Tuesday, 22 March 2011

Pass The Book: March Adopter And More

Wow, it's not much of a day here. It's bleak and dull. Exactly the kind of weather for staying in with  for books and blogging!

If you have landed here from Blogging For Scrapbookers - hello and welcome! Come on in and make yourself at home. Actually, make yourself known - I'd love to get to know you and return the visit.

It's Pass The Book day today - all the information is here if it's new to you. I'm going to be sorry (sort of) to see this month's Expressive Photography head off on its journey. There is still so much to learn! It has inspired me in a different kind of way than I expected. As soon as I started to read, I remembered a clipping I had which I'd meant to share with you before now. It's on tips for portraits with camera phones.

Yes, I'm going back to basics! With the help of my delightful assistant (who felt her maths homework could wait) I bring you our iphone portraits.




The BEFORE shot. Inside and without any thought or plan. Can we do better?


TIP ONE: Get the light right. A cloudier day gives a softer, more flattering light and stops squinting into the sun. If you are at a party - try beside a lamp which will light you side on

TIP TWO: With no variable focus you get no depth of field. As simple a background as you can find, then


OR get in nice and close (because iphone photos don't enlarge well anyway). Which brings us to TIP THREE - a bit of makeup! "I should be so lucky," said The Small One. So, moving right along:.


According to Cindy Crawford, you need big hair! - hair looks better bigger on camera, she says, so flip your hair over and ruffle it up a bit before you pose. I think I see what she means


Or, finally, failing all else, dress your shot up with an app. This is good old Hipstamatic once again.



So, what do you think? We have our favourite already picked out...


Which brings us back to the book. I've picked out the adopter for this month (I'm going to have to learn how to use a random number generator. I've just chased all the little bits of paper round the kitchen) and it's...


Deb from Paper Turtle. Deb, I'm glad it's your turn - I'll get it out to you just as soon as I can. In the meantime, lets take phone photos. Lots of them.





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43 comments:

  1. sharyncarlson22 March 2011 at 11:20

    These photos are great; I would have never guessed they are cell phone pictures. I clearly need your tips because my iphone pics don't normally look this good!

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  2. Cheri22 March 2011 at 11:35

    While each shot has unique qualities, I like the second one best - it's a nice tight shot and the Small One has such a beautiful smile!

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  3. debs1422 March 2011 at 11:54

    Big hair and make up - that's what I need (along with soft focus and diffused lighting!)
    Lovely photos, but then again, you do have a beautiful model to work with.
    I'm really happy t'other Deb got the book, I know we're going to see some lovely pictures from her too.

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  4. Miss Smith22 March 2011 at 12:21

    Oooh, sounds like fun, great pictures :D

    And yay for blogging for scrapbookers!

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  5. Hey Birdie Designs22 March 2011 at 12:57

    Hello! I'm here from Blogging For Scrapbookers. Fantastic tips, thank you.

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  6. Alana22 March 2011 at 13:10

    I prefer shot 2 or 3. In two (don't know if this is your daughters normal grin) but it looks a bit false. In 3 I like the relaxed, thoughtfull pose and looks more natural. But that's just my opinion. All the pics look technically great though (not that I am an expert).

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  7. Donna22 March 2011 at 13:28

    Popped over from Shimelle's. Looking forward to blogging along with you. D x

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  8. Beverly22 March 2011 at 13:30

    Great tips and glad your model was willing to tear herself away from math ;) Congrats, Deb!!

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  9. Deb @ PaperTurtle22 March 2011 at 14:18

    EEEEEEKKKK!!! It's ME?!?!? HOORAY!!! I was reading along, thoroughly enjoying the adorable photos of your Small One (who is looking quite grown up I might add) and then there's my name as the recipient of your next Pass the Book. :o)!!! Yay! I'm happy. Thanks, Sian, I really appreciate the opportunity! xo

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  10. Lizzie22 March 2011 at 14:35

    "Big Hair" eh? Well, it does look quite nice, slightly ruffled up. I like the third shot and the "big hair" one. They look quite natural. The first shot is a bit like an "official school portrait" photo, the second looks a little bit self-concious, though TSO has a sweet smile.
    I love how she helped out by posing for you - she has a sweet, cheeky grin!

    Congratulations to Deb Turtle... I'll be chasing this book round the world, hoping to get my turn with it! Hope you enjoy it, Deb.

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  11. Kelli22 March 2011 at 14:46

    I came over from the Blogging for Scrapbookers class so I thought I would say "hi"...

    I love how you did your step by step portraits. Very nice.

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  12. Melissa22 March 2011 at 14:56

    Such cute photos - I like the one with the "big hair" because her smile is to cute in that one! [Now maybe one of these days, I'll show you some really big hair from my high school years in the '80s!] :>)

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  13. laurie22 March 2011 at 14:57

    what a beautiful, and most willing, subject. :-)

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  14. scrappyjacky22 March 2011 at 15:00

    Some great photos,Sian....my favourite is the third one....a sort of dreamy look,I think.

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  15. Jimjams22 March 2011 at 15:23

    I like the "BIG" hair one best - natural, thoughtful and pretty!

    Great shots from a phone. Mine just makes telephone calls!

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  16. This West London Life22 March 2011 at 15:24

    Goodness me, TSO can't be called that for much longer, can she? Such a beautiful young lady.
    Ah, well ... maybe I'll be lucky when Deb passes this book on!

