Looking at the scrapbook pages in the many
galleries on internet I found that almost all
the layouts with the WOW-factor have gorgeous
photos! Because we all like to make great pages,
I wanted to look for a photo blog that could
help us improve our photography skills and where
we could have some fun at the same time. Well, I
just found the right place! Let me introduce to
you the Photo Challenge Blog. On this blog you
can find tips, helpful links to photography
sites and you get a new photo challenge every
week. When the challenge is over, a beautiful
collage is made with all the entered photos and
posted on the site.
The blog owners, Wendy and Helen, have started
this blog to challenge people to take photos!
Leave their comfort zone! Use their creativity
and imagination, but most importantly have fun!
Well, because I am always in for some fun I went
to find out a little bit more about Wendy, Helen
and their blog.
1. Tell us a little about your love for
photography.
Wendy: I started with my first instamatic 35mm
camera when I was a little girl. I haven't
stopped taking photos since, I just keep
advancing with better and bigger cameras and
learning more and more about taking photos.
I love nature photos and sharing my photos with
others. I know few people who are able to go for
walks in the woods. If I can take a walk and
take photos of what I see and share them, it
makes my day! I love to bring a bit of sunshine
into peoples lives.
Helen: I am relatively new to photography.
Scrapping has led me to it for a great page is
made by the photo you put on it. So I am
becoming more interested in the photo side of
things. My great friend Wendy got me into
cameras and I blame her for my new camera
purchased last year
2. Where did the idea for a photo
challenge blog come from?
Wendy: The photo challenge was all Helen's idea,
and a brilliant idea if you ask me. To me the
photo challenge blog is a beautiful way to share
our passion for photography with others and to
have fun with our cameras. We aren't competing
and there is no pressure.
Helen: Wendy and I did it ourselves a couple of
times last year. It was my idea that we should
start it up again with a few mutual friends
worldwide who met through scrapping mostly and
had a love of photos. It has really taken off
and its great fun.
3. Tell us about the group of people that
participate in the photo challenges.
Wendy: Anybody and everybody is welcome to join
our blog. I know some ladies, who are stay at
home moms from my area, that loved the idea.
They have point and shoot digital cameras and
some of their photos are just as good as some of
the ladies with high-end DSLR cameras. There are
other ladies from all over the world that have
joined us, we love it! Everyone has a different
perspective when it comes to the photo
challenges and it is interesting to see these
differences.
Helen: There are very few people who have
actually met in this group. Isn't the internet a
wonderful place sometimes? We come from all over
the world and all walks of life. We all have
different camera's and we come together because
we love taking photos and want to think outside
the box.
4. Where do the ideas for the challenges
come from?
Wendy: Helen and I came up with an idea list
when we started the Photo Challenge blog.
Sometimes we take ideas from this list and
sometimes ideas come from the photos we take
ourselves. I read a lot of photography books and
I am inspired with ideas from these books. Also
there are a few internet sites that have some
great ideas too.
Helen: We try and make them achievable for all
people and their busy lives.
5. What has been your favourite challenge
so far and why?
Wendy: That is a tough question because I love
all of our challenges. Some are a bit
challenging but that is the whole concept behind
this blog. To leave your comfort zone and have
fun with your camera is our main goal. I thought
our food photo challenge was going to be
difficult for me but in the end I had a really
good time with my camera and came up with some
terrific food photos.
Helen: I have loved them all. Its great fun and
has really become a family affair on weekends.
We started off with feet which was a bit
shocking for everyone and have covered
everything from framing to food. I have really
enjoyed the ones I did not think I would so
much. I loved the one on texture, and its funny,
the more you look to find framing or texture
the more you see. It really teaches you to take
the blinkers off.
Just a final little note:
If you love to challenge yourself to take better
pictures and you are looking for a group of
supportive people who all love photography then
the Photo Challenge Blog is the place for you!
You can find them at:
http://photochallengeblog.blogspot.com/
