This Is INCREDIBLE

Dearest Darling Readers,

Are you ready to be STUNNED?

Cakranasah parinaham prthivya (Rigveda 1.33.8)

It says "people who reside on the surface of the Earth's circumference." More than 10,000 years ago Indians knew the world is round. We call geography 'bhugol shastra'. This translates as the 'science of the round earth'. Western world 'doubted' that the earth is round. Galileo was put to death for claiming the earth is round. They believed it only after Ferdinand Magellan circumnavigated the world. Isn't the wisdom of our forefathers stunning? To me, it is.

The star Antares is the 15th brightest object in the night skies. Our elders called it Jyestha meaning the biggest, the eldest. This star is more than 500 times bigger than our sun. It is so incredible that 5000 to 7000 years ago our ancestors knew all this. To the naked eyes, this looks like just a point in the skies. It looks like another ordinary star. Not so to our ancestors. Isn't it incredible. Counting stars is considered to be impossible. Yet among all those stars, which one is the biggest was identified by our ancestors 1000s of years ago. Outstanding!

There is a constellation called Big bear constellation - In that constellation there is a particular twin star that our ancestors named Arundathi Vashistha. In south they have a tradition. After marriage the bride groom takes his newly wed bride out, and shows her this twin star in the night skies. Why so? Here is the incredible answer.

Most twin stars have one star in the middle and one star goes around it. However, this twin star has both the stars moving around each other in a wonderful symmetry. Now THIS is not easy to know through back of the envelope calculations. Nor is it an obvious to understand, through simple observation, phenomena. Here are some reasons that had me totally stumped.

First, to know it is a twin star. I mean, at that astounding distance how did they know it was not just a star but a twin star.

Second, how did they know it is a unique twin star and not a normal twin star - they move in a unique way around each other. One star is NOT the centre. Arundhati - Vasistha both revolve around each other making it a class apart. So Brilliant!

Third, they had no telescopes at that time. How in heavens did they know WITHOUT the telescopes that THIS was a 'twin star'.

Fourthly, to make the married couples see it and gain significance out of an celestial event... the message being, in marriage no one partner must ever be the CENTRE, they must be always be balanced, equally important and in rhythm. When the newly weds see it, they ought to learn not to dominate but to walk together around each other towards fulfilling the goals of life. This is all mind boggling.

Now from the skies lets move to earth. Do you know about the 'rust resistant' Ashoka pillar in front of Qutub Minar in Delhi? It was made almost 1800 years ago. There is another rust resistant iron pillar near Bangalore in Kollur where we have 750 cms of rain 6 to 8 months a year. Now this pillar has no protection. It is out there in the open. Yet hardly any rust. This pillar was made by the locals / tribals to welcome Adi Shankaracharya when he visited their village. They wanted to create a permanent reminder of his visit. Some say, this knowledge of making such pillars is lost today. You know what is stunning? With modern efforts we have not been able to decipher even today how to make rust proof iron. There are certainly a few theories that are floating around. However, non of these theories are used in production. These iron pillars were made a few thousand years ago. Incredible!!!

India held the knowledge how to distill zinc for over 3000 years. It has a very complex and peculiar method of distillation that is very difficult to master. In the fifteenth century the chinese too started making zinc. 1738 William Champion was the first britisher to get a patent for distilling zinc in the west. Till then, all the zinc in the world was made only in India.

Ancient Indian mathematician Bhaskaracharya, in his book Siddhanta Shriromani, had defined laws of gravity in 12th century, 500 years before Newton defined them for us. The speed of light was known to Indians since Vedic period, centuries before it was calculated by the Western world.

The amount of history, the amount of knowledge India had was phenomenal. When Europe was using bow and arrow to kill and hunt, we were distilling zinc. Have I got your attention now?

An interesting question is, what made Indians like this? The truth is all ancient scientists in India were sages. All of them did pranayama. All of them were meditators. Through these practices, they trained their mind into peak awareness. This led them to incredible understandings of the working of nature when backed by their sharp intellectual and a relentless pursuit of truth.

Ironically, with the rule of the Moghuls, invasion by the marauding Turks and the subsequent rule of the Britishers, we were left with shame and contempt of our own culture. We started mimicking the habits and culture of the invaders. We lost touch with our greatest strengths, the base of spirituality, the base of science, practice of meditation.

