The Homemakers' Library

Moms Going back to School

2010-07-09T19:38:00.001-04:00

Hi Everyone! I know I haven't been around lately.I am going back to school in September to become a nurse!! Have any of you gone back to school after kids? Had a second career? I'd love some advice!! If you'd like to hear more about my adventures please check out my new blog at http:// mynursingschooljournal.blogspot.com. Talk soon! Rach

Fun imagination play activity for young children!

2009-09-10T11:36:00.003-04:00

Is your recycling box running over? Mine is. I got a great idea from the Science Center this summer. Instead of recycling all of your grocery boxes, margarine tubs and plastic bottles, wash them out and glue the tops on (or the boxes closed). Create a grocery store for your little ones to play make-believe. They will love it! If your kids are old enough not to put things in their mouths, you can forget the glue. Just be careful or they might fill the bottles up with toilet water!

Have fun...

Baking and Cooking Substitutes

2009-09-07T18:12:00.002-04:00

I never have everything I need on hand, so when cooking and baking I use a lot of substitutes. Here is a list of common substitutes. Print it off and keep it handy in the kitchen:

1 tablespoon baking powder = 1/4 teaspoon baking soda + 5/8 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 cup sugar = 1 3/4 cups icing sugar (powdered sugar)

1 ounce baking chocolate = 3 tablespoons cocoa + 1 tablespoon melted butter

1 tablespoon cornstarch = 2 tablespoons flour (for thickening only)

1 cup corn syrup = 1 1/4 cups sugar + 1/4 cup water. Boil to dissolve sugar.

1 cup honey = 1 1/4 cups sugar + 1/3 cup liquid (ex. milk if used in recipe). Boil to dissolve sugar.

1 cup whole milk = 1 cup skim milk + 2 tablespoons melted butter

1 cup sour cream = 3/4 cup plain whole yogurt plus 1/3 cup melted butter

1 cup buttermilk or yogurt = 1 cup milk + 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar (let sit 5 minutes)

1 cup butter = 7/8 cup vegetable oil or 1 cup shortening

1 cup mayo = 1 cup whole sour cream or yogurt

1 teaspoon lemon juice = 1/2 teaspoon vinegar

1 small onion = 1/2 tablespoon onion powder

1 clove garlic = 1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt or 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder

1 cup ketchup = 1 cup tomato sauce + 4 tablespoons sugar + 2 tablespoons vinegar

1 jalapeno pepper = 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 cup broth = 1 bouillon cube

1 tablespoon fresh herbs = 1 teaspoon dried herbs

1 cup fresh berries = 8 ounces frozen berries

1 cup red wine = 1 cup grape or cranberry juice + 1 tablespoon vinegar

Ricotta cheese = cottage cheese

Adapted from Real Simple Solutions by Amanda Hinnant

Fun Family Website and Teaching a Child how to Cook!

2009-08-29T15:20:00.003-04:00

Whenever I am looking for family friendly ideas, crafts or great articles, I always end up at the same site... www.familyfun.go.com. I highly recommend it.

One of my favourite articles is about teaching a child how to cook. One article, 6 short pages covering all age levels and how to get started. Safety tips, sample recipes and an outline of skills to learn for every age... it is simple, quick to read and smart. Find it here -> . Teaching Kids to Cook.

Happy reading!

Queen of my Castle

2009-08-24T13:14:00.002-04:00

It occured to me today that God has made me (and all of you wives and mothers out there) QUEEN of the castle. So often we women step down from our God given authority in the home, and sit by tearfully while things go on that we don't like.

For example, have you ever been timid when it comes to your child's discipline?

Have you ever wished people would COME when you call them for dinner?

Do you like all of your kids' toys?

Does your husband help out where you need him to?

Do you allow your husband or kids to talk to you in a way that is disrespectful?

Read Proverbs 31. A woman is queen of her home. Be confident, and of a gentle spirit (1 Peter 3:4), and subdue your part of the earth (Genesis 1:28)... the part that lies within your property lines! We are gifted women with a special part to play.

