News & most
recent archives
August 30, 2010
1200ft above Winnipeg: One beautiful city!
August 30, 2010
Happy birthday to ME!
Huge thanks to all those friends and family who sent birthday wishes today and
to all those friends who sent wishes over bookface (aka FaceBook).
August 29, 2010
Photography planning: Barkman Concrete
August
27, 2010
Flying with the doors off
Partially due to it being 32c outside and the helicopter
not having AC this was the first time in my handful
of flights over the last couple of years where we flew
with the doors completely off.
This is great because then you don't have to worry
about reflections ruining your photos however, you
do have to trust your seatbelt.
It's kind of weird to look out the door and have your
foot hanging 1200 feet over Winnipeg and realize you're
only one step away from death.
I kept wanting to get out and stop because the angle kept changing so quickly
but I had to keep in mind that I wasn't in a car and "stepping out" to
get the shot would kill me.
You also have to make sure NOTHING goes out the door,
even your foot, head or camera as the helicopter moves
at about 200kph and the wind blowing around it is at
times as violent as tornado class winds. So the pilot
was surprised to see me hanging out the side trying
to get far enough away from the heli to get the skids
out of the photo while using a modified
fisheye.
Click to enlarge
A gallery from this flight will be posted soon so you
can all "see your house from there"! ;-)
August 27, 2010
Helping friends
As an active full
time photographer I
get a lot of requests of all kinds: Helping students
with school projects and interviews, donation requests,
volunteer requests and more. But the requests I take
most seriously are the ones from my peer friends.
Today I helped child portrait photographer extrordinaire
Karen Hunter with some questions about how best to
approach mobile flash photography and despite the
fact that this week I've been too busy to have a meal,
I was totally happy to help her out and make the time.
Being the intelligent and caring person she is, she
also kindly offered to pay me for my time which I
completely refused. Why? Because she's a friend. Come
on people, if you can't help a friend, who will you
help?
Over the past several years of my career I've made
a good number of photographer friends who I've assisted
for, helped out by talking about pricing etc as well
as other stuff.
It's great to have friends in the same
industry who I can
always
count
on and chat to!
August 27, 2010
Commercial environmental portraits for Collège
universitaire de Saint-Boniface
Working with a new client, Deschenes Regnier, one of
Winnipeg's primere bilingual ad firms was great!
August 26, 2010
Commercial event photography: Central Park re-opening
(with water park!)
August 25, 2010
Commercial event photography: Her Excellency Governor General Michaëlle
Jean
Once again I photographed the GG in under 24 hours notice. At least this time
I already had a suit!
August 25, 2010
Commercial event photography: Canadian Museum for Human Rights site tour given
by architect Antoine Predock
August 24, 2010
Commercial virtual reality tour photography: Health Sciences Centre Inc. Lifestyles
Lottery: Home
Today I shot the home, this one inside WPC, for the HSCHL.
August 23, 2010
Out of town commercial virtual reality tour photography: Health Sciences Centre
Inc.
Lifestyles
Lottery: Cottage
Today, for a long term ad agency client out of Saskatoon, the Marketing Den,
I photographed the HSCHL cottage in Falcon Lake, Manitoba.
It's always really exciting to be able to travel, even just a couple of hours,
for my photography. In this case, I met some really nice people who where taking
care of the cottage.
August 20, 2010
Commercial tourism photography for Parks Canada: Day 2
August 19, 2010
Commercial portraiture: Nelson House Medicine Lodge
Today one of the groups from the NCN was in Winnipeg and
I
did
several
portraits
and a group photo as well.
August
18, 2010
  