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  17. Jennifer Shaw22 March 2011 at 15:29

    Loved this post!!! First off your little daughter is just adorable!!. I'm chuckling over her wanting to wear make-up. My girls were the same until they hit the age where they were allowed. At this point they usually chose the extra 5 minutes of sleep over the application time. hee hee Great photography tips. I am always looking for tips to better photos. I can't pick a favourite and think that they all NEED to be scrapped!! :)l

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  18. Bunnyfreak22 March 2011 at 15:49

    First off your model is adorable. She looks beautiful in all her photos. Love the pass the book idea. Very cool.
    P.S. I am a fellow classmate.

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  19. LisaDay22 March 2011 at 16:12

    Stopping in from Blogging for Scrapbookers. Beautiful photos. The 2nd one is my favorite! She's beautiful!

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  20. Maria Ontiveros22 March 2011 at 16:17

    Great portraits today! I try to take pix of people when I add their contact information to my iphone, and I"ll try a bit harder to use these tips.
    Rinda

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  21. Anonymous22 March 2011 at 16:28

    LOVE the portraits!! Beautiful young woman!

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  22. Anonymous22 March 2011 at 17:01

    Lovely post and beautiful photos.xxx

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  23. Kirsty.A22 March 2011 at 17:57

    These look lovely.
    I never received any reply from KathyJo to my many messages, so I am sending 'Inspiration' on to Mel

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  24. Gail22 March 2011 at 19:01

    Those are cell phone pictures - mine sure don't look like that. I love them all but my favourite is the 2nd one that she's looking off to the side.

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  25. Clare22 March 2011 at 19:02

    All the photos turned out well (I think I need a new phone with a decent camera on it now!) but especially like the effect on the last one.

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  26. Unknown22 March 2011 at 19:07

    I love all of them, but my favorite is number 3. Why? I don't know, just because :)

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  27. alexa22 March 2011 at 19:39

    I'm liking the 'big hair' one! But she's lovely in them all. And brave!

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  28. Scrappi Sandi22 March 2011 at 20:06

    I love the third one...the small one looks sort of whimsical in that one, but they're all lovely!!

    Deb Turtle is going to have such a great time with this book!!

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  29. Mrsjobee22 March 2011 at 20:39

    Have popped over from Blogging For Scrapbookers (will I stay the course this time I wonder) Love your portraits - my blog post included a portrait too - it was one of the first photos I blogged back in 2007

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  30. Mary B22 March 2011 at 20:44

    I like the second outdoor one thoughtful. I very seldom use my phone camera so I'll have to have a go.

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  31. Sandra22 March 2011 at 21:32

    oh yes, I've picked my fav ... it's the first one taken outside .. I just love that smile, I can imagine all the giggling and fun you two were having. Lovely, really lovely - how lucky you are to have such a pretty subject. They'll soon be saying, Cindy Crawford, who's she then LOL.

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  32. Michelle S22 March 2011 at 21:54

    Hey! How u doin? I love ur pics! Gotta say I was drawn to ur Hipstamatic pic {If u know me, u'll know I'm totally OBSESSED with that app!} lol
    Its gr8 to get to know u :)

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  33. Amy23 March 2011 at 02:51

    No make-up is required for TSO, she did a fantastic job skiving off the maths homework!

    Deb will love this book I am sure ... now, I have to work out a way to bribe her so that I can get my hands on it next ;-)

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  34. Ginger23 March 2011 at 03:32

    My fav is the Hipstomatic:) great tips Sian, interesting variations! I hve been practicing my "good mail" variations... Big congrats to Deb.

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  35. Scrap-diva23 March 2011 at 07:24

    Hi, got here from Blogging for Scrapbookers, but I see I will also learn a lot on photography.
    Hugs
    Natalie

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  36. Jen23 March 2011 at 12:55

    Got here from BFS too - Love the photos! J x

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  37. Anonymous23 March 2011 at 16:24

    What a great Blog. I am hoping to pick up on mine whilst following Blogging for Scrapbookers.

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  38. humel23 March 2011 at 19:55

    Lucky Deb - I am pleased for her :-) (While also hoping to see this book at some point in its travels!)

    My personal favourite of these shots is the 3rd one. She looks so content, happily pensive, beautiful and grown up xx

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  39. Unknown23 March 2011 at 20:55

    Excellent! Must experiment more.
    Re rat-kicking. I'd've probably done much the same, whilst screaming. Wild rats are a bit dirty. Weil's disease and all that!

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  40. Anonymous24 March 2011 at 01:54

    It's really hard to choose since they are all lovely---what a gorgeous young lady the Small One has become. If I had to pick I'd choose #2. They are all frame-worthy!

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  41. JO SOWERBY26 March 2011 at 10:58

    wow the small one is looking so grown up and beautiful in these,
    Jo xxx

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  42. scrappysue27 March 2011 at 12:34

    Sian, thanks so much for reminding me about this book. I had it for Christmas and it got packed away during our move. I must find it! I am sure Deb will love it too! Great piccies BTW!

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  43. Rachel Brett30 March 2011 at 14:20

    Great post Sian, I like the 'big hair' picture too..... and congrats to Deb :)

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Thank you! I do love to know what you think