I heard in a speech by Mr Batliwala that one day when he had a packed schedule, Mahatma Gandhi said - "Today I will not be able to meditate my usual one hour. I will have to meditate for at least two hours. I need to be super efficient."

In aping the west, we dropped the important things that made our country and our countrymen, amazing.

We are still to change.

65 years after independence, we still do PT in schools and not YOGA. While all of us acknowledge the depth and wisdom of Yoga, we still do not train the youth in schools and colleges in pursuing it. It is pity we are still into PT. This is the legacy of the britishers. They knew to break this country and to rule this country, they had to break our culture and our traditions. They were successful.

'Late nights' was never the culture of India. Even wars would stop once the sun had set. The evening will be welcomed by bhajans at homes or in the courtyards of the hutments. The mornings will be welcomed by Bhajans in the temples. People would go first to places of worship and / or take blessings from the elders before leaving for work.

Today more than 20% of the population of Europe and US is in depression. A report says, last year, more than 20 million people in US went to see a practicing psychiatrist. We are aping their life style? For what?

I am not saying everything from the west or other cultures is wrong. There is indeed so much to learn from them. Discipline, quality, excellence, research, planning, thinking big, systems and processes etc can be certainly learnt from them by us.

What I am saying is this. India and Indians of the past have some incredible achievements to their credit. Some of these achievements, predictions and inventions are not yet understood or explained by modern science. Just imagine for a few moments. The blood of our forefathers run through our veins. Just comprehend their achievements. Understand you and me are made of the same stuff. If we can develop a few aspects of ourselves, we can do incredible things.

We have the same DNA, the same culture, the same knacks. We have breathed the same air and lived on the same land. We are superbly intelligent, highly spiritual, deeply cultured and possess phenomenal value for contributing and helping.

India was once called the 'golden bird'. In our land, Lord Vishnu is married to Goddess Laxmi. In our culture, Knowledge and Riches have always gone together. We have the mindset of abundance. Lets do it all over again.

The past has played its part. Now it is our turn. Lets live unto the legacy of our forefathers.

In yesteryears, people from all over the globe used to come to India to study. We, in Life School, have decided to play our part in resurrecting the education system of our country. In this direction we have taken our first step. We have purchased a land of 22 acres where this institution will come up.

I cannot say what YOU need to do.. What I certainly know is we NEED to do 'something'. Don't let this glorious country down. The future is waiting for you...

Let me put it very simply...

Either live in India and make it better OR leave India and make it better.

With loads of love, prayers and best wishes,

Narendra Goidani

As I Live... I Learn

What Is the Best Digital Photo Printer?

The best digital photo printer for you does not have to be the most expensive or the one with most features. What you should look for in a printer are the features that you would need. The basic functionalities that you need to consider are the resolution and print sizes.

Some photo printers are capable of producing high quality prints of up to 8000x6000 dots per inch. For the print sizes, there are printers that can produce pictures in wallet size, postcards, A4, and panoramic images. The more advanced printers also come with built-in LCD screens and memory card slots. So determine what you need to get the best digital photo printer for you.

HP Photosmart A826 Compact Photo Printer

This compact photo printer from HP is equipped with a 7-inch full-color touch screen with dedicated buttons on the side. Using the small stylus, you can crop, remove red-eye, add text and doodles, and play with the different frames and album formats. It produces high quality prints in 5x7 and 4x6 sizes, and it is really easy to use.

Canon Selphy ES3 Compact Photo Printer

Canon Selphy ES3 is also a compact photo printer that comes with a 3.5-inch LCD screen. Using Canon's Easy-Scroll wheel, you can browse through your pictures and make some minor adjustments as well. The dedicated buttons also allow you to add text, clip arts, and picture frames. The Selphy ES3 is equipped with a built-in memory of 1GB that allows you to store your photos right in your printer. You can print photos in credit card sizes and postcard sizes through PictBridge, Infrared, or Bluetooth.

Sony FP95 Compact Photo Printer

This compact and portable photo printer is equipped with a 3.6-inch LCD screen that you can tilt for a clearer view. It comes with a one-touch button to remove red-eye, and adjust the focus and exposure of your images. It can produce high quality images in just 45 seconds. You can print 4x6 photos, index prints, and photo IDs up to a maximum resolution of 8000x6000 pixels. And for a more vivid viewing experience, you can connect your Sony FP95 to your HDTV.