Concert & live band photography: Black Eyed Peas
*I was also asked by the record label to shoot the Meet & Greet photos
August
18, 2010
Commercial tourism photography for Parks Canada: Day 1
Today marked the start
of my contract with Parks Canada. We where shooting at the Forks and it turned
out that despite some cloudiness that we got some great
shots!
August 17, 2010
Portraits for Winnipeg City Councillor Jeff Browaty
August
16, 2010
Today I planned but did not attend a monthly meeting for my Winnipeg
Photo Community as I was still tweaking the new forum software.
August 15, 2010
A huge part of photography is good planning and I was lucky today to be invited
to a planning lunch (at Coras!) to get over 10 days of shooting
planned for a huge contract I just got with Barkman Concrete.
(Admittedly being a bachelor I don't have anyone to help me cook
and since I can only make 2 things: macaroni and TV dinners...I take every chance
to eat
out that I can!)
August 15, 2010
Had new forum software installed for my photo community: WPGphoto.com and
spent most of the late evening and early morning getting it to the point where
it was presentable for my members.
August
15, 2010
Dan's crazy ticket giveaway madness winners
for August:
Thanks to all those who put their names in the hat for this month's tickets.
Here are the winners:
-Backstreet Boys: Jen K. (web site winner)
-Michael Buble: Paul (photo club winner)
-Celtic Woman: Erika F. (Web site winner who's mother was just diagnosed with
Cancer
so
I
wanted
to do what little I could to help)
-Black Eyed Peas: Jackie Y.
August 15, 2010
A couple of days ago was the best time to watch the Persid Meteor Shower and
I was out in the Stonewall area with bells on...to keep away the bears you see...
During the 4 hour period that I was out, I saw 6 falling stars and was able to
capture 17!
The following is a compilation shot of five of those falling stars and a crop
of the same image, showing some detail on what they look like. The crown of the
Northern Lights was out and they even showed up a bit more energetically for
about 1 minute. In the first photo you can also see the Milky way to the right
of centre reaching into the sky.
Northern Lights, falling stars and the Milky Way, oh my!
Detail:
August
14, 2010
WPC Gallery #4 photos
Today at 1pm was the gala opening of my photo community's 4th gallery with Photo
Central (and you're invited to come anytime over the next 2 weeks!)
In this gallery I have what I believe is a 1st for winnipeg: A 5164 megapixel
image...yes, I said 5164 megapixels. Think about your 15 megapixel camera on
steroids...lots and lots...and lots of steroids. What I've created and have on
display is what I think is the highest resolution image ever taken of Winnipeg.
It's a large landscape of everything from the Downtown area looking from Portage
Ave to the perimeter and beyond. However, you can also see everything from Fort
Garry Place all the way 220 degrees over to Main Street.
Labworks who kindly
rushed this very unique printing project for me said it was the sharpest most
detailed image they'd ever seen, and that, coming from people who all they do
is print photos all day, is one of the nicest complements I've ever had! They
also are going to print a version of it to put up in their store.
If you love Winnipeg as much as I do, you HAVE to come out to Photo Central at
499 Notre Dame (on the 2nd level) to check out this large panoramic, a five 30"x40"
panel wall collage for a total of 40" tall by 150" wide!
If you can't make it out today, the gallery and my print will be on display until
August 27th along with another 30 WPC member's work of Winnipeg and abroad which
makes the trip wholly worthwhile!
August 14, 2010
More huge news for me this week!
I had another bid accepted for a 10 day + contract with Barkman Concrete, another
client I've already worked with for years! Despite visions of "Barkman Concrete"
being about cement trucks they couldn't be further from it: They actually specialize
in making pavers, slabs,
retaining walls and
site furnishings for things like your driveway, garden or commercial business
and yes, also concrete areas for things like skate parks.
Not only are they a huge company to work for but a REALLY fun company to work
with thanks to all the good people there! And, they help me keep up my quota
of taking really nice pictures of rocks. ;-)
August
13, 2010
Today I set up the 4th gallery for my photo
community. Here is a time-lapse video of the setup.
HUGE thanks to Dave, Gord, Ash and Mukesh for all their
help!
Winnipeg Photo Community gallery #4
August 12, 2010
  
