Today is Thursday, so whenever I can, I link up at Anderson Family Crew blog for Embrace the Camera. It is also the 10th of the month and that means I link up at Shimelle's blog for 10 on the TENTH. This made my TEN list easy to figure out:
My Top Ten Self-Timer Photos (several already seen here on past Embrace the Camera posts)
PHOTO 1: I just posted this last week for the FAMILY x 12 Blog Hop (email me if you are interested in joining us on the 5th of every month) and I'm posting it again today because I promised to explain how I did it.
Step 1) I set up my tripod and had everyone get in their places. We took about ten shots in the FIRST POSE. Then we DID NOT TOUCH the camera. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! We moved positions, taking care that nobody was in the same spot as someone else was in the first photo. This is also a crucial detail. I set the self timer again to take ten consecutive photos in the SECOND POSE, again being very careful not to move the camera. I touched it as little as possible when I set the next round of photos. (I just had to press the shutter button and then run as fast as I could into position.)
Step 2) I selected the best photo from the first ten photos of POSE ONE, and the best photo from the second ten photos of POSE TWO.
Step 3) I opened both of these photos into Photoshop (this would also work in Photoshop Elements or any photo editing software with layers).
Step 4) I opened a NEW project and grabbed each photo (POSE ONE & POSE TWO) and dragged and dropped them into my new project. I made sure the photos were lined up exactly so that when I erased parts of the top layer away, every thing in the photo would be a seamless transition.
Step 5) I used the eraser tool to erase any part of the image that was blocking a person in the photo on the bottom layer. On parts that are tough to erase due to people being in close proximity to each other, I magnified my image so I could see more detail and have more control over what I was erasing.
ALTERNATIVE way to make the same picture WITHOUT photo editing software: If your camera has a Multiple Exposure feature (my film SLR had this option but my current DSLR does not; all higher end DSLRs will have this feature and many higher end point and shoots should have the feature as well - check your camera's manual).
Step 1) You would set up your camera on a tripod the same way as in step 1 above. Again, you would set your camera to take a self-timer photo, but this time you only want your camera to take ONE photo. This is crucial.
Step 2) After that first photo is taken, have everyone in the photo, go to their second position using the same precautions as I mentioned in step 2 above. TOUCH THE CAMERA IS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE and as GENTLY AS POSSIBLE. Take the second photo. Since you are using the MULTIPLE EXPOSURE function, the second photo will be taken right on top of the first photo and your photo will already be merged. No need for post processing (excpet perhaps to refine your image as you would normally do).
With the second method you may want to take four or five multiple exposures by repeating steps 1 & 2 four or five times (or more) to be sure you get a good final image. Step 1, then step 2, then repeat. Good luck! And let me know if you try it.
#2 Self-timer photo: this was taken right after Paul was released from the hosptial after his harrowing ordeal this summer.
#3 Self-timer photo: I took Braden to the pool this afternoon for a mommy-Braden swim. Just for fun! If it weren't for Embrace the Camera, I would never think to lug my camera with me downstairs to the pool, but I am so glad I did. This pool has been a big part of our lives here in Beijing.
#4 Self-timer photo: Ok, so this is not exactly a self-timer photo but it is self-taken. I just like it. It was taken in the reflection of a mirrored building we used to walk past on the way to my youngest son's school last year.
#5 Self-timer photo: I posted this one just a couple of weeks ago. My son was helping me make waffles and he wanted me to have a taste.
#6 Self-timer photo: another one that I took myself. This is us in the back of a pedi-rickshaw. We took this on Friday night. We were going out to dinner for my son's (on the right side of the photo) eleventh birthday. I hate the way I look in this photo but I had to include it because of what my youngest son did. After taking the photos I would look at them and complain about how horrible and ugly I looked. I also said that I looked like a boy. I had just gotten my haircut the day before and didn't like it at all. Anyway, my youngest had a piece of paper and a pen with him. He was writing with the wind blowing in his face, paper on his knee. He showed me the paper a little while later. It said, "You are not ugly." and "You are not a boy." So sweet!
#7 Self-Timer Photo: I've also posted this one before. My son had a day off school while his brothers didn't so we played a game of Lego Harry Potter. I like the angle of this one and that we are in the middle of a game.
#8 Self-Timer Photo: Lunch at my son's school last year. Pretty fancy, no? With linen table cloths and napkin holders. The kids set it all themselvs as well as clean up, including folding the table cloths! Pretty impressive!
#9 Self-Timer Photo: Just a fun and romantic photo of us cooking dinner together. We were making lasagne.