Epson Stylus R800 Ink Jet Printer

This is an award-winning printer that can produce glossy and matte photos in superb quality. It is the world's first printer equipped with 1.5-picoliter droplets capable of producing images up to 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi for ultimate clarity. You can print out long-lasting, border-free photos in 4x6, 5x7, and 8x10 sizes. The Epson Stylus R800 is also pretty fast for an inkjet printer. It can print a 5x7 image in just 45 seconds.

Canon Pixma iP100 Ink Jet Printer

The Canon Pixma iP100 is a mobile ink jet printer that produces laser-like quality images. You can enhance your photos using its Auto-Enhance Fix functionality. It is pretty fast for a mobile printer. It can print up to 20ppm in monochrome and 14ppm in colour. Equipped with PictBridge, Infrared, and Bluetooth technologies, Canon Pixma iP100 is the ultimate mobile printer.

HP Photosmart D7260 Digital Photo Printer

This photo printer is designed for home users who want a fast and easy way to print photos. Equipped with a 3.5-inch interactive touch screen, you can conveniently view and make subtle enhancements to your images before you print them. HP Photosmart D7260 performs pretty fast. You can print your 4x6 photo in just 10 seconds.

Canon Pro 9500 Mark II

This model is truly one of the best digital photo printers around. It comes with a high resolution of up to 4800 x 2400 dpi. It uses a 10-ink pigment system so you can produce high quality images that can either be glossy or matte. There is a new feature called Ambient Light Correction that automatically adjusts the color differences depending on your viewing environment.

Epson Stylus Photo R2880

This powerful printer is ideal for professionals who want to print out high quality images with exhibition quality. It lets you produce vivid images with a resolution of up to 5760 x 1440 optimized dpi. Equipped with Radiance technology, you can print out large format photos that are equally as detailed, such as 8x10 and 11x14 sizes.

HP Photosmart Pro B9180

This Photosmart printer from HP is ideal for professionals and artists who are very specific when it comes to their printed images. Equipped with the HP densitometric closed loop color calibration, it brilliantly measures color and density to automatically adjust your printer's settings. This technology allows you to print small 3x5 images to large 13x19 images that are very accurate in color. You can also print your pictures in a variety of photo media, such as small to large papers, panoramas, and even canvas.

Before you take your pick, make sure you take stock. What are essential features and what are must-haves? Will the printer be the right choice for you in years to come as well? Then make your choice based on these features and budget considerations. It is only then that you can be assured that you are getting the best digital photo printer for your needs.

Equipment Essential For Portrait Photography

Portrait photography is fun and not as tough as many new photographers thought. All you need is to learn how to engage your subjects, get the correct equipment and most importantly lots of practice.

Basic photography fundamentals like "Rule of Third", "Depth of Field", etc are still applicable and important when taking portraits. Therefore it is crucial that you have a good foundation of basic photography in order to produce results like a professional.

There is some what I deem as essential photography equipment when it comes to taking portraits. Items like fast lenses, reflector and external flash gun are important and necessary for me to capture good portraits that clients and I can be proud of.

When taking portraits, many photographers like the subject to be sharp with the background being out of focus. This is commonly known as shallow depth of field (DoF) effect and it can be easily achieved by shooting with a wide aperture.

With the help of fast lenses, you are able to achieve shallow DoF effect. The most commonly used ones for portraits are 50mm f/1.8 and 85mm f/1.8. They deliver great results and will not burn a big hole in your pockets.

You may find a reflector helpful under certain conditions to balance the light, filling in the shadows on your subject. A reflector is relatively inexpensive and easy to carry around due to its light weight. You may wish to use the golden side of the reflector to achieve a "warm" finish for your portraits.

External flash gun in my opinion is a very important piece of kit for portrait photography. Pop-up or built-in flash has limited power and flexibility to acquire good shots of your subject. Therefore an external flash gun is very crucial if you are really keen and serious into portrait photography. Of course you may wish to purchase studio lighting kits if budget is not an issue.

There are many different techniques and ways you can adopt when using external flash gun to achieve great different results. Off-shoe mount is a popular technique used for portraits, which can deliver amazing results up to your creativity!