Event photography: Power97's Joey Open golf tournament
August 11, 2010
Concert/live band photography: Backstreet Boys
August 11, 2010
Commercial advertising photography for Hal Anderson & CJOB
August 10, 2010
I met a fellow photographer friend of mine, Kert, who showed me a very unique
camera which takes super funky panoramic pictures so, being the camera nerd that
I
am
I
had to have one!
Here is a gallery of single shot 360 panoramics:
  
360 spinners
August 9, 2010
I've finally had time to put up two recent events:
August 8, 2010
Dan's crazy ticket giveaway madness:
That's right! It's that time again for some ticket giving away goodness!
Here's what I gots* for you for August (2 tickets for each event):
-Backstreet Boys: Wednesday, August 11 - 7:30pm
-Michael Buble: Friday, August 13 - 8pm
-Celtic Woman: Sunday, August 15 - 7:30pm
-The Black Eyed Peas: Wednesday, August 18 - 7:30pm
All requests are put into a hat and chosen randomly.
If interested please contact me by e-mail.
(*PS: Attempt at hilarious misspelling intentional)
August 7, 2010
  
Event/concert photography:
Rock on the Range 2010
August 5, 2010
Concert/live band photography: Weird Al Yankovic
August 5, 2010
The ROTR tickets have gone to Jaquie and another set to Derek.
Thanks to everyone
else
for
the
requests
and sorry that I only had two sets!
August 4, 2010
More free tickets to give away!
I have two, FIELD LEVEL tickets for Rock on the Range to give away to anyone
interested.
Just send me an e-mail!
August 3, 2010
I finally had time to process the Bon Jovi, Kid Rock & Sierra Noble concert
pics:
 
Concert photography: Bon Jovi, Kidk Rock, Sierra Noble
August 2, 2010
I struck lighting again!
Just a quick one-shot here as I was only out for about 10 minutes but managed
to get a shot of the lightning storm tonight.
Click to enlarge!
July 29, 2010
How do you fit 143 people into a photo? Easy! A crane shot!
Canadian Museum for Human Rights site staff & construction crew
July 29, 2010
Commercial super high res portrait photography for CBC Radio-canada
July 28, 2010
Landscape/archival photography: Canadian Museum for Human Rights
July 27, 2010
Concert/live band photography: Neil Young
July 26, 2010
Concert/live band photography: Neil Young
July
22, 2010
HUGE news for me!
A couple of weeks ago I put in a bid for a huge Parks Canada
contract and just got word that I WON! This contract encompasses
work to be done over the next year.
Today, I officially signed all the forms and will soon be
photographing projects for Parks Canada as close as the Forks
and Lower Fort Garry as well as several different locations
in the Churchill area!
July 22, 2010
Event photography: Cirque du Soleil: Alegria
July 21, 2010
Two new fireworks photos:
*This one can be used as a desktop by clicking for the larger version
You can click me too for a larger version!
July 21, 2010
Commercial portrait for a new advertising campaign for CBC Radio-Canada
July 21, 2010
The second ever winner for concert tickets is Lori C. for the Cirque du Soleil:
Alegria tickets!
These where the most sought after tickets so I hope you have a great time Lori!
July 20, 2010
*Photos now online!*
  
