Younes Bounhar Photography

Get your Mojo working

Ever find yourself in muddy waters? I mean photographically speaking…All your photos look alike and leave you unsatisfied, you no longer feel like going out and getting that extra shot, or you simply feel like you just don’t have it anymore.

Several photographers I’ve talked to have come across a dry-spell at one point or another. There are really no magic tricks or one-size-fit-all solutions to your plight. Some people go out more, some drop their camera gear for a while. Whenever I find myself unable to go out and shoot landscapes, or if I am feeling a bit unmotivated, I try and go out of my comfort zone and try something different.

It doesn’t have to be complicated or very involved. A simple trick is to use common household items and try and have fun with them (this sentence just sounds wrong…). I like to try different lighting set ups, play with reflections. I also look for patterns, curves or strong lines, basically strong graphic elements. I use my entire lens arsenal and try to come up with a different angle or take on mundane objects. Exercises like these have two major advantages: 1- they can bring the fun back in photography, 2- they can help you see your world differently and help improve your style. So, next time your mojo goes on vacation, get back to your liquor cabinet, pull out your best Port and pour yourself some of your finest (see Image 1; and please do not waste any )

Posted on March 30th, 2009 in Photography Tips | No Comments »

Save the Camera!!

You know how it is, when you are in an uncomfortable position and try to move your legs around your tripod and bump your SLR down into the river, or when you are taking photographs and all the sudden you are surrounded by cold water and you can’t see through the viewfinder? Or may be that’s just me…

I have to say, I am not the world’s most coordinated being. I mean, it’s not my fault. I had a late growth spurt and my brain just never quite got a hold of my final coordinates (c’mon, what do you expect when you gain two feet in as many years!). So it’s not all that surprising, to me at least, that I get into some strange accidents. You add to that the fact that I am somewhat careless, even foolhardy with my gear, and it would not come as a shock to you that out of the three cameras I have owned so far, two have made it close to the bottom of the river. The only reason the third hasn’t is that I have just had it for a few weeks, so there is still hope!

Where is he going with this, you may be wondering…Well, what I haven’t mentioned so far is that while neither camera asked for additional swim time, both have survived and have been working perfectly. One was an entry level Nikon D70s, the other a weather sealed, professional D200 body. This means that I had to do some at extensive research in the “save the camera from drowning” business and have gained significant experience!

Before I go on to the  step-by-step protocol to save your camera from near fatal drowning, I have a few disclaimers: a) this should not be construed as an encouragement to drown your camera, b) this does not guarantee your camera will work again, c) if it’s salt water, sorry, I can’t help, d) I am not responsible for any damage that your camera may incur if you follow this protocol, do it at your own risk (does it show I’ve been hanging around way to many lawyers lately?).

Usually, the question I get after all this (and after “do you ever shut up?”), is : ” Younes, how did you save your camera?” (said with a clear tone of fake concern and interest):

1- as soon as you get out of the river (you kind of have to be alive for the following steps), turn off the camera, take out the battery and the memory card;

2- if you have any dry piece of cloth/clothing try and dry as much of the exterior as possible;

Read More…

Posted on March 26th, 2009 in Gear | 1 Comment »

Photosho Issue 5

Yes, it’s that time of the year, yet again. Photosho, issue #5 is about to hit the stands. You can get a sneak preview and order copies online directly at http://photosho.ca. This is a special all black and white issue centering on the theme of Architectural Grandeur. This is a great Canadian magazine, with some fantastic Canadian content and that deserves our support!

Posted on March 24th, 2009 in Publications | No Comments »

Light Musings

Posted on March 24th, 2009 in News | 1 Comment »

New workshops

I am pleased to announce that this year I will be giving 4 landscape photography workshops. As usual, my workshops are kept small to maximise the learning experience and tailor the content to suit each participant. Three of the workshops will take place in the Ottawa-Gatineau area. The fourth will be in the magnificent Charlevoix area of Quebec: The Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Malbaie park. For more information on these workshops, please visit http://younesbounhar.com/assignments-workshops/. I look forward to seeing you!

Posted on March 20th, 2009 in Workshops | No Comments »

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