Photo Friday!

Ok, so here is today's question.

Is there is a quick and simple process to remember in order to shoot the sort of photos that I see on your blog where the subject is in focus and the background blurred?

The simple answer here is to set your DSLR on the Av, or aperture mode, and set it to the smallest f/number that you can. The aperture in your lens acts much like the pupil in your eye - it opens and closes to let a little or a lot of light in. When the f/number is LOW, the aperture is opened wider, to let more light in, and therefore the subject is in focus and the background is blurry. If you set your camera to the Av mode, you can control aperture and the camera will look after your shutter speed for you.

Here are three photos of Ahsoka taken at three different aperture settings. I put a jar of marbles behind her so that you can see how the depth of field (the amount of blur) changes with different aperture settings:

f/1.8 1/100 ISO 400


f/4.5 1/80 ISO 640


f/9.0 1/50 ISO 800

Do you see as the f/number gets larger, the marbles come into focus more and more? The aperture in the lens is closing and bringing more of the whole photo into focus.

Try playing around with the Av mode on your cameras, in an environment with lots of light, and review your results. Good luck!

Check out these new bags!

The Lowepro Slingshot 202. Designed for the photojournalist. Adopted by the enthusiast. Improved for all! Introducing the next generation of SlingShot™ AW from Lowepro. Our newest, fast-access SlingShot AW series builds on the inventive design of the original and incorporates what many photographers are looking for: faster access, extra space for personal items, improved organization, and the ability to add a tripod. The SlingShot 202 AW offers more volume in the upper compartment for extra accessories or personal items. A Hideaway Tripod Mount™ system with foldout holder and quick-release buckle secures a compact tripod to the side. The same inventive design—letting you quickly rotate to the front to access—remains a tried-and-true feature of this customer favorite. Also includes: a patented All Weather AW Cover™; 3 SlipLock™ attachment loops; built-in microfiber cleaning cloth; dedicated memory card pockets; and easy-glide zippers; plus a fully padded main camera compartment with an updated divider system to accommodate the most popular DSLR models.













Just in store! The Lowepro Slingshot 102. Designed for the photojournalist. Adopted by the enthusiast. The newest, fast-access SlingShot AW series builds on the inventive design of the original and incorporates what many photographers are looking for: faster access, extra space for personal items, improved organization, and the ability to add a tripod. The SlingShot 102 AW offers more volume in the upper compartment for extra accessories or personal items. A Hideaway Tripod Mount™ system with foldout holder and quick-release buckle secures a compact tripod to the side.


















The Lowepro Adventura Ultra Zoom 100. Purpose built for ultra-zoom cameras, Lowepro’s new shoulder bag delivers enthusiast photographers a protective, compact and easy-access solution with a unique, adjust-to-fit design.

Welcome to Photo Fridays!

Lynette would like to try something new on the blog: Photo Fridays. This is all there is to it: you send in your questions about photography, and I will try to answer them. On Friday. I shoot a DSLR, so my knowledge focuses on these cameras rather than the point-and-shoots. But ask away, and I'll do my best.
This week, I'd like to do a quick post about a question I hear often - How do I get those 'low light' shots without my flash going off? These might be examples of shots you would like to get:



(settings: ISO 800 aperture f/2.0 shutter 1/80)

You want your photo to look how it looked in real life, and not with the flash lighting the scene up, right? You are going to have to venture into manual mode, my friends. It is not scary. It is liberating. And you might want to spend a little money and buy yourself a little prime lens called a 50mm 1.8 if you don't already have one. (by the way, 'prime' means that it doesn't zoom). The reason I recommend this lens to everyone is 1) it's pretty cheap. around $150, or so. 2) it's loads of fun to play with as you learn about aperture and shutter speed and depth of field and...you get the idea! It's a fun little lens.
You will be able to get low light photos, and photos with a really shallow depth of field because this lens will allow you to set the aperture as low as 1.8. On the lens that your DSLR came with, you can probably only set it down to 3.5 or 4.0, and when you try to take photos in low light, I bet they turn out blurry, which is driving you crazy, right? This is because your lens won't open wide enough, and the shutter speed is too slow to prevent the blurring.

