Learning Photography
June 17, 2009
Learning photography is about more than taking pictures. It is learning how to take good pictures and what to do with them once you have them. In this day and age, just about everyone has access to a digital camera, but far fewer people know how to use them. One of the secrets is discovering when you can treat a digital camera like its film predecessor and when you can’t.
Being a life time user of film, I needed a course on digital photography to help me make the switch. It not only taught me what I needed to know, it showed me what I was missing. I had started my digital switch by buying a camera and taking pictures on auto mode. If I only took the occasional still life photo I probably would have been satisfied with that. But I’m a mom of a very active ten month old so I quickly realized that I was failing to capture quick movements and elusive smiles.
With my film camera I wouldn’t dream of photographing a moving child indoors with anything less than a 400 speed film. I started poking through the menu in the camera in an attempt to alter the shutter speed when I found two things that helped me immensely. The digital camera had a list of ISO speed options that carried over from film to denote the light sensitivity of the digital setting. I was back in familiar territory and it felt good.
The second feature I discovered was that my camera could be set to fire in bursts of three. The likelihood of missing something dropped dramatically. Catching a memory perfectly has always been very important to me. The lessons I’ve been learning in my photography course have shown me that a slightly imperfect picture is not the end of the world. In fact, it can be perfect or better with a few minutes manipulation in a Photoshop program.
Whether you are trying to find a camera, operate a camera, or work with the pictures you have already taken there is a photo course for you. Learning photography at any stage is essential to catching and preserving memories of those you love. Don’t miss one more shot of that lightening quick little one. Find the course that matches your needs today.
Amateur Child Photographer
Christy
Expressions
June 16, 2009
With the heat climbing as we dive headlong into summer, my husband and I decided to take our son, Aiden, swimming. Aiden’s favorite time every day is when the bath water starts running, so we thought that his first time in a pool would be even more exciting for him. We were very wrong.
After Aiden and I got suited up I handed him off to my husband so I could operate my video camera with my right hand and my still camera with my left. Anticipating happy splashes and excited squeals, I was poised and ready as they walked down into the water. So, I quickly had several shots, and video footage of apprehension that quickly funneled into tears.
I ditched the cameras and went into the water to console my little boy, but it didn’t help much. We got out, got back in, and switched between parents, but Aiden wanted nothing to do with the pool that we had just bought a summer membership to. Whether the pool was daunting in size or just too cool for Aiden’s taste, it wasn’t long before we decided to try again another day. After ten minutes or so, we were on our way back home.
I sighed and flipped through the pictures on the camera, expecting disappointment. Again, I was wrong. I got the most adorable photo of my son. His lip was pouted out and there was a tear creeping out the corner of his eye. It was so expressive and precious that I printed and framed it the next day. It is nestled snuggly amongst many others, the many faces of my little boy.
Like most people I tend to display the happy smiles that I capture. I hadn’t realized that I was missing out on the rest of the emotional spectrum. It’s hard to remember to grab your camera when you are trying to avert a tantrum or soothe a startled little one. Of course, those are the priorities, but if you happen to get some shots off that capture some of your children’s other emotions, consider them for display. A smile isn’t the only thing that makes a good picture, capturing the truth of the moment is also a photo worthy accomplishment.
Christy
The Real Fun
June 15, 2009
I absolutely love to bake. I have a collection of fun shaped cake pans that just thrill me when I can put them to use. My son is little too young to help me but my niece and nephew are just the right age to have a blast at it.
On their last visit Dylan and Madie joined me in baking a strawberry castle cake and subsequently destroying my kitchen. We all had grand fun. Every pot, pan, measuring cup and box of cereal I owned was on my kitchen floor. The three of us were covered in flour and sugar and it was picture perfect.
Granted the baking process goes a lot quicker when one isn’t trying to photograph it, but a little extra time is well worth it for the memories that are captured. The two looked like Keebler elves, standing on stools in shortened aprons and stirring like it was the only thing in the world.
When there was nothing else needed to finish the cake they started to play hide and seek in the cabinets. They pressed their noses against the oven window every minute or so to check if the cake was done. Then they pretended to bake some more with play doh and whatever kitchen utensils that hadn’t yet made it to the sink.
I ended up with dozens of fantastic pictures of my little chefs. I even had one printed on an apron for them to give their father for his birthday. A little mess can be a lot of fun. They are coming to visit again next week and Dylan has already called me three times with his plans to bake cakes. He wants another castle, a snake and a worm. Being a good big brother he also asked if Madie could make a strawberry shortcake flower.
Sometimes the photos are the lasting impressions, and sometimes it’s the actual memory. If a three year old can have enough fun that he remembers it six months later I am just happy to be a part of it.
Christy
Let The Games Begin
June 12, 2009
This weekend my husband had his friends over for a gaming sleepover. They are all just shy of thirty years old, but at least four times a year they get together and act as if they are barely teenagers. Our home happens to be in the middle of everyone else’s and my husband has the majority of the video games so they always come here. The junk food comes out, the games start up, and they stay up into the wee hours of the night without a care in the world.
