be creative [design tricks]

   Photo Tricks

Scanning Old Black-and-White Negatives
Did you know that you can scan old black-and-white negatives on a flat-bed scanner or on the Kodak s1220 photo scanner? If running the negatives through the Kodak scanner, just tape the negative onto a white piece of paper before scanning. If using a flat bed scanner, just place the negative on the surface of the glass and then place a white piece of paper over the top.

For best results, scan the old negatives at 1200dpi for maximum clarity and detail. In most cases, scanning from the original negative, if well-preserved, will give you a better image than actually scanning the original photo which might have faded or yellowed over time.

Once you have your image scanned, open up your image in Photoshop. Under Image, drop down and select Adjustments. In that drop down, select Invert. And Wha-la! You've got yourself a image ready for printing and uploading to your HM site. Feel free to use the other adjustment tools such as Brightness/Contrast, Levels, Curves and Exposure as needed. (Note: I've found that some of the negatives over time have faded just like a printed photograph so using the Adjustment Tools can actually save the negative and reveal images that might have otherwise been lost.)

Note: If you don't have Photoshop, you might want to look into your current photo editing software or take a look at Phixr which is a free online photo editor at www.phixr.com/. Just check your software for the "Invert" button. If you have it, then it will work perfectly for preserving your old black-and-white negatives.

Beautiful Photographs Help Create Beautiful Storybooks

Most of us don’t have a photography studio set up in our homes or regular access to perfect scenery and/or indoor settings to use as backdrops in our everyday pictures. I love finding new ways to improve the backgrounds in my photos and thought I'd share a few tips with you.

When I take pictures of my family enjoying a fun moment together, I want the setting to be a natural one, and I usually only have a few minutes to get the shot. Anyone who has tried to photograph a small child (or a less-than-willing adult) knows that they aren’t going to stop and pose in front of the perfect backdrop just for you to snap their picture!

One of the best tricks I have learned is to PRACTICE! Because people (especially children) have a limited amount of patience to sit still, I like to do my “homework” with an inanimate object first. I try different setups, camera settings, and ideas with my test subject and then apply the learning to real life people and situations. Experiment with where you can best capture a pleasing background that isn’t too distracting, different lighting and interesting angles.

Set Yourself Up for Success

If your son built an amazing Lego contraption in his incredibly messy room, he will be thrilled if you take a picture of it. Sometimes you might want to include the background mess as part of the story, but for most of the shots you will probably want to focus on the creation and the proud creator. You can blur the background or change your camera angle, but maybe you just want to move the pile of excess lego blocks of the shot. No one will ever know! If you want to take pictures of your daughter baking cookies, there is nothing wrong with removing some of the distracting extras from the countertop to keep the focus on the chef and her delicious treats.

Besides tidying up, there are a few other ways to ensure your background doesn’t distract from the story you want your photo to tell.

• Crop in tight to get rid of unwanted items in the background
• Solid color walls work well. Avoid pieces of artwork or clocks if possible.
• Brick or stone walls, opaque fences, siding on a house or building all provide free and fun and subtle backgrounds for many photographs.
• Don’t place your subject right up against the wall or you might get strange shadows around them.
• Make the most of natural light from nearby windows. Lighting can make a big difference on how your background looks and a flash will wash out portions of the photo and will cause shiny spots or shadows on a person’s face. Harsh sunlight will create deep shadows that don’t work well for a subject or background.
• Large areas of grass, sky, or open fields make wonderful backdrops for outdoor photos.
• If you are photographing young children, set up a play area for them where you hope to photograph them, or bring along a few items of interest to capture their attention so you can take their picture in front of a great background area.

Once you get familiar with the tips and techniques to find and use good natural backgrounds, have fun capturing the moments around you!