So - this weekend, try this with your camera: set it on the Av mode (this is the aperture mode). Set the number as low as it will go. The camera will adjust the shutter speed for you. Now take some shots. See what you get. Oh - make sure your ISO is set high enough for the light situation - the darker it is, the higher your number should be. Like any skill, you just have to practice and practice to get better. Go ahead and take 100 shots of something with different settings. See what makes the difference in your settings, save or erase the whole lot and try again.

This all sounds very overwhelming, but trust me - once you get it - you GET IT. I feel like I jumped into things in the middle here a bit - but next week we can do a nice simple overview.
Unforgettable Memories has the 50mm 1.8 lens for the Canon and Nikon cameras in stock, and they are worth every penny! Stay tuned for the next Photo Friday and please send in any questions you have via the comments section or send an email to the store.

February Kit Class Featuring Lilac House Fancy Pants

This is the two page layout that we will be completeing in class on Thursday, February 24th at 7 to 9pm. Sign up today.

The sketch for this layout is inlcuded in your instructions. The journal pages need to be purchased as an add on. Prima vines are optional

All supplies and the sketch is included in your instructions for this layout.

The sketch for this layout is included in your kit. You will need to pick up a package of We R Memory Keepers page refills.

Please note that all titles can be changed to whatever suits your photos.

Inspired by the warm weather

Warm spells here in FSJ in February and March are so misleading. You start to think that spring is around the corner...but that is one LOOOOONG corner, girlfriend. Silver lining: more cozy-dead-of-winter-scrapbook-time for we crafty chicks. That being said - the melty weather had me thinking of spring and the new-ish patterned paper at the store was a perfect fit.







I really like this line of paper from Crate Paper - I think it's called the seasons line. I like the sheet with the little birds that are saying "Oh" and "Hi". They're so funny.

And this layout is from the My Minds Eye line, called Alphabet Soup. This layout doesn't feel like my "style", but it's a personal favorite (mostly for the photo, I think).

Handmade flowers and blingy ribbon

The background pp and title stickers are Echo Park.  The rest of the patterned papers is Harmonie.  Also the ribbon. And that pretty wood flower peaking out from behind the photo is what the ribbon came wound around.
I 'stitched' along the edges of the diecut paper with my white gel pen.

I've been seeing these little rolled flowers everywhere so I decided to give them a try.  They are very simple to make.  Just cut a circle; I used the inside of the glue dot roll for the smaller one and a pillar candle I had on my dining room table for the larger flower.  Then I cut the circle in to a spiral shape and rolled it using glue dots to hold my rolls in place. Add some bling to the center and a couple of handcut leaves from patterned paper and they're done.

I found a tutorial on this blog.

Just remember that the wider your spirals and the tighter you roll your flower the more it will stand off your page.  I flattened mine a little so they weren't so bulky.

Doilies, mists and ribbon

We went to see the 12 Days of Christmas at Butchart Gardens when we were visiting Victoria in December. I took a ton of photos; some with the flasth on and some with the flash off. These were all taken with the flash off.

I sprayed yellow ink using a doily as a mask on my shiny black cardstock.

Now I have a bright yellow doily to use on another project.

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I used some Hambly turquoise rub-ons on the purple mulberry paper.

I really like how this corner rub-on embellishes my big photo.

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My journaling is on the tag slipped behind the photo matte.

The 4 Calling Birds were my favorite scene.  They had cell phones in their beaks.

Valentine Goodies

We just received some fun Valentine's Day goodies for making special gifts for your friends and loved ones.

We have supplies for cookie, candy, chocolate and cake making! Come by and check out our wide selection and get inspired to make some yummy treats!