The summer is almost gone now. As we’re soaking up the last rays of sun, the time is just right to let the mind wander back to those weirdly fantastic festival days just gone by. Much of it was good, the kind of memories you will cherish. But no doubt things happened you wish you could’ve avoided. Before time embellishes those memories, make a list for next summer – a list of things not to do to make the festival events even more memorable next year. Here is ours to help you out:
• Choose the place of your tent right next time. Next to a river gets wet, near the toilets gets stinky, by the car park gets too much traffic. If something bothered you this year, try a different spot next year. Sure it might take a few tries to get it right, but aim for better.
• And, if you feel the camping was just too much overall this year, consider something totally different next year. Try All Tomorrow’s Parties that take place three times a year at a Butlins holiday camp where own toilets and a bed are featured, or go for a city festival instead and sleep in your own bed.
• Don’t rush a around like a crazy chicken to try and catch all the big, medium and small names you’ve ever heard talked about. Remember how you ended up rushing more than enjoying by doing that and take it easy next year. Take your time with the bands you are totally in love with, and discover new great acts, that’s a great festival fun.
• Pack for camping, not for a Friday night out – and only then add all the hats, shades and wings that will make you cool. Remember next year how annoying it was to get your socks wet, be freezing at 6am, or carry around that bulky jumper. Leave clothes and accessories you actually want to wear again at home as there is a high chance something will get ruined or lost, and it’s not up to you to decide whether it is your new expensive sun glasses, or your £3 Primark top.
• Leave that cheese at home next year. Sure you’ve grown up, and might want to enjoy some proper food as well, but go to the stalls for that. Think dry, think no dairy, and bring things that last long without a fridge.
• Take off the watch from your wrist, swap the necklace your boyfriend gave you to a cheap one, and don’t take your favourite sunglasses with you. Basically, expect to lose things, and you’ll do fine.
• Don’t rely on your mobile phone. Remember how it took you half a day to find your friend? Next year, think ten years back. When you share a small plot of land with thousands of people, don’t expect your messages to be delivered, or your calls to be connected. Set times and places and stick to them, that’ll make your lives easy.
• Also, remember to fully charge your phone before leaving, and use it sparingly. Just in case, this time, be prepared to run out of your regular means of phoning. As your last resort, always know how to make a reverse call, and have a few people in mind who would accept your reverse charges.
September 2, 2010
Prepare yourself for a great festival next year
August 31, 2010
Tips for Great Safari Pictures
Are you planning to go on a safari? If you want to make great shots of your adventure then the best way to do it is to take the right pictures. You’ll need the right equipment, know how to take the right pictures, and be prepared for your trip. If you don’t come prepared with the right equipment and information, you’ll leave the safari disappointed with your pictures.
The first step of preparation is to get the right equipment. To get a high quality picture, you should invest in a digital SLR camera. The best way to find the right camera is to take a look at your budget and look at the digital SLR cameras in that price range. Go through the user reviews and see which cameras have great software, features, usability, and durability.
You have to remember that the lenses will be vital to getting the right shot. If you want a high quality image, you should invest in a great pair of lenses. A 300mm or 400mm is great for safaris because you’ll be able to capture all the fine details. Rather than spending more money on the camera, it’s a better idea to spend the bigger part of your budget on the lenses.
Another thing you’ll need is some kind of tripod to take good photos. Since you’re going to be in a vehicle, you can’t really rely on the stability of your hands to get the right shot. That’s why you need some kind of mount that will secure your camera while you take the photos you want. This is especially important if you want high quality prints.
When taking photos, you need to make sure that you focus in on the animal. Remember that the animal is more important than the background and it is okay if the background is blurred. You should also focus in on the eyes of the animal as the focal point of the picture if you want your photos to stand out.
Another tip that will help is to make sure that there is spacing in your photos. You don’t always want a picture perfect balanced shot where the animal is the centre. By doing this, you’re losing the impact of the animal in its natural habitat. The photo will feel like it was something carefully planned rather than capturing a photo in the wild.
The final tip is to make sure you buy additional storage disks whether it’s in SD or MS format. High quality photos take up a lot of space so you want to overdo it a little to have as much storage as you’ll need. Now if you’re looking to make canvas prints or a photobook there are some great services you can use.
Photobox offer many different photo solutions at an affordable price. All you have to do is upload everything using the Internet and going through with their service. Give them a try as they offer 40 free prints for new customers.
