My photography path from Tehran/Iran to Ontario/Canada to New York/USA

By Nikoo Shahabi Sirjani

I am an immigrant! I was born and raised in Tehran, Iran’s capital and most populous city. After being introduced to graphic design in high school, I continued studying graphic design in university for both my undergraduate and graduate degrees. During this time, I took more than 20 mandatory photography credit courses as the first steps in my photography path. In 2007 I immigrated to Canada and started a new life in the city of Waterloo, Ontario. Although it is a small city, there were lots of young people in every corner because of two well-known universities and one college.

While living in Waterloo, I made the decision to study at a Canadian college. Unfortunately, at this point I received one of the worst pieces of advice in my life by two college advisors not to enroll in a college program. I was told it would be a downgrade for a university graduate to enroll a college program and get a college diploma! BZZZZZZ…Wrong. This was incorrect, but I made a very wrong decision based on this advice. As a result, I didn't go to college that time!

Panoramic picture of the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia.

(Nikoo Shahabi Sirjani, March 2016 First year student at Lambton Collage)

 

My life changed a little in 2014 and tossed me to another small city in Ontario, named Sarnia. Unlike Waterloo, Sarnia is a very quiet city with a lot of senior citizens. Although it is a small city with many members of an older generation, it has enough attractions to keep the younger generation happy as well. One of the most important attractions is a college named Lambton. Fortunately, this college was located across the street from where I lived, and so in addition to my enthusiasm to learn, location was now another motivation for me to go back to school. Lambton College may be small, but it offers very beneficial and effective programs. From my perspective, the best course of study at Lambton College with knowledgeable professors and great facilities is the two-year program of Digital Photography.   

1st Place Portrait Photography. Lambton College Digital photography Image challenge

(Nikoo Shahabi Sirjani, March 2016 First year student at Lambton College)

I enrolled in this program in September, 2015. I had to delay starting my classes by a couple of weeks since I was out of the country. I had no worries about starting school late since I thought I already had some knowledge in this field; besides, a college program does not need much time or effort! BZZZZZZ…Wrong again!

When I returned to Canada and started the program, I was just shocked. I immediately saw how serious the program is! It required lots of time and effort to be successful! I was lost, and I had to really try hard! My classmates, who are now my friends, along with my professors, were very helpful and supportive and helped me to catch up from my absence! The first semester was a great experience and it let me back on the photography track, this time professionally.

 

The winner picture for the Blues Day. H2O How to Overcome 

Obstacles poster. (Nikoo Shahabi Sirjani, March 2016 

Student at Lambton College)

Second semester continued to be a positive experience and I learned a lot. In general, my first year in digital photography not only added to my photography knowledge but also provided me with a chance to improve my English and anthropology knowledge! I won two photography contests for first-year students. One of my pictures ended up being used as an educational poster. I was told by the coordinator of the digital photography program that my panoramic picture from the Blue Water Bridge had been chosen as a Sarnia Landmark by one of the Deans at Lambton College. I was placed on the Deans’ Honour List in recognition of my academic performance in Winter, 2016. In addition, I was chosen by the coordinator as a candidate to be on the committee for the program review.

Lambton College’s Digital Photography professors and I at our year-end Image Competition

Awards event. 

Life brought another huge change in my life and so at the end of the first year, I had to leave not only the program, not only Lambton College, and not only Sarnia, but I had to leave Canada! I had to move to the U.S. and start a new life there!

Fashion Photography. Theme: Circus (Nikoo Shahabi Sirjani,

November 2106 Student at ICP School)

 

The experience of a busy life in a metropolitan city after all those years of living in small, quiet cities brought two different senses for me: stress and excitement. I had to deal with stress and take advantages of excitement and let myself progress and grow again. So I made a fast decision to enroll in a fashion photography course at the International Center of Photography in NYC. ICP School is one of the most prestigious and well known photography schools in the word, and I am very fortunate to have been able to continue my photography studies there. Studying at ICP has proven to be another great experience for me. This current semester I am enrolled in a lighting class.

