Scrap Shanty Challenge Blog

When you open a magazine or look through an online gallery at people’s scrapbook layouts what is the first thing that catches your eye and makes you slow down for a better look? If you are like me it is the photographs that make or break a layout.

When I started scrapbooking, the photos I was working with were not the worst, but there were lots of times I wished I had something better to work with. As my scrapbooking developed I started noticing my photography improving as well. I knew what kinds of photos scrapped well, I knew what kinds of photos I WISHED I had of different events or places, and I took my pictures accordingly. I did more of my cropping ahead of time through the lens rather than after I got my prints, I started paying attention to backgrounds and shadows and things like that. Above all I took LOTS more pictures!

I think it is a lot like any sport or craft or other skill. To improve you must practice. Don’t treat your camera like a lot of people did their musical instruments when they were in school. You know….take it out for a concert once or twice a year and maybe on a special occasion to show off for the relatives or something. The folks who became the GOOD musicians were the ones who practiced all the time and kept at it. So let’s get our cameras out of those bags and of the top shelf in the closet and take some pictures!

Did you know there is a photo challenge on Scrap Shanty every week?? Yup…every Wednesday a new “assignment” is given and we all grab our cameras and see what we can come up with that fits the theme. And of course don’t forget to share your handiwork in the challenge forum. If there are at least 6 participants in a given week a lucky player will win a small RAK! If the topic doesn’t speak to you this week…come back next week, there will be another one. The most important thing is to keep that shutter clicking!!

Filed by DidiR. at 10:26 am under Articles, Digital Scrapping, Paper Scrapping, Photography