 
Event photography: Hooters Golf Tournament
July 19, 2010
I've finally had some time to process some recent shoots:
July 18, 2010
Concert photography/live band photography: Bon Jovi, Kid Rock and Sierra Noble
July 17, 2010
The first winner for the concert tickets I've started to give away was Matt W
for the Bon Jovi tickets!
Have fun at the concert Matty!
July 17, 2010
Huge thanks to who pointed out one of my photos being used on USA Today's web
site:
http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2010-07-16-bachman16_ST_N.htm
July 16, 2010
Again I've been blessed to be given another first in Winnipeg and likely one
of the first nation wide: Today Don's loaned me their first Gigapan Epic Pro
(DSLR version).
I've already been out with it and am impressed with the results so I have already
decided to buy it.
Photos and review/comparison coming soon.
You can see an article/review I wrote on the P&S version here: Gigapan Epic 100
review
July 14, 2010
Event photography: Hooters Golf Tournament
Having shot for Hooters for over 5 years now I'm no stranger
to the fun of their golf tournaments despite missing last
years. However, as always the weather was terrible but the
girls where beautiful!
July 11, 2010
Modeling photos: Bathing suit and nude beach photos with Suzanne
For this shoot I've separated the galleries into two: One
for the bathing suit shots and one for the nudes:
Suzanne on the beach
Suzanne in wonderland
HUGE thanks to Adam, Suzie's BF for all his help holding lights and stuff as
well as for taking some photos of me with one of my cameras! Here's one of me
shooting:
July 12, 2010
How did my photo get to Vancouver?
My family, who are currently on vacation in BC found this promo photo I took
for Bachman/Turner in
the
Vancouver
Sun:
July 10, 2010
Early this morning I headed out to take some starscapes.
Had a great time with J and Mookey.
July 9, 2010
How do you get a $950+ tripod for only $220? My good friend
and new addiction Amazon!
Today I drove down to the US to pick up two new carbon fibre
tripods from a parcel service just over the border. However,
the drive was worth it as I saved over $900 in total for
both tripods!
Huge
thanks to J for accompanying me and being oh so patient while
I had to fill out forms in triplicate.
I'll be sure to post a review of my new lightweight friends
as soon as I have time.
July 8, 2010
Commercial virtual reality (VR) photography
Today, with a final outdoor shoot I completed a HUGE project
for the Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface.
This was a two day project to capture over 50 different rooms/locations
in the college for a huge virtual tour on their upcoming
new web site.
July 4, 2010
Engagement photos: Simon and Catherine
For anyone who reads
my ramblings here you'll already know that two years ago
I stopped
taking
weddings
(other
than
for family and close friends) and now pass them on to a few
of my photographer friends. However, in the case of my running
partner Simon, he's a friend so he is the one and only wedding
I am photographing this year.
July 3, 2010
Photojournalistic coverage of the Queen's visit to the Forks, Winnipeg.
Here are two quick shots I got this afternoon:
July 2, 2010
Photojournalistic & archival photography for the Canadian Museum for Human
Rights: Stone from the Queen
July 1, 2010
Another event that I organized for today was two separate Canada Day fireworks
group
shoots
for
my
photo club the WPC (Winnipeg
Photo Community)
Here is one of my shots from Assiniboine Park:
Click for a much larger image!
July 1, 2010
As part of my deal with the MTS Centre I get free tickets
to almost all the shows that happen there (and which I shoot)
each month. However, as I normally get a good feel for the
concert
during
just
the first three songs (which is all any photographer such
as myself or the press, is allowed to shoot) I don't need
the tickets for myself.
SO, I know there are a few of my buddies and other people
who I've met over the years who still check here occasionally
and would be interested in the extra tickets. So each month
when
I get
my tickets
I'm
going
to
offer them
here, for free, if you can answer some kind of question related
to this BLOG. I may put something up just for one day, I
may ask what I've been shooting that month, stuff like that.
This month however, anyone who e-mails me is welcome to the
tickets and I'll just draw the names from a hat.
This month I have for you:
-July 4, 8pm: TOOL (@ MTS Centre)
-July 17, 7pm: BON
JOVI (@
Canad Inns stadium)
-July 22, 7:30pm: Cirque du Soleil's: ALGERIA (@ MTS Centre)
-July 27, 7:30pm: MEAT LOAF (with
Lisa Bouchelle @ MTS Centre)
*If you're interested in any of these tickets just e-mail
me at: dan@danharperphoto.com
Sometimes these will go to family or friends first but I
just want them to go to someone who will enjoy them and to
thank those who look here occasionally and suggest me when
they hear that someone needs a photographer. Thanks all!
July 1, 2010
Today because it was a nice day I organized a random group
photo shoot and tripod show & tell at the St Boniface Cathedral
for my photo club
the WPC (Winnipeg
Photo Community)
June 30, 2010
 
