So, how do I make this year’s vacation stand out and how do I share that with others?
Three ideas spring (or is that summer) to mind.
First is to just focus on the moment. I look for a smile or a composition that speaks to the passage of time. Also, year after year similar moments add up to a rich chronicle of change—even though things seem to remain the same.
Our annual summer vacation to Heart’s Desire beach is about as perfect as it gets. Here’s my daughter Miranda on the first day of our vacation in 2006. You see the beach (at really low tide) and Miranda’s joy at being back at our favorite spot.
And then here’s the first image from the first day of our vacation in 2007. Same low tide but Miranda’s already in motion with her pail and shovel, getting ready to dig in the sand and dream about building bigger and better sandcastles.
Just two simple shots (and just one each of a sequence) but they mark the beginning of our vacation—and over the passage of years, the first moment resonates emotionally with me more and more.
Another example is what happens when we really dig in and get into vacation mode. Miranda likes to strike a pose. This recurring moment is a highlight of our photo calendar. Since the first time I captured this shot, it’s become a fondly repeated gesture. Miranda knows it’s time to take the “I’m in character” shot—so she goes totally Project Runway.
Here’s what’s become known as the “sunglasses shot” from 2006.
And below is the “sunglasses shot” from 2007. What’s cool is that I know she’s going to go into that character, and I know that I have to have this shot. And she knows that the picture will end up representing the month of June in our calendar—so she plays movie star for all its worth.
The second thought focuses on the details and how they often mean more after they’re captured then when they’re directly in front of you.
We have to buy a ticket every day to enter the beach. The park ranger tapes the ticket on the inside of your windshield. Our tradition is to let the tickets collect on the windshield to show the passage of days. Last year I thought “this is such a strong image and stirs such a total recall of the summer—I should shoot that.” You can observe something so ordinary, but not recognize how powerful it would be to capture it. This one shot brings back such a strong memory that I can smell the suntan lotion as I’m writing.
Miranda also shot the tickets as we drove back from the beach. The play of light and motion only enhances the memory rush for me.
Yet another kind of detail is a shot that acts as a compliment to a more narrative shot or demonstrative “look at this” type sequence. These details deepen the texture of the story of a day or simple event.
For example, each year there is major sand building at Heart’s Desire beach. Ornate sandcastles or huge construction work, sand work is essential summertime fun.
In 2006 the push was to build trenches, tunnels and waterways. Here’s one of the “hero” images of the proud architect surrounded by her work. And the detail shot was how the bright sun made the beach toys look like candy-colored cartoon tools.
2007 brought out more thoughtful city structures from the sand. Here’s the “official” must-have shot where the builders posed with their creation.
But a random moment detail makes the story richer. The shadow is Miranda taking her own shot of the day’s work, and figuring out that she’s standing in the light. The detail shot solidifies my memory of the sequence of events.
Finally there are the portraits to show who was with us. I include two that mark special times. First is an indoor shot taken without a flash, using my antique Nikon point-and-shoot camera. Over the years digital cameras have become more light-sensitive but there’s something about the softness of the natural light that helps the picture retain the warmth of this moment—my wife’s birthday. I have flash shots from the dinner but they lack the intimacy of this picture.
Vacation for us includes friends. Lots of friends. Here’s our group from 2006 about to hike to Abbott’s Lagoon. You can see the trail in the background, winding its way to the beach.
The group shot is a “must have.” It takes some asking to get everyone to line up, but my memory of our hike begins with the gang in the parking lot.
My last thought is something I often forget to do. Remember, every so often, to hand the camera to someone else so that you’re in some of the pictures.
Here’s a great shot my wife took from vacation 2006 where you get a sense of just how much we’re enjoying ourselves. I have lots of pictures of Miranda and my wife, but only a few where I can see the contentment on my face and the connection with my daughter.
And here’s the family in 2007, courtesy of a friend. My wife is not a sun person, so it’s a rare shot to have her with us on the beach.
I hope my thoughts help inspire your vacation pictures. It’s the little things that make me smile on reflection—add them up and there’s a lifetime of stories.
Be sure to check out our summer travel site www.shutterflyhittheroad.com. We have more travel essentials filled with tips and ideas to help you make the most of your memories as you travel. And let me know your ideas about how to turn your precious time away into something timeless.
