The Power of Three

 
Aren't these three mushrooms adorable? I feel like they're giving each other a big group hug, thankful for the muggy weather and daily rain showers we've had lately.

As far as composition goes, you really can't go wrong with grouping items in threes. That doesn't mean there has to be only three items in the photo. But that fourth little mushroom on the right doesn't count, in my mind. He's small, off to the side, and out of focus. When I look at the photo I see three mushrooms right away. By composing your photos using odd numbered items it keeps things from getting too symmetrical and creates interest. After I took this photo I checked out the Shutter Sisters Flickr Pool and found some other photos that utilize the Power of Three.

mayalu captured these gorgeous poppy's in a group hug too!

ojoyous1 did a great job recognizing this serene set up.

star8278 found three daisies all in a row. 

pinkorchid_too created a perfect cherry still life.

 If you have any examples of "The Power of Three", I want to see them! And so does everyone else. Leave your links in the comments!

June Giveaways: Sundays At Home

A piece of advice I've heard given to many aspiring writers is to "write what you know."  I'm not a writer, so I can't comment on the wisdom of such counsel.  As a photographer, however, I HAVE found it helpful to photograph what I know or--to be more precise--WHERE I know the best.  For me, that would be my family at home. 

You would think that taking photos at home would be boring and devoid of creativity.  I actually find that I challenge myself to discover new ways of taking photos, whether it's a creative angle or playing with lighting or just waiting for the right moment.  Also, because this is the environment that my family is most comfortable in, I can take the most candid, natural photos of them because they don't have their guard up.  Besides, I really don't aim for every single photo I take to be an earthshattering piece of fine art.  In fact, it's the spur-of-the-moment snapped shots of the everyday mundane that I often treasure the most.

And now, I'm thrilled to announce that Shutter Sisters are designating Sundays for the month of June as "Sundays At Home" for our June Giveaways.  We've teamed up with the folks behind the book America At Home to give away FIVE of these amazing books WITH custom covers, one on each Sunday this month!  This book contains exquisite images of "the distinctive rituals, intimate moments, and all the ways in which we work, play, learn, and interact with friends and family members (and pets!) at home."  You can view sample pages here.  And because a custom cover is included in the giveaway, this extraordinary book will be made even more special with YOUR photo on the cover. 

To be included in the random drawing,  just leave a comment below with a link to your own At Home photo between now and Monday at midnight EST.  And if you don't win this week, you'll have four more chances each Sunday this month!  If you need some inspiration, make sure you check out these photos by beebee mod, Lawyer Mama [Steph], mainemomma2007 and spencercasa.

Open to Questions

My partnership with photography has been a come as you are and ask as you go sort of thing. Ever since I got my first SLR handed down to me from my step-father to use for my very first (and pretty much only) photo class, I have had the pleasure of magically and mystically finding my way around the medium with minimal prodding or probing.

It wasn’t until I got a job with a photographer that I began to ask questions. But I only asked what I needed to know; small, easy to digest bits of information to get me by as I felt more comfortable using an intuitive, experimental approach to learning. Of course, it took me a while to be able to count on any consistency in what I was doing (because I really didn’t know what I was doing) but that didn’t stop me. That is, until I began to realize my limitations. My inability to recreate what I had created began to frustrate me. And only then did I begin to dig deep.

Not a lot has changed today. There are days, I feel like I’ve got enough dialed in to keep me satiated. Yet there are times when I see something in someone else’s images that I covet…a simple clipping of the corners, a rich border in a texture, a tint or hue that stirs something within me…and I find myself thinking, how do you do that? When I feel limited, I know it’s time to start asking the questions to get me past the hurdles I’m up against.

What about you? Are there ways you feel limited in your photographic work? Do you have any burning questions that you feel might help you crack some kind of code to help you push through some barrier that stands before you? Let’s make a pact and ask those questions, shall we? The Flickr Pool Discussion thread has been a great source for asking and answering. I am so impressed with your willingness to ask and answer. Let’s keep that chatter going. Maybe we can even bring some of those conversations over here. What do you think?

There’s an Omaha Proverb that says, ask questions from the heart and you will be answered from the heart. I think that has a nice ring to it .

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Thanks so much to Helen132 for sharing her no comment click with us!

Gearing Up

This weekend marks the start of the summer season in the northern hemisphere. Vacations, cook-outs, warmer weather, water-play…all make for some amazing pictures. Personally, I’m excited to try out my new camera, coupled with a Polaroid, on our voyage to the Outer Banks. It’s such a repetitive task to bring a camera with you on vacations. But when you sift through those treasures, it’s re-living life at its best: The first moment of building sandcastles, the discovery of sea-glass in the sand, the chasing of ghost crabs, the climbing of stairs in lighthouses. All captured in an instance. Never to be repeated the same way again.

How will you play out these moments?

Will you take the same old pictures of the landscape and buildings? Not that those are boring, mind you. But think of this as a challenge for you to do something different…a different perspective of a great memory that you can look back on and relish. The colors of the area, the locals, your children’s hands and feet constructing, or searching for that most perfect shell. The way the sunlight glowed at sunset in the face of your loved one, or, the first cup of coffee in the morning, wrapped in a blanket, watching the sunrise.

So Sisters, make it a goal to do something different with your shots this season. And of course, please, please, share those ideas and pictures here. I’m leaving next week and need all the inspiration I can get, to capture the tiniest of moments!

Photo and post courtesy of today's Honorary Sister/Guest Blogger Jen Way (aka Beebee Mod).