Monday 30 April 2012

Lemme take your picture?


I hit on this brilliant idea, at a crop.  I would photograph my crop friends one by one and do a LO about them.  After all, they feature large in my life, I see most of them at least that once a month and when I tragically and years too early shuffle off this mortal coil, my daughter will be able to look back in awe at these women; they will doubtless have been significant role models.  Or horrible warnings.  I know which I'd rather be.   
Thing is, of the 12 or 13 regular croppers, this lovely Laura LO is only the second.  I can't easily get my modest crop friends to pose for me.  Actually, first problem is that originally I wanted candid, scrap-in-motion shots.  But I felt furtive and couldn't keep quiet about my brilliant idea.  So I came clean.  The Enthusiastic Educator was my first target and I love the photos I have of her.  For some reason, I have no photo of the LO.  And I can't show you without her permission. Or without getting off the chair and crossing the room.   I do understand any reluctance.  I arrive at crop having packed (you've heard masses about the angst of packing), sorted out my contribution to lunch and staggered around too early on a Saturday morning than is generally good for me.  All this adds up to a fat forty-blah woman with no make up.  Now I can't say I'd want you to take a picture of me like that really. And certainly not a candid one.  This would involve glasses balanced so that I can look down and see through them and look up without seeing through them - if you know the action, you'll picture the look.  And then there's the persistent chatting.  It means my mouth is always open.  Unless I'm eating.  I do have one or two manners intact.  My Sissy Stephanie who lives in California has developed a 'pause' type pose for cameras - whenever one is pointed at her: Eyes open, mouth shut.  It's ingrained in her now and I can't remember the last time she was caught out.  And I can't remember the last time I wasn't.  Laura has youth on her side, hasn't she...so when I pointed my phone at her (yes, phone...my packing skills just cannot accommodate a real camera as well), she simply leaned toward me and smiled.  Confident, huh.  I wonder who will display such confidence this Saturday?  Luckily, this isn't a group project or a circle journal, so it remains that I'll be safely behind the phone.  Camera.  And my crop friends will as always, be  v e r y  tolerant of my self assumed brilliance. 

42 comments:

Craftychris said...

I love your page and I'm still laughing after reading your post! xx

Rita said...

Great Post Julia. Fabulous page too. Hugs Rita xx

CraftygasheadZo said...

Your posts always make me smile! Fab LO too. Hope you can capture some more of your friendly scrappers. Zo xx

voodoo vixen said...

Love that LO,,, the polka dot paper is fabulous and the little banner is perfect... and yes, she is young and pretty so won't mind that she is photographed on the hop... the rest of us mere mortals need time to compose and pollyfilla... lots of pollyfilla!! Love the idea and look forward to more LO's!!

KatzElbows said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
KatzElbows said...

Brilliant idea, and I love this layout. Maybe you could try finding vintage images, or even modern ones, that sum up how you feel about the photophobic? I did a portrait of my mum that way. And I've done it for my online photo too! Just a thought.

Carmen said...

Love that page and the idea behind it too :D

Lots of chuckles at trying to take stealth pictures and then blabbing!

Annie said...

What a lovely idea Julia. Hope all your croppers are as photogenic :-)
Hugs,
A x

BumbleVee said...

Okay...here's something I've discovered ..... I have no problem getting folks to let me take their picture when I tell them it is for my blog...how strange is that? Some, like my garbage guy, even happily pose and wave for me....

Everybody knows the word blog (or pretends they do) even if they don't totally understand what it is or all the ramifications of 'being on it'....
this should be fun to see..... and how photogenic is this one.... she looks great.... definitely the confidence factor going as you say...

Helen said...

That is a great layout. Course, it always helps if your victims (sorry, subjects) are photogenic - which I am most definitely NOT! Hope to see some more of your Crop circle (ho, that wasn't intentional!) soon...

Hels Sheridan said...

Good idea to get the pics Julia, we just need to get one of you now... hoping you manage to get the others and LO's made up etc cos it is going to be a fab book.... as for your Sister, does she teach said pose? I could do with some tuition (there are FAR too many photo's of me looking like a loon or a gathering black bin liners with a head on top ... they are the worst!) Ta for your comment on FB too.. bless ya xx

...the yorkshire fox... said...

...tis a fabby idea & will be great to look back in years to come and smile at the way we were...loVely page Julia...Mel :)

Simple homemade living said...

Oh what a wonderful LO the picture is lovely what a beautiful lady - her hair looks nice there too pmsl

Love the LO of me and I am so stealing the idea so be warned I will be walking around with the camera on Saturday x x

Simple homemade living said...

Oh what a wonderful LO the picture is lovely what a beautiful lady - her hair looks nice there too pmsl

Love the LO of me and I am so stealing the idea so be warned I will be walking around with the camera on Saturday x x

Redanne said...

I like your Sister's style, great idea, why can't we all be like that. I love your layout and look forward to the next 'victim' - I mean crafting buddy..lol....Cheers, Anne x

misteejay said...

I think it's a great idea and what a fabulous keepsake.

Thank you for your kind comments about my 'ouch' moment today. I have to say colleagues were so very kind when I finally made it into the office...they couldn't come up with frozen peas but they did produce a pack of frozen just-rol pastry to use LOL

Toni xx

Glenda said...