I slipped in and took pictures every couple of hours, catching childish expressions of glee as one would win a game or score on another. My nine month old son even got in on the excitement, clapping and squealing wildly, especially when his father was happily winning. I took even more pictures of those precious father-son moments. My son has many of his father’s features so it was like he had his own mini self on his lap.
The whole weekend was filled with good times that deserve to be remembered long after these men can no longer find the time to get together. When the child inside takes over is when the best pictures are there for the taking. Childhood is only carefree for so long. Every moment of that time should be captured in memory, because that is what builds who you are when those times are gone.
If you can recapture that happiness for a day or two, squeeze every memory you can out of it. Whether you are catching happy childhood moments of a child or an adult, they are both to be seized and treasured. Make some time to recapture your youth, if only for a few moments. Your happiness matters, it affects everything around you and it is reenergizing, like a child on a summer day.
Christy H.
Family Nest
June 11, 2009
Yesterday while I had my son, Aiden, outside to watch my husband mow the lawn, we found a bird’s nest in the garden. I excitedly pointed it out to my little one. The eggs in it were huge by wild bird standards, at least as big as the chicken eggs in my fridge. We looked around for the mother bird, but she was out to lunch. In fact, I still don’t know what kind of bird they belong to, but Aiden and I peek out the kitchen window every hour or so trying and catch an identifying glimpse.
My memory fired into high gear as I remembered a bird’s nest my mother found for my brother and I when we were little more than knee high. She would never let us touch it, of course, but first we got to see the eggs, then the baby birds grow each day. By the time the birds had flown the nest, my brother and I had names for each of them and my mother had incorporated them into our bedtime stories. Being the wonderful mother that she is she made us each a photo album of the birds growing up, a few with us in the corner of the frame peeking into the nest.
I took the opportunity to start the same thing for Aiden. He is only nine months old, but he still gets very excited as we peer over the rock wall at the eggs. It may not mean much more than a momentary entertainment now, but in a year or two he will be able to look at the birds growing up and know that was a part of his life. In fact, when I visit my parents again I’m going to get my old album from under my bed so that he can see that his mom had her own nest to watch when she was little too.
Do you have any family rituals or photos that need a new generation? Not only is it a fun way to keep up with traditions, it provides memories for those following in our footsteps. Retake some photos, even if it is decades later, and put them side by side. The important things in life carry through to those who follow.
Christy, Aspiring Child Photographer
Photos Aren’t Just For The Mantle Anymore
June 10, 2009
Recently my Nana was redecorating her living room and dining room. A complete overhaul really. She has very elegant tastes, although almost always tinted by the pink spectrum. I was surprised when she called me regarding the project to ask how big I could make a photo. I told her as big as she wanted, but after hearing her size requirements I explained that what she needed was the photo on canvas.
I am always thrilled when I can introduce people to new things, especially my Nana who taught me so much growing up. Earlier in the spring we had gone to Longwood Gardens together. Ever practical, instead of bringing her camera, she pointed out things she wanted photos of since I never leave home without mine. She didn’t have a decorating agenda at the time, but I sent her home with a stack of prints that she fell in love with. I didn’t know it, but I had captured several pictures of tea roses that matched her china and one of a stem of orchids with petals almost the same tint as the rug she’d ordered before her visit.
Her original hope was to replace the large framed watercolor painting that no longer complimented the room, but she was unfamiliar with any photos larger than 8X10. When I arrived with my laptop and showed her all the different options for larger prints she immediately agreed that she wanted the photo on canvas. In fact, after reviewing the entire website several times she ordered a huge canvas of the orchid for the living room and three smaller ones for the dining room to reflect spring roses in the glass of the china cabinet.
I haven’t been to visit yet, but she called yesterday to excitedly tell me how they had come exactly as she wanted. She is often leery of internet purchases, but evidently they had even cropped the photos exactly to her specifications. I am happy that she is so thrilled and even more so that it is because of my photos. There is a canvas just waiting for you to pick it out of your photo album. Don’t leave it trapped inside, take pride in your work and put it on display.
Christy, Aspiring Child Photographer
Windows Into Your Life
June 9, 2009
The things that shape our lives come in many sizes. Did you get your sense of humor from your father or summer camp? Did you ever cry at a movie before your child was born? I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without my Canon EOS camera. Because of that camera I can actually look back at thousands of memories and remember life changing events large and small.
While EOS technically refers to the electronic focusing system within the interchangeable lenses of a canon camera, it was also a nod to the Greek goddess of dawn. A reference I find most appropriate because my Rebel, the first camera of that kind that I owned, was the dawn of a new era. I’d used a handful of point-and-shoot cameras before that to catch a memory here and there, like a day at the beach or Christmas morning; occasions that call for a camera. After that turning point in my life I grabbed my camera as often as I did my purse.
When I truly fell in love with photography, started taking pictures because I loved the pictures, my mother took me to pick out my first SLR. I already had quite a bit of practice with her Canon EOS camera, it did everything I wanted and more, so I bought the newest revision of that model. Soon the photos just poured forth. The staff at the local one hour photo knew my name and filled out my envelopes before I reached the desk.