Street Photography: Creativity at Its Best

Pictures speak a thousand words. It can express many unsaid emotions. Many people are fascinated by the art of photography. One of the most popular forms of photography is street photography. This type of photography is about capturing the true human emotions. It can be during any unguarded moments strewn in the streets, parks, wedding halls, concerts and bus or train stations. This passion can become a profession for many. When it comes to street life pictures, it doesn't require perfection in your work. It requires natural poses. It is not completely about technicalities of photography. It is an art of encapsulating life through the technical device. The camera to a street photographer is like a canvas to a painter. The camera holds for a street photographer's roving eye. If you are smitten by the photography skills, you can use different techniques and master the skill of sudden clicks.

Street photography does not require definition gadgets. It requires skills of capturing the right moment. In this photography the photographer connects with its subject and creates the magic with every other click. Street photography doesn't require any external sources like tripod, lenses, filters, lights, etc. they all prove to be useless in this technique of photography. In this method of photography the photographer needs great communication skills. He should not face an awkward moment when clicking a stranger. Human expression change with every second hence one has to be alert to get natural clicks. It requires good reflexes. To learn more about street life photography, you can look for free images online. Observing these images can be of great help. You can even check street photography blog on internet. On these blogs you may come across new techniques of clicking pictures.

Like any other art form, street photography requires practice and patients and skills. A street photographer has to be careful while selecting the elements to include. He needs to be highly empathetic towards his subject matter. They even need to maintain a safe distance so that they don't get carried away by the reactions. Other than skills of clicking pictures street photography also requires hard work. You might have to wander to many new places and click many pictures to get a final perfect street picture. Street photographs portray a mad world with surreal episodes. With the help of your best clicks, you can create your art portfolio. This portfolio will display your skills at its best. You can take guidelines from many online sources. There are many websites that render such pictures. You can surf for royalty free images on these websites.

These websites provide these images for free. You can take the right guidelines from these online stock images. On these sites, you may also come across many digital images. With the reference of these pictures, you can make perfect documentary of your portfolio. These pictures create impact on the minds of people. They represent the on goings of society beyond one's imagination.

Best Career Option in Media and Communication Industry

They say it takes only a determined mind to make a successful career. However when it comes to carving a niche in the media industry what it also takes is refined knowledge about the discipline. Of late, people have realized the power of mass communication and thus are opting for media courses to make a career in this field.

There are several wings of mass communication that one can opt for. It is thus a good idea to pick a stream and specialize in it so that you have deeper knowledge about that discipline. From journalism courses and public relations courses to advertising courses, you can opt for the one which you think you would want to make a career in. Most of the colleges and institutes that offer these courses believe in providing thorough knowledge as well as the practical training of the subject. Be it public relations course, advertising course or a journalism course the main idea behind is to develop a rapport with people belonging to all walks of life and diffusing information at the right time.

A career in media industry makes for a very dynamic and challenging one where one needs to remain on his toes all the time. Not to mention the fact that you get a chance to meet a variety of diverse people from all walks of life, it also lets you see things through different perspectives. Media industry is booming at the moment. Till a decade back there was no such momentum in this industry. However, today diffusion of information is taking place at a very fast pace. There are several new organizations entering the industry every other day which call for new talent and fresh ideas to offer something new to the audience.

There is no dearth of young brains that are determined to make a career in media. However, only a few manage to make themselves be seen in a pool of people. It is thus important to sharpen your skills and hone your virtues to see yourself earn a space. For this, enroll for a course in a reputed institute always helps. A good college would not just help you see things the way they are seen and done in the industry; they would also instill confidence in you to make your dreams come true. These colleges must have an infrastructure to boast of. Good infrastructure like radio lab, editing room, dark room for photography, camera lab and plenty of advanced equipments would ensure that the college would train you on practical aspects of the discipline.

Colleges in the Chicago Area

Chicago, Illinois sits as one of the major metropolitan areas in the United States, so it is natural that Chicago colleges not only provide a plethora of subjects to learn, but are also among the finest schools in the nation. Whether it is accounting or art, business or computers, fashion or construction, or any other career path you are interested in, Chicago has what you need.

Express Yourself

Some people crave a means of self-expression and thus want to study art. Well, there are universities in the heartland of Illinois that have you covered in that respect. You can apply to the Academy of Art University, the Illinois Institute of Art and the Brooks Institute of Photography, to name only three colleges around the city. On the other hand, maybe you like to work with your hands. In that case, consider Chicago Culinary Institute and the Chicago School of Massage Therapy.

