Canada Day is quickly approaching and celebrating our nation’s birthday always makes me think about how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful and inspiring country. From towering mountains to sandy beaches, wide-open plains to deep, mysterious forests, Canada’s natural beauty is absolutely astounding. And to celebrate that beauty, ROYALE challenges Canadians to send in their best photographs each year for the annual ROYALE Canada Collection.
For the 2012 Collection, more than 9,000 photos were submitted and more than 500,000 votes determined the winners. And one of the honoured recipients was a woman from my own home province of Saskatchewan! Mrs. Julia Herperger was kind enough to join me for a brief interview so that I could get the inside scoop on her thoughts on photography and her winning picture:
1: What is your favourite thing to photograph?
Flowers are one of the most photographed subjects, so I enjoy the challenge of taking a photo of it in a different way, from a different angle, so that it isn’t just another photo of a flower but instead is a unique photo that would make people pause for a moment (hopefully!).
2: What inspired you to take this picture?
The texture of the flower and the curved shape of the petals made it especially beautiful to me.
3: How important is a high-quality camera for photography? What camera do you use?
I know, of course, that which camera you have matters very much when it comes to photography but I think there is a tendency to focus on having an expensive camera instead of focusing on seeing, observing, and being attentive. The best camera in the world won’t make you a photographer, in my view. I took this photo with a point-and-shoot camera – an Optio E10 by Pentax.
4: Do you have any tips for aspiring photographers about how to take great pictures?
The most important thing is to see. Open your eyes and see what’s around you – all the details, everything. It’s seeing that makes you a photographer – seeing and, in turn, revealing what you see to others through your photos.
I appreciated getting the inside scoop on this gorgeous photograph and to help other aspiring photographers get started capturing Canada’s special moments, ROYALE is offering one lucky Mommy Kat and Kids reader a special photography prize pack containing a $50 gift card to a photography store and facial tissue boxes from the 2012 ROYALE Canada Collection! To enter to win, just leave a comment with your favourite tip for taking great photos!
Canada is a country worth celebrating and these beautiful boxes of facial tissue from ROYALE do a great job of showing that. I just love how the facial tissue boxes dress up my living room and even the boys’ bedrooms with their bright and beautiful designs! Check them out for yourself and see which winning photo says “Canada” to you!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
capture people/animals when they least expect it
ontariohappychick at gmail dot com
When taking a landscape put your focus on a item, like a broken tree, log, flower etc makes for a beautiful picture
I take crappy pictures so my advice is have someone else take them for you
Take any many as you can and remember to include yourself in some of them
Make sure you don’t focus too long or you will probably start shaking and get a blurry picture.
Now with digital cameras it’s easy to take lots. Volume alone will ensure you get the odd winner and the rest are easy to delete.
Make sure that you have the correct lighting for your picture and have everyone look natural
Know when to use the flash according to the light available!
I remember my rules of thirds, and it never fails me.
Make sure you pick the right setting for where you are. Inside, outside, sunny, dark.
I save out of focus photos since they can often turn into fantastic background pages for my photo books. Just fade them out a bit & voila, works like a charm.
I always pick the auto setting since I always taking pictures of my kids. Also, when I take pictures, for my camera, I will hold the button halfway just so the little squares show up on the screen and I will make sure those squares are on the person so that it will not out of focus
get down and get close when capturing kids
I honestly don’t take many pictures. The good ones I take are by pure luck only.
I like to take pictures of people when they are not posing , they usually turn out great
thanks
I like to take unposed photos because they are real pictures.
My tip it to take lots of pictures and if you are doing a landscape, include a person for scale and interest.
Half press the shutter to focus, and then frame the picture.
The best photos are always when someone is unaware of being photographed. I have some great pics of my children that I had taken while they were playing. Also, I live in the country and have taken many photos of animals as well and when they are in their natural environment and are not aware of you, the pictures are amazing.
I will use the blur in the background. But the best is letting my husband take a picture for us.
Steady hands & if you are taking portrait, make sure everyone is a good mood & prepare to capture when they are not expected.
Take pictures when no one is expecting it, these pictures turn out to be the best
Hubby who takes great pics.told me to get lower to the ground
when taking pics. of kids and animals. It really works, now I love
taking pics. great giveaway too.
candid pictures are the best,,an unexpected moment is better then a posed,cheesy smile one..:)
ksceviour at hotmail dot com
my tip is to try not to always have posed photos and try to catch random moments
My best tip for taking pictures is to get someone else to do it
Take multiple pictures of the same shot. You’ll be sure to catch the perfect or close to perfect shot!
use photo burst to get pictures of little ones that move fast
Use the flash according to the light available!
Take the pictures when no ones looking. they always turn out the most real and capture the moment
Use grids to make sure the sea is level.
my tip is to take lots! then you can keep the good ones :0)
i make my kids say green instead of cheese..lol
makes them laugh and smile at the same time…makes for great photos
Don’t centre your subject in the centre of your photo all the time.
I always seem to forget my camera. So my tip is dont forget the camera
My best tip is to relax and to take your time while composing your shot (making sure that you focus). It is better to get quality photos, not quantity.
Take more than one picture so you can choose the best one afterwards
I like to take pictures when the sky is cloudy
I like natural pictures , like taking pictures of children while they are playing , unexpected pics!
dalleykt at live dot ca
candids can take some of the best pics
Being a proud Mom, I have taken hundreds of pictures. Some are posed – SAY CHEESE. My favorites are the candid shots – innocence in the moment. Somehow a feeling of awe prompts your finger to take the photo.
eva urban
Take lots and lots. With digital cameras, you don’t have to print them all to find that one great shot of a thousand.
Use a tripod, no one likes blurry pictures
try to get yourself into some of them
make sure your lens is clean – no smudges!
don’t take too much time setting up for the pic; just snap
yourstrulee(at)sasktel(dot)net
Forget the rules and just capture.
Best tip for taking good pictures: Have a good camera!!! My cellphone takes the crappiest pictures I really need a real camera lol
use natural light ; Sunshine is a photographers best friend!
My best tip is to take lots of photos from different angles and distances so you have a variety to choose from.