3 Things : playing with printing + a giveaway

Wow! I just bought some of the rub on paper. I hope I won't be disappointed!! I love using PSE to add brushes or frames to pictures. And I'm trying to figure out all the new settings on my new camera before vacation next month!

I don't think I'm a good enough photographer to leave a tip but I do have an observation.
Before going digital, I bought a Canon Elan 7e and used it as you use your Rebel - in automatic mode. It seemed like every roll of film I shot had at least one memorable picutre.
Now I'm using a Canon Powershot (I can't even remember the model number but it has 6.2 pixels - it's a decent camera.) For some reason, I'm not getting any of those incredible shots ...
My theory is that when I shot film perhaps I took a little more care? It didn't seem like I did - I really didn't know what I was doing! But now shots do seem like a dime a dozen - I try to remember to keep it around and to take pictures but it's like okay grab the camera and just shoot some pictures. I need to learn more about our digital camera!

I never use a flash......I've compared shots and I like the NO FLASH option.

Thanks for doing all this experimenting with different papers. I can skip the bad ones and go straight to the ones that work.
My #1 photo tip is to delete as you go. It frees up valuable card space and you won't have hundreds of images to sort through when you get home. If you aren't sure, keep it but if it's obvious that it's a bad shot, DELETE!

Fun! I am working on making the person on the other end of the camera feel more comfortable so I get less silly faces and more true portraits.

I LOVE the idea for printing on vellum. I have done it quite often for words, but never gave a second thought to printing photos on it. This I will have to try!
Thanks for all your fun inspirational ideas!
Dawn

My fave these days is slightly tilting the camera so the photo I am taking is neither completely horizontal or vertical... gives a neat perspective to what you are shooting...
:)

I love the use of vellum layered over a photo. We received a handmade Christmas card that was very simple but stunning - a sepia photo stuck onto a card with a layer of gold dotted vellum on top, all held together by a piece of ribbon tied through two holes punched in the top. Definitely one I will be trying myself this coming Christmas. I'd like to try printing onto the vellum to layer over my photos for scrapbooking too.

I want to start experimenting printing photos on different types of paper. I also want to begin experimenting with portrait photos & more photos with people in them. I noticed that most of my pictures are of landscapes and nature - I need to capture more of my husband and myself : )

Attach a lens cleaning cloth to your camera strap. I never remember to clean the lens until I look through it to take a photo and it's dirty.

Since the days are longer here on the east coast, I'd like to take more pictures in that 'golden' sunlight. The time of the day just before the sun sets. The sunlight should hit your subject from the side. Thanks for this fun topic this week!

Hi Ali-- love how you experiment with these things and then share your experiences.
For photos, I too just like taking photos. Mostly of everyday stuff. My biggest challenge is to get the photos where my kids are looking at the camera and smiling. (My camera has a slight shutter delay, so I'll take the photo when they're looking, but then the photo I captured has them looking to the side, or down, etc. A little frustrating, but I just keep trying. It pays off eventually. ;) )

Hi!
Thanks for the give away and your great blog!
I've learned to never leave home without my camera. We buyed a little one that's always in my purse. Further I've taken some lessons in photoshop CS3. It's a great program and with little instruments you can change a photo completely!
I'll be back soon to read your blog with new tips!
regards
Veerle

I think my tips are the same as everyone else, take lots of photos! The more you take the more likely you are to get that one brilliant shot.
I love the look of that vellum! I'd love to try that, and also I want to try printing on cotton rag paper, instead of just plain ol' photo paper!

Awesome 'tool test' today! I LOVE that vellum paper!!! Thanks for the blog link..
My tips: I do carry my camera everywhere..it lives in my purse.. Yet, my camera is a point and shoot digital which at times I wish I would upgrade!
My goal: Well, to do more story telling with my photos, ie. get them off the computer and onto paper...

My tip...Get a light tripod. Great for macro shots and also great to get everyone in the picture. (We also suffer from the mom (the photographer) is in no picture scenario!!)
I need to work on deleting unnecessary shots..it must be the pack rat in me!
Thanks for all your tips Ali!

Very cool! Thanks for sharing your experiences!

my best tip is to organize/label/categorize photos as I'm transferring to the computer. Otherwise I never get done and the job feels too big and out of control for me to ever start playing with them!

my favorite photo tip is one that you've already mentioned in your other post today -- give the camera up for a bit and ACTUALLY APPEAR in your photos!!!!
thanks ali!

Thanks so much for the inspiration AND information, Ali! :D When it comes to pictures I guess my best tip is that sometimes the best pictures I've taken have been those "accident" photos where I just let go and have fun and not worry about making everything perfect. I think it's those everyday type pictures that just happen to be on our camera that make me love photography the most. It's like a little surprise and they really are my most favorite pictures. So even if you think you don't have a good picture - take a closer look at your picture and REALLY see it for what it is. It just could end up your favorite. ;) Thanks again, Ali! :D

love printing photos on different papers and textures. one of my favorites is watercolor canvas. found some at michaels in art section. 8.5x11 sheets. goes through the printer easily.

I love taking lots of pictures and then narrowing down to my favorites.
Thanks for the book suggestion.

I love to add a digital scroll brush frame to some of my pics before printing them!

you come up with the greatest ideas even if they don't always work out. awesome on the vellum. I just found some vellum while cleaning out my scraproom and was going to give it away, but now I am going to print pictures on it!

I love having a white border put on my photos. I noticed a few weeks ago you talked about this. I have processed most of my pics this way for the last 4 years and love it. It is also fun to add a black border to some pictures instead of the white.
I am anxious to try the vellum. Looks great!