Today I am cleaning out my kids' toys. I've even been confident to donate things that were recent gifts, if I felt the kids weren't playing with them, or they were not appropriate.

And tonight I am reading my kids a book... the Root Cellar. They love it when I read to them.

And right now, they are having quiet time. They may not be taking a nap but they are required to have a rest with quiet activities.

So I thank God for what He has given me, and under His direction, care for it... the way I believe it should be cared for. Go for it ladies! You are special.

Peanut Free School Lunches

2009-08-20T18:39:00.002-04:00

Our school is peanut-free. That means packing lunches is a bit harder than it could be. However with some ingenuity, I can generally come up with something good. I like to buy ready made snacks in the grocery store though, so I need to be savvy about ingredient lists. I looked up what other names peanuts can be listed under. Health Canada reports these:

Arachide

Arachis oil

Beer nuts

Cacahouète/cacahouette/cacahuète

Goober nuts, goober peas

Ground nuts

Kernels

Mandelonas, Nu-Nuts™

Nut meats

Valencias

Be aware! And happy snacking! :-)

Vicariously Back to School!

2009-08-16T19:15:00.003-04:00

I love back to school shopping... all the pencils, pens, paper, binders and markers. It makes me want to go back to grade 2, growing bean plants in the classroom, and smelling fresh new erasers, earning star stickers for good work, and finding twinkies in my lunch pail... all I needed to be happy.

As a mom, I love to live vicariously through my children as they head off to school with fresh excitement and spiderman backpacks. Sometimes I wish I could earn star stickers for the housework I do and the lunches I pack. I'd love to have a "teacher" giving me A+'s for all the heartwork I pour into my children daily. But I know my reward will come.

Take heart ladies, our reward is in heaven... waiting for us, prepared for us by the ultimate Teacher, our gracious Master. The Lord sees the work of raising children as a good deed (1 Timothy 5:10), and a gentle and quiet spirit of great worth in His sight (1 Peter 3:4). So even when it feels like May and we are dying for vacation time to come... remember that you are precious in God's eyes and He is gently leading you. Isaiah 40:11 says He gently leads those that have young. What an awesome and comforting promise!

What is your favourite part of back to school time? I pray it goes well for all of you sisters!

Broccoli Salad Recipe

2009-07-21T21:26:00.003-04:00

Yummmmmmyy.... and healthy! For lunch or dinner:

Broccoli Salad

3 cups chopped broccoli

1/2 cup sunflower seeds or sliced almonds

1/2 cup raisins

1 cup crumbled feta cheese

1/2 cup chopped red onion (in tiny bits)

sauce - either:
a) zesty italian dressing, OR
b) 1 cup mayo, 2 tbs sugar and 2 tbs vinegar, mixed

Enjoy! I tend to measure by intuition so feel free to adjust according to your liking. This was given to me by a church member, and I love it!

Writing a Book

2009-07-11T11:23:00.002-04:00

I have been thinking lately of writing a book. I have two years worth of letters to a friend that I wrote during post-partum depression. It is a detailed record and first hand account of what I went through during this challenging time. There are evidences and footprints left by God at times through the journey, that have been miraculous in my sight and amazingly inspiring.

What do you think? Should I go for it?

My Kid-Cousin with Cancer

2009-07-03T22:27:00.002-04:00

Hi Everyone,

For those of you who are praying for Ryan, my 10 year old cousin with stage 4b Hodgekins Lymphoma cancer, he is doing ok. I am praising God, because he is home again. Last month, he was going through round 6 of chemo, and got the Swine Flu. And the whole family. Thank the Lord, they were all fine! He also got a very high fever, because of a blood transfusion (he has had quite a few). But he's back home, and the family got a puppy, which is putting a smile on his little face.

Thanks for the prayers and please keep praying. It's been a LONG and HARD year and the battle continues.

Hospital update and a Recipe!

