Choosing the Right Educational Path in Order to Become a Fashion Designer

If fashion designing is your calling and you dream of becoming a part of a major fashion house such as Dolce and Gabbana, Versace, Armani, Prada and so many more some day, then you've stumbled onto the prefect resource center! Preparing for a career in fashion designing is going to be surprisingly easy with the resources and help you will find here!

If you're looking to become a fashion designer, then you need to make sure that you receive the best education in the field. Applying in Britain is your best option because, British fashion designing courses are generally regarded as the best in the world. Graduates sometimes get jobs in international fashion houses right after they complete their education and some even start clothing lines of their own!

Eligibility

What qualifications are you required to have in order to apply to fashion designing schools in Britain? You need to have completed your secondary education, or alternatively, students may even have a degree in equivalent vocational courses like BTEC in National Diplomas.

Education

After having completed your secondary education, you need to apply for a "foundation course". So what exactly is a foundation course? This course introduces you to the basics of fashion designing, and no, it is not all fun and games. This course lets you have a broad and comprehensive art and design experience and you also learn how to put together the kind of portfolios which the industry demands.

After the foundation year, you are required to go on to the Higher National Diploma. This is a two year course. You may also do a Bachelor of Arts in fashion designing. This is a three year course. But most colleges offer a four year course which covers the material included in the BA as well as the HND. These courses are especially helpful because industrial training is a part of the course as well.

Experience

You might spend up to twelve months working in the industry. Six months of industrial training is also included in the Bachelor of Arts degree as well. After you are done with this course, you may go on to do a master's course or a diploma in fashion designing.

Course material covers drawing, design, pattern cutting, developing, manufacture and industrial practices, styling, knitting, footwear designing, or even photography. Of course there are several elective subjects which you may choose from and this is one of them! The fashion industry is an extremely exciting and creative one, armed with the proper qualifications and degree; you may just take it by storm!

Different Types of Portrait Photography

Portrait Photography also known as portraiture is one of the most popular photography forms these days. It is described as the process of capturing any person's image or a group's image with main focus on the face and expressions. The main objective of this type of photography is to show the personality, likeness as well as the mood of the subject. A person's face is the main focus here. Not only the face, body and the background can also be included. A portrait is not a snapshot but a collected image of a person in a motionless position.

Portrait photography is of many types. Some of the major types have been listed below. These include:

Candid

It is the type of photography where the subject is aware of the presence of the camera.

Posed

It is somewhat related to the previous one. In this type, the photographer keeps on communicating with the subject for any kind of change in the body position or expression. In other words, the subject does whatever he or she is asked to do in front of the camera.

Forma

A formal portrait is usually a planned one where the photographer and subject have properly communicated with each other regarding style, clothing, location and mood. Every important factor is discussed in the beginning. Some of the common examples in this regard include business portrait, a glamour portrait or a birthday portrait.

Couple

This is one of the biggest challenges for the photographer where he or she has to interpret the relationship between the two individuals in a proper way. It might include the attraction between a couple, love between a mother and baby or friendship between two individuals.

Small group

A small group involves around three to seven people. In this type of photography, the photographer has to portray the common bond existing between all these members of the group. Common examples include bond between the family members, a team, etc.

Large Group

A large group involves around ten to hundreds of individuals. Common examples include a wedding groups, school groups, sporting teams, etc.

These are some of the major types of portraiture that are widely preferred these days. There are many professional companies that provide portraiture services to the clients as per their needs and requirements. It is very important to choose a company with enough experience and knowledge in this domain. You can take help from internet to choose a reliable company.

Basic Poses for Portrait or Fashion Photography

A portrait or fashion photographer would know how the subject would pose to create the mood and scene that are needed to be seen in the photo. The best poses for portraits highlight the assets of the face or body of the model. For commercial fashion photography, the clothes, shoes, overall mood, or whatever is being sold in the photo should be accentuated. If you're the one posing for a portrait or fashion shoot, you also need to know, at least, how to do the basic poses and what they project.

If you'll do the most standing pose for a portrait or for commercial modeling, you need to slightly put your weight on one foot and cross the other foot in front. Slightly bend the leg that you've put in front so that your body will twist a bit at the hip. Put both hands on your sides. Keep them relaxed, but not too much that your shoulders would sag. Remember to keep a straight back and square shoulders. This is a classic pose that you'll see in many full-body shots and in print advertisements that would like to present simplicity, elegance, and minimalism.

If you feel awkward about just having your hands on your sides, one variation of the basic standing pose is to casually put one hand on your hip. For some people, this would look more natural. It also projects more confidence. This is why you'll see this pose done by contestants in many beauty pageants. For men who are wearing standard trousers, it would be best to put your hand, except for your thumb, inside the pocket.

You can also have two hands on your hips, but relax your arms and shoulders. With this pose, your body will appear to have an hourglass shape. With this position, women can emphasize their curves more with this position, while men who have strong shoulders and trimmed abs will look even sexier.

But a photographer doing fashion shoots or portraits might ask you to cross your arms in front if he'd like to show more power and serious business in a shot. In communicating with people, you're warned against using this stance, because it turns off anyone who'd like to talk to you. The crossed-arm pose does come off strong. This is why you'll see presidential candidates, women executives, and other personalities representing serious matters in this pose in magazine covers. It really gives off an authoritative image in the mind of anyone who sees it.

To practice these poses, do each of them in front of the mirror. This is the best way to correct your stance in your photos. If you wish, you can even do your own variations. If you think it looks good, then go ahead and use it in your next photo shoot.

Food and Drink Photography - Hungry for Some Tricks?

Thank God some tricks can be shared for all to imbibe. As food and drink photography becomes more of a niche, restaurant shutterbugs are in demand. Shooting irresistible pancakes and making them look oven fresh can be demanding. The trick lies in capturing the 'freshest and ripest moment'. You may ask how many pancakes and honey syrup it takes to get the shoot right? Not more than a triple-decker of three pancakes! And the strategy lies in setting up the props before the 'subject' has arrived fresh out of the non-stick pan. A shutterbug with decent skills can do the lighting well in advance. So if you are in catering business, which is online, having delicious pictures of the menu can be the best bet for getting good business.

To make the food look digestible, the lead photographer will have the assistants arrange the studio bay first. The setting may take an hour or two. Why are we saying this? Because hot steaming food can look limp if it is bought before the shoot. The assistants will assemble the cameras, lens and the tripod stand. The controlling lights, white balance, bouncers and scrims will be positioned for the table top still pictures.

A photographer might use a camera that he can manually adjust to control the way he will shoot. A use of a compact camera is common for food and drink photography. Once the camera is loaded, the lens is another major component to choose. A good quality lens is fitted. A Canon has 50mm 1.4f. It is the best focal length that can capture great shots. A camera mounted on the tripod is steady and better suited for still photography sessions like this. The next comes formatting, i.e. Jpeg or RAW images. Most digicams have the two options. Why Jpeg is more popular-Because, it easily helps pictures to upload on the websites. It is lighter and speed is important when many images have to be seen together. Jpeg images are not necessarily of low quality. They can be scaled while photo processing. Some photographers like to use the RAW format too. The biggest advantage here is the many other elements around can be captured. If they are not required they can always be deleted during the editing. Several new age photographers are using live shot demos before the actual shots are clicked. Shooting tethering has become common. When the camera is plugged to the USB port of a computer the real time image is seen. It becomes easier to shoot the right frame. If a big difference needs to be made to a final shot this can be really helpful.

When these elements are done, the last thing that needs to be done is lighting. It creates the final impact on the product photography. Yes artificial lighting can be controlled and can do wonders. There is a choice of soft light box or halogen lamps with umbrellas. Throw off the lights or bounce them across the items on display. This makes the photographer take the delicious shot eventually.

Photographer Diane Arbus

born: March 14, 1923, New York City

died: July 26, 1971, New York City (suicide)

Diane Arbus (pronounced as "Dee-an") was an American photographer known for her disturbing portraits of people on the fringes of society: sideshow freaks, nudists, transvestites. She also had a career as fashion photographer, along with her husband Allan Arbus, billing themselves as "Allan and Diane Arbus." After that she had a career on her own doing magazine work, which sometimes included her offbeat subjects, but more often focused on celebrities or fashion. No matter what the subject was, she photographed them all in her own anti-glamorous style. Her subjects often objected to the results. Norman Mailer once said that "giving a camera to Diane Arbus is like putting a live grenade in the hands of a child." Remarkably, her productive career spanned only about the last 10 years of her life, cut short by her suicide in1971, at the age of 48.

Diane Arbus was born Diane Nemerov on March 14, 1923, to wealthy parents, Gertrude Russek and David Nemerov, a partner with Russek's department store. She had an older brother, Howard Nemerov, who would later become a well-known poet, literary critic, and Poet Laureate of the US. Her younger sister, Renee (married names: Sparkia, then Brown), became an artist. They grew up in expensive New York apartments on Central Park West and later on Park Avenue.

At age 13 she fell in love with Allan Arbus, who worked at her family's store. The family was against the match, but Diane married him as soon as she turned 18. Allan learned photography while in the Army, and he taught Diane as he learned. After the war, they began doing fashion photography work as a team, beginning with work for Russek's. Soon they were working for such clients as Esquire, Glamour, Harper's Bazaar, and Vogue. They continued this work through most of the 1950s. Diane and Allan both came to hate fashion photography for its superficiality. Meanwhile, the Arbuses had two daughters, Doon, born in 1945, and Amy, born in 1954.