July 8th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
I love your ideas of capture moments. We also take an annual vacation to Disney World at least have for the past two years and I find myself recreating moments from the previous years. Always photo’s on different days in front of the castle, a photo in front of Finding Nemo, I have to have the pool photo’s and riding Buzz Lightyear and so many more. Now when I look back at last years and compare to this year I can see how my children have grown and I took hope to chronogical them as the years past. I too forget that sometimes I need to be in the photos as well but I’m not very happy to give up my camera. This year to help with that we bought an inexpensive camera for my husband so he could take photos that included me. It was well worth it as now my mother doesn’t say WHERE ARE YOU ON THE VACATION? My reply is Im behind the camera. You have given me so many great ideas to continue and add to my vacation memories and photos. Thanks for much for your terrific thoughts and ideas.
CynthiaY2
Shutterfly Gallery Guru
July 9th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
I really enjoyed reading. So many things I never really gave much thought to as I take the photos. We recently took the kids to Washington DC. Upon my return, I was heartbroken as I looked at all the great photos and realized we never took the photo of us all together at the memorials. I got great group shots of the kids, and even ones of them alone………but none with us all together. I will keep in mind the tips you shared for capturing those memories when taking photos in the future. I love the sunglasses photos….they are sweet and a fun photo tradition while on vacation.
Cheryl_Whitesel
Shutterfly Gallery Guru
July 10th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Awesome tips and inspiration! All your pictures are great. I thought the shadow shot was pretty cool and unigue! I’m just starting out with all the “firsts” so I will definately enjoy trying the repetition and keeping up with the changes through the years!
Brayden’s Mom :o)
Shutterfly Gallery Guru
July 11th, 2008 at 7:29 am
Thank you for your comments. Feedback helps me understand which tips are effective and guides me to writing my next blog entry. As I turn questions and challenges around in my mind I am not only looking to get to the root of whatever interests me, but I am also thinking about how to take what I have learned (or stumbled upon in many cases) and turn it around for others to consider.
What I want to think about next, and I could use feedback on, are tips about capturing the feelings of an event (a moment, a day, a party, a season) by doing more than taking single, significant shots. Stay tuned.
July 14th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
I think that is what is the best thing about being a family and holding to special traditions. For us every year we decorated a gingerbread house for Christmas. It is at the same table with the same gingerbread house kit with Dad helping holding it together, but what does change is the kids and how they are growing from year to year. Or our just about annual Disenyland trip…same place same people and the same love for each other. I do have to say, I have to take the time to be in the pictures myself too…and get a friendly stranger to snap a picture of all of us. I take great comfort in a special routine.
August 14th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Great ideas!! Other photos we love to take of our girls, while we are on vacation, is of the their backs… back of their head, or their entire back as they are walking (running) ahead of us. ( It’s usually the view we have on vacation.) It’s beautiful to look back at how much they have changed, and how active they are.
August 15th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Thanks for posting all the ideas! I love taking pictures but am trying to make more art out of it than just being random shots. I like your idea Loogan of shooting the kids’ backs. I had never really done this until one day while visiting a state capital, our 4 kids were together, not long after my youngest had just started to walk. It was so awesome to see them all holding hands, keeping the little one up. That is a photo that really conjures up emotion for me!
August 18th, 2008 at 6:11 am
Great ideas, but letting those tickets collect on your windshield is a BAD idea, and actually illegal in most states. It obstructs your view, and puts your life as well as anyone else in your car’s life in danger. It might be something you want to rethink. It makes for a great picture and memory,and I understand tradition, but it’s dangerous.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:00 am
[…] weeks is a glorious amount of time to recapture the joys of everyday life. If you read my previous blog entry you’re familiar with my ways to capture the wonder of vacation during our annual stay at the […]
September 10th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I should have looked at this article first. It was real fun to read and once again offered quite a lot of insightful tips. I’m a big fan of group shots. Everyone looks at me and says ‘who’ll take the photo’, I say the self-timer!! That has worked pretty well and it is a challenge getting everyone to line up. It is almost easier to have someone else do it, so they can actually see who needs to move closer etc. I also like that you turned the camera over to others to include you in the pictures, after all you were there too.
Thanks again for this article. You write beautifully. Gorgeous pictures.
Joanna T
Shutterfly Gallery Guru
September 11th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Loved this article as well, I just read your Sep entry. Great tips, I love the pic of you and your daughter and I agree, hand the camera over sometime to someone else and get yourself in the pics. I feel odd sometimes asking people to do that but I like to see myself sometime in those pics. Great article and again thanks for all the tips.
TammyM5
Shutterfly Gallery Guru