Making Summer Last Through Pictures

Summer is always over too soon in my mind. It seems like we get out of the deep freeze just in time to thaw out only to have it start cooling again and then it’s back to the freezer.

How can we make summer last a little longer? Well slowing down and having the presence of mind to take it all in is a good way to ensure you savor every moment. One way I do this is through the camera lense. I love taking pictures. Pictures capture a moment in time that when looked at later can envoke all sorts of feelings. Happiness, sadness, love, tranquility there are a ton of feelings that can resurface from a single photograph.

Here are some ideas of things you can take pictures of this summer to help you remember the beauty and joy of the season.

1. Family. Enlist a friend or a non-immediate family member to take a family portrait. I know for me, I get so focused on capturing my kid’s milestones that I am rarely in front of the camera. Make an effort this summer to get a really nice group picture. (Notice this is the one picture that is missing from my collection here … this summer for sure!)

2. Feet. All winter our feet are stuffed into socks and crammed into boots or slippers. Summer is when our feet are free! They take us far, they enjoy the sand, the grass, and the water. Remember how these feel and take a pic of your toes in the sand, gripping the grass or being licked by waves. My fave is chubby baby feet in the grass, they just look so cute.


3. Flowers. If you’re like most people you have a favorite flower. Mine happens to be any kind of lilly. I just love em! If it’s not done correctly a picture of a flower can get lost in the noise of the back ground. Most digital cameras these days have a macro feature that allows you to get in really close and take a very specific shot. I would suggest that if you don’t know how to use this feature on your camera take 10 minutes to do, so you’ll be hooked!

4. Vegetables or fruits. If you have a garden – big, small, patio or container, it doesn’t matter, get up close and personal with what you’ve produced. Strawberries, beans, peas, carrots, tomatoes anything goes. Don’t forget about the innards, sometimes that’s where the most interesting bits are.


5. Bugs. Bugs are often overlooked when it comes to exploring the beauty of the world around us. Get creative with what you take pictures of and experiment with different angles, head on vs. a picture from above. Ladybugs, spiders, grasshoppers, earthworm or whatever kind of bug you happen upon when you’ve got your camera out and ready. Don’t put yourself in danger just to get a really cool shot. Pictures of the most poisonous, venomous or deadly animals are probably best left to the professionals.

6. Clouds.There always seems to be a few days each year when the clouds are amazing. Building up to a storm they can be dark, ominous and towering yet on other days they can be whispy, look like popcorn or “Simpson” clouds. Clouds are perhaps the easiest thing to take pictures of as they are almost always abstract anyway.


7. Birds. Last year we set up a bird feeder right outside our livingroom window. Each morning my eldest son puts out food for the birds and then we sit and wait. It doesn’t take the birds long once they figured out our routine. With a little patience and some strategic positioning there are some good photos of birds to be had.



8. Muddy hands. If you and your famly love to garden capture it with a picture of muddy hands, gardening tools strewn about the yard or rubber boots left on the porch.










9. Priceless moments. To capture some of these you really need to be right ready with the camera as they tend not to last and they are usually spontaneous. (This is my littlest peanut who was a tad less than impressed that we were inside smiling at him while he was outside in the rain … )










10. Neighbourhood goodies. If you go for a walk around the neighbourhood or a park take your camera with you. There’s a lot of beauty and character in everyday things. Look around, is the sidewalk you walk on old, made of cobblestones or blocks? Is there an abandond farm house close by with a window to the field behind it? What about an old mailbox, a swingset or a park bench? There are a million things you could be taking pics of you just need to see them






11.The epitome of summer. Beach balls, picnics, beach umbrellas, sprinklers, swimming pools and BBQs all designed to bring people together and have fun. Pull out the camera and go crazy.




Get low, stand on chairs, get close or back waaaaay up, tilt the camera, angle it up experiment and have fun. Make a point of printing out your best photographs and hang them in your home so you can remember the summer warmth and fun even when it’s a bit chilly outside. Hang pictures of fruit and vegetables in your kitchen to brighten things up, put the family portrait in your bedroom and the fun, brightly colored ones in the family room. You are only limited by your imagination.

See also:

Keeping It Short And Sweet: 3 Tips To Taking Better Pictures

The World Around You Is An Amazing Place – Take Time To See It

Gratitude Journal: 30 Days To Happiness