Activity #16: Jump in the picture

First, Joanne reminded us that too often there are tons of pictures of baby with friends and family, but only a few with Mom and baby because we’re so often behind the camera.

Now, Tracey tells us that she’s having a Mama Focus photography contest. Read the rules at Mamazine.

We don’t care how you get the picture, as long as you (mama) are the focus (the photo’s actual technical focus is optional). We hope to see photos that show us what modern motherhood can be like: the ugly and the beautiful. We are looking for pictures with a fresh, unique perspective or that capture a moment, convey a feeling, or tell a story. We want interesting and unexpected shots that give us a peek into real mamahood.

Some themes you might choose to explore (but anything goes!): Self & Solitude, Work & Play, Sleep (or lack thereof) & Dreams, Nature & Nurture.

The Mama Focus contest is sponsored by mamazine.com, Picture This, and The Little Zygote That Could. The contest starts Thursday, November 1, 2007, and ends Friday, November 30, 2007. Winners will be announced Friday, December 7, 2007.

How to Enter

• Upload the highest possible quality image of your picture to the photo pool for the Mama Focus Contest Flickr group. You will have to join the group, and then follow Flickr’s instructions for posting a picture to a photo pool.
• In the description field, enter: 1) your name (and the photographer’s name, if it’s not you) and 2) one sentence about why you chose the picture.

Here is an example.

So take Joanne’s advice: Armed with your digital camera, make friends with the auto-timer function. Take some candid shots of you. Or, you and your little one. Be generous with the picture button. Go nuts. Even if the shots aren’t your ideal of perfection, you’ll be glad you did it. It’s fun and a great bonding activity.

Besides, you really need to think ahead… Twenty years from now, it’s your hair and clothes (not to mention your car and furniture!) that will be so dang funny. Ask for a little tripod for the holidays to make sure to get mom and dad in the pictures too!