Because of that camera and the ones that followed I can look back at hundreds of wonderful moments in my life. Friends and memories that I made at summer camp can still make me feel sixteen at a glance. When I babysat I would stage whole photo shoots that still grace their parents’ mantels. The first time my fiancé made me breakfast is fresh in my mind as if it were yesterday when I open that album. And even my most distant relatives got to see my son’s first step within hours of him taking it. Those precious memories, 4X6 windows into my past, represent so much of who I am. The right camera can be inspiring. Find one that inspires you to capture your life before you miss one more moment.
Christy, Aspiring Child Photographer
Baby Causing Sleep Deprivation? You Just Need The Right Photo Album
June 8, 2009
Sometime before your baby’s first birthday one of the many things that you will lose sleep over is a baby photo album. In some calm moment between teething and covering outlets you will discover photos tucked all over your home in no particular order. As you start gathering them up you will quickly realize that the two tiny albums that you got at your baby shower will never hold them all. That is where the fun begins.
A month ago while I was trying to clean up for a visit from my in-laws I found pictures under the couch, in the dresser, in the kitchen, basically anywhere that I had had two seconds to look at them. There were hundreds of prints and even more in the computer that I had yet to send in for developing. In my sleep deprived state I determined that I had to get them into photo albums while I could still remember what order they went in.
After gathering all the photos into one place I discovered that I would need several more albums just to contain the memories I had captured of the last eight months. Realizing that many more would follow I began to search the internet for sets of archival quality photo albums. While pregnant I had pestered my mother for my own baby photos, trying to predict what my child would look like. I wanted to make sure that my son’s pictures were preserved for his lifetime. Especially since several of my baby pictures were deteriorated in old albums with sticky acidic pages.
In the space of a nap time I found gorgeous albums. There were sets in every style and size and even ones with personalization available so I could put his name, the date, and special event information on it. I ordered one of the latter and filled it with images from the day my son was born. I also ordered several more that matched the décor in his room and filled every page. With color and styles to suit any taste or occasion you can easily avert the sleep loss associated with unorganized memories. Browse through right now and find the baby photo albums for you, those few minutes of shuteye are too precious to waste.
Aspiring Child Photographer
Beautiful Baby? Enter Here
June 5, 2009
Last week I caught the baby photo contest bug. I took a few pictures of my nine month old son and thought there can’t possibly be a cuter baby. Having seen an advertisement in a magazine for a beautiful baby contest I decided to take action. I soon realized that one contest was the tip of the iceberg. There are dozens out there and I was addicted.
Of course, I am a firm believer that my son is the cutest. I’m sure you believe the same of your child and how could it not be true. However, I thought I have the advantage. I’ve been a photographer for years. I know how to pick the great pictures from the good ones and I know how to take them. I set up a photo shoot for my son and caught every wonderful expression that he has ever had and a few new ones. As I uploaded my photos I tried to separate the mother from the photographer and chose some winning entries.
Two minutes on the internet and I discovered that there are dozens of baby photo contests to choose from. After a moment’s deliberation I decided why choose. I had dozens of pictures and most of the contests are free or very reasonable. The gambler in me jumped up and told me to play the odds. If one contest is good, many are better. I entered as many contests as my son’s nap time allowed, each one making me more excited, more hopeful.
The next day, preoccupied by life, the contests were barely in the back of my mind. Then I got an email telling me that my son’s photo had been viewed by a talent professional and encouraging me to upload more photos. The excitement came rushing to the surface again and more photos made their way onto the internet. I started checking whenever I had the chance. Like Facebook or Myspace it had become an addiction.
There is really no downside. Prizes range from a month’s diapers to college tuition. You get to show off your beautiful baby from the comfort of your home. Some even give you gifts for entering. What have you got to lose?
Enter today. I’ll see you there.
Christy
The Simple Things
June 2, 2009
The temperature dropped nearly forty degrees this week. Since we just got all the air conditioners installed I was hesitant to turn the heat on and have it go right out the window. So out came the blankets. And with blankets comes forts.
Now I’d like to chalk it all up to my son, but he’s nine months old, so it must be the child in me. First we snuggled up, then I propped my feet up and pulled the sheet over our heads. Aiden was just thrilled. Within a few minutes his feet were up in the air too, playing the sheet like a drum and squealing with delight.
After the first picture I discovered the tent was providing a very cool effect. It was tinting the photos. At first the lighting beneath the blue sheet was making us look like smurfs. I guess it belies my age that I found that quite entertaining.
Once I’d started I had to see what I could do with the rest of the linen closet. Aiden and I had tons of fun. I stacked pillows and made a fort by the couch for him to pull himself up on. I snagged tons of great pictures from odd angles of my living room. The most interesting ones I shot through a loosely crocheted blanket. It let me frame the shot and get different dimensions.
I captured wonderful moments like him peeking out from the blankets and swimming through a pile of them. He loves to climb so everything sturdy he managed to get up on and everything else he got to collapse to the ground. Even better, in a few years I’ll get to prove to him that I taught him how to build forts before his father did.
When was the last time you messed up a room just for the fun of it? Snuggle up and enjoy your little ones while entertaining them is still so simple.
Christy
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