Leaving my home country and immigrating to another country with a totally different language and culture is a difficult enough change to deal with in one lifetime. Add to that lots of ups and downs followed by another immigration from my adopted home or second home could have been totally disastrous! For me, art is always needed to make life more beautiful. Photography is an especially wonderful, endless art that has brought so many colours into my life. That being said, I am a big fan of black and white photography.

Lambton College school trip to NYC (Nikoo Shahabi Sirjani, October 2016)

Finally, I wish to add that one of the highlights of Lambton College’s digital photography program is the five-day school trip to New York City for second-year students. Although I missed that school trip since I had already moved to the U.S., I was lucky enough to live close by and join my former classmates and professors when they came to NYC. This fantastic experience has been an energizing part of my photography adventure!

Anti-racism in fashion photography (Nikoo Shahabi Sirjani,

November 2016 student at ICP School)

  Lighting for portrait (Nikoo Shahabi Sirjani, February 2017 Student at ICP school)

Lighting for portrait (Nikoo Shahabi Sirjani, February 2017 Student at ICP school)

Fashion Photography. Theme: Circus (Nikoo Shahabi Sirjani,

November 2106 Student at ICP School)

"In the House" Challenge

By Nicole Bowes and Dave Chidley

Raspal Singh discusses the next shot with model Morgan.  Photo by Nicole Bowles

The challenge was simple, we were told to arrive at a decorated show-home, create three great images of a model in a short thirty minutes, edit, enhance and submit those images directly after the shoot. 

A simple but stressful exercise called the “In the House” challenge.

It is really a stressful test, with us needing to quickly look over the house for good props, backgrounds, light, and creative potential.  We meet models we have never seen before, Sebastian and Morgan from Anita Norris Model Management Inc.

Seth Myers works quickly to set up lights in a tights space as model Sebastian looks on.  Photo by Nicole Bowles

Gina Roberson creates an image with model Morgan.  Photo by Nicole Bowles

It was a test to put our skills and confidence to the test and make good photos in a very short time-frame and most every member of the class was very nervous.  That certainly was a key part of the experience, to learn how to do the job and create good images under stress.

It was a rewarding experience with most of the students being happy with the images they created. 

Mike L'heurux frames Sebastian with lighting bounce assistance by classmate Atena Abdolrazagh, Photo by Nicole Bowles

Bryce Ottewell work with model Sebastian.  Photo by Nicole Bowles

Christina Watts reviews her images as Jesse Martens shoots video of the exercise.  Photo by Nicole Bowles

Some of the Images Created by the second year students "In the House."

Photo by Nicole Bowles

Photo by Erin Percival

Photo by Erin Percival

Photo by Elizabeth Hunt

Photo by John Seo

Photo by Mike L'heurux

Photo by Bryce Ottewell

Photo by Gina Roberston

Photo by Dana Sorensen

Photo by Christina Watts

 

The Finish Line

By Nikki Gee

We are about a month away from the finish line. Our recent assignments have produced some awesome end pieces produced. Some of my classmates have been printing for their galleries that are within the next few weeks. We must host a gallery with our photos that we have taken over the past year and a half. As the time starts to fly by as we near the end, assignments, galleries and volunteer experiences are coming to a close. It is a sad but victorious time for us all.

The latest assignment “friends in the shadows” has produced some really interesting views on people, everyday scenes and objects.  Below are two of the photos that I have taken for this assignment. The first one with the hand shadows across the face is called “Held by shadows”. I had Dana hold her arms and hands up against the lights on each side. The second photo is a shadow hand grabbing Dana as she looks like a scared child. This one is called “Shadows in the curtains”. This photo had the middle fingers drawn in, in Photoshop and then liquefied (contorted) into creepy fingers that look like they are reaching down and grabbing Dana.

Held by Shadows (Lambton College. Sarnia, On)- by Nikki Gee

Shadows in the Curtains(Lambton College. Sarnia, On)-  - by Nikki Gee

In our second year we are learning how to use darkness, shadows and other bad lighting in situations to give us a great photo. Our one previous assignment that I have talked about in a previous personal blog post on the “Sh***y Lighting was an example and the photos that came out in the end were so different and pleasing to see that even with bad light you can create some great pieces. In first year we would not have known how to use this type of lighting to our advantage and make it fit into our photos.

