Snowball Fight Photographs & Layouts

Planning a vacation in the snow or just walking outside to a winter wonderland? Either way, if there is snow there could be a snowball fight. Make sure you get some photographs and create layouts about all the fun of a snowball fight.

Photographs. Snowball fights are great photographic opportunities. Take advantage of it with these tips:

• Planning. Most great photographs don't happen by accident. Plan for a great snowball fight photograph. You can plan by creating an opportunity to take snow photographs. Pack everyone and your photographic equipment and head to the snow for some shots. This could be a vacation or just an afternoon at a special spot. Pick somewhere with great lighting and a beautiful backdrop. Consider the necessary camera and equipment to bring and pack accordingly.
  
  
• Equipment. Consider what camera to use for shots of a snowball fight. The optimal camera will have fast shutter speeds. A telephoto or zoom lens would be helpful. If you have an SLR camera, be prepared to use the white balance feature to offset the problems associated with photographing the bright white of the snow.
  
  
• Techniques. Snowball fights involve intense action. Use fast shutter speeds and a high ISO to capture the action without blurring. One good technique called panning (following the direction of a moving subject with your camera while pressing the shutter release) will keep the subject in focus while blurring the background. If the action is far away, use a telephoto or zoom lens. When taking a photograph of a snowball fight, notice the peaks in action. Position yourself and be ready for the action. Often it helps to take the picture just seconds beforehand in anticipation of the action. If your camera has a motor drive or continuous action feature, use it to get the chance of capturing the height of the action.

For more ideas on photographing a snowball fight read the article Action Photographs in the Snow.

Layouts. Once you have your photographs, take time to create some special scrapbook pages with them. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Titles. Snowball fight titles can be fun to create. Often it helps to use a verb that describes the action such as throwing, running, hitting, or tossing. Alternatively use a good adjective to describe the snowball fight. Some title ideas include "Ready, Aim, Fire," "It's a Fight" and "The Perfect Snowball."
  
  
• Journaling. Whether using a light tone or a serious tone, include journaling. Details may include the date, location, type of snow, temperature, people involved, and any unusual events. If there is a story about the snow or the person involved in the snowball fight include it. Use dialogue to add interest, if possible.
  
  
• Photographs. After working hard to get some great photographs make sure the best ones shine on your scrapbook pages. If you have an outstanding photograph highlight it. You may find a photograph of a person with a great facial expression or in the midst of action to be an exceptional photograph. Enlarge it and make it the centerpiece of your layout. Alternatively, you may have a great series of photographs. If you took a series of photographs showing a snowball being thrown or a fight going back and forth, use those photographs together. Space them in a sequence to create the biggest impact. In my layout "Ready Aim Fire" I used a series of photographs to demonstrate my daughter's process of throwing a snowball.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Design. Snowball fight layouts are fun to design. Color schemes are variable. You may choose to match the outfit of the person in the photograph. Another choice would be to use a white background to mimic the snow. Additionally, light and dark blues mimic the sky and highlight outdoor activity. Layouts can be embellished with snow-themed products from snowflake patterned paper to rubber stamps and chipboard. For a special touch, add glitter. Create your own snow-related paper by using a mask and spraying it with Glimmer Mist. In my layout "Hit and Run" I used a white background to highlight the photographs, winter stamps and glittered brads.

Next time it snows go outside and enjoy the weather. Instead of grabbing a snowball, reach for your camera and get some great shots and layout possibilities.

For more great winter scrapbooking ideas and supplies visit the Scrapjazz theme store.