From about 1955 to 1957, Diane studied photography with Lisette Model at The New School in New York. Model encouraged Diane Arbus to pursue her own offbeat photographic instincts, and in 1956 Diane left the fashion business to Allan. In 1960, she had her first photo-essay published in Esquire magazine, called "The Vertical Journey." In a series of 6 photos, she juxtaposed wealth and squalor in New York City. From that time on, she was able to make a living from magazine assignments and occasional teaching jobs.

The style Arbus developed included such elements as photographing in a square format, using an on-camera flash, and taking the photo in the subject's own surroundings. She was also adept at catching her subjects in their unguarded moments. Critics often saw her work as exploitative, especially when the subject was freaks or the retarded. But Diane was drawn to these people for reasons of her own, related to her sheltered upbringing as a child of privilege. She later said "I grew up feeling immune and exempt from circumstance. One of the things I suffered from was that I never felt adversity. I was confirmed in a sense of unreality." She was drawn to people who had to struggle through life in ways she could only imagine.

In 1959, Diane and Allan Arbus separated. They continued to see each other often, and Diane continued to use Allan's darkroom and to seek his advice on photography. By 1969 they were divorced. Allan remarried and moved to California to pursue his life-long interest in acting. His best known role to date has been as Sidney Freedman, the psychiatrist, on the TV show M*A*S*H.

Diane received 2 Guggenheim grants, to photograph American rites and customs, in 1963 and 1967. In 1967, the Museum of Modern Art included her work in its groundbreaking New Documents exhibit, which also featured newcomers Garry Winogrand and Lee Friedlander. This was the show that brought Diane Arbus to widespread public attention for the first time. By the end of her life, only four years later, she had established her reputation as a pioneer of the New Documentary style.

Having struggled with depression her entire life, in July 1971, Arbus committed suicide in her Greenwich Village apartment, by both taking barbiturates and slashing her wrists. (It was officially determined that the barbiturate overdose actually killed her.) Marvin Israel, her friend and mentor in her later years, found the body. Her suicide created an increased interest in, and mystique about, Diane Arbus.

The year after her death, MOMA held a retrospective of her work, which was the most-attended solo photography exhibit in that museum's history. The accompanying book, titled Diane Arbus: An Aperture Monograph, and edited by Doon and Marvin Israel, became a best-seller, and was considered for many years the definitive collection on Diane Arbus. In 2003, there was a Diane Arbus exhibit at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, which travelled throughout the US and Europe. The accompanying book, Diane Arbus Revelations, contains 200 photos, biographical material, and personal notes and images.

In December 2007, the estate of Diane Arbus donated her complete archives and photographic equipment to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Interesting side notes

• One of Arbus' well-known photos is a very close cropped shot of a baby's face, which, unlike much of her work, is actually quite beautiful. That baby is Anderson Cooper, now the host of Anderson Cooper 360 on CNN. Google "Diane Arbus Anderson Cooper" to see it.


• In 1963, Diane's sister Renee, along with her then-husband Roy Sparkia, created a series of eight illuminated panels that still decorate the north corridor of the Empire State Building lobby.

For more info on Diane Arbus, including a short documentary film and Diane Arbus book reviews, go to the Brooks Photopedia Diane Arbus page.

The definitive book on Diane Arbus' work is Diane Arbus Revelations. It contains large reproductions of all of her iconic work, and plenty of lesser-known works, interspersed with commentary and biographical information.

Get the Best Out of Your Camera With Free Online Photography Courses

Photography Courses Online: Get Started on the Right Track for Free

It takes a little know-how to get the best out of your camera and free online photography courses with certificate have a number of advantages over going to study in a classroom or college. Taking a photography course online gives you a great deal of flexibility and allows you to study at your own pace and when you receive your photography certificate at the end of your studies you will be rewarded for your efforts.

Digital or DSLR photography courses for beginners

Digital or DSLR photography courses for beginners will start you out with a solid foundation, help you find your way around your digital camera and all its functions before moving on to more advanced topics for taking creative photos in all different conditions. That is when the photo fun really begins.

Photographic Terms for the Beginner

Although photographic terms such as exposure, aperture, shutter speed, depth of field, ISO and f-stop may seem a little daunting to you at first, with a free DSLR photography course you will soon have the basics mastered. After the first few lessons you will be amazed how much you have learned and you will find that there are many photography tips and tricks for beginners that will help you take stunning images in no time at all.

Whether you plan to take up photography as a career in the future, or whether you just want to take better pictures as a hobby, it really is worth investing a little time to learn about all the things that your camera can do. Fortunately, with free online photography courses, you only have to invest your time, and not your money.

The bottom line for beginners in photography is practice, practice, and practice. The more images you capture while playing and testing the various programs and features of your camera the better. No doubt about it, in photography practice makes, if not perfect, at least much better images.

Give yourself a break and take it slow, patience; try to get a hundred hours of shooting under your belt. Once at a thousand hours or so, of practice you should see a night and day difference in your photo works quality.

Don't be scared about all the items you need to learn about photography, in time - you will become a master. The key is to start off with a great basic foundation of photographic terms. The links in this article will get you where you need to be, for free.

Digital Camcorder With USB 2.0 Output Interface

Digital camcorders or video camera-recorders are slowly emerging as popular gadgets among the masses. You would find people carrying them everywhere-to school annual days, sports competitions, family reunions, birthdays and even while traveling to tourist sports. These have really won the hearts of the photo aficionados throughout the world.

Now, what are digital camcorders? They are portable electronic devices which can record video images and audio and store them in internal storage devices. Electronic innovation and advances in information technology have given the consumers a huge selection of electronic gadgets which are sophisticated as well as easy-to-use. The earliest camcorders used analog videotape but after the mid-1990s, recording digital video became the norm of the them. As time passed, various camcorders with advanced technological innovations came in to being.

Usually the consumers choose any gadget on the basis of its convenience of using, portability and price. In case of camcorders too, consumers give emphasis on these features. Therefore the manufacturers also consider making more consumer-centric ones enhanced with features like IEEE 1394, Fire wire, USB 2.0, Composite and S-Video. In the present market, digital camcorders with USB 2.0 output interface are gaining wide popularity. That is why companies like Canon, Sony, Kodak etc., are coming up with various innovative powered with USB 2.0 output.

The USB 2.0 interface incorporated in the digital camcorders help the users to easily connect the Net Sharing CAM to the computer. Also, the USB 2.0 interface on the camcorder helps to transfer audio and video in a very fast pace. The ones with USB 2.0 can be used as external DVD burner. Sony Handy cam DCR-DVD308 DVD Camcorder, Sony DCR-DVD508 is some of the excellent ones with USB 2.0 output interface. You can share your videos easily with the help of these devices.

Mark Tucker, Local Photographer Artist, Celebrity

As I looked for biographical information about Mark Tucker, link after link provided pictures, his blog, and comments about his photographs... but no biographical information about Mr. Tucker. Seeing a phone number listed on his website: 'Mark Tucker, Nashville Tennessee', I thought it harmless enough and called. Mark Tucker answered. He was a bit reserved at first. I identified myself and the nature of my call, a student in photography, writing an essay on photographers with a landscape theme. We spoke for about fifteen minutes.

I asked if it was an accident that there was so little biographical information available. 'Not exactly', he replied. His portfolio includes many music celebrities and well known magazines. I asked a little about his background, history, what brought him to Nashville. Mr. Tucker came to Nashville in 1981 with the hope of connecting with the music business. He came from Bowling Green, Kentucky where he had established himself as a commercial photographer and thus arrived with a resume and portfolio. He said that at the time there really wasn't a lot of competition, it was relatively easy to work into the music business and make contacts there.

We spoke about the nature of his photographs and the balance between business and art. While finding business success with some of its burden's, Mr. Tucker continues to pursue the art with an acknowledgment one must 'keep the spark alive'. When I mentioned my class at Nashville State Tech, he said he knew most of the teachers and maintained his links to education.

Finally I asked about the Internet, the powerful changes that have occurred in the decades his career spans; about digital photography versus film. He was both whimsical and practical speaking to the reality of production, ease of digital photography. His favorite film developer is no longer in business and to some degree a professional has to use digital technology.

I couldn't help but notice his 'Hasselblad 203FE', was leaving via eBay today according to his Facebook comment with an additional:

"Son, Yes that was the cleanest one of all. I appreciate you finding that for me. But there has come a time when film is no longer practical in the real world, and for me, that time is now. It's gone on to a man who does not operate on deadlines."

Businessperson and Art Collector Wayne Chen Explores Paths to an Artist's Success

Often times artists lay blame at entities such as government and businesspersons for their lack of advancing as a nation. On the other hand several factors are being discussed as the rationale for the tardiness in success for numbered Jamaican artists. As an example of aspirations for Jamaican artists, businessman and art aficionado Jamaican businessperson Wayne Chen highlights the story of 45-year-old Damien Hirst.

Wayne Chen congratulates literary artist Marguerite Orane at the launch of her book "Free and Laughing." In an unprecedented move, British Damien Hirst recently became the only artists for selling an entire show to Sotherby's worth 瞿111 million in 2008. Thus according to Wyclopedia Dictionary, he is is claimed to be the richest known artist to date. Hirst was not born rich, without a gold spoon in his mouth. Numerous business persons in Jamaica,contrary to popular belief were not born with golden spoons in their mouth so their stories too are models of aspiration.