Waterproof cameras - which are the best?
Are you planning to go forward with a trip for underwater photography? Maybe you’re going to an area where there is a lot of rainfall. If that’s the case, you’ll need a reliable waterproof camera that will hold up and deliver great performance when you need it. Obviously you don’t want to attempt to use a regular camera because it can get damaged by the water.
The right waterproof camera can provide great pictures for both canvas prints and photobook. Let’s take a look at some of the companies and models you may want to look at. The first is the Canon PowerShot D10. Canon is known for their user friendly cameras and portability. The D10 has 12.1 megapixels, a focal length of 35-105, can record movies, and is 190g.
This camera doesn’t offer HD movies, has less focal range, and is heavier than other models but what makes it such a strong buy is that it is very durable. Customers like the fact that it worked fine even when exposed to a lot of water. The camera can handle 10m of waterproof depth which is great for beach and pool activities. It will also work fine when taking shots in the rain or in moist areas.
Another camera you should look at is the Olympus Mju Tough 8000. Olympus has been in the digital camera business for a long time and is known for their durable cameras, high quality cameras. This model is a very high quality camera that can handle 10m of waterproof depth. It offers 12 megapixels and offers movie recording just like the Canon.
What’s great about this camera is that it is shockproof up to 2m, crushproof up to 100kg, and freezeproof -10 degrees Celsius. This camera is built tough and can handle extreme amounts of abuse, making it a strong purchase if you need the extra durability.
It also has features such as face detection, an LED illuminator to take underwater pictures, dual image stabilization, and more. This camera has been well reviews by customers. Many customers have used this camera to go snorkeling and haven’t had any problems with the image quality or the water leaking in. The camera also takes great pictures for canvas prints or a photobook.
If you’re looking for a cheaper camera and you don’t plan on going past 3 meters, then the Fijifilm Finepix Z33WP is a great waterproof camera. This is more for casual use and it offers 10 megapixels, a 2.7" LCD screen, image stabilization, red eye removal and a rechargeable battery.
It is waterproof up to 3 meters so it will not suffice for your snorkeling trip. However, if you want to take some pictures in the pool or at the beach, this will be a great camera to use. Customers like the fact that it is so easy to use and the picture quality is above average. It is very affordable and is handy camera you can take anywhere.
When you’ve got your camera and want to make canvas prints or photobooks, you can choose between several services. Photobox offers many options, is easy to use, and very affordable. You should check out their free print offer for new users.
From Canvas Prints to Photobook - Is Digital Better than Film?
Digital cameras have all but replaced the old negative film cameras, right? Many people believe buying film is as outdated as buying corded phones that plug into the walls, but just like many people do still use corded phones many photographers’ still use cameras that require actual film. If you’re interested in photography or even want to do it on a more professional level, it’s worth comparing the two media to see what is best for creating innovative products like canvas prints or perhaps a photobook.
The big difference between digital prints and film prints is the amount of knowledge and time required to get a good print. With a digital camera you can snap as many pictures as you want and then dig through them later to pull out the great shots. You have to really focus on getting the right prints while taking fewer shots with film, since there is an actual end to the film where a new roll will be needed.
Digital prints can be sent in for printing through the computer or even printed from your own home, but printing your own prints from film requires more knowledge, a dark room, and a lot more time. The easiest way to get prints from a roll of film is to take it to a store offering developing services, but then you are at the mercy of whoever may be doing the developing to get the best prints. In most cases their best won’t meet your expectations for your prints. You can see how that would affect the quality of other products being made with your prints, such as a photobook.
Finally, there is a lot involved with taking pictures from film. It is much easier and faster to set up a digital camera to take great shots, so only a select group of professional photographers go with film these days. Digital pictures are easily uploaded online to create a variety of great items, including personalised items such as mugs, calendars, etc.
Not only are these items fun to decorate your own home with, but they are also great gifts. Imagine handing your grandmother a nicely designed photobook packed with images of her with the grandchildren over the years. It’s very similar to making a scrapbook, except a photobook from a service like Photobox will be professionally made and perfectly bound. You can even select from different designs so it comes out just as you pictured it!
Canvas prints from digital images is actually an amazing process. This could not be done easily from film prints, but when you send high quality digital images to online services they can create beautiful prints on canvas which can be framed and presented as artwork in your home. Imagine your best pictures hanging beautifully from your living room wall.