The photo below with the lit up chair was all done in camera and if you look closely there are stars in the sky. This was all done with a 30 second exposure in the camera and what is called light painting. Light painting is where you set a long exposure and paint over the objects and areas with light of your choice. I plan on using these techniques in the future for other assignments and also add it to my photography categories.

V.I.P lit (Canatara Park/Beach, Sarnia, On)- by Nikki Gee

We have about 6 assignments left to do in Design and style. The next one is a mosaic assignment where we are to create a mosaic with our photos and have them create a photo. This is also an assignment where our Photoshop skills come into effect and we create more depth into a photo.

Well that is all for today. You can check out my personal blogs that are upcoming next week to see the mosaics and what they will turn out like.  www.geeni.ca/blog

Cheers,

Nikki  G.

All Work and some Play

By Andrea Ochoa-Pineda

The second year Digital Photography students at Lambton College work hard as soon as their
fourth term starts.

Second year student Elizabeth Hunt photographs her assignment partner Gina Robertson's business portrait at the Lambton College Digital Photography studio in Sarnia, Ontario on Monday, January 23, 2016. (Andrea Ochoa-Pineda / Lambton College)

This term presents a lot of challenges, but it’s probably also the most fun. This is the time to
prove yourself, explore your own art further, and start working on your business. During the last
term in the Digital photography program, students are expected and taught how to build and
expand their business.

Second year students gather in the middle of the Digital Photography studio while others make use of the 5 individual studios to execute their portrait assignments at the Lambton College Digital Photography studio in Sarnia, Ontario on Monday, January 23, 2016. (Andrea Ochoa-Pineda / Lambton College)

As part of this business plan, they’re required to help each other out with their business
portraits. Second year students are assigned partners, with whom they get together to discuss
each other’s ideas for their own business portrait. During this exercise, students act the part of
both photographer and client to their partner, which not only helps immensely with their
interpersonal skills, but also gives them further experience in the realm of portraiture and
handling a client.

While students remain within the comfort of meeting with their own peers, this assignment also
brings its own challenges. Since their peers are also photographers, their expectations might be
higher than any average client.

For this assignment, students are required to photograph their peers in two different set-ups;
one formal, meant for business, and a second one that expresses their personality better.

Second year student Atena Abdorazagh works on post-production while fellow classmate Sarah Barry photographs her partner Eric Davison at the Lambton College Digital Photography studio in Sarnia, Ontario on Monday, January 23, 2016. (Andrea Ochoa-Pineda / Lambton College)

Whereas the business portrait is more of a professional photoshoot with a strict dress code, a
straight forward lighting set up, and traditional posing, the second portrait has almost absolute
creative freedom for both the photographer and their peer model to work with. In the second
portrait, students are encouraged to dress casually in a way that represents who they are as a
person more than who they are as a photographer, or entrepreneur.

Isabella Malik-Lidstone poses for her business casual portrait, while classmate and assignment partner Dana Sorensen photographs her at the Lambton College Digital Photography studio in Sarnia, Ontario on Monday, January 23, 2016. (Andrea Ochoa-Pineda / Lambton College)

While the first portrait urges the students to create something more traditional, the second
allows them to be flexible and explore their creativity, not only in the way they can dress or
pose, but also in the way the lighting is set up.

Second year Digital Photography student Erin Percival focuses on finishing assignments during the free time after her photoshoot while fellow classmates work on their own assignments at the Lambton College Digital Photography studio in Sarnia, Ontario on Monday, January 23, 2016. (Andrea Ochoa-Pineda / Lambton College)

Students in Lambton College’s Digital Photography program are professionally trained to
photograph with the best technique and professionalism, but they are also constantly motivated
to explore their own passions and creative endeavours in each and every assignment.

Only taught by the best, and continually inspired by their mentors, students in this program can
and will go to great lengths to achieve a beautiful product that they can be proud of and that
their respective clients will love.

Second year Digital Photography students Elizabeth Hunt and Gina Robertson waste no time to team up and put away the equipment they used for their photoshoots at the Lambton College Digital Photography studio in Sarnia, Ontario on Monday, January 23, 2016. (Andrea Ochoa-Pineda / Lambton College)