Wayne Chen is one among many businesspersons sharing his thoughts as a source of encouragement and challenge for Jamaican artists, in the following interview.

ANTHEA 1. How involved are you with the visual arts locally?

CHEN: I am the Chairman of the National Gallery of Jamaica and co-founder/ sponsor of the Super Plus Under 40 Artist of the year competition staged for the last 10 years in association with the Mutual Gallery. I am also the founder and sponsor of CLICK, a photography workshop and showcase for inner-city youth.

ANTHEA:. How involved are you with art globally? Do you travel specifically for art?

CHEN:I am not involved with Art globally in the way that I am locally. I visit galleries and museums whenever I travel and actively seek out new art and new movements.

ANTHEA: What are your views on the visual arts in Jamaica?

CHEN: The visual arts in Jamaica are a vital part of the bigger whole of Jamaica's unique culture. Jamaica in the area of culture is a global superpower, widely recognized for our achievements in music. I believe that Jamaican visual arts, with the proper development and exposure, can be another area of excellence for Jamaica. There is a wealth of natural talent, that efficiently mobilized, can play a major role in our country's development.

ANTHEA: Does the National Gallery achieve its main objectives?

CHEN: The National Gallery of Jamaica's mission is: "To collect, research, document and preserve Jamaican, other Caribbean Art and related material and to promote our artistic heritage for the benefit of present and future generations."

I believe that despite the very limited, and diminishing, financial and human resources available, the NGJ has over the years managed to create and maintain a very high standard in terms of its collections, exhibitions, contribution to scholarship, and general advancement of Jamaica's visual arts. In recent years we have worked hard to strengthen governance, communicate better with our various stakeholders, and boost attendance. We have seen significant successes in all these areas.

ANTHEA: How do you view the role of the art educator?

CHEN: Art education takes place at many levels. In the formal institutions of learning, the art educator should teach the technical skills required to articulate an individual's vision, but even more important, should stimulate the lifelong thirst for knowledge and enlightenment that continuously broadens the mind.

In the public sphere, the art educator, and I include journalists and critics, should actively discuss, analyze, and encourage art and artists to broaden and deepen the general knowledge of art.

ANTHEA: How critical are arts, creativity, and culture to National Development?

CHEN: Jamaica's greatest product has been its culture. It is what defines us as a unique nation, has given us the greatest international recognition and is a major, if under counted and underdeveloped, economic resource.

ANTHEA: What are the best models for our local artists from around the world? What roles do business, government, legislation, etc. play in Jamaica and other countries?

CHEN: The most appropriate model for Jamaican artists to ensure that they can make a living while pursuing their vocation is to foster an attitude of personal economic independence that does not depend on the state or big business support. This is the most common model worldwide.

That is not to say that the state and business will not help generally or even support a few individuals, but the vast majority of artists should see themselves as a branded product to develop and market. This may require the input of specialized managers, galleries and so on, but artists should focus on self-help.

ANTHEA: What can our government do?

CHEN: The government should focus its financial support on art education in the schools and institutions such as the National Gallery and Edna Manley College. It also has to ensure that tax laws and other regulations encourage the market in local art as ultimately it is the sale of art that will provide the economic support for the artists. Local businesses can assist in this by buying local and encouraging the use of local art in decorating corporate offices and public spaces, corporate awards and other forms of gift-giving.

Some countries, especially in Europe, pay grants to artists but given Jamaica's current fiscal constraints, that is not possible here.

ANTHEA: Are you suggesting that the focus should be primarily or only on art at secondary and tertiary levels?

CHEN: I am saying that art education should be at every level including in our basic and primary schools. Every student should learn skills in the visual arts and a knowledge and appreciation of art. This, I believe, will unleash a lot of Jamaica's creative potential and enhance individual and national development.

ANTHEA: What strategies/models set by other artists internationally that we could adapt here

CHEN: Our artists need to be more trained in the skills and attitudes that will enhance their chances of economic success.

ANTHEA: Please elaborate on your answer above? What practical steps can our artists make for themselves based on what you see happening in other countries? i.e outside of going after more training esp when they cant find funding?

CHEN: Artists need to take matters more into their own hands and depend less on state and business support. Firstly, they need to enhance their technical skills and knowledge. Secondly, they need to treat themselves as a brand to be nurtured, developed, marketed, and continuously upgraded. Thirdly, they need to work together as co-operatives, movements, schools and so on. They need to be innovative and move beyond the traditional gallery spaces and go directly to the people. Our artists need to be less concerned about affirmation from my generation and more concerned about creating a wider audience. We should be seeing our young artists staging their own exhibitions in public spaces, in shops, in derelict buildings, in the street wherever you can find an audience. If the audience won't come to you, then you should go to the audience. We need to see more collaborations between our visual artists and musicians, poets, writers and so on. Why don't the big stage shows and dance hall concerts include the works of our visual artists. They can use new media like video and digital photography to reach a wider audience.

ANTHEA: On the basis that business persons drive artist development by supporting artists with purchases in other countries. what do you think artists can do practically to bridge more gaps between more businesspersons and artists?

CHEN: Artists need to be more active in promoting local fine art. There are good reasons to buy and invest in art but we don't hear it often enough. Today, many Jamaicans will spend a lot of money on cheap, imported furnishings and ornaments that depreciate in value as soon as the wrapping comes off. A piece of Jamaican fine art may appreciate in value and is valued and appreciated by the recipient for years, yet very few Jamaicans ever purchase or own our own art.

ANTHEA: Does the competition (SuperPlus Under-40) do anything beyond exposure, and financial inputs to advance artists?

CHEN: I believe that exposure is a critical element in any artist's success. It is up to the artist then to build on the exposure and to continue producing innovative work of a high standard.

ANTHEA: What is the role of the media?

CHEN: The media has a responsibility to be more informed on the visual arts both locally and internationally. Context is everything and there is a dearth of good writing and reporting on the visual arts in Jamaica. More people writing and discussing at a higher standard would raise the quality of discourse and encourage our artists to raise their game.

ANTHEA: Major differences between Under 40 and JCDC Competition?

CHEN: The JCDC Visual Arts Competition is a broad event capturing young and old, amateur and professional, traditional and non-traditional. The Under-40 is focused on young artists demonstrating innovativeness and general excellence.

ANTHEA: How important is the tourism sector in the development of art?

CHEN: Tourism offers the potential to expand the market for Jamaican art by direct purchases and exposure to new markets.

ANTHEA: Can you elaborate? IS THAT really all you are saying about tourism and art.

CHEN: Jamaica receives over two million visitors per year coming from all over the world. We need to create more opportunities for visitors to be exposed to and buy local art. Exporting our art in this way increases its exposure overseas and creates a new awareness that over time creates new markets.

ANTHEA: Is there room for other directions such as arts tourism, culture tourism?

CHEN: Yes there is. There are some countries where visual art is an important tourist attraction. Italy, France, and Spain attract millions of visitors to their museums, galleries, and public art. Some developing countries such as Haiti also have a strong fine arts tradition that attract visitors who visit the galleries and studios to buy art and see artists at work. I believe that Jamaica has considerable development potential in this area.

ANTHEA: Thank you for your time and thoughts!

5 Tips to Prepare For the Perfect Baby Photo Shoot

Awww, everyone loves babies - their cute little eyes, noses, ears, hands, and feet just make us all melt. But they grow up so fast! One minute they're the most precious little beings on earth and the next minute they're graduating from high school. So parents practically run themselves nuts trying to capture every moment of their little lives.

For some parents, it's almost like an addiction - they just can't stop taking those snap shots with their digital cameras as their babies grow up. While these pictures are cute and funny, there's usually something "not quite right" about them - such as clothes scattered across the floor in the background. While those candid photos are good for the collection too, most parents find themselves having professional photos taken of their babies quite often.

However, just because the photographs are being taken by a professional does not mean the process is automatically stress-free for the parents. A professional baby photo shoot can actually end up being quite stressful without the proper planning and preparation on the parents' part.

Here are 5 tips from an Atlanta Photographer that will help your baby's photo session go on without a glitch:

1. Work around the baby's schedule. Babies tend to photograph best after taking a nap and being well-rested. Make sure your baby receives adequate sleep the night before a photo shoot as well as taken a nap prior to the photo shoot if possible. It's hard to capture "happy" moments when babies are cranky and tired. There's nothing wrong with capturing the cranky moments, but there has to be at least a few happy poses in the set.

2. Set aside adequate time and be patient. Plan ahead and don't rush the day of your baby's photo session. In addition, be patient during the photo session under all circumstances. If you are flustered and frustrated, your baby will probably be in that same mood as they are very sensitive and connected to their parents' emotional states.

3. Prepare the baby's wardrobe. Every parent wants to see their baby dressed in their cutest little outfits - but tone it down for the professional photo shoots. Solid colors work the best and avoid loud logos, words, cartoon characters, and other busy details that can be distracting in a photograph. Simple is good! Have a few outfits picked out ahead of time for variety. Also, don't forget to get a few bare poses as well - those are just priceless.

