Most motifs tend to be rife with symbolism making them difficult to use. They become heavily associated with a season or an event which in turn makes it almost impossible to take the motif for anything other than face value. There is, in my opinion, one wonderful exception…the camera motif.
We use cameras year round in all places, events and seasons. If it is symbolic of anything, you could say that it depicts joyful memories captured in time. This makes it the perfect motif to use on any layout, especially when you are stuck and don’t know what you want to use. Like any motif, it can be taken literally or figuratively.
Focus, Click, Repeat by Christy Strickler |Supplies Cardstock: Bazzill; Digital Kit: Focus, Click, Repeat by Amanda Yi; Die Cut: Scrapbook Challenges; Medium: Perfect Pearls by Ranger
Focus, Click, Repeat uses the motif in the literal sense. These are photos of my son taking photographs with a disposable camera. The choice of the camera motif is an obvious one.
Let ME In Please by Christy Strickler |Supplies Patterned Paper: Kaisercraft; Letters: Colorbok, My Little Shoebox, PinkFresh Studio; Flair: Pinkfresh Studio; Tape: Glitz Designs; Acrylic: ColorCast Designs; Cork: Studio Calico; Clip: Other; Based on sketch #445 from Scrapbook Challenges
On Let Me In Please, the use of the camera motif is figurative. It simply conveys that this particular moment was captured in time. I could have used pet themed supplies however most of those don’t tend to convey a story about a cat waiting to come inside. There isn’t an easy motif to work with the story here. In which case, the camera motif steps up to the plate with ease.
When to use the camera motif on your page:
- If you are documenting your photography habit and you want to stay on theme.
- When you want to show that a moment has been captured in time.
- When you need something extra for a page but are not sure what to use.
While the camera motif can be used quite literally, it is probably the most neutral of all of the motifs out there. It is not associated with gender, season, or special events. You can put a camera on a Christmas layout or a page about your child learning to crawl. I have a camera obsession and always find myself collecting scrapbook supplies featuring cameras. If you do the same thing, don’t worry about hoarding them. Cameras work with any story and they aren’t something that will ever go out of style.
Follow My Scrapbook Evolution’s board Motif: Cameras on Pinterest.
