions local style. You can take a train to the local mountain, the Schöckl; hike by farms and vineyards; or visit one of Europe’s biggest caves, the Lurgrotte by nearby Peggau. Or go to the farmer’s market in old town Graz to buy some produce or flowers, or to have a sausage and beer at one of the stands.
Don't speak German? The tourist office in the centre of town has lots of information in English, and you will always find Austrians happy to have a chance to practice their English. Austria has countless, useful tourist internet sites, in English as well as German, that make self-organizing a trip online relatively easy. These include sites for the many fall events. For travellers, cities and towns have centrally located tourist offices staffed with friendly, helpful attendants who speak good English. They can sell bus passes, provide lists of available accommodations, can give information about all events and have lots of English brochures and maps. We chose to get around Austria the relaxing way - by train. For local travel, buses are comfortable and convenient.
Lost on the Alm.
“The horse escaped and ran up the mountain. I have to drive up to the alm to find it.” We are in the Ramsau am Dachstein area in the mountains. Heidi, our hostess at Walcher Farm, jumps up just as we are about to settle our bill. We have a bus to catch from Ramsau down the mountain to Schladming in time to make the train back to Graz.
Forgetting the bus, our immediate reaction? “Can we come along?” Adventures may, as hobbits say, be “nasty disturbing uncomfortable things” that “make you late for dinner,” but they can also open the door to the most authentic local experiences.
Walcher farm is one of thousands throughout Austria providing farm holidays with local, hearty food; farm activities; hiking trails; traditional, cultural activities and picture-postcard scenery. Ted and I were there to experience an almabtrieb, the celebration of elaborately decorated cows coming back down to the farm in procession from the high, alpine summer pastures (alm); an old tradition still taking place in all of Austria’s mountain regions.
Since it was the fall shoulder season, we left much to spontaneity. Fall is a perfect time to visit Austria - the weather is mild; fall harvests provide bountiful, local food and drink; rates are lowered; tourists are fewer; travel spontaneity is possible; and fall festivals abound. We easily researched and arranged our five weeks in Austria through the internet. Austria has an abundance of useful tourist sites which make self-organizing a trip online relatively easy. Among these are sites for searching farm holiday possibilities throughout all the Austrian provinces, and those which list all the almabtrieb processions throughout Austria, with dates and times.
]]>
A digital slideshow produced by Evelyn Nodwell was awarded the highest mark by a panel of three judges at the selection of shows for the upcoming Photomotion. Guizhou Province, China combines strong images with location sound, video and music to tell the story of New Rice Festivals in a remote corner of China.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Photomotion. A matinee and evening show typically draw up to 400 to the annual event that is sponsored by the Pacific Digital Photography Club.
Photomotion will be held at the Inlet Theatre in Port Moody on November 16, 2013. Tickets can be purchased using paypal at http://www.pdpc.ca
One of the portraits in Evelvn's show scored 4th among individual images submitted to the 2013 North Shore Challenge by 280 talented photographers from across British Columbia.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Compose your image from the background forward to the action. Build layers. Watch for tiny details. In other words, compose and wait.
Sound counter-intuitive? Yet this approach, advocated by Sam Abell, an acclaimed 30-year veteran photographer of National Geographic magazine, works even in action-packed, dramatic situations (http://www.cherylmachatdorskind.com/blog/friday-quote-compose-and-wait-sam-abell/).
This image is one that I created of a major fire that leveled the historic E.L. Lewis Building in New Westminster, BC.
Here is the process I used. I took a few long-shots of the overall scene as soon as I parked my car so I at least had something. But I knew I didn’t have any images with impact from that perspective. I tried the opposite approach, moving as close as the police barricades would allow, switching to a wide-angle lens and training my viewfinder on spectators and hoses in the foreground. Better but still no images that had life.
Finally I settled on a middle-distance. For this image I started by defining my stage which was the wall and parking meters on the left-hand side, the building across the street on the right-hand side and the street sign on the top edge. The smoke, the yellow-suited fire-fighters, and the stream of water were the action items. Surprisingly, although each of these elements varied from moment to moment and it was important to get them right compositionally, they did not move too much which allowed me to concentrate on composing the rest of my image. I needed something in the foreground layer. The command car was already parked, I just needed someone to come to it. So I waited. Finally another fire-fighter did appear. I knew instinctively that when his hand touched the door handle it would complete the image for moment and for gesture.
Many photojournalists were at each of the locations that I tried. Mostly they were using long telephoto lenses in an attempt to get into the action. I created my image with a 90mm (equivalent) lens.
I did not set out to photograph this fire, rather I came across it when I was driving to an appointment. So, other important considerations are that I almost always have a camera with me and that I took the time to stop. From there it became a case of first exploring the location and then using Sam Abell's compose and wait technique.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>
Are you intrigued by the power of photographs to tell stories and to pose meaningful questions? Are you a traveler, in person or in heart?
You have come to the right place. Welcome!
Our goal is to share some of our favourite images with you; images that ‘capture the essence of the moment’ for each of us.
Individual blog posts will provide you with the story behind the images. Here you will find posts about Evelyn’s or my vision and approach to creating images, our thoughts and experiences on connecting with others through photography, travel information on some of the places we visit, and interesting and informative discussions on all things creative.
Photography is a wonderful voyage of discovery. Thank you for joining us on the journey.
posted by Ted Nodwell
]]>