Have you ever regretted that your summer didn’t live up to its potential? That it was over before it ever began?

This summer is going to be different! Join The Fellowship as we Picture Our Summer! You might remember as a kid staring at someone and hearing the words, “Take a picture, it lasts longer!” The truth is … it does! So this summer we want you to take a picture, lots of pictures! We are handing out 150 disposable cameras to help you capture all the action!

Beginning in June we are focusing on a series of messages through 1 Corinthians 13 called, “A Love Worth Giving”. Each Sunday we’ll share your pictures and stories about the many ways that you are sharing God’s love!

See what folks at The Fellowship have been doing this summer !
Click here to view photos and stories

Picture Your Summer … is about capturing the many ways that you and your family are sharing God’s love!

• a visit with grandma or grandpa
• a block party with neighbors
• a mission trip to Mexico or Banda Aceh
• time with family and friends
• serving at ServeFest ‘08
• Life Group study or outing
• teaching in VBS or VBX
• taking a meal to a family
• making new friends
• visiting someone in the hospital
• traveling on vacation and sharing God’s love
• you fill in the blank!

… you get the picture!

Step One … Storyboard your summer

• Begin with the end in mind. What kind of summer do you want to have? Frenzied? How about filled with God sized opportunities to show others his love and grace. Can you begin to picture your summer?
• Now think about your summer and all the things that you are going to be doing, all the ways that you will share the love of God with others.
• Plan the kind of pictures that will communicate what you did; places, faces, smiles, laughter and expressions of love.
• Look at the picture taking tips provided and take some great pictures.

Step Two … Start taking pictures

• Take your digital camera with you or use the Picture Your Summer, disposable camera from The Fellowship!
• Let everyone get in on the picture taking; mom, dad, kids, grandma, friends.
• Take lots of digital pictures and delete what you don’t like and save the rest!

Step Three … Share them with us via email

• As soon as you take them send the best ones to us at info@thefellowship.org with a story, a paragraph about how you are sharing the love of God with others.
• Then come every Sunday to see the pictures and stories during our special service emphasis of Picture Your Summer and hear about “A Love Worth Giving” as we continue on our journey of Learning to Love in 2008.

Top 10 Tips for Great Pictures
By Kodak.com

1. Get down on their level – hold your camera at the subject’s eye level to capture the power of those magnetic gazes and mesmerizing smiles.

2. Use a plain background – before taking your picture check the area behind your subject. Look out for trees or poles spouting from your subject’s head. A plan background will emphasize your subject.

3. Use flash outdoors – even outdoors use the flash fill setting on your camera to improve your pictures. Use it in bright sunlight to lighten dark shadows under the eyes or nose, especially if the sun is behind the subject. Use it on cloudy days to brighten up faces and make them stand out from the background.

4. Move in close – to create impactful pictures move in close and fill your picture with the subject. This will eliminate distractions and show of the details of your subject. For small objects use the camera’s macro or “flower” mode to get sharp close ups.

5. Take some vertical pictures – make a conscious effort to turn your camera sideways for vertical pictures. Many subjects look better in vertical pictures.

6. Lock the focus to create a sharp picture of off center subjects – Center your subject, press the shutter button halfway down, reframe your picture while still holding the shutter button, finish by pressing the shutter button all the way.

7. Move it from the middle – bring your picture to life simply by placing your subject off center.

8. Know your flash’s range – pictures taken beyond the maximum

9. Watch the light – great light makes great pictures. Study the effects of light in your pictures. For people pictures choose soft lighting on cloudy days. For scenic pictures use the long shadows and color of early and late daylight.

10. Be a picture director – add some props, rearrange your subject or change try a different viewpoint. Bring your subjects together and watch their personalities shine. Then watch your pictures dramatically improve.