2009-06-29T21:06:00.002-04:00

Hi Friends,

I've been in the hospital so I haven't been posting much. Some of you know of my struggles with post-partum depression. Let me reach out to some of you who may be experiencing this.... depression left untreated does not get better. You are not alone and there is much hope! I'm happy to share my experience with anyone who is interested. Just ask. :-)

Thought I would share a recipe. It was a 5 minute throw-together that fed the six of us a delicious dinner!

Chicken Taco Salad

Cooked Chicken (I bought breast strips already cooked) pieces
Tortilla Chips
1 Jar Salsa (I chose Mild)
Grated cheddar cheese
Lettuce (I ripped it into pieces)
Whatever else suits your fancy!

Prep Method #1
Combine all ingredients COLD and enjoy!

Prep Method #2
Combine chicken, salsa and cheese, and heat through. Serve over cold lettuce and crispy chips!

Anyway, I love these kinds of recipes that rescue me in a what's-for-supper bind! Quick and relatively healthy, not to mention inexpensive. I'm all for it! :-)

Later,

Bluebells, Cockelshells, Coral Bells in a row...

2009-06-01T09:50:00.002-04:00

Dig deep and divide... that's what I'm going to try and do this week. I have a beautiful small garden that the previous owners of my lovely abode planted years ago. I haven't done much to it really, so pretty it was. Until this year, I went out and did my weeding to discover that "Oh boy, these perennials are getting huge!" I'm a very "green gardener" and by this I mean that I am usually green with envy over the gardens of my friends who know what they are doing! lol.

So a dear friend of mine suggested that I "dig deep and divide" the perennials, and of course, share those lovely plants of mine. I had remarked to her earlier in the season that I didn't need to buy any flowers because there were already some in my garden. I scratched my head when she started laughing. Now that I've pulled the weeds, I know why. :) So off I go to the garden centre (I'm Canadian, we spell it CENTRE) to buy colourful (with a U) annuals and some mulch.

Wish me luck.

Oh, and another bonus this year... the previous homeowners also dug us a lovely veggie garden that I just had to till and plant. The tilling was fun. Whoever said that gardening isn't good exercise? Now we have tomatoes, lettuce, cucmbers, broccoli, strawberries, coriander and marigolds (to keep the critters away). This is my second veggie garden and I've done some reading too so I don't feel AS green. :) A tip for you broccoli growers.. don't be discouraged if the bunnies bite the heads off your plants when they are young (they love baby broccoli plants). This happened to me and they grew anyway, strong and very very bountiful.

Who else is gardening this summer?

You know what I would love? A special part of my garden dedicated to raspberry bushes. I might need some more land for that though.

Share with me your tips and what you are planting! Fun :)

Blessings,

WINNER of the Photo Contest

2009-05-25T08:53:00.002-04:00

Beautiful pictures were submitted to the photo contest... way to go everyone. Drumroll please....

the winner...

Tambourini!

Honourable Mentions (visit them too):

Beth E

Janet R.

Thanks for taking part. Blessings ladies...

Deadline midnight! Photo contest closes tonight...

2009-05-15T11:36:00.002-04:00

Post your pictures by midnight tonight... the winner of the photo contest/giveaway will be announced within a week! Happy shooting :-)

Photo Tip #16 and 1.5 DAYS LEFT TO POST A PIC!!

2009-05-14T13:51:00.010-04:00

This contest is getting exciting... we had another entrant, and it was a truly beautiful picture! I've heard from many of you saying you are gearing up to enter, so don't be shy. I'm looking forward to seeing your gorgeous pics!

Today's TIP (#16) is a simple one... Don't forget to take pictures of details.

People remember this at weddings... pics of the dress, the flowers, the invitations. What about pictures of your baby's adorable feet? Your dad's rugged hands? The tree you fall in love with every fall? If it has sentimental value, shoot it! I mean, um, photograph it! I find these things to be precious reminders of life's blessings. It's so hard to see my baby's adorable chubby hands on those action shots... I love having the detail pics to pour over in the times of reminiscing.