4. Decide on props. Baby photos usually consist of the baby leaning on something or playing with something. Come prepared with ideas about what you would like to see in the photographs with your baby. If you have some items at home that you want in the pictures, bring them along.

5. Decide on a location for the photo shoot. Many photographers today are doing more "outside of the studio" photography sessions. There are some beautiful sights in the world so be open-minded and decide where you want to have photos taken of your baby - at home, at the park, or at the lake. You name it - and it's done. Some of the most adorable baby photo shoots were taken in places other than the studio so put your thinking cap on and get creative!

In conclusion, a baby photo shoot simply requires adequate planning and preparation by the parents in order to produce flawless professional baby photographs that you can reflect on for a life-time.

Why Canon is a Better Pro Camera System Than Nikon

L-series Lens Line

I went to the Learnfest Photography Workshop for portrait photographers September 09 and most of the photographers were running around with a Nikon system. This peaked my curiosity.I had never really handled a Nikon before. When I was going to school at the International Academy of Design and Technology in Tampa, FL for my Digital Photography Degree, everyone had Canons. Canon was able to uplink to the Capture One processing program, and was recommended by all the staff (who are photographers current in their field). There was a student here and there with Nikon, but generally it was considered the bad apple and none of us Canon users went near them.

I was fascinated to see the amount of Nikon users at the workshop. I grabbed a Nikon from a photographer I had befriended during the workshop thus far. I have to admit I was bedazzled by the giant screen on the back. I'm using an older version on the Canon Mark series with a comparatively microscopic screen. When handling this I experienced the same giddiness of when I handled the newer Canon Mark series camera. Overall controls and handling were similar and some functions were a bit harder to figure out, but from this first handling Nikon appeared to be on the same level as Canon. Was I missing out on something? Why were so many photographers using Nikon? Should I make the switch?

Upon my arrival back home after the workshop I began some research. I talked to other photographers, Canon and Nikon users, to find out what they viewed as pros and cons of their camera system. I also began looking at products: Nikon bodies and lenses that were comparable to my current bag full of goodies. It was then that I realized there was nothing Nikon made that was comparable to my current lenses. I am an L series junkie (L lenses are Canons pro lens series).

Nikon has no professional lens line. Their lenses are by far less expensive than Canons, which in professional photography is not a good thing. Less expensive means less durable, which equals a shorter lens life. Though I have not had the experience of shooting with Nikon Lenses, with Canon less expensive also means lower quality photographs. I have come to the conclusion that Nikon users have chosen their camera system based on price. Their camera bodies are slightly less expensive than their Canon counterparts, and their lenses are all by far less expensive.

One of the first things I was taught in school, while purchasing my first set of photography tools, is that the quality of the lens is the most important thing. Don't skimp on lenses.

Beginner Photography Classes - Is It Worth It?

When you start with photography you notice that there's a lot you need to learn in order to take great pictures. One of the ways to do this is to take beginner photography classes.

The question is however, is it worth it? These classes can be fairly expensive, especially if you're attending a live class. In addition, you also have to reserve time in your schedule for the classes.

How can it possibly be worth it?

Online photography classes for beginners
Online photography classes are by far cheaper than live classes. First off, you can study at the comfort of your own home and at your own phase, whenever you want to.

Most of these courses offer a platform that allows you to communicate and share experiences with other students. However, it may not be as powerful as actually meeting fellow students face-to-face. But this again can be a matter of preference.

What about books?
In most cases you can find the same information thought in the classes in books. The books only cost a fraction of the price of a course, so why not just by a bunch of books and read them?

Who do you ask if you have a question? If you attend classes you will have a teacher you will be able to ask if anything is unclear. If you're just reading some books by yourself, you are either left to wonder or might be able to find an answer somewhere online.

This is what it all comes down to...
If you have a lot of time and patience, you can find all the information you need for free online. It may not be easy to find just the information you need, but it is possible.

Books on the other hand, collect all the information you need and saves you a lot of time for a minimal cost.

When you attend classes, not only do you get all the information you need handed right to you, but you can also connect with fellow students and ask a professional questions if anything is unclear.

Still not sure if beginner photography classes are something for you?
Keep in mind that attending a photography class is no guarantee that you will graduate as a skilled photographer. It's a lot about how much effort you put into it.

My advice would be to get a book and see how far it can take you, and then if you have questions or feel confused, you take a photography course.

Debilitating Anxiety

ANXIETY

Anxiety is both physical and mentally psychological. Physically the human body's reaction is to avoid danger. Psychologically the human mind anxiously worries. Anxiety is constant stage of tension and discomfort in search of a solution for relief. Keenly vigilantly on edge physically, mentally and emotionally.

Anxiety is obviously caused by worrying; we are taught that if we function without worry we may not be alert. However, habitually worrying to the point of illness is highly dysfunctional. Furthermore, this will stagnate your growth making you feel neurotic, without a clear mind of actual facts. It continuously clouds one's judgment and creates a vicious cycle of tremendous fear.

Anxiety develops in one's psyche, from dormant thoughts. It's a duality dis-ease of fear and courage. Intellectually going beyond fear and courage with a clear mind will provide a developmental keen sense of the world. It will guide you to accept the things you can't change.

ANXIETY SYMPTOMS

You feel you can't breathe, heart is pounding, hear heart pulsating in your ears, mind is endlessly racing, hands and feet are numb sleeping, sweating with hot flashes, throat is closing, "I'm going to die ", I'm going crazy" thus in the mind.

Yes, I suffered with Panic Disorder for over 10 long years. These symptoms are symptoms of Panic Disorder, not of a crazy person or someone is going to die. I assure I have experience this at first hand. Anxiety, Panic Disorder is distinguished by prolonged and repeated attacks with debilitating anxiety between attacks. You begin to withdraw avoiding social encounters in fear of another attack.

An encounter with a panic attack does not mean you now have Panic Disorder, unless you experience countless times of anxiety in between. Panic attacks may last a few minutes or up to a few hours. Your body physically becomes exhausted from the emotional turmoil and restores itself to normal human behavior. It's important to feel safe in a secure atmosphere or environment, in-case depression sets in after the attack softly simmers. Furthermore, you need to be surrounded around someone who truly loves and understand you due to constant worry and fear. Unforeseen panic, leads to more panic, so stay calm. Panic can feel completely devastating with a force of doom. Panic may be managed with herbal treatment, therapy or medication.

In my experience, have a good support group system, confide in those closest to you, for you need not to worry about judgment. Many of us suffer with anxiety, if you or anyone you know suffers with any of these symptoms; help is beneficial to obtaining a normal productive healthy lifestyle. My life was a completely controlled lifestyle at one point.

My determination to overcome suffering from anxiety and panic disorder was an endless valuable journey of research, medication, herbal remedies, meditation, yoga and counseling. My journey has not ended so I can't say my anxiety and stress have completely disappeared; however, my perseverance and knowledge has intellectually given me just the medicine. Acceptance is the answer: it relieves symptoms of anxiety. I no longer fear any anxiety or panic coming upon, because I have a keen sense of exactly what is happening. Accepting this reduces what ifs: in turn, it no longer has room for growth, however, you do. Confronting your fears eliminates them, little by little. Currently I have so much control that when a thought windless in, I simply allow it, gracefully accepting it. For example: if I think I am crazy, I accept it, so what if I am crazy, many of us are, if I think I am dying, I say well if I do die I was fortunate to have lived, these techniques have brought great relief and comfort.

Anxiety symptoms are very frightening and real, do not tell someone to snap out of it, encourage and support the person suffering from panic. Imagine thinking your dying or going crazy it can be a very scary and confusing experience for someone suffering from panic. Medication may be helpful, but stagnates the problem in reality you need to talk to release anxiety; medication provides a hidden cover up illusion. Eventually it seeps out and depression set in, so take care of the situation at the root. Most important listen to your body it speaks silently, but if you don't listen watch it scream.

Experimentation in Photography

In 1825, Joseph Nic矇phore Ni矇pce, a noted inventor, who also designed the world's first combustion engine, experimented with a camera obscura (a box with a hole in one side, in which external light passes through the hole and is reproduced upside down onto a surface, creating an image, sort of a precursor to the pinhole camera), and created what is believed to be the world's first known photographic image: View from the Window at Le Gras.

Primarily an image of a courtyard that is illuminated on both sides, due to the lengthy exposure time, the overall image is grainy and looks nothing like the photography we are familiar with. In fact, the image resembles a charcoal drawing; a far cry from a photograph.

This crude image of a courtyard spearheaded the photographic revolution, quite different from what we know today. Without a lens, or film for that matter,it took Ni矇pce 8 hours to create this first photographic image; something that takes a fraction of the time with today's digital cameras.

Ni矇pce didn't study at a photography school (they didn't exist at the time), and while there were other experiments prior to his 1825 photograph, this particular image stands out as does such artistic inventions as the first motion picture, the first use of color photography, and so on.

Ni矇pce's creation set the standard, a revolution to be exact, for photographic experimentation. As experiments in photography advanced throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, photographers continued to use 'old school' devices (pinhole cameras, for example) to create photographic art so that in a sense, the old techniques have never really gone out of style.

As a student in photography school, I used black and white 35mm film with a Minolta 7s still camera from the 60s, which despite taking it all over the world and dropping it a few times, remains incredibly durable, they just don't make them like that anymore. I was able to concentrate on compositions more than utilizing techniques as dodging and burning.

