February 2010 – Getting up close and personal

This month's photography challenge is all about getting up close and personal with your subjects. There's something really special about a photo that focuses all of your attention on the subject without any of the distractions around it.



I know in scrapbooking a lot of times I worry about including all the other things and details that go along with the photo and the surroundings that made that moment. Maybe the background shows where it was taken or the outfit the person wore that day, and those details are important, but I love the way that tightly cropped photo can focus on the emotions of the face or the details of the little hand clutching a toy. That's what I want you to focus on for this challenge! So… turn that camera dial to macro, get out your tightest lens, take a few steps closer to your subject, or if your subject doesn't like you being all up in their face, there's always the crop tool. Create a layout with your up close and personal photo and come back and share it with all of us.

***ETA*** The challenge gallery is now up, so you can share all of your challenge layouts over there. You can find the gallery here:
http://www.designhousedigital.com/gallery/g511-design-house-challenges.html

Some additional ideas to get your juices flowing...

Here's an example. This was a really cute photo, but he kind of gets lost in all the surroundings and field. Plus, you really can't see the sweet little face that he is making.


But if you crop it in - all the focus goes to that ornery look on his face and the way he is eyeing that lollipop



Another idea... If you feel the surroundings and other details are important to the layout, you can always include more than one photo! Have one pulled back picture that 'sets the scene' and then another closely cropped photo that shows the subject's reaction or emotion.

I can't wait to see what you create...

Absolutely LOVE the challenge, Lori! I am such a sucker for those really tight shots! Really excited to see what everyone comes up with!

Yay! I'm excited for this challenge!

Darling photos Lori. I can't wait to join in on this challenge.

Lori, GORGEOUS close-up photos! Great challenge idea. I look forward to participating!

Lori, I was thinking of taking picture of my son ... but then I got the perfect photo of my ... my dog! LOL She has a habit of peeking over the top of the couch, just to see what I'm doing, so I zoomed on in today and snapped a photo of her - here it is. I think I'll do a horizontal crop on this one and maybe change to B&W, but this is the "raw" photo - just had to share ... she's such a silly dog sometimes.

so cute! You even got nice catchlights in her eyes

Great challenge. I love up close & personal photos!

I had LASIK surgery on my eyes this month, so I wanted to take a close-up shot of my eyes after the surgery.