So, go nuts!

2 DAYS and counting... deadline announced!

2009-05-13T21:52:00.002-04:00

2 DAYS left in the contest! It officially closes May 15th at midnight. Winner of the photo contest and $25 Amazon giftcard and interview will be announced within a week!

I'm too tired to post a tip today... hoping you are all being blessed this evening!

Photo Tip #15 Framing, Foreground and Angles (3DAYSLEFT!!!)

2009-05-12T09:54:00.005-04:00

3 Days left in the contest! Post a picture on your blog, mention the contest, and then leave a comment on my blog letting me know where to find your pics. The winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card :-). Hint.... only 1 person has entered so far so the contest odds are incredible. lol.

Photo Tip #15 Use the foreground in pictures to frame your subject, and try different angles!

This one is pretty straightforward. We've all seen pictures with a loved one standing in front of a garden or a pretty bridge. Get creative! How about putting your subject BEHIND some flowers or through an archway? Remember to keep the subject in focus, not the foreground.

I think I've mentioned this before but also try angling your camera for a twist and some impact.

Here's a hint... when shooting through a doorway or with some other element with straight lines: Try to avoid having the lines parallel to the egde of your picture, especially if it is a wall. I find that it is very difficult to get it perfectly straight and it just makes a picture look crooked. Try it and you'll see what I mean.

Some examples?

On an angle:

Through an archway:

Here, the grass is the foreground. Getting low to the ground and shooting uphill with produce this effect:

Try getting someone and shooting what they are looking at:

Behind a flower:

Photo Tip#14 To Photoshop or NOT to Photoshop

2009-05-09T19:00:00.010-04:00

I've taken a picture.... now what?? <----- The alternative title of this post. :-)

We've all seen these pictures of gorgeous people or scenes in magazines and your first thought is... ha... I bet that was airbrushed! Our ultimate goal is NOT to need to retouch photos, but to take fab photos right off the bat. However, there is a place for photo editing software!

I don't know if you know this but Adobe CS4 Photoshop (the full version) costs like $900 bucks or something.... not within reach of your average picture junkie. BUT there are alternatives... and good ones!

I suggest, if you would like to try your hand at some image manipulation (beyond red-eye fix and brightness correction), go for either Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 (less than $100 (this is an AWESOME program... the no-name brand of Photoshop), or Adobe Photoshop Elements (under $200... the scaled down but still more than enough version of Photoshop).

I say if you like it, go for it. If not, don't bother...

For some fun... can you tell which photos below I've touched up and what I've done to them?

6 MORE DAYS IN THE CONTEST! Post your fav. pic on your blog and win the $25 Amazon Gift Certificate! Don't forget to mention me, and let me know where to find your pic(s)!

Photo Tip#13 Panning... for good pictures! ONE WEEK LEFT IN THE CONTEST!

2009-05-08T07:18:00.005-04:00

Have you ever heard of panning? Not panning for gold... panning as a picture technique! It's fun and makes a cool effect. Here's how it works and when to use it:

Say you have a toddler in a big swingset and you want to keep the baby in focus but have the background look like it's rushing by...

Or take the following example that I've shown you before. See how the motorcycle looks like its in motion? You can almost hear the rev of the engine...

How do we do this? How do we capture the excitement and motion of a moving subject in pictures? PANNING. It's a simple technique but it may take you a few tries.

Essentially all you do is follow the subject with your camera. Keep the subject in the same part of the frame so they stay as steady in your picture as possible. Say it's your child in a race, and he is running from left to right toward the finish line. Start on the left, and with a smooth and steady motion (move your whole upper body, not just your hands, think "sweeping") follow him as he moves right, snapping the picture as you go... at just the right moment!

Because you are moving the camera, the background is changing in your photo, which is why is becomes blurred in the direction its moving. Your subject on the other hand should, as I said, remain fixed within the frame (the frame is the edges of the photo, like a border).