Most photography schools allow for experimentation. As a student, I had free sessions where you could spend the entire day in the photo lab. A teacher's assistant would walk you through the whole procedure of developing the film, taking out your negatives and then making prints on an enlarger, and placing the photographic paper in fixer and stop bath prior to drying the completed prints. While more interested in actual compositions, my negatives tended to be scratched and my photos more faded than anything else. No real explanation for this, just the frame of mind I was in at the time.

Analog photography is more of an art form, something you learn in photography schools. This rather arduous procedure was fulfilling, because it allowed for creativity to explore what was possible within the photographic realm. You experiment with different f-stops and different film speeds. Sometimes the end result would be disappointing; especially when something you set up didn't come out the way you expected, too dark, too overexposed, or you left the lens cap on!

Choosing a Good Clothing for Cold and Extreme Weather - Fleece Jacket

A fleece jacket is perhaps the best clothing to keep you warm during the cold season. These fleece-made jackets are made from modern materials so it could be considered as a contemporary outfit as well, a great alternative to traditional wool jackets during the cold months or when you live in a cold place here in the country.

What's great about the fleece jacket is that it's able to keep you warm even when it gets wet or damp, something that is impossible to achieve with wool jackets. It is also capable of drying your sweat fast, so that there won't be unnecessary body heat loss. This article will help you choose the best jacket made of fleece for you by outlining some priorities when choosing clothing for the cold weather.

When you're buying clothing for the cold and extreme weather, you need to choose something that really keeps the body warm, especially your fingers and toes - body parts which are prone to frostbite. A fleece jacket can surely do this for you, because it is capable of trapping warmth of the body and still allow quick drying of perspiration.

Good clothing for the cold season should still allow you to move freely, something that's impossible when you are wearing a bulky wool jacket. Fleece on the other hand, is made from lightweight polyester, so it is relatively thinner than other jackets. This allows for free movement, but will still keep you warm and comfortable at all times.

If you have to venture out into the cold, you'd surely want to keep moving, so you need clothing that will let you do that. A fleece jacket would certainly help you move freely while keeping you warm all throughout.

So if you are looking for the best clothing for the cold season, the best thing to get is a fleece jacket, because it not only keeps your body warm, it also allows you to move freely and comfortably.

The Cycle Of Life - Letter To A Mentor

1. We receive:

We came into this world with nothing. We didn't even ask to be born, yet we were granted the wonderful gift of life. And without asking for anything else, we continue to receive. We receive encouragement and comfort and kisses and hugs and nourishment and attention and validation. But we also receive pain and discomfort and disappointment and envy and jealousy and abuse and humiliation and embarrassment.

Things come at us and to us from so many different sources that it is sometimes hard at first to distinguish which ones are welcomed and which ones are not. But the fact remains, we start out in life at the receiving end.

It's funny how becoming so engulfed in our consumer's society, blinds us to the fact that to live life always from the receiving end, would keep us continually in a powerless and vulnerable, even primitive position.

My relationship with you Oprah began where everything else does, at the receiving end. It was in the late eighties, I was still a teenager and you had a new TV show that would soon make History. I couldn't exactly place my finger on what I was receiving, but I kept coming back for more. And through the years I received so many gifts from you that now I wish I had written them all down the moment I was receiving them.

Those gifts came mainly in the form of insights, wisdom bits and different views of life. Some of them came directly from you, others came from various guests of yours but were highlighted and customized by you.

Here are a few from the top of my head:

o "People think you must have, in order to do, in order to be, when it's the other way around. You need to be, in order to do, in order to have." This came from motivational speaker Iyanla Vazant.

o "Hope is not a plan" -quoting from Anderson Cooper's new book

o "Now that you've heard it, you can no longer pretend that you didn't know." -Oprah's original

o "You only accomplish what you believe. Not what you want, not even what you work for but only what you believe." -Oprah's original (my personal favorite)

I've cherished these gifts for years. Of course not only have you shared sayings but inspiration as well. I have found self-improvement stories and those of people going from rags to riches, most inspirational while building my own foundation for success. Shows in the likes of:

o A millionaire a minute (1998) (my all-time-favorite)

o My passion, my fortune (1999)

o How to empower little girls to succeed (one of my all-time favorites)

o Quirky ways people have become rich (2005)

o Ways women just like you have made their wildest dreams come through (2005) Just to mention a few

You have been such an inspiration with your voice and with your life, the way you keep giving of yourself, the way you don't cease to amaze us. For all that I have received from you and continue to receive, thank you.

2. We assimilate:

Once we've been here on earth for a while, we start to associate concepts and reach to conclusions. We take all that we've received and put it together in our own way. Whether our experiences have been wonderful, good, so-so, not so good or down-right terrible, we assimilate it all and interpret it however we choose to. At the end of the day, it will all contribute to our successes or failures. But it will not be because of what we received, but rather because of the way we chose to assimilate it.

The earliest a-ha moment that I can recall was a few years before the first Oprah Winfrey Show, so I didn't call it an a-ha moment back then. It took place during the early eighties when I was still a girl living in my native country -Panama. My parents are strong believers of Education being the great equalizer. They would constantly seek ways to motivate us and get us excited about school. From very early on I received the not-so-subtle message from my parents that going to College really wasn't a decision for me to make, it was a must. I only had the privilege of deciding which one I'd rather attend.

It was a tradition of ours that almost every Saturday or Sunday night we'd ride around in the city to see elegant neighborhoods with beautiful houses where rich people lived. And our parents would say things such as: "that is why you must study, so that you can get a good job and be able to afford this lifestyle." I tried to assimilate this information the best way I could but somehow there was always something missing. I mean, my parents had what a lot of people considered "good jobs", they both worked at what used to be known as The Panama Canal Zone, with the Southern Command. And although we were not considered poor, we weren't living in those elegant neighborhoods in one of the beautiful houses either.

A Sunday night as we were coming back from our ride a bit earlier than usual, my dad said to us: "look behind you" so all for of us -my two sisters, my brother and I- looked back. "you see those elegant cars going towards the city?" I could see beautiful Mercedes, Jaguars, BMWs and such, all brand new and polished, almost racing towards the city lights while we were going in the opposite direction. My dad continued: "They are just going out now, their night of fun is just starting. While we need to get home to go to bed for your mother and I to get up early for work tomorrow. But they don't have to get up early or even go to work tomorrow any at all" -why- I asked curious. "because they are the owners and bosses, the ones who provide the jobs for others to go to." This has been by far my biggest a-ha moment ever. It helped me assimilate important information in a very convenient metaphor. For starters, I didn't want to have a job; I wanted to provide them for others. I looked back at the elegant cars going towards the city lights for the last time. And for the first time, I knew exactly in what direction I wanted to go.

3. We innovate:

Once we have assimilated the things we've been receiving, they suffer slight or drastic changes before we pass them on. We never leave the space we've used the same way we found it regardless of what we do. Hopefully our goal is to change that space for the better. We have the power to turn our experiences into something uniquely beautiful to be spread amongst others, leaving behind a sweet and fresh aroma as we go through life. Or we could turn our life experience into something selfish that will leave behind an ugly and putrid stench of stagnant water.

However we want to do it, the lives we have lived will result into a new and unique product; something only one particular individual could have produced. Something will be different just because you were born. But then something else will be different because of the innovation that resulted from the assimilated information you received. The world is different because of you; it will be different because of me. We were all born to make a difference.

As a child I've always had a very vivid imagination. I loved to imagine that the floors in my house were streets and avenues. That shoes were cars, chandeliers and lamps were restaurants and convention centers. Even flushing the toilet meant that somebody was on a trip to a different country called Charla Puor. From those early days, however, I've moved on to imagine better shoes, better jewelry, better toys, better house appliances, different architectural structures, different banking methods, better educational systems, different movie story lines, different marketing approaches, different retail stores, better traveling luggage and I could go on and on.

For years I've found pleasure in creativity and innovation. I can see just about anything and imagine an improvement for it. Through the years, the ideas became more structured. Not only would I imagine new stuff, I'd also try to find out what kind of technology or combination of technologies were available to bring the new idea to life, as well as the right way to market it. There is nothing that gives me greater satisfaction than to put a new idea together. The only thing in my mind that could offer a greater experience would be to actually bring one of these ideas to life. But I've come up with probably a couple hundred ideas only to see them one by one being carried out by someone else. Surprising as it may seem, this has not discourage me, but quite the contrary. To me it's a sign that I am on the right track. Through years of frustrating unrewarding jobs as well as nice-not-so-frustrating-but still unrewarding jobs, I finally believe my childhood circumstances and young adult experiences have lead me to find a way to channel my innovation and change my used space for the better.

4. We give:

All that we receive, and assimilate and innovate prepares us to be able to give of ourselves. It is not only selfish but absurd to think that we came to this world only to have a good time and erect huge monuments to our greatness. After all, what makes us great is our ability to help others become great. But who knows and lives by this principle better than you Oprah?

I have been blessed to have wonderful parents that motivated me and gave me their blessing at an early age. First my mom looked at me in the eye and told me that I would do something great someday. Second: when I was 3 or four years old, I had a strange dream. I was playing with some other little friends in my grandmother's backyard. My friends went on running but I stopped to notice a pale pinkish liquid with sods running through a PVC tube that was in one of the walls of the building. I stood there staring in amazement. When I told my dad about the dream the following day, he got all excited; he grabbed me and hugged me and then he said: "this is great Jull, that was champagne; it means success."