#10 Self-TImer Photo: Last but not least, my oldest son and I playing Scrabble. A rare occasion because I usually don't like to play. But I love to play all board games with my children.
Thanks for stopping by. For more ten on ten lists, go to Shimelle.com and for more lovely Embrace the Camera photos, go to Anderson Family Crew blog.
Oh, I almost forgot! My good friend, Ella (a Kiwi), who I met here in Beijing, just started her own blog with her sister, Talia. Ella still lives here in Beijing and her sister lives in Australia. They are off to a good start, head on over to In My Cabinet and check it out. Leave them some words of encouragement if you have a moment.
love your photos! and thanks for the site link~
Posted by: ConnieM | November 10, 2011 at 04:11
What beautiful photos, and thank you for sharing how to do the amazing shot with you all in several times. So clever. It may be beyond me as my photoshop skills are still poor, but it might be fun trying!
Posted by: sandie | November 10, 2011 at 04:13
Awesome pics! I gotta try to take more autotimed ones..it usually doesnt work out well for me though!
Posted by: bekah | November 10, 2011 at 04:54
nice photos...glad I stopped by...
Posted by: [email protected] | November 10, 2011 at 04:57
What beautiful photos, and thank you for sharing how to do the amazing shot with you all in several times. Very clever xx
Posted by: Kirsteen | November 10, 2011 at 05:02
I really like your auto-timer pictures. The first one is amazing - it really made me smile. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Ellie | November 10, 2011 at 05:05
I love these! They really make me want to get in the habit of using my self timer more. I love the idea of capturing these moments when no one else would be around to do it!
Posted by: Heather Lynne | November 10, 2011 at 05:33
LOVE these photos!! I have to learn to use my self timer!!!
Posted by: Kristy Ford | November 10, 2011 at 05:48
These photos are fantastic! I love that you are in so many of your photos. The one of you and your husband cooking is so sweet and that dinner at the school is lovely! And thanks for sharing the tips on how to make the first one. I'm going to pin this for future reference!
Posted by: deb | November 10, 2011 at 05:57
Great photos Margie and the first one is so clever, I must give that a try! I'm getting a little bored with my photography at the moment, so I think it will be fun to try some self timer shots: thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: scrappysue | November 10, 2011 at 06:21
These are great! Seriously, I love them all. I think I'm going to start using the self timer a little bit more now! Also, the one of you cooking is very sweet.
Posted by: Amanda Bumgarner | November 10, 2011 at 06:46
I like them all but that shot of you and your husband cooking together is so beautiful and real and yes, romantic. Love it.
Posted by: Elaine | November 10, 2011 at 07:56
wow, it's very inspiring, I haven't thought of taking self-timer photos, but yours are so inspiring I want to try now!
Posted by: kasia | November 10, 2011 at 08:31
That first photograph is incredible!
Posted by: Charis | November 10, 2011 at 08:49
lovely!
Posted by: Linda | November 10, 2011 at 09:50
Amazing photos, I love the one of you kissing in the kitchen, so relaxed and romantic. I love playing board games too, and I'm looking forward to when my kids are a bit older and will be able to play more of them. x
Posted by: jennifer grace | November 10, 2011 at 13:11
Terrific photos. :D I'm totally going to have to figure out how to use the timer.
Posted by: Kimberlee | November 10, 2011 at 13:59
Love all the photos but that first one is wicked awesome! Thanks for explaining how you did it, I will have to give it a go :)
Posted by: Mommyof2Girlz/StephD | November 10, 2011 at 14:05
What a fun, fun post and project! I love that first one! And the pool...I, too, brought mine to the pool this summer. Since becoming BFF with my camera, I now think to bring it to capture these fun parts of our life!
Posted by: Rebekah | November 10, 2011 at 14:43
I should spend some time using my self-timer also. Love love LOVE the one of you and your husband in the kitchen!
Posted by: Cheryl M | November 10, 2011 at 20:11
Thanks for not only sharing the photos but the reasons for the photos and some tips for self-timer photos. I bought a remote for my camera a few months ago so that I could just set my camera up and take photos at random. I've really only used it once for this purpose. I need to make more of an effort to do this sort of thing.
Posted by: Stephanie Medley-Rath | November 11, 2011 at 05:29
Love the photos! I still love that first one, it's so fun!!
Posted by: MonicaB | November 11, 2011 at 05:30
Amazing photos and stories.
Posted by: Jennie Hart | November 13, 2011 at 12:49