Live band & concert photography: Iron Maiden
June 29, 2010
 
Event & concert photography: Star Wars in concert
June 29, 2010
Photojournalistic & archival photography for the Canadian
Museum for Human Rights: Stone from the Queen
June 28, 2010
Tonight I hosted another monthly meeting for my photo club
the WPC (Winnipeg
Photo Community)
June 28, 2010
Photojournalistic & archival photography for the Canadian
Museum for Human Rights: Stone from the Queen
June 25, 2010
Commercial event & promotional photography for the Red River Ex.
As part of my shoot today I also covered the fireworks. Here are a couple of
examples:
June 23, 2010
Group and individual portrait photography locally for the Nisichawayasihk Cree
Nation Trust
June
23, 2010
  
Live band/concert photography: The Eagles and the Dixie Chicks
June 21, 2010
Event photography: Red River Ex awards dinner
June
20, 2010
Sports photography: Manitoba Marathon
As the regional manager for TPS/Marathon Photos, I organized 15 paid photographers
for this event as well as shooting it myself for the long eight hour day.
June 20, 2010
Happy father's day dad! (and all other fajas! - Austin Powers reference)
Thanks for everything especially
being my best promoter!
June 19, 2010
A few people including friends and family (who keep up with
me more on my BLOG rather than using a telephone) have
asked me to talk more about the
background
for
some
of
the
shoots
as
I
don't go
into
much
detail
about
them. Today
was
a good day to do that, so here's a bit more info about June 19th for me:
The strange life of a photographer. Today was a wonderfully strange and long
day for me:
Less than 24 hours ago I was asked to shoot one of the most powerful and influential
people in Canada: The Governor General (who has more power than the Prime Minister)
at a private dinner party where even her official photographer would not be present...
no pressure.
Just a random mention here that these 24 hour or less shoots are the exact reason
I stopped taking weddings. I REALLY liked shooting weddings since I could be
crazy creative with them but commercial photography is more the direction I have
a
creative
passion
for.
So,
I only take
weddings
for family and close friends in order to allow me the time to have opportunities
like this!
Now, this is all fine and good, I'm always happy to cover things with little
to no notice and am actually used to it BUT there where some complications: I
had a shoot today at 6am where I'll own a lane of the Provencher Bridge for
two hours. Then I have to photograph Tom Petty tonight and in the middle I have
to look the part in order to photograph her excellency. SO, this means in the
middle of all that I need to buy my first suit...
Now, that wouldn't be so bad IF I had less to do today and more than 24 hours
to find a suit which is extra hard because it's grad season.
None the less I did manage to find a $600+ suit (one of only two available in
my size) and made it through the whole day and all the shoots went great! Now
to sleep for a week...
June 19, 2010
 
Live band/concert photography: Tom Petty
June 19, 2010
Very special event photography: Private dinner for Michaëlle
Jean and her husband Jean-Daniel Lafond, hosted by Mr.
Thorsteinson.
June 19, 2010
Commercial product shoot for Johnson Waste Management: Two
brand new trucks, their Protekt document destruction and
garbage trucks.
June 18, 2010
Fireworks: You win some, you loose some.
Tonight I was asked by two companies (The Red River Ex and
Canfire fireworks) to photograph the fireworks display at
the RR Ex however unfortunately due to rain they where cancelled
at the last minute. I had already set up and gotten ready
as I was told they where still on but only minutes later
they where cancelled.
June 18, 2010
Live band/ concert photography: Carrie Underwood
June 18, 2010
Photojournalistic event photography: Nellie McClung statue
unveiling
June 17, 2010
 