To both my mom's pronouncing of greatness and to my dad's success anointing with champagne, I didn't really know how to react or what exactly they meant at the time. But through the years I have held myself accountable and have always wanted to live up to those expectations. My parents keep repeating that they are already proud of me and that I'm already great. This is good to hear, but it's really just fuel to do even more.

After countless trials and errors and trying to figure out what and how to do in order to give back to life, the world and the people who live in it, I decided to put all my great and even crazy-sounding-ideas in a book for young women to go ahead and bring them to life. The book contains over 120 ideas in 15 different categories. I believe this would give me even more satisfaction than pursuing each one of them myself. To walk down a certain town and see a building that I helped inspire, read a book with a central topic that I threw out there, step into a mall and see a store that I suggested. All of this is really cool, but greater than this would be to know that someone's life was changed for the better because she found an outrageous idea and thought to herself: "hey I could do that". The thought that I had something to do with that brain-wave, like a pebble in a pond that creates a ripple which goes on to make a great wave in the sea, gives me goose bumps.

That is life worth living. And there's no doubt in my mind that you helped inspire that bigger dream Oprah. Perhaps my plan began selfish and childish almost 16 years ago, when I structured my first idea in a commercial format. But as you always say: "God can dream a better dream for you than you could dream for yourself "

To materialize one idea after another would be great and could have perhaps lead me to live the Fabulous life I've always wanted, but most likely it wouldn't have given me the "what-a-feeling" effect I was really looking for, or at leas not a lasting one. The book was first written with the intention of inspiring students in Colleges and Universities to become more creative, but I realized most of the ideas would appeal more to women. I've just finished reading The BAP handbook. The official Guide to the Black American Princess. It's a fun reading book. And as much as I enjoyed it and the sitcom Girlfriends that was most likely inspired by it, I cannot help but think: what if we could inspire young girls not only to be little princesses expecting to be pampered, and look cute, but to actually create some of the things and products they enjoy so much? What if we could inspire them to create more make up, shoes, design better Jaguars, write more books, produce more movies, design new software or a new building? I can hardly wait to see who is going to create The Shoe Factory or produce the series Bad Attitude (some ideas suggested in the book).

It saddens me to listen to little girls and watch them trying to imitate celebrities that believe all their value is locked into their looks and bodies. Why not inspire them to use their brains? And not only to become a doctor, lawyer or scientist, which would be great, but also to create, create, create! Maybe I am being bias because it's just my thing, but I'd love to see more women creators and innovators. And between you and me, it would make me even happier to see a lot more women of color become creators (again being bias).

We have the ability to do great things. And we can call on a great power that is more than willing to assist us once we are ready to walk in our destiny. I know that everything happens for a reason and nothing takes place a minute before it should. Now I am sure that if God had given me what I asked for when I asked for it, He would have been unable to give me what I really wanted.

I didn't know of a book that was especially dedicated to boost young women's creativity, but I had written a book, and all I needed to do was redesign the cover that it could appear more feminine, the rest was already done. I hope you are proud of me.

So there you have it, I have received and assimilated and innovated and now I am ready to give back. I am ready to get out of the vulnerable position and place myself in the empowering seat. Oprah thank you for letting God use you, thank you for giving of yourself, thanks for making us see you vulnerable because that way we knew that we too could do great things once we overcame. Thanks for all that you have given and continue to give. I am forever grateful. Thank you.

Improving Your Photography Skills

Love to take pictures of scenic destinations? Love to collect photographs on different scenes and subjects? If so, then you have the heart for photography and you can use it to start a studio or a business. To gain insights on the issue, read on and follow the tips mentioned below.

Photographs existed for several years and it has been present since the time of our great grandparents. Along with the advancement of computers and information technology, photography also evolved along with, from Polaroid camera to digital cameras and from black-and-white to colored images. Moreover, digital camera has also flourished and improved a lot because of the quality of its images and the designs that you can incorporate into the original image.

Aside from being a good form of art, it is also a great hobby to start with because you get to photograph different subjects that caught your interest.

If your hobby just began and you only have little knowledge on photography, you can still improve it and used it as a personal expression.

Even though one does not need be a professional to get good photographs, you can get the best images and subjects by considering certain factors like:

• Camera - You does not need to have the best and the most expensive camera in the market to take beautiful pictures. All you need to have is familiarity of your camera. You have to know all its features and settings and how to use them to get your best shot.


• Love - If you love your work and your hobby, there is no reason for failure. When you love your work or your hobby, you remain focused, inspired and excited to take photos. Like any other jobs in the market, you can be successful if you learn to love your work.


• Inspiration - Get an inspiration. Think of your loved one, your friends or your family. Having an inspiration really makes a difference when taking photographs because you can have a good aura when you are inspired while taking photographs.


• Model - You have to stay focus and to concentrate on your model or subject to get the best hot.


• Short Course - if you have spare time and spare money, you can always take short course in photography. Through it, you can learn the basics. Before you enroll yourself in a specific course, you take time to conduct research on what schools offer quality and state-of-the-art techniques in photography. It gives you first-hand techniques on key aspects of photography. You can learn aperture, shutter speeds, flash, and natural light. You should be careful in choosing your course because some only teaches you the basics, while others teaches you how to manipulate your images.

With your skills, techniques, certification and knowledge on photography basics, you can now take quality photographs within you reach. You can also start you own photography business. Aside from this type of business venture, you can have unlimited time in taking pictures and photographs.

Black & White Photography Tips

Black and white photography was once thought of as being a thing of the past. Colour photography and technology were leading the way and everything became bright and bold. More recently, however, the art of the monochrome picture has been re-evaluated by many and has become a chosen format by some. By understanding some basic black and white photography tips it is surprising what a difference you can make.

There are some subjects that will always look better if photographed in colour. For example the starting grid of a Formula One race would look fairly lack lustre without the exciting race colours of the cars and drivers. Some scenes can look equally good, although very different, in both black and white and colour. Scenes such as a woodland, for example, can benefit from either format but the two pictures would have a very different feel. Some simple black and photography tips can ensure that you bring out the shade and shapes in your pictures and this will result in an added depth that is often missing with colours.

Portraits can be given a lovely timeless feel if taken in black and white. It is almost like losing one of your senses. If you shut your eyes you will find that you are able to hear better. It is similar with photography. If you take away the colours, you will tend to see more deeply into a face. Some black and photography tips regarding the taking of portraits include consideration of texture. It is best to have your subject dressed in plain clothes as too much pattern can draw the attention. However, add some texture to bring depth into the frame. This may mean in the background. Perhaps you could use a brick or stone wall as a back drop. Alternatively, you could use texture in the clothing. Try woollen sweaters in place of smooth cotton tee shirts.

Consider the content of your pictures and try to incorporate some interesting shapes. Either similar or contrasting shapes will create interest, but be careful to keep things simple and well constructed. Try to structure the shapes so that they have a relevance to each other. You can get some great black and white photography tips just by looking at others people's work and trying to evaluate their reasoning behind the construction of the shapes in their pictures.

Black and white photography tips, as well as advice on all aspects of the art, are available on the internet, very often freely. If you become interested and think that you would like to become involved in photography either as a hobby or as a profession, there are many courses available at colleges, often on a part time basis. You may also find that there is a photography club in your area where you can meet others with a similar interest and sometimes with work to exhibit.

Saying Goodbye To Kodak

Saying goodbye to an old friend is never easy, saying goodbye to one that was apart of life for every photographer growing up is both sad and sobering for what it says about the future of photography.

But Why?

There have been many theories put forward about why Kodak now stands on the brink of filing bankruptcy. One of the more common explanations is that Kodak was slow to respond to the digital revolution, but that's not entirely accurate.

A Kodak engineer named Steve Sasson actually perfected a digital camera in 1975, decades ahead of the revolution. In 1991 Kodak partnered with Nikon to produce the first professional grade digital camera with a massive 1.3-megapixel resolution and just four years later Kodak introduced the DC40, their first point-and-shoot digital camera.

Even today the biggest and best digital imaging chips available are made under license from Kodak.

Instant Sharing

The real trend Kodak missed wasn't digital imaging, it was digital display. They got stuck in the mentality that people would use digital cameras to produce print photos, with digital merely replacing film as a more convenient mechanism of getting pictures to the photo lab.

Kodak should have gotten a clue when CVS customers were not actually returning their one-time-use digital cameras. Even though they had a tiny 1.4 in LCD screen, customers figured out how to hack the cameras to download images to their computers and were at other times oddly content simply to view the pictures on their tiny little LCD screens.

The convenience customers saw in digital wasn't merely a transitional type of film, it was a revolution in photo sharing and that's what Kodak missed.

Of Two Minds

Kodak sometimes seems like the Harvey Dent character in Batman movies, always of two minds about everything. The film mind and the digital mind, with the film side of the business apparently being the dominant half. Up to just a couple years ago Kodak was putting on seminars about shooting movies on film even as camera manufacturers quit making new film cameras and rental houses quit stocking them.

Between missing the boat on photo sharing and the internal split personality, Kodak was never able to fully adapt to the nimble digital marketplace.

