Shutterbug Monday!

Lighting plays such an important part of our picture taking. The light of day and night may all look the same to the human eye, but the qualities of natural light change throughout the day. Here are a few tips to consider when trying to decide which time of day is right for your photo!



Midday--> The harsh light of midday is not the best for taking pictures. Subjects often looked washed out and strong contrasts can make for difficult exposures. The exception to this is an overcast sky at midday provides a soft, diffused light and few unwanted shadows.



Early Morning/Late Afternoon-->These are the two best times of day for nearly all subjects. An hour after sunrise and an hour bnefore sunet provide light that gives a scene a dramatic glow.



Dawn/Dusk--> Before the sun appears over the horizon, it starts to lighten the sky with a soft, blue light and as it begins to rise, the light becomes pink and gold. Use this light to create misty landscapes and dreamy silhouettes. To compensate for the limited light, use a slower shutter speed.



Night--> New creative possibilities arise about 30 minutes after the sun goes down. At this time, there is still enough light for shapes to create dramatic landscapes.

Post a link here to a photo that you've taken using different 'natural' light to get interesting effects. You have until July 31st to post the link, and I'll choose a winner for a RAK from me!

Last weeks Shutterbug winner is 'CHELLE' Congrats!! PM your address to Denise so she can get your prize out to you!!!

Shutterbug Monday!!!

I am covering for the Blog Boss today as she is still mending. We wish her a speedy recovery!!

T normally posts a "Shutterbug Monday" post so I thought about what I my topic would be so how about this...

Show us some of your favourite photos you have taken so far this summer by adding the link to your blog in the comment section. You will be eligible for a RAK! Deadline for entries is Friday July 23rd. We can't wait to see your photos!

Shutterbug Monday!

Here we are, at the beginning of yet another week~ Hope you are all enjoying your summer...we've had some scorching hot weather. Hopefully you are all finding some time to create as well!

Let's talk distressing today. Most likely we've all distressed on our layouts at some point. Inked the edges, tore the paper, used a distressing tool to rough things up. Have you ever thought of doing that to your photo's?

I have never distressed a photo...and I'm not really sure why other then I guess I just never thought about it before. Here are some cool ways to get a vintage look to your pictures

1. Crumple all or part of the photo then smooth it out
2. Sand the edges using fine-grit sandpaper or a sanding block
3. Tear a jagged edge or corner
4. Dry emboss a frame around your photo or words within the image and the raised lines.
5. Create a glazed or crackled effect with layers of embossing powder or Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel.
6. Ink the edges with an ink pad. For an even more aged look, cover the image with walnut ink.
7. Paint the edges of your photo and then sand the dried paint.

We would love to see how you've distressed photo's...so please leave us a link so we can check it out!!

Have a wonderful day :)

Since most of us use digital cameras...

I thought i'd focus on that this week!!!

File Formats--> File formats come into play when the camera saves your image and again when you use image-editing software. May image-editing programs give you the option of saving your edited image in the programs own file format but be careful " the files may not be readable if you take them elsewhere for printing.

JPEG--> The most common file format saved by cameras , it's smaller files conserve space and save quickly but sacrifice some detail. If you plan to print photo's from your images, choose the highest-quality setting while shooting. JPEGs are the mos recognized format for pinting and sharing photo's.

TIFFS--> If you use image-editing software, it helps to save JPEGs and TIFF files before doing lots of editiing. Although TIFF files are larger and slower, an image saved in TIFF allows you to crop, eidt and save your image with losing image quality. Use it when you want to edit the image without losing data with each 'save'

RAW-->Some higher-end cameras offer RAW format, which takes data files directly from a digital camera's image sensors. RAW iamges are called "digital negatives" because you can take the RAW image and develop or edit it to create your finished photograph. These files are much larger and thus take more time to open and save, but you end up with high-quality images. You also will have to open RAW images with a special program, usually a plug - in for your image editing software.

Shutterbug Monday!

Are you leaving your camera on 'auto' setting because it's easier or because you are unsure of what settings to use in 'manual' mode.

Aperture refers to the opening that allows light to enter the lens. A small aperture limits the light entering the lens while a larger one allows more. To chagne the size of the aperture, adjust the f-stop settings on your camera. The higher the number, the smaller the opening.

Depth of Field is something you need to consider when choosing your aperture. Depth of field is the area that's in focus in front of and behind your subject. Depth of field is determined by aperture, the focal length of the lens and the distance of the camera from the subject. Striking portraits that show a shallow depth of field are a result of a wider aperture (or smaller f-stop) such as f2 - f5.6. A smaller aperture from f8 - f22 offers a greater depth of field.

Shutter speed--> The faster your shutter speed the less time there is for light to enter your camera. When you take a picture of a galloping horse with a slower shutter speed (1/60 to 1/125 of a second for example) the shutter remains open longer so you capture the blur of the horse's movement. That same horse photographed with a faster shutter speed (1/500 of a second) will appear as a much sharper or "frozen" image because the shutter closes quickly and captures less movement. With slower shutter speeds, keep the camera stead to avoid blurring the whole image.

Check back every Monday for more shutterbug tips!!!

Shutterbug Monday!

Let's talk lenses~~~

Focal Length--> Lenses are categorized by their focal length, or power to magnify, measured in millimeters. A change in focal length affects the scope of a scene you can capture in a photo. The longer the focal length of a lens, the smaller it's angle of view and the closer the subject appears. The short the focal length of a lens, the greater it's angle of view and the farther away the subject.

Standard Lens->With an average focal length of 50mm, the standard lens offeres about the same view as that seen by the naked eye. It's the best lens to offer a natural view of your subject

Wide-Angle lens->Wide-angle lenses provide a broader fview than the standards lens. They are ideal for large group shots and landscapes or when shooting in small spaces.