On your first few tries, you might end up with a blurry subject. I recommend trying this out a few times, and taking your shot more than once if possible. It's fun and adds an exciting element to your pictures.

Go nuts... and keep those pictures coming in for the contest! ONE WEEK LEFT! :-)

Photo Tip#12 Camera Modes and How they Work

2009-05-06T17:30:00.003-04:00

Most digital cameras, from point and shoot models to dSLRs, have different camera modes or programs available to you. Now that we have learned a few of the basics, I am going to give you a quick run down of what these modes actually do to your pictures. Then you can better choose when to use them.

Portrait (usually depicted by a head or person): Remember depth of field? This mode usually throws the background behind your subject out of focus (narrow depth of field) and sets the flash to red-eye reduction. The out of focus background is less distracting and brings more attention to the person.

Landscape (usually depicted by a mountain): This mode gives you a wide depth of field, bringing everything into sharp focus, including things far away. Some cameras increase the vividness of colors to add ooomph to the landscape.

Macro (usually depicted by a flower): This mode is for close-ups. You get wide depth of field (you need a deep range of sharpness when you get in really close) and higher shutter speeds (which means the picture is taken faster and you have less change to shake the camera and blur your pic). Your camera will also try to focus on what is close to the camera.

Sports (usually depicted by a guy running): The mode also takes "fast pictures" (the shutter speed will be as high/fast as possible (more on this later)) in order to freeze the action and minimize blur. For those who know what I'm talking about... you will also get higher ISO settings, which may mean grainier pictures in lower light situations.

Night (usually depicted by a person with a star or moon behind): This mode takes "sloooowwwer pictures" (slow shutter speeds - the camera takes a longer time taking the picture). All motion while the camera is taking a picture is recorded (and causes blur), which means that it is important to keep the camera steady! The camera shutter stays open longer to capture more light, because nighttime is dark.

Night Portrait or Slow Sinc Flash (look in your manual to see if you have this and where to find it): This combines the slow shutter speed (see Night Mode above) with a red eye flash, to illuminate your subject and keep them sharply in focus. Still keep the camera steady! The flash is quick but the shutter still stays open longer, allowing chance for motion blur.

And lets not forget our best friend... AUTO or PROGRAM MODE. These modes are the newbie's best friend. When in doubt, don't mess about: Use AUTO. Auto is a good all-around choice and the camera's computer will do its best to figure out what settings you need in any given situation.

I suggest practicing with each of these modes and seeing what they do for you. There are also my personal favourites, Aperture-priority mode and Shutter-priority mode but I will save those for a more advanced lesson (if you'd really like to know or have any questions, comment or email me! I'd be happy to share).

9 DAYS left in the contest!!! Post those pics! Can't wait to see them :-)

Photo Tip #11 Depth of Field Day!

2009-05-05T10:37:00.003-04:00

Ever heard of depth of field? It's a fancy photographic term for a simple concept. Let me explain it to you.

Depth of Field refers to the range of area in a picture that has things in sharp focus. For example, if you take a photo of your daughter in a field of flowers, you may want both her and the flowers behind her ALL IN SHARP FOCUS (wide depth of field).

OR You may want to take the same picture with HER IN FOCUS AND THE BACKGROUND BLURRY (narrow depth of field). Many people like this option for portraits because it makes the subject stand out, while minimizing a distracting background.

See my wonderful homemade diagram below. This is a bird's eye view, where the X is the camera position. The depth of field is the range of the picture that is in focus.

Ok, enough of the "technical stuff". How do you use this to your advantage?

If you want a narrow depth of field (with an out of focus and blurry background), ZOOM your lens all the way in (getting in close), and try for low light situations. If you have a camera with these options available, choose a small f-stop number. The smaller the f-stop (example f4), the narrower the depth of field. Set your camera to the lowest number ISO you can (like ISO 100). All of these things will open up your aperture - the size of the opening in your lens, which will narrow your depth of field. Remember to hold the camera steady!

