PAToGraphy Loc: Portland ME area

Every one, every family has traditions (beliefs, customs, items passed down through generations). What "traditions" are part of your celebrations of holidays, birthdays, personal achievements, birth and more? The challenge is not limited to the upcoming holiday; in fact, some of our family ones will have to be posted next week.

Use this challenge to show some of the things you've learned from recent challenges - slow shutter, post processing, use of light, food photography or story telling.

I find it helpful to: think ahead about shots I might want to take, preparation and presentation of food, documenting family history. Try giving someone a camera and telling them to shoot what they think is important and pool your shots. Look for a different POV as well as a different slant on the event so it's not just the same "Ho Hum". How do your pets get in on the act?

A question I ask myself is: "How can I make the shots look different and not just a quick snap?"

All traditions and events of this season involve people. You may find this video a little redundent, but there were some cute pose ideas more towards the end.

http://youtu.be/u6uXz1aM2f0 Holiday/Winter Portrait Preview

or http://www.betterphoto.com/exploring/topTen/holiday-photography-tips.asp an article on Top 10 Tips for Better Holiday Photos

Here is a personal tip for those who make photobooks or need backgrounds. Photograph the mess of wrapping paper, make a kaleidoscope of it and use as a mask. Pictures below and then I'll do another post of Thanksgiving traditions.

Don't throw these shots away


Transform them


Use them to frame a face and eliminate the other clutter in the room

PAToGraphy Loc: Portland ME area

Thanksgiving 2013 was full of tradition. I thought about the story I wanted to tell and planned to make a photo book for the 3 families present. Handed my grandson the camera he uses and told him to take as many pix as he wanted of people, food, anything. He caught everything from candids of people, the table, clean up and the tree that fell while we were eating. Both sets of grandparents present and my daughter, husband and 2 grandsons. During the meal we go around the table using each letter in Thanksgiving to tell something for which we are thankful - another special tradition. Here's how the story goes..this is just a sampling. Can't wait to see yours.

Up at crack of dawn to get the turkey cooking and final preparations


Light inside, we're up and working


Pilgrim doll and turkeys made and passed down through my mother presides


Heirloom plates easily 100 years old passed down through my paternal grandmother


A 4+ year new tradition - grandson makes place cards for everyone


Micah snapped some "weird" silverware that interested him.


Not much left of the turkey (Micah)


Not much left (kids POV) Green Bean Casserole - family food tradition


The traditional family photo (Micah managing the poses and the remote)


Add a background ro cover up a lot of "stuff"

Sher Loc: Colorful Colorado

Love Thanksgiving.... What a great job your little photographer did..... This is going to be a warm fuzzy challenge......

PAToGraphy Loc: Portland ME area

I really hope so, Sher. I hope folks look at the tips. I plan to try some of them. My biggest family tradition doesn't happen till Saturday so may have to post most of it next week.

Sher Loc: Colorful Colorado

Traditions..........

Christmas Carolers in the mall


Christmas Teddy Bear Tea


Livi's first time at Christmas Tea.....

laskalass Loc: Land of the Midnight Sun

Some wonderful ideas Pat! Especially using the wrapping paper as background. Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!

PAToGraphy Loc: Portland ME area

What a fun tradition, Sher - Teddy Bear Christmas Tea! I remember pix of everytone getting all dressed up for it in past years. Memories!

Sher Loc: Colorful Colorado

Thanks for the videos...... always helpful. and the great idea with the wrapping paper

PAToGraphy Loc: Portland ME area

p1 Thanks, Laska. It's a wide open challenge that can use many skills. WIll be looking for yours.

PAToGraphy Loc: Portland ME area

p1 :thumbup:

PAToGraphy Loc: Portland ME area

See you all tomorrow. Long day and up very early tomorrow.

saltlightstudios Loc: Cypress Creek

I hear you! We have a great start already though!

dane004 Loc: WYOMING

Great Idea and a really good looking family

dane004 Loc: WYOMING

Sher you have a Lovely Family

dane004 Loc: WYOMING

PAT for some reason we have stuffed shells or Lasagna at Christmas, or ThanksMas dinner. We are not Italian.

ThanksMas WE travel to where ever the daughter is she is in Seattle
In November and celebrate both Thanksgiving and Christmas at that time. This year she returned home for the first time in about 5 years.