Digitial photography is more popular today not only because it is so convenient, but because you can do so much with it. You can’t have your film prints turned into a book filled with special memories or into decorative items to adorn the walls of your home. This is why digital photography is becoming the definition of photography in the minds of many people.
Film still has its place in the world for photographers who know how to get beautiful prints and do the developing for themselves, but for most of us sending digital prints to be turned into works of art is a more attractive option.
August 25, 2010
How to Make Money with Photography
There are many ways to earn money with photography. You may choose to set up your own business, sell your work as stock photos, or offer canvas prints of your work. Whichever route you choose, understand that there is good money to be made, as many people enjoy the art that many people are able to create using a camera.
Starting your own photography business will allow to you earn money by taking photographs of others. A camera is really all that is needed to begin this venture. As you earn money, you will want to reinvest into the business to purchase a studio location, props, and other equipment.
If you choose to offer your photography skills, you should determine the prices you will charge for these services. Many photographers charge a sitting fee. This charge is just for taking the photographs. Prints can be offered at various prices. Packages can also be created to offer the customer a number of photos at one price. If you choose, you can sell all of the photos of the session on a CD for one set fee.
You can also make money by selling photographs you have already taken. These are known as stock photos, and are used in books, brochures, and on websites. Most stock photo websites will allow you upload your pictures and determine the price. Every time someone downloads your photo to use on their own media, they must pay you a royalty fee. This can allow for a nice residual income if you have many stock photographs available.
The best stock photos to take are of people, scenery, household items, foods, and other everyday objects. Though they may not seem valuable, people search the Internet looking for stock photos with a wide variety of subjects. Be sure to appropriately tag your photographs so those searching can easily find them online.
Creating postcards from your photography is another way to make money. Local gift shops may be interested in purchasing your products, given that you provide them with high quality material. Do not stick with just beautiful landscapes as your focus. Many souvenir shops prefer postcards that have a variety of photos, included those that are adorable and humorous.
Producing a photobook of your work will allow you to get more than one photo to prove yourself. It takes more time to create them, but they will also yield a higher return. Etsy and eBay are two popular places to sell the hand-crafted photographs.
Having good photography skills can allow you to make serious money. Starting a photography business is just one way in which you can make money from your passions. Selling stock photos is a nice way to earn passive income again and again on the same prints.
What do You Need for Bird Photography?
So you’re starting your journey into bird photography. Starting your photographic journey requires that you be prepared to take the right pictures, print them and more. One thing that bird photographers like to do is to create canvas prints or a photo book of their favorite shots. With the right shot and using the right tools, you can display a beautiful set of pictures for personal enjoyment or for others.
To begin, you will need the right equipment. If you want a clear picture from your shots, you should go for a digital SLR camera. You can always start with a pocket sized camera to get things going and for practice but the whole focus about bird photography is to capture the small details.
Some things you may want are long lenses for your camera, a tripod to hold your camera, and a pair of binoculars to spot the birds first. The binoculars are very important as you will be able to locate the birds rather than trying to zoom in with your camera. Once you find the shot you want to take, you need to carefully get into place without making too much noise.
Patience is something that is very important to getting the right shot. Smaller birds are always on the move so you need to wait while they are distracted. You’ll need to stay quiet and get as close as possible and wait for the right shot. Waiting for the right shot rather than taking a photo in a hurry will make a big difference in the result you get.
An important tip in taking a great photo is to focus in on the eye of the bird. Other parts of the bird’s body can be blurred but it’s important that you don’t miss the eye. You also want to make sure that you catch the bird at the right angle. You want the bird to have the right body language if you want to accentuate your shot.
Finally, if you’re looking to create some great canvas prints, you can go with companies that will print your photos for you. These companies can help you compile a really good looking photobook, help you create wall decor, cards, gifts, calendars, diaries, and more. Your photos can really turn into a work of art by using the services of these companies.
Of course, you can also create canvas prints and a photobook on your own. However, printing and designing requires a lot of time as well as the necessary equipment. If you really want to save time and use the services of an affordable company, you should check out Photobox. They offer many different ways to turn your photos in your custom artwork.
In conclusion, for bird photography, you’ll need the right equipment, learn how to take the right shot, and a way to print your photos. This is an amazing hobby and you’ll appreciate the time you spend in nature getting perfect photos of beautiful birds.