You have made me smile today with your post! Laura does seem very confident and a gorgeous girl! Keep up the good work, love the LO and the colors you chose. Well done!

CoventryAnn said...

Love the page :)

nerllybird said...

Haha. I've only just started attending a crop and I suspect they haven't yet worked out exactly how odd I am. Maybe I'll give it a month or two before I start taking photos...
Helen S

SandeeNC said...

I'm so relating to you right now, I must learn the peripheral vision trick of knowing when there is a camera around so I can shut my mouth, straighten my back, lower my shoulders and stretch my neck out a little ( double chin thingy ) and ope my eyes wide so I don't look half drugged! lol Love your writing! waving hi from the hills of North Carolina :)

SuziesImaginarium said...

A lovely picture and a very nice LO. I'm not really a paper person but I'm guessing that LO is Layout (my brilliant assuming skills). You must just be a hoot when you get to cropping with your friends, Julia!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I used to have this camera that took pretty decent photos, unlike the one I use now. The drawback was, when I turned it on, it made a LOUD "ding" noise that alerted anyone nearby that their photo would soon be taken. So of course, I NEVER could get a candid shot of anyone. Now I have a camera that doesn't "ding" when I turn it on (or off for that matter), but it takes such lousy photos, people have to stand or sit still until I take at least four or five shots, or they are blurs! I'm thrilled to read how tolerant your friends are, because these crop buddies are also genuine FRIENDS, too.

BTW, I'm glad you are starting to see all those design elements and principles. On the page above, I see examples of repetition, balance, line, and positive/negative space. I promise it will get easy to identify these principles and elements. Putting them to work for you should take no time at all!

Kyla said...

I have some great images of you in my mind now! Lol!

Kyla x

Sunshine Girl said...

Oooh she takes a lovely picture doesnt she - this is such a nice idea, would keep me going for years at our crop! Do you actually get anything done at a crop? I find I pack far too much and by the time I have got there, sorted out myself and the refreshments, eaten my lunch (usually about 10.30), gone around and got everyone's money and had a nosey at what they are doing and have a nice little chat, taught the class I find its about 3pm and I am then too worn out to do anything - if I do want to do something I either a. havent packed it or b. have packed far too much stuff without a project in mind so that I cant decide what to do. My crop day has now just become a social day without any crafting involved on my part! still fun though :)

Lynn Holland said...

Hi Julia,
Can you tell me what an LO is and cropping so that I can go back to your page and get laughing along with everybody.
Best wishes
Lynn
One I Made Earlier Today

Daisy236 said...

Just love the layout of your friend. The bunting is cute, and polka dots are so adorable! its great idea to show significant people in your crafty world, my crafty friends best watch out....I think I might grab at shot or two at my next craft group!

JoZart Designs said...

Great LO of Laura and your idea to capture all your friends this way is so lovely. Getting them to submit is a different matter by the looks of it. I think it reveals so much of people's personalities when trying to snap them. The way they react and if they are happy in their skin and being. The joker, the talker the shy one, the confident one. The ones who think they have a big nose, uneven teeth, are too thin, too fat etc., etc., all things which really don't matter to anyone but them!
Laura looks a happy, relaxed, confident person!
Love JoZarty x

Joynana said...

Great layout Julia, I think that you have a wonderful idea.

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

Hi Julia, fab page and I love the bird card? below :-)
Anne x

Morti said...

Ooh- I won't quite say the same as Laura - it's not so much stealing as Magpie-ing the idea. So I'm going to Magpie it. And woe betide anyone who doesn't pose - they'll get snapped at random and unexpectedly! ROFL

True though - Laura does take a gorgeous snap, bright eyed, bushy tailed, white-smiled....

Thanks for the timely reminder to ensure hair and makeup is done on Saturday.

Eliza said...

What a great Idea Julia, pity some wont let you take their photo but I can understand why, no makeup, I even went to a crop years ago and some were still in their PJ's. Yep no joke......

Nice layout too.

Eliza

505whimsygirl said...

Oh Julia,

This post really cracked me up! I do love the page with the bunting - and what a great photo!

Hugs,
Kay

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Great layout and great idea to crop your cropping pals. I'm always getting photos of me taking when I lead the big stamp club. It used to bother me, but then I realized that I never see these photos anywhere, apparently they are taken for private use only. I gave up the hair and make up deal years ago so I'm a WYSIWYG gal anyway (what you see is what you get).

fairy thoughts said...

I wish I could look so natural and unposed, I always have my eyes closed. great job with the layout and good luck with the rest of the photos
janet

Di said...

So funny Julia - a really cheering post, thanks for making me laugh, yet again!!

Di
xx

Sue from Oregon said...

You definitely are crafty with the words as you are with the paper and ink Mrs Dunnit! I am sure your friends will prefer a NICE picture of themselves vs a funny faced pic-so your luck may improve!

Unknown said...

I am sooo glad I don't go to your crop. I am one of the most un-photogenic people I know. I hate all the pics there are of me - apart from a few about 5-6 years ago. I would hide each time you got your ipad posed to take a pic. Aaaarghhhhh.... Having said that, you have taken a brill pic of Laura here, and the LO you've done of her is a true tribute - you've done her proud.

I'd be you with the make-up thing too! I'd also be the last one there!

Paula x x x

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