If you want a wide depth of field (everything in sharp focus), ZOOM OUT, go for bright light situations, and choose a high f-stop (f11 - f22) number. A higher ISO (like ISO 400 or 800) will also help. This will make your aperture small, widening your depth of field.

Don't worry about the technical terms. If you are a novice and want to try this out, just pay attention to the tips I've written in red. :-)

This picture has a wide depth of field (not great pics but they make the point):

This picture has a narrow depth of field:

THE PHOTO CONTEST IS UNDERWAY!!!! And entries are starting to come in! YAY! Post your picture soon on your blog and mention this contest! A $25 Amazon Gift Certificate and spotlight blog interview may be yours! :-)

Have a great day friends!

My SURE FIRE weight loss plan!!

2009-05-03T21:34:00.003-04:00

I have weight to lose, and by golly I'm going to lose it!.... the weight I mean... or my mind if I have to buy all new summer clothes to fit my more voluptuous (hahahah) body. I have a SURE FIRE plan:

(I'm taking a one day break from photo tips today... um, no wait... here's a photo tip -> if you are feeling the winter fat being friendly around your middle and you don't want to be in any pics, volunteer to be the photographer!!! You've learned so many cool tips the last couple of weeks... everyone will be in awe of your photo prowess :-)... and then you'll have something to enter my contest with! Post a pic, win a $25 Amazon gift card... not a bad contest!)

Anyway, back to ME... sheesh. My sure fire plan. Ahem. My hubby is going to steal my car keys. Isn't that brilliant? What do you mean you don't understand? Oh, well, did I forget to mention that I have to WALK 4 little boys to school, 35 minutes away? And then walk 2 of them back? And then go get them again later? Yes.... my sure fire plan: Lose weight or lose my mind trying.

Sigh.

My dad always says, "Calories are our friends". Um, thanks daddy. I'll try to remember that.

My hubby always says (jokingly or I'd kill him), "Oh, you're in shape. Round is a shape." Grrr....

Heheheh... getting him to hide my keys may be a good thing for my health, and/or a terrible thing for my marriage. But willpower is not my strongest point right now. I need all the help I can get. :-)

I got a head start today when I joined my 3 teenage friends for a hike.... UP and DOWN a few cliffs and a mountain waterfall (it felt like a mountain). Oh, sorry, one girl is about 20 or 22. Still a ways off from my post-4-baby body with the winter padding all around. But at least I got some pretty pics out of the deal. I'll post em soon!

Anybody got any better weight loss ideas for me? I'm looking for a 5 minute plan that I can carry out in front of facebook or something. ;-)

Photo Tip #10 - Important Zoom Lens Info!!

2009-05-02T21:21:00.004-04:00

Zoom lenses are very handy little gadgets found at the front of almost every point and shoot digital camera. They are also tools for dSLRs. Here are a few notes to help you use them well in your photography:

1) The closer you zoom in to something, the more your image will be susceptible to camera shake, and therefore blur. HOLD THE CAMERA STEADY or use a tripod. The farther out you zoom, the easier it is to produce clear pictures. Practice zooming in and out with your camera while looking at the display (or through the viewfinder)... the difference should be very obvious.

2) Have you ever seen pictures where someone's head looks very big, in sort of a distorted "looking through a peephole" at them way? This happens when you zoom all the way out (you can see lots in the picture) and walk in really close to your subject.

If you want a more normal looking (and flattering) shot of someone's facial features, zoom in a little and step back. No one likes a photographer standing too close anyway.

A normal view:

That being said, sometimes zooming out and walking close to a subject produces an artsy look that can be fun. This is especially true with cars and stuff where you want to accentuate their curves or how big they are. Or you could do it to aunt Betty and let your kids giggle at the way her nose looks bigger. (jj). How about this one of the big helmet on the cute little rider? I like it...

This effect all depends on your lens however. Some cameras you won't even notice it. Some you will.