August 16, 2010
How to Photograph Art
Artwork is a little different to photograph than regular pictures, primarily because when taking the picture you have to be careful to capture and reflect the intended mood within the photo.
Digital or film cameras can be used although a film camera gives better results. Use a digital camera if you are inexperienced in handling film cameras or when you want to produce your photos instantly. Each camera has advantages as well as disadvantages. Regardless of the type of camera you use, some factors have to be taken into consideration in equal measure for both scenarios.
1. When using a film camera, ensure that it a Single Lens Reflex (SLR). These are cameras with a standard 50 mm lens. It will frame your picture accurately ensuring that your picture is centralized. If using a digital camera, use the LCD Monitor to frame the picture accurately. SLR cameras are perfect for when you want to photograph large pieces of artwork. For smaller pieces, macro lens is a better option.
2. If unsure about the lens size, use a zoom lens. This will help you zoom into the picture smoothly. It helps flatten the image while minimizing distortion. Use the zoom lens in its middle range where there is least or zero distortion. Distortion is most visible at the wide angle and telephoto ends.
3. Another advantage of using a film camera over a digital is the control it gives you over exposure, natural light undoubtedly being the best light to take pictures in. You can control exposure manually depending on the kind of lighting you are photographing in. If using a digital camera, auto exposure and automatic white balancing will serve to control lighting. Keep the resolution high to get the sharpest image. The larger the picture, the higher the resolution you should use. For film cameras, use the slowest speed to prevent a grainy look.
4. Align the camera to the artwork horizontally or vertically and ensure that the image fills up the frame for the sharpest look. When using the wide angle however, do not fill up the frame as the image will get distorted - fill it then back off, leaving some space around the piece of art. Minimize the background completely and where possible, eliminate it completely. This is because background on a piece of art is unnecessary. It may actually compete with your artwork for attention!
Now that you have your piece of art in a photo, the best way to conserve it is in canvas prints. Photobox canvas prints are top in the league. They are made from 100% cotton material and are reinforced with artist backing tape on the reverse to give a quality finish. The photo is wrapped around the edges of the canvas to give a soft, continuous look.
Canvas prints are easy to clean and hang perfectly from the wall or other surfaces you may prefer. You can also store your art pictures in a photobook. It allows for storage of smaller pictures and keeps your pieces in top condition for a long time.
How to take great wedding photos
Other than the event itself, wedding pictures are perhaps the most memorable thing one has to show for that special day. It is natural therefore that you would like all photos to come out in the best quality so they can preserve the great memories.
The key to getting the photos right is to prepare for the day, before the day. Check out the weather forecast for the day and find out the type of photographs the bride, groom and master of ceremonies are keen on. For instance, what types of group photos are required and when and where do you take close up photos of the bride and groom?
Of all stakeholders, give the bride’s and groom’s photo preferences priority. They will be the custodians of the wedding photos so the photos must as much as possible reflect the couple’s personalities. You can collect samples of different types of photos from other weddings and use that to help the couple clearly articulate their precise preferences.
Some couples will give you the leeway to take pictures at random whereas others will want you to only take carefully posed photos. However, get creative - do not shy away from suggesting poses and locations for the photos that you think are impressive.
The tools and equipment used will determine the quality of your wedding pictures. Good cameras with relatively high pixels will provide great images. Tripods help make the camera more stable. For the camera, make sure you have enough memory cards as well as batteries considering the length of a wedding ceremony and the number of photos you want to take.
Getting a feel of the venue is very important. This is a great opportunity to figure out the type of lighting you will need in order to bring out the jovial mood of the occasion. For example, if the ceremony is taking place indoors make sure you assess the amount of artificial and natural lighting that makes its way into the hall so you can see if there is a need for a portable artificial light source - likewise, an outdoors event such as a garden wedding may have too much light that you must find ways of managing.
The positions and angles you use when taking photos play a significant part in how good the photos eventually are. That said there are certain positions that you should make sure you get vantage position - such locations include the entrance to the wedding venue, the aisle and the altar. The absence of such photos will hardly be taken kindly by the couple.
Remember that taking too many photos is a definite no-no - you may not only end up taking irrelevant pictures but you also run the risk of exhausting your camera’s memory space or film before the event ends. In any case, photos will usually be complemented by the video recording that will be taking place concurrently.
