Photo Tips: Look for Signs

Photo Tips: Look for signs

Thomas Edison Birthplace, Milan, Ohio

Signs, Signs, everywhere there’re signs!

This week Thomas Edison’s birthplace and the Museum are the subjects for my photo tips about signs. The two-page layout is presented on Mosaic Moments 12×12 Solid Gold grid paper and uses patterns #125 and #356 that are just the right combination for our Perfect Petals Die Set for both the 1×3 and 1×2 portions of the set.

Mosaic Moments Patterns #125 & #356

 

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Signs

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Signs two-page layout

Featured Die Set: Perfect Petals

 

Mosaic Moments Perfect Petals Die Set

Before we get to the photo tips for this week, let me explain how I’ve used the Perfect Petals die set.

I’ve cut white cardstock to get white flowers, in Dark Spring Green for the top layer and Deep Spring Green for the liner. This gives a green leaf effect for the flowers.

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Working with the Perfect Petals dies

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Working with the Perfect Petals dies

Each of the flowers has been embossed on the backside of each petal. I used a pen cap to do this because my embossing tools have gone walkabout. This breaks down the fibers in the paper and allows the petals to have a shaped, turned down appearance. On the front side in the petal center, I use an embossing tool once again to cup the flower center to push the petals up again. This adds dimension to the page and to each flower.

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Perfect Petals Die

Each petal is dusted with pink pearls chalk in the center and petal edges before attaching with a glue dot so that the bottom greens show through. The centers are then filled with a dot of Liquid Pearls in Flamingo for a pop of color.

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Signs

page 1

 

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Signs

Mosaic Moments Journal spot featuring 3×3 Scallop Frame Die

 

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Signs

page 2

 

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Signs

Mosaic Moments Perfect Petals Die pinwheel pattern border

Now, on to the subject of signs!

Types of signs: There are road signs, park signs, signs that are in two languages. There are so many types of signs and so many ways to use them in a layout.

How to use them: You can take pictures of signs to capture the information you want to add to a layout later, signs that can act at titles, signs that make a great backdrop for a family picture.

When to use them: Some signs will add interest to your page by including them, add an unusual element to your page and sometimes even add a bit of humor.

Be inspired by signs: I’ve pulled several types of signs I’ve taken in our travels as examples and hope that will give you a few ideas of things that you could include.

Humor:
Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Signs

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Adding Humor

A simple park warning sign takes on a bit of humor when you include a pair of jokers with a stuffed animal! Sometimes, it’s the park’s designers who will make you laugh…at LEGOLAND the signs at the washrooms there show their iconic characters in a familiar pose.

Names:
Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Signs

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: All in a name

Do you ever stop to take photos of road signs, town signs or other types of signs where the names of your family members are on display? This could add to the story you want to tell or become a title for a page.

Descriptions:
Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Signs

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Signs with Information

Lots of signs often have a ton of information about the spot you are visiting. You don’t always have time to jot down things you want to remember later so taking a photo allows you to use it in the layout or use the information.

Languages:
Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Signs

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Capturing Languages

In the Smoky Mountains we got a glimpse of Cherokee letters on a sign at a sculpture that was unique and when traveling in Scotland the signs were often in both English and Gaelic. Sometimes I even managed to have a scenic backdrop to the sign.

Murals:
Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Signs

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Murals

Occasionally you may travel through communities that have large painted murals depicting some of the things that their town is known for and they hope you will visit.

National Parks:
Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Signs

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: National Parks, States and Celebrations

Signage for the National Parks all shares a common logo and style. They are often in a picturesque setting that makes a nice title for a page.

Celebrations:

Is there a special event or an anniversary? Are there signs and banners (they also are signs)?

Size Comparison:
Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Signs

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Perspective

You can take pictures of signs and totally miss out on how big they really are. Posing a person under or nearby will help to show that perspective.

Historic:
Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Signs

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Historic

Many of the historic places you may visit in your travels you will often find signs that give you details in a creative way to capture your attention. You can include them on the page or just the info you’ve collected.

Unusual/Unique:
Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Signs

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Unique and Unusual

One pair of signs that I thought were interesting were for dog parking! A sign for a quilt shop with a quilt flapping in the wind…or so you first are led to believe…but no, it’s a sign shaped into a permanent wave!

Building from plain to full:
Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Signs

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Building a special photo around a sign

If you are traveling with a group of friends or family you often want to get a group picture. Try taking things from a few different points of view and see what you come up with. In this series I took a picture of the sign on its own. Then I added the kids…I liked this one, but then I changed where I was standing to take the photo again. This time at an angle, the sign still readable but not so prominent, the kids are now stacked as they are staggered, but the key to this photo is the glimpse of the dunes in the background…the whole picture!

Trip signs:
Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Signs:

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Trip Signs

I’ve lived in the country most of my life and I’m not used to using public transport. So when traveling by rail in another country I wanted to use signs along the rails to document the train ride. I took photos of the train logo, and many train stop signs along the way. I can use these photos to explain where we are and where we were going.

Locations:
Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Signs

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Locations

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Signs

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Landmarks

Whether you are on the top of a mountain straddling two states or competing in a Cake Competition at the State Fair, these signs can often capture so much more of the atmosphere of the place you are visiting.  Don’t hesitate to take many of these!

In my Thomas Edison layout, I’ve included a historical marker, a street sign, and a sign on a monument. Additionally, I’ve included a framed family tree and cross-stitch as a type of sign. I won’t always have this many in a layout, but on this particular one, it’s just what’s called for!

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Signs

Mosaic Moments Photo Tips: Signs and Perfect Petals Die

If you don’t already take photos of signs, I hope you’ll start finding ones that will work for you!

Andrea Fisher