3) Zooming IN (making stuff in the photo bigger) makes the picture look more compressed and flatter... for example, if you are taking a pic of little Mary in front of a barn, zooming in will make Mary and the barn look close together. Zooming in to these trees makes them look relatively close together:

Zooming OUT (making it so stuff in the photo is smaller, and there is more included in the shot) makes a picture look the opposite... broader and deeper. The barn will look like its much farther behind Mary. Try this out in different locations and see what you think. Check out this shot of the same trees (above). Notice how spread out they look:

I have sooooo much more to say about these things, but I'll keep it simple for all. These tips are meant for people who just want to have fun and make pictures that look great, without having to study. I am thinking of maybe starting a photo blog and blogging more advanced tips and techniques. I'll let you know :-)

Have fun.... don't forget, contest deadline MAY 15!! Post a photo on your blog, mention my contest here, and then comment on any photo tip post and let me know where to find it! The winner gets a $25 Amazon gift certificate and a spotlight bloggy interview. :-)

Photo Tip #9 Creativity Helps and Question Time!

2009-05-01T23:45:00.006-04:00

I've had lots of feedback from you all that you are loving the photo tips! I'm so happy. :-) Today is a sort-of "rest day". I'm going to give you some ideas for getting the creative photographer juices flowing, and then give you a chance to ask me any questions you might have. Got a photo problem that you don't know how to solve? Do your pictures always seem to turn out a certain way? A camera question? A question about printing? Ask it here... I'll be happy to answer.

So... creativity - THE key to stunning photos! Some thoughts:

1) Make note of pictures you see that you like. How were they taken? Who is
standing where? What time of day is it? Jot down what you like about them.
2) Take each picture you want at least 5 times... varying the point of view.
Take it up high, at eye level, and from down low. Try an angle. Take your
favourite a few times to ensure you don't get your subject with eyes closed.
3) Try candid photos. Turn on your camera. Turn OFF the shutter sounds (there
is usually a way you can turn off the noise your camera makes when you take a
picture... making the operation silent). Sneak up on your kids and snap snap
snap!
4) Take pictures of things that are special to you... the kids' artwork, a
family heirloom, a bouquet from your husband, a special meal that turned out
just right! Go for it. It's fun and a great learning experience.
5) Experiment!!!!!! This one is realllly neat. Take an empty toilet paper
roll, hold it in front of your lens and take a picture of your child. See what
comes out... I love the effect!

Here are just some pics to look at. What do you like about them. What don't you like? What would you like to know about the photos? What do they say to you? If you have ANY questions at all so far.... or comments, my comment box is always open. :-)

Photo Tip #8 When NOT to use Flash

2009-04-30T21:27:00.004-04:00

In previous tips I talked a lot about the benefits of using flash in your pictures, and how you should be using it most of the time. However, there are some situations in which flash should be avoided:

At a concert, or other location when the subject is far away from you (and out of your flash range). In these cases, turn OFF your flash and hold the camera super steady, especially if it is dim lighting.

When the subject is very close to you, and using a flash will either injure the subject or wash out your picture.

In a low light situation when you want the background to be well lit. If you use the flash, your subject will be lit, but the background dark. Again, use a tripod or lean the camera on something to keep steady. When there is low light, your lens has to stay open longer to capture enough light for the image, leaving more opportunity for motion to blur the pic.

***If you are photographing a subject with a dim background behind, many cameras have a mode called "slow-sinc flash". Use it. This keeps the lens open to capture the background, but lets off a flash too to light up your subject in the foreground.

When you want to make creative use of the available light. I love to take pictures of my kids staring out windows for example, and leaving the flash off just adds a "mood" to the photo that you can't capture with the flash on. I love capturing flowers too, and a flash can flatten the beauty. Maybe you want a creative silhouette... go crazy!

Photography is art. Play around with the flash on and the flash off to see what effects you get. As I said before, take lots and don't delete your pictures until you download them. A large memory stick is a great investment!

Have fun, and post those pics for me to see.... I've heard from some of you that you are gathering up your best shots for the contest! Can't wait!

Coming soon... how else to minimize blurry photos, and how to avoid glare on glasses.