What's in a Name?

And, these days, going to college does not mean having to actually drive to a campus. There are a whole host of options offering online programs. So, while these centers of higher learning might not require trips to Chicago itself, they are nonetheless part of the overall program. You can earn a degree from any of them.

Is there a Doctor in the House?

If the medical field is your chosen vocation, Chicago colleges offer a full range of courses in the medical sciences. You can earn a degree from the Chamberlain College of Nursing, or maybe the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. And then there is the Illinois School of Health Careers. Of course, many other Chicago colleges have pre-med, medical and other health related programs. Check out their web sites, and you will find all the classes you could ever want.

Change of Gear

Switching gears, it is a fact of life that technology continues to change and develop. So a degree in computer science, computer networking, electronic engineering, etc. can be earned from Chicago colleges like the Computer Systems Institute, the High-Tech Institute, and the ITT Technical Institute. In the case of the latter, ITT offers both online classes and has a campus in the city.

So, no matter your interest, colleges throughout the Chicago metropolitan area will meet your educational need. You can earn a degree in any field of endeavor, without irresolvable financial constraint. All institutions of higher learning offer scholarships, grants, and student loans. So pursue your dream of a college education in Chicago.

Some Ladies Gift Ideas That Are a Class Apart

While looking around for gifts for women site after site, we couldn't help but notice the staleness of these gifts and gift ideas. So, we decided to do some extensive research and came up with this great list of ladies gift ideas. Our listing is perfect for people who are looking to buy classy gifts for their girlfriends and wives.

Here it is:

• 
  Something Provocative: Your relationship started by both of you putting your best foot forward. If you're done trying to be good and courteous, we've brought you a naughty gift item to gift to your girlfriend. Make an online search for some popular online lingerie stores. The very same lingerie's are available with other online stores as well at lower prices but we know that this is one thing that isn't going to hold you back. Your girlfriend/wife is going to love this naughty gift from you.


• 
  A Sweet Pooch: For men who are hell bent on staying sweet all the time, this might come as a perfect gift to give to the love of your life. An exotic pooch is a great gift, a gift of life in a way! Take your time to choose an appropriate one for your girlfriend. Isn't it a great ladies gift Idea!


• 
  Exotic Jewellery: Had enough of popular brands? Well if you research carefully, you'll be able to locate a number of not so popular brands that cater to a niche market only. They do not produce jewellery for the masses. Well, this does not at all mean that their jewellery items are expensive.The designs are beautiful and exceptionally unique!


• 
  Wind Chimes: This might sound to be an unusual ladies gift idea but can form a perfect gift for a woman who enjoys her own space, her own company and a lot of peace and serenity. Do not gift it to her directly! Instead go to her place and hang it on one of her doors yourself. A Wind Chime is a great way to tell your woman that you care about her.


• 
  Stylish Boots: We never thought of these as a gift for women until we saw one of our friends do it. Her wife was around there and she jumped with joy. Even if you do not know her like or dislikes, we suggest you go ahead with this idea. There are a number of brands to choose from. Don't worry as you won't need to go hopping from shop to shop in the physical world. There are a plethora of options available online with discounts you aren't going to find anywhere in the real world. We hope you liked our ideas. We'll get you some more, next time around!

Luxurious Destinations For a Remarkable Wedding Photography

Wedding photography is a mixture of a fascinating profession and an extremely creative venture that records unforgettable moments of an individual's life. It has to contain a whole array of services from wedding announcements, engagement, and ceremony and up to reception. Nowadays, the technological development has made a way for digital photography that brings in a new arena for the wedding photography. There are two types of photography that can be used to make the event more memorable, namely, photojournalistic and conventional. Photojournalism is all about spontaneous and informal shots. With the mixture of contemporary styles of photography, you can have a more dynamic wedding photography.

Wedding photography has escalated to new levels with the idea of destination weddings. A skilled destination wedding photographer seizes the most beautiful and romantic event of the bride and groom in an exotic adventure that offers a further dimension to the pictures. Wedding cakes, flowers, and decorations ultimately fade away form our memory. However, the captured moments will stay forever.

