I really like today’s guest post over at Canadian Family’s Family Jewels blog. It’s more relaxed and less technical than my “elements of composition” posts and has tips and tricks on practical things like how to get a good group picture at a family gathering and how to get your kids to smile without looking like they just swallowed a cold chicken gizzard.
You know what else I like? Giving stuff away! Congratulations to Krista, yesterday’s winner of the Canadian Family magazine subscription. Yay!
I still have two subscriptions to give away, one for today and one for tomorrow. Tomorrow, I’m going to re-enter everyone who has been eligible for the giveaways so far this week, so you’ve still got a fresh chance even if you didn’t win so far!
If you would like an entry into today’s draw for a subscription to Canadian Family, leave me a comment describing a photograph that’s meaningful to you and why. Did you take it? Is it of you or someone you know? Why is it meaningful? I think this is important because we can get really wrapped up in details like white balance and saturation and megapixels and forget the real reason we value photographs — because of how they make us feel and because they help us capture a fleeting moment in time.
Once again, here’s the fine print:
- Today’s giveaway is for one one-year subscription to Canadian Family magazine.
- To enter, leave a comment on this post describing a photograph that is meaningful to you.
- Entries must be received by 3 pm on Friday 16 July 2010.
- Winners will be chosen using the random number generator at random.org from eligible entries on Thursday 16 July 2010.
- You must leave a valid e-mail address and allow me to share your contact information with Canadian Family magazine to arrange for the subscription delivery.
- The winner will be contacted via e-mail and posted here.
I’m looking forward to reading your answers to this one! (And, now I know why I don’t have more than one blog. As much fun as this has been, getting two blog posts out every day has been a bit of a challenge!!)
This picture (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mpricemitchell/4761838797/) means a lot to me for a few reasons.
1) It’s of two of my favourite people – my husband and daughter
2) It was a total happy accident – the two of them were walking by me and I stuck the camera in their faces and snapped, hoping I’d get something.
3) My husband rarely smiles for pictures so catching him smiling genuinely was a treat.
Sometimes the best pictures are the accidental ones.
One of my fav photos is of Reid standing behind the tripod, taking my pic with the DSLR. I had the point-and-shoot in my pocket and I love how she was mimicking me – telling me how to sit, where to look, etc. She will occasionally sit for formal shots, especially wearing a princess dress, and so I have to return the favour now and again.
One of my favourite photos is one that my best friend took of my husband I and I while I was working through a contraction in labour with our second baby. She managed to capture the intimacy of the moment, as well as the strength, and a whole lotta love! It brings back so many wonderful memories for me!
Every summer we visit PEI and take a self portrait on the beach. My husband is from PEI so I started joining him going “home” every summer. The first couple summers it was just us. Then there was me and our first baby. Then last summer it was us and our two boys. I love looking at the progression of our life at the same place, every summer.
A shot of my husband “eating” my older daughter’s ear when we were in Niamey, Niger – she was at most 2 years old. They’re both laughing their hearts out and it’s a really tight crop. I was already framing for a formal shot that never got done but would not have had the perfection of that one anyway.
I feel like you’ve asked me to pick which child I love most. 😉 I know you haven’t, but it’s crazy, I don’t even know where to start! So I’m going to go with “any photo of my children belly laughing”. The sheer joy in the photos warms me to the core.
Hi! I don’t need an entry for the subscription, but I have been reading your articles all week and have learned so much! Today’s is my favorite!! I have the hardest time getting my 5-yr old to do more than that awful grimace/smile thingy, and the 14 yr old smirks. I’m excited to try some of your suggestions for a “natural” looking pic I need to get of them soon!!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge! Have you considered making this a regular feature on this blog?
hmmm, well since there are many i think i will say a picture from our wedding where the hubby is kissing me on my forehead. it’s the day that starting the life that we live now.
It’s very hard to pick only one favorite but one of my picture that is very special to me for many reason is a macro shot that I took of my white Lily. One reason that I love it so much is it’s my favorite flower and it was giving to me by a very friendly older couple and the man was very sick. They gave me a few bulb to plant in my garden. I haven’t talk to them in a while not sure how their doing need to remind myself to visit them.
There’s so many! I love the one of MlleL and MasterP in the tub together sticking their tounges out, but the one that is so very special to me is the last shot I have of my dad. When MasterP was a week old, we recieved news that my dad (in Az) was going into hospice with the end days of COPD. Husband and I and Ottawa City Hall moved heaven and earth to get us there. The shot is of my dad with MasterP asleep on his chest. We had a week together before I had to come home, and Dad died 3 days later.
The photo I most treasure is one of my mother and grandmother and I. My GM is a total character and in the photo she is wearing a crazy masquerade mask. I put it in a frame and using some scrapbook supplies I put the quote “Life’s too short to be taken seriously.” I love it.
One of my favourites is this one I took when we were in Oahu in February: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenandjeff/4375412616/in/set-72157623460285812/. It’s really rare for me to get a decent photo of my husband with both kids, and this one is so different and more natural than a posed shot – I can see the total joy on my daughter’s face and the excitement on my little guy’s. Not to mention that the backdrop is spectacular! It brings back many happy memories of a great trip.
Breaking news: *Another* guest post and *another* Canadian Family giveaway! http://bit.ly/c37L9x #giveaway