Once you take digital photos, you need to print them and place them in an album. You can go for a reliable digital photo printing company such as Photobox who not only do digital photo printing but also provide canvas prints and Photo Books as an additional service.
How to Plan the Perfect Afternoon Tea Party
The elegant and very luxurious break time celebration is said to have begun back with Anna who was the 7th Duchess of Bedford. The tea party is a time for entertainment and business type meetings. The tea party is a traditional and historically classy mealtime that was designed to have intimate and professional meetings around an upscale dining experience. Even though people do not buy tea like they use to it is still a very recognized and current tradition.
Tea party time has the prestige of the royals yet it is something that anyone can do with their families and friends as a form of social entertainment. For a lot of people, planning a party is always fun and exciting. Planning a tea party is exciting since it has historical backgrounds and it is a very upscale experience for fun and fine dining. The tea party is perfect for many different events and celebrations. You can buy tea and plan an elegant tea party for bridal showers, baby showers, birthday parties, and just a simple gathering of friends and families. There is no set way to have a tea party but just to have fun and have a good time Tea time can really take place anytime you like. Traditionally, tea time has taken place between mid and late afternoon. The exciting thing about hosting and conducting a tea party is buying the things, organizing the event, and being creative. You get to buy tea amongst all other little fine decors.
You should plan the day and time of your event well in advance as to give everyone time to prepare for it. Make a list of all the things you need to get. Some key things that should be on your to get list are buy tea, get a nice table to host the amount of people you want to have. Get some little elegant event decors like China dishes and little non-expensive party favors. The decorating for your tea party can be a creative ordeal. You can plan the guest list of all the family and friends you want to come if it is a personal tea party. If you are planning a professional tea party for a business, inviting colleague and coworkers will be best. On both occasions, the historical event is suitable.
I know many people think of a major event or planning when it comes to hosting and planning a tea party. The event is not that difficult at all. Planning a tea party is as simple as to buy tea for the party and other little things. Once you have your guest list and know who is attending, you can begin to decorate. Planning for a tea party should be a low-stress and enjoyable event.
August 13, 2010
Best Accompaniments for Tea and Coffee
Tea or coffee used to be just for breakfast or as drink that is used between real meals like lunch or dinner, perhaps combined with cookies or tiny sandwiches. Today, tea and coffee are accompanied by an assortment of breads, meats, cheeses and of course, desserts.
There are different types of tea and coffee, with each having favorites among diners as to which one best enhances the meals served. Tea, both the green and black kinds, compliments foods by helping to cleanse the palette as each course is served.
Things to consider when matching different foods with tea are the flavors of each, whether it is acidic or not, does it have a good flavor and the texture of the tea and dish it is paired with.
These are similar things to how wine and food are paired; with each bringing out the flavor of the other. The Whittard teas are among the best to be paired with meat, fish, seafood, salads or desserts when entertaining. Black teas are best when matched with darker meats and spicier food such as Thai or curries and rich chocolate desserts.
Green teas are best with salads, fruit and seafood.
A popular idea is to have Japanese or Chinese tea served with salad, chicken, fruit or seafood because the tea smoothes out the flavor of the dish. Chi loose-leaf tea is one of the best paired with light dinners and originates from India, where it served both day and night. Oolong teas are a mixture of the green and dark teas and most often served accompanied by grilled or Oriental foods. Chinese green and dragon teas are also often paired with salads, seafood or fruit.
Coffee comes in different blends and flavors and while is not as common as tea during meals, can be wonderful when paired with the correct foods. Fruit based desserts or even the fruit itself is great with certain types of coffee but it is not if the fruit is too sour. Ethiopian coffees go well with dark chocolate and rich tart desserts. The chocolate is often even better when combined with the coffee and sugar to make a rich full bodied drink.
Most people in the United States are used to having coffee with their breakfast but coffee goes well with other meals also. There are many rich coffees from different countries that have great flavors, some sharper than others, some perfectly matched with the breads, such as biscotti or sweet desserts. The espresso coffees and flavorings are wonderful when paired with fruity breads and rolls, even quiche.
Teas and coffees are a wonderful accompaniment to many of the foods that we enjoy. By mixing the flavors of the different drinks with the best known and loved types of foods, we can find new and unique accompaniments to the old ones we have enjoyed. Feel free to experiment and find the new Whittard blends that enhance every meal.