This was another instance where bigger was not necessarily better. Had Kodak split up the company and spun off digital imaging as a separate company, the story might have a different ending. But, just like the heart attack victim who wished they would have quit smoking sooner or the diabetic wishes they would have changed their diet, it's too late now. The fat lady is warming up and the economic priests are here to give Kodak their last rites.

Before long photography will be saying goodbye to an old friend and that's very sad.

Six Tips to Becoming a More Confident Photographer

When you first jump into the world of photography it is both exciting and fun to embark on this new journey. Too often though, new photographers begin to feel discouraged or inadequate when comparing themselves to other more seasoned photographers. I always encourage photographers to quit the comparison game and start to really focus on yourself, your craft, and your skills. By taking the time to really work on yourself, you will find yourself on the road to becoming a more confident photographer.

Practice, Practice, Practice!
Take your camera with you everywhere, and photograph a lot. If you really want to gain more confidence, practicing a lot is the easiest and swiftest way to start to really understand your camera, how it works, and what you need to do to achieve your desired look. Photography is like math. You can know what the settings do and how to change them, but if you don't know how to apply them, you will struggle. So take the time to practice and really get comfortable with your camera.

Try Something Different
Try photographing things different. It's easy to get into a rut where you are constantly photographing things the same way. Try looking at them from a different perspective. Lay on the ground and shoot upwards. Climb on a ladder and shoot down. Photograph through something. Play with different lens. Don't be afraid to make mistakes in the pursuit of improving yourself and your artwork.

Challenge Yourself
Push yourself to document things in a variety of situations. Professional photographers don't always have the ideal environment or set-up to photograph in. Knowing how to handle any situation will prepare you for the real world of photography where anything and everything can go wrong.

Read
You can never stop learning. Read as much as you can. Whether it's technical, spiritual, professional, etc... gleaning knowledge form the experts who've paved the way can only help you. It doesn't have to be just about photography either. Fictional books or books about other businesses might inspire you to try something different and take you to a whole new level.

Seek Inspiration
Inspiration can come in many forms. It might be another photographers artwork, or a movie, or a book, or your family. Inspiration can come from anywhere. Find what it is that inspires you and throw yourself into it. Let it engulf you so that you can take that passion and curiosity and vibrance and put it into your art.

Be Open to Feedback and Criticism
If you really want to make it to the next level and feel truly confident in your craft, open yourself up to a critique. The best way to learn and grow as an artist is to have another professional look at your work and offer up their advice, opinions, and suggestions for improvement. Sometimes it can be hard to hear the negative, but we can't grow if all we ever hear is the positive. True growth comes from learning through experience.

Whether you are brand new to photography, looking to start up a business, or just feeling like you are stuck in a rut, these six tips can help you on your way to becoming the confident photographer you aspire to be. Just remember to constantly practice and look for new ways of doing things, be open to inspiration and seek out constructive criticism. And above all, never stop looking for ways to grow and improve!

Photography Cliches

Photography has fashion trends, just like any other creative industry. Some enterprising soul will be playing around and come up with a new look that catches on and, before long, the world is awash in copycat photos. Some of these techniques will continue on long after the novelty has worn off and become almost a visual cliche.

Sometimes that's okay. It's good to be aware of the over-done photography trends, even try a couple shots of your own just to see how it works for you. Do be cautious not to let them turn into a staple of your portfolio. If you want to stand out as a photographer, you have to develop your own unique style.

Here are some techniques to try but be careful including in your portfolio.

Color Isolation

Selecting one element in a photograph to leave colored and gray scale the rest of the picture.

This is a post-processing technique that works sometimes but tops the list of overdone visual tricks.

Instead try a variation of this technique that's a little less cliche which is to isolate one color instead of one colored object. A picture where the greens stay vibrant and everything else is gray scaled. It's a lot harder to do but can yield some very interesting results.

The Dutch Angle

Also called the Batman Angle or Dutch Tilt is when you hold your camera at angles between portrait and landscape in order to get more a subject in the frame. Sometimes it works if you're trying to challenge visual perceptions of your viewers, more often it creates a general sense of unease that's overall unflattering.

Change lenses, shift your perspective, try a lot of things before employing this technique which was used extensively in the old Batman TV show (hence the name). It's old, it's over-used and there are frequently better options.

Garish Watermarks

The height of vanity combined with a healthy dose of paranoia. In these days of metadata, digital watermarks and search engines like TinyEye, keeping track of image use on the internet, it's not all that difficult.

You don't need to plaster your images with obscene watermarks in an attempt to get your name out. It detracts from the picture and makes you look insecure and loutish.

Over-Saturated HDR

High Dynamic Range photography is an interesting technique but sometimes the pictures come out looking over-saturated. It's also one of those techniques that's been done to death lately. Yes, absolutely learn how it's done. It's a good study in controlling contrast and color depth, but don't rely on it as a staple.

If you want to be a freak about anything color related, be freak about flesh tones. For natural looking portraits nothing beats quality skin tones.

Heavy Vignetting

Nothing screams "amateur hour" quite like heavy vignetting, whether it's a genuine artifact or done in post processing, an even greater sin.

Crop tighter or buy a frame. Good photography doesn't need this type of trick to get people to focus on the subject.

Writing On Pictures

Another distracting amateur move that not only adds little to a photograph, it robs the viewer of their ability to interpret the meaning for themselves. Instead of encouraging people to think, you're telling them what to think.

This is right up there with bikini clad women holding assault rifles for making your photography scream "trailer trash".

Quality photography stands on its own and doesn't need any help eliciting emotion from the viewer. Avoid the temptation to grab them by the nose and drag them where you want them to go.

Choosing the Right Photo Book Publisher in 2010

In 2008 I wrote an article on how to choose the right photo book publisher. Since then there has been an explosion in photo book printer/publishers and even though my initial advice still holds true there are several other options to consider in choosing your publisher.

For those of you who are not familiar with photo books they are coffee table quality books that you make with your own photos. This is not your grandmother's photo album, but a bound book of your favorite pictures printed on slick book paper, not photo paper.

Choosing the right photo book publisher is still a highly personal matter. Each person has a different technical level, different quality expectations, and different theme desires. It is impossible to create a wizard that will spit out the right source for you.

Size Matters, But Not That Much

There are so many variations in photo book sizes that you might think you should choose your publisher/printer according to the sizes that they offer. If you have a project that requires a certain size book you are probably a digital scrapbooker and want a 8x8, 10x10, or 12x12 photo book. These are sizes that are quite common and should not guide your choice.

Another common size is the 8x11 - but each publisher seems to offer a variation of that size. There might be a variation of 1/2 to 1/4 inch on each dimension, but close enough for most people.

Quality Expectations versus Price Expectations
This one is probably the most important feature to consider. There are a lot of differences in photo book quality. Some may not be that important to you while others could be a deal breaker.

If you have a very special book and price is not the issue then there are just a few high quality photo book publishers to consider. These books offer premium paper, premium covers, and flush mounting or lay-flat pages. This is not the type of book you would make everyday - they would make a great wedding album or very special gift.

Coming down in quality you have the publishers who have a very high quality with great color conversion. These printers will be a bit more expensive than the average printer and should be used by people who design their own pages in another program and want a great color match. These could also be used for the average photobooker who likes a great look and is not as interested in the cost. You can find these printer/publishers because they may be a little bit pricier than the rest.

For the person who has average pictures and is not finicky, most of the other publishers will be fine. If you want a lot of books you might go for the lower priced publishers - but you might give up some flexibility in design or ease of use.

How do you store your photos?
Do you currently store you photos online or or your computer? If you store them on your computer it would be just as easy to use any printer. But, if you store them online you might want to choose a publisher who has a good interface to upload the pictures.

If you store your photos on Kodak Gallery, Snapfish, Shutterfly, AdoramaPix, CVS Photo, Walgreen's, Wal-Mart you should check into their photo books. Especially if you have been sharing photos from these sites with other family members and they share them with you from the same site.

Many of these sites will allow you to use pictures that your friends have uploaded. Snapfish has just launched a major interface with Facebook, and I am sure that there will be more that will follow. Many sites allow allow you to download pictures from Flickr, SmugMug, and other social networking sites.

Do You Want To Work Online Or Offline
Publishers offer two types of software: those you download and work on your desktop and software that you work with online. Some people really prefer either online or offline - if you are one of them this will guide your choice of photo book publisher/printer you choose.

Ready to Hunt for Your Favorite?
We have discussed several decision points. Once you think how you feel about these points your should choose a few photo book printers and upload a test book. You still do not need to order a book that you make. Decide if you like their interface and background choices. You may decide on using a few different publishers for different types of books. This should be fun and enjoy your search!

5 Ways Teachers Can Help Students Understand, Use, and Memorize Formulas

We tend to think of teaching formulas as in the domain of math and science teachers only, when in reality, there are very few areas that can be said to have no involvement with formulas. Many courses, like photography, economics, all the sciences, and all of mathematics, are heavily dependent on formulas; but since formulas are simply statements of relationships that exist in the real life, virtually all subjects have some connection to formulas. It becomes the responsibility of all teachers to help their students understand where formulas come from, why formulas are important, and help students to learn and use them correctly.