Telephoto Lens->Long-length, or telephoto lenses are gret for getting closer to your subject. They have a smaller angle of view then standard lenses and show distant subjects closer, like a telescope. Lenses in the shorter telephoto range, 70-120mm are often called 'portrait' lenses becasue they create images that are softened but not foreshortened.

Zoom Lens->Unlike fixed focal -length lenses, zoom lenses offer a variety of focal lengths you can use without switching lenses or moving your camera or your subject. Point-and-shoot cameras often come with built in zoom lenses but for high impact close ups, reach for the SLR and it's interchangeable lenses. With only a couple of additional zoom lenses, you'll be able to handle almost any focal length you might need, from wide angle to telephoto.

Macro Lens->Not all lenses focus well when you're very close to your subject. But with a macro lens, you can take great close up pictures of small objects such as a baby's hands and feet, flowers or wedding rings. Be careful with the macro though: at close range , even tiny movements can cause blurring so use a tripod and cable release. Some digital cameras offer a macro mode that lets you get good close ups easily. In this mode, depth of field will be very shallow.

Here are a couple awesome shots from our Scrap~tures members~

This is one of Lisa'sand this one is Jen's

Stay tuned every Monday for more Shutterbug info and more amazing photo's~

Shutterbug Monday!

We have 3...yep I said 3 shutter bug challenges going on right now at Scrap~tures. Ultimately you can't scrapbook without pictures, so we've decided to give you lots of ideas to get you snapping all summer long.

2010 Summer Shutterbug Challenge is a list of 100 ideas to get you snapping.

ABC's of Summer is a cool idea from our forum member Jen..check it out~~

105 Days Of Summer is a photo a day challenge with layouts required. This one started a couple of days ago, but I'm sure if you are interested, you can catch up quickly~


Don't forget ...Tomorrow is Scrap~tures very first Inspirational BLOG HOP so be sure to pop in and check it out. For all those that participate, your name will be put in a random drawing for a rak~~

Shutterbug Monday!

Starting today and every Monday we are going to discuss all things photography. This could be anything from tips to getting better pics, or even showcasing pics our members have taken! Today's post is about camera's, because lets face it, withouth them scrapbookers wouldn't exsist!

Camera's--> The first step in getting great pictures is choosing the right camera for you and that doesn't mean buying the highest priced item you can afford. You can get great photo's with any camera; the key to success is understanding your camera's capabilities and learning how to use them.

Point and Shoot (both digi and film)--> The fully automatic nature of most point and shoot cameras makes them perfect for the photographer who doesn't mind giving up creative control (although many models offer a manual override on some settings).These make great starter camera's for those who want to test the waters before spending a ton on gear. Point and shoots take the photo through a lens that varies from what you see through the viewfinder, making the result look slightly different then expected. Some photographers take their point and shoots countless places where they wouldn't take their SLR's because of the bulk.

Digital SLR--> The traditional SLR's manual settings and interchangeable lenses combined with immeidate viewing and printing capability of digital technology make this type of camera a great choice for anyone who wants to explore advanced photography techniques. Some digitals provide a summary of the settings used for each shot so you can make adjustments and retake photo's on the spot.

SLR--> The SLR (single lens reflex) camera gives you more control over your photo's if you are willing to invest time and practice into learning how to use the settings and features. SLR cameras are generally bulkier and pricier then point and shoots. Through the lens viewing lets you see the exact same shot your lens 'sees'. Interchangeable lenses give you even more creative control but adding lenses can be expensive.

Disposable-->These single use cameres come already stocked with film, usually 27 exposures. After you've snapped all the photo's you take the entire camera to the processor for developing. There are lots of different types, from black and white, water and sport, indoor, outdoor, zoom, panoramic to even spicially decorated wedding-themed. Many processors now recycle the cameras rather then throw them away.

Underwater--> Whether you're shooting your kids swimming lessons or a Hawaiian snorkeling trip, underwater snapshots are easier these days. For an inexpensive option , try one of the many disposable underwater cameras on the market or look into a waterproof housing that will work for your camera. Personally, I would go disposable, i'd be too nervous to use a housing for my good camera.

Phone--> For on the go pictures, camera phones have become a surprisingly competent alternative. Many cameras now allow you to change the resolution, white balance and colour effects before you shoot. Make sure you know how to get your photo's off the camera though. The methods vary from camera to camera and not all are offered as a free service.

One thing to remember...If you shop for used camera equipment online, be sure to look for a company that rates the equipments condition to be sure to get what you are willing to pay for~

Shutterbug Monday

It's Shutterbug Monday...which means there is a new challenge this week~

Check it out here http://www.scraptures.ca/forums/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=1172

With all the amazing weather we've been having , it's easy to get out and start snapping some beautiful pictures. I have to admit, I find it tough to come up with pictures to take. Sometimes I need a few ideas to get my creative juices flowing. It's easy to take pictures at 'events' but everyday moments sometimes get away without me turning my camera on.

Here is a list of 10 Can't Miss Photo's to take each month. There are some really great ideas and even a blank check list that you can customize~http://www.creatingkeepsakes.com/articles/10_Cant_Miss_Photos_to_Take

Happy picture taking!!

Are you a Shutterbug???

Then head on over to Scrap~tures and participate in the Shutterbug Challenge. It's new, only in it's second week...with the hopes of broadening our picture taking. Life is all about every day moments....no matter how big or how small...and once that moment is gone..all we have left is the snapshot...whether it's in our memory or in our photo albums and scrapbooks.

Check it out here http://www.scraptures.ca/forums/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=1101


Have a great Monday~