Architectural & event photography: "Winnipeg Cube" unveiling
at the Old Market Square
Very cool event to shoot: Scatliff Miller Murray (an architectural
firm) asked me to cover the unveiling and get some photos
of their cube stage creation for their portfolio use both
during the day and evening.
June 17, 2010
Photojournalistic event photography: Nellie McClung statue
unveiling practice
June 16, 2010
This morning I received an amazing request: I will be officially taking photos
of the Queen's visit to Winnipeg for the CMHR! I'm told that my access will be
so limited I may not even be able to turn around but this is obviously still
an
amazing
opportunity
that I feel very privileged to have been given!
June 16, 2010
Last night I was driving home and saw a billboard which I took
the photos for last fall that where for Théâtre dans le cimetière:
June 15, 2010
Live band/concert photography: ZZ Top & Wide Mouth Mason
June 14, 2010
Fine art/stock photography for Birchwood Kia
I've never called my photos art but someone
seemed to think so...REALLY think so!
What does nearly $2000 worth of prints look
like? Like this:
Click to enlarge
I do all my printing with Don's Photo but when I made this
order, they where almost blown over! I'm told it's one of
the biggest individual orders they've had in a long time.
The photos above are still wrapped to avoid damage but you
can look at the customer proofs below that I made for Birchwood
Kia to review in order to see the whole order in more detail.
Be sure to stop by the showroom
to see all my photos on their walls!
All four of these panos where printed 8 feet wide:
Click to enlarge
All five of these where all printed 24x36":
Click to enlarge
June 14, 2010
Company/corporate head shots for the law firm Tapper Cuddy
Lighting lawyers:
Question:
How do you light a lively lawyer?
Answer:
However
they tell you to!
I've shot for Tapper Cuddy a couple of times already and
in the case of the standard shots they needed for their web
site
it's the most simple white backdrop to keep consistency.
However, today I was able to have a bit more fun with a group
shot (which will go into the paper) for three of them about
to be called to the bar:
Lighting lawyers: This photo will NOT enlarge...so don't
even touch it or I'll sue!
June 13, 2010
This is a stitched panoramic photo I took while in Pisew Falls, Manitoba. The
final file is 100 megapixels!
Click for a much larger image
You can see more of my panoramic work at WPG360.com
June 13, 2010
As regional manager for TPS/Marathon-Photos, I organized and today am training
10 paid photographers to shoot the Manitoba Marathon.
June 12, 2010
Here is a quick collage of some of the shots I did while out in Nelson House,
Manitoba shooting
for
the
NCN:
Click to view much larger image
Old news - News Archives from
2004-2010
|
Dan
Harper seminar on DVD:
"Going pro" is a seminar about my journey in continuing to work full time in
the photography industry where I talk about everything from specific pricing
for all kinds of photography to how to deal with clients and how to back up your
files as well as all of those questions you've always wanted to ask.
A must have for anyone thinking of "Going pro"!
Get more info and buy it here for as low as $250!
LOOKING
FOR A PHOTOGRAPHER?!
Call me if you need photos
for anything including:
-Corporate headshots
-Event photography
-Bands: promos & live
-360 VR tours
-Product photography
-Model portfolios
I shoot everything! Just ask.
Please contact me by phone at:
(204) 237-7402 or by e-mail
Dan Harper:
Official photographer for:
-The MTS Centre
-Festival du Voyageur
-The Wheeler in the morning show on Power97 FM
-Hooters Winnipeg
Dan Harper: Accredited photographer for:
-The Canadian Museum for Human Rights
-The Winnipeg Free Press (freelance)
-Travel Manitoba
-Destination Winnipeg
-Jewish Foundation of Manitoba
-Winnipeg Photo Community
-Nikon Professional Services Canada (NPS)
Other
sites by Dan Harper:
-WPG360: A collection of panoramic and virtual reality tours
-DanHarperPhoto.com: Dan's commercial site
-WPGphoto.com: Winnipeg's largest free photo community, created
by Dan in 2004
As heard on:
"Dan Harper, official photographer of Wheeler in the mornings"
Many of the photos on this
site are available for sale as prints or as stock photos.
They also make great gifts!
Also see my prints
for sale section or contact me for more information.
For
more Winnipeg related photography, please visit: WPGphoto.com
-This is a photo community I started
in 2004.
|