5 Ways to Help Your Students Better Understand, Use, and Memorize Formulas:

1. Always explain where the formulas you encounter come from. There are some math students who think formulas as just "made up" examples the author of the textbook included. It takes explaining many times and giving many examples to get across the concept that formulas represent relationships already known to exist in real life; and not only is that relationship "real"--it is ALWAYS true.

Ideally, we should teach who discovered the relationship, when it was discovered, and how it was discovered. I hate to admit this, but it is a rare occurrence for this to happen in a math class. Science classes seem to do a good job of actually showing physical relationships, photography relationships almost become obvious and automatic, economics seems to be "showable" just by looking at the world, but in math classes we tend to describe relationships and show them in a two-dimensional sense if we can, like c = "pi"d with a circle on paper. Making visual, understandable sense out of the derivation of the quadratic formula is a challenge!

2. Always explain the importance of formulas. Students often do not "get" that because formulas are always true, they can be used to find a missing value if all the others are known. Knowing that one needs to drive 400 miles in the next 5 hours means driving __?__ miles per hour. Knowing the relationship rate times time equals distance (rt = d) or changing that to rate is equal distance divided time (r = d/t), we can calculate that we would need to drive 400/5 or 80 mph. Well, maybe we should change plans.

3. Encourage students to make and use flash cards out of each new formula. Flash cards may be an old teaching/learning technique; but that doesn't make them any less effective. These new flash cards need to include the formula AND the individual parts; and they need to be specific about what each part stands for. For example: in c^2 = a^2 + b^2, "a" represents a leg of a right triangle, not just a side of a triangle; "c" represents the hypotenuse of a right triangle, not just hypotenuse.

4. Practice in class. If possible, for several days after each new formula is introduced, take about 5-10 minutes to quickly have the students: (a) name what each symbol represents, (b) give the various possible wordings for the operation symbols (plus, increased be, added to, etc.), and (c) say the entire formula in words as a complete sentence.

5. Give suggestions on how to memorize formulas at home. These should include: (a) speaking out loud, (b) pointing at parts on a diagram if that is appropriate, (c) practice only about 10 minutes, take a break, and then try again, until it is memorized, (d) check again in 30 minutes, and (e) any other hints you or your students have.

Be sure that you always stress the importance of studying out loud. The ability to verbalize what a formula is for and what its parts stand for is critical to understanding, and understanding the formula is critical for using it.

Let Us Start a Home Based Business, Without Capital

Can I make my own home business with minimal capital? The question often asked by those who first tried to establish a new business. Keep in mind that not everyone can start a home business from scratch. Home-based business, no matter how small, it will need capital and resources.

Do not easily give in to start your new home business. The fundamental reason is to build a home-based businesses are generally more expensive than the usual business. Because the former is only a minimal overhead cost. Most of the monthly regular business requires capital, but is not required for this type of home-based business. More necessary in the initial planning, the selection of what type of home business will be run.

Household appliances that you have such as telephones, refrigerators, computers and other office equipment can also be used to start a home business. So you do not need to add more capital to this. Capital that you need to prepare only for the cost of marketing, although you can be creative and still use your existing equipment.

There are many home business ideas that can be selected. This depends on your hobbies, interests and your experiences. If you are good at cooking and budgeting, you can start with a catering business. You do not need to buy anything else except raw materials and possibly a few dishes for catering professionals. You can start a business with the usual kitchen equipment you use. And the results you get from your business can use to invest, such as buying a more professional equipment.

For example if you have a computer and printer, you can start a printing business or home computer business. All you have to buy them is extra ink and special paper. This type of home-based business requires creativity and computer experience, so you do not require substantial capital.

Business ideas with other low-cost investment is the field of photography and photo editing. If you have knowledge of photography plus editing digital photos, you can start a business. You can start with a home-based photography store, you can utilize and take advantage of the fact that most people are lazy to go to the mall or shop for shooting photos. Most people need photos for a job application or identity.

You can also offer improved picture or transfer existing photos into the CD.

There are different types of business that only requires minimal capital or no capital, it depends on the resources you have. It's just a matter of research, of inventory, what you know, what you have and what your goal is to build a business venture.

High School Yearbooks

Getting a yearbook is part of the experience of high school for many people. Many of us keep our yearbooks for the rest of our lives, making it an important part of our high school memorabilia. Yearbooks are something that you show your children and your grandchildren and play a major part in future genealogy.

The yearbook requires the authorization of the school and at least one faculty advisor. More commonly, the yearbook is a joint effort between the yearbook advisor and the journalism or English departments. The yearbook also has the support of the administration, which provides budget approval for the project.

One of the most essential things provided by the school for the yearbook staff is the software to product yearbook. The software helps create layouts for each page, as well as an overall theme and style for the yearbook. The students and staff need to be fully trained on the yearbook software in order to produce the best possible yearbook.

The yearbook is primarily staffed by student volunteers. The student staff includes several section editors that report to the editor in chief, a photographer, a graphic designer, and an administrative professional that tracks deadlines and expenses to make sure the project stays on track.

Continuity between the years is an important aspect of the high school yearbook project. The outgoing seniors should make the time to discuss with the incoming staff members the various issues they experienced so the new staff members can avoid making the same mistakes. This improves the overall quality of the yearbook. Determining how much weight to give each section of the yearbook is a decision that is made by the yearbook staff on a year to year basis. Sports typically have a large portion of the yearbook; however, the yearbook staff generally has a lot of freedom regarding how many pages to give to sports or any other section. Some schools tend to emphasis academic and extracurricular groups, while others put more of an emphasis on candid pictures of students.

The yearbook is financed from several sources. The school provides some financing from their budget. The yearbook itself sells considerable ad space to local businesses to help finance the yearbook itself. The yearbook is then sold, at a reduced price, to the students in the school. This reduced price is made possible by the ads and the budgetary funding the yearbook receives.

The creation of a high school yearbook can be a lengthy process and one fraught with difficulties for the staff members and student volunteers involved. However, successfully completing a yearbook allows the yearbook staff not only the satisfaction of knowing they did a good job and are responsible for a valuable keepsake, but adds value to their college applications and future resumes. Yearbook work can be difficult, but the end result is worth the effort.

Can an iPhone Enhance Professional Pet Photography?

The key to a photographer giving great value to his clients at a reasonable price is to create an efficient shooting and production process.

When dealing with pets, the iPhone can be a great asset in this regard. Pets, whether or not they've gone to obedience school do not obey instructions as well as most human adults (however they do tend to obey better than you average toddler). Thus, normally photographing a pet requires at least two persons. One person puts the pet in place and the the other person takes the pictures.

With an iPhone app or other device that allows a photographer to control the camera remotely. Thus one person can be getting the pet in place and then shoot without returning to the camera when the peet is well posed. In many instances this techniques allows the two photographers to be replaced by one. Using one photographer lowers the cost of obtaining the images. This savings can then be passed on to the customer which provides the customer a better value.

There are several apps that allows a photographer to take pictures from his phone. Each package has a variety of different features, but most require you follow the following steps:

1. Download the server software onto your PC or Mac.

2. Make sure both your PC and your iPhone are hooked up to the same local network. If a local network does not exist, you can create an ad-hoc network so the iPhone and computer communicate over that network.

3. Attach the PC to the camera with a USB firewire cable. This is one of the major limitations of shooting this way - your camera is tied to your computer, so this is not a practical technique when shooting outside of a studio.

4. Enter the app and select the camera you want to control from you phone.

Following these steps to use a photographer's phone as a device to remotely control a camera is one way a photographer can add efficiency to his work which will allow him to provide better value to his clients.

Photo Frames: Best To Capture Your Precious Moments

Whenever you feel need for photo frames, it is actually seen as one of the best ways to shape your dreams to recollect good moments of your life. It is often said, a photo frame is the best way to bring alive those crucial moments that you constantly want to remember. There are many instances where people do not shy off from taking this step to ensure they aren't deprived of their nostalgic moments. That is the reason you will find scores of such people happily sporting, for instance, a photo that depicts them collecting a prize which they might have won during one of those debate competition where they had participated in their college days or school days. Generally, people do not hesitate to keep this frame in their living area or guest room so that entire world gets to know of their achievement.

You will also come across some people who say how expensive it was for them to procure one such photo frame. Most of these people must have adhered to those simple steps that many follow before they opt for such a frame. It is always necessary that you strictly abide to those rules that are generally laid down in order to attain success. One such step involves doing some kind of home work to know suitability and applicability of a product to your individual need. This way, you avoid chances of realizing later on that you actually prevented encountering certain uncomfortable situation later in your life.

So, next time you think of opting for photo framing, you can begin your search for further information simply by taking help of those numerous adverts that keep on surfacing on a newspaper. Yes, it is true you have taken a newspaper to quench your thirst for news, events, happenings etc. around the globe. But, if you want success in your endeavor to fetch best possible product, you should always be ready to walk that extra mile. Similar is the case here. When you keep a close tab on these adverts, you will actually come to know they contain some vital information that can actually go a long way to become your major source of information.

For instance, if you want to know more about picture framing, all that you need to do is take help of information like contact telephone number, email address, communication address etc. When you take help, for example, of a contact number and call the number mentioned in the advert, you actually end up gaining a lot. In most cases, these numbers are actually dedicated telephone numbers that are especially designed for customers who want to know more about a product. So, when you call this number, the person who is answering your call will give suitable answers to all your queries. Once you get all your questions answered, your decision making process becomes a lot easier.