The couples to be are the main center of the wedding ceremony. Therefore, they should be the focus of the photographer as well. The eventful day of the bride and groom and their involvement in several activities has to set the tone for the wedding album. Wedding photographers can interact with the couple and get every chance to photography their activities and expression. Aside from the couple, the family, friends, maid of honor, best man and the whole entourage are essential subjects of the photographer.

Now, not like a conventional wedding that is more time-consuming and monotonous, a modern wedding photography is dynamic. It is being inspired by patterns and styles usually seen in wedding publications and magazines. Effective wedding photography makes the wedding day a success. It likewise offers a unique and lively accent to the ceremony and framing all those treasured moments that will never come back.

New Trends in Aerial Photography Enhance Access, Clarity

Aerial photography has reached new heights over the last few years, bringing a bird's-eye view to places that are hard to reach and amazing to see. The digital aerial photographer has become the new trend in commercial and residential marketing ventures.

Development
A picture is worth a thousand words. Nothing can quite describe the details of a tract of land the way a photo can. Real estate developers and brokers can give potential clients a true view of property features using aerial cinematography. When done properly, every nook and cranny of the land is displayed. State-of-the-art land development projects now use air shots instead of or in addition to land photos to give their investors an idea of what it looks like at every stage of progress. These can be used to secure permits, additional investors and potential residents.

Access
Remote areas that are hard to reach are sometimes the most stunning sights to capture. Undisturbed waterways and land areas can be photographed from the air with digital cameras that portray real natural beauty. For islands and locations with limited road access, the new trend in photography from helicopters is a suitable alternative. Rather than chartering a boat or driving through jungles and beaches without roads, this gives consumers and companies an affordable alternative to see their property.

Remote Cinematography
The days of sending a camera man to the rooftops to capture the perfect shot for a movie or TV show are over. Technology has taken aerial cinematography to new levels with remote camera (RC) capabilities. Rather than endangering people or struggling to find the right angle from restricted landing areas, RC aerial photography is now used instead. These RCs can fly through narrow areas, like natural or man-made obstructions at high or low altitudes to take pictures or run film. Up-close shots are also possible with RCs when standard helicopter filming would be dangerous, such as close proximity to buildings or wires.

Depending on the aerial photography contractor, RCs may weigh about 10 pounds, making it possible to fly a variety of camera models. Using remote flying capability is less expensive than manned aircraft, which is practical for production companies with limited budgets.

High Definition
Clarity is crucial to any aerial picture. When limited access from a distance through haze clouds a shot, the photographer may need to consider using photos from a lower altitude with a better lens. For example, instead of standing behind the blurry mist of a waterfall in an attempt to capture the perfect view, aerial photography with high definition cameras are more effective. The camera can be positioned above the cascading water, rather than behind it. This eliminates water spots and blur. The camera can get close enough and produce a clear picture or video with high definition, one of most popular trends in photography today.

Venture Back Through Rugged Wilderness and Into The Old West: Hike Poland Creek, Crown King, Arizona

Summers in Arizona are hot! But that's just the central and southern portions of the state called the Sonoran Desert Region. What many people don't know is that here in Arizona even in the summer there are still plenty of beautiful and interesting places to go if you want to get outdoors and cool off for the day. So if you're up for a new hiking adventure with the possibility of getting wet, then check out Poland Creek, in the Castle Creek Wilderness, Crown King, Arizona, and journey back through rugged wilderness beauty and into the real old west!

I have always been interested in taking a trip out to Crown King which is located south of Prescott and in the Bradshaw Mountains, bordering the Castle Creek Wilderness. If you have a truck or 4wd then you should do just fine because Crown King is only accessible by a 27 mile all dirt road. But I recently joined an excellent local hiking group called the TLC Hiking Group, and when they said they were heading out to Crown King to hike down into a place called Poland Creek to a 30 foot waterfall with a large swimming hole called the "Big Dipper", I thought wow, that sounds pretty interesting and eagerly signed up.

So bright and early on a Saturday morning, I met the TLC Hiking Group at Anthem, just north of Phoenix at about 6:15am. Those of us with passenger vehicles car pooled with other members who had trucks, jeeps and 4wds. We were also advised to try and car pool together due to the limited parking available at the trail head. By 6:45am we were on our way to Crown King heading north on route I-17 until we reached the Bumble Bee exit, just past Black Canyon City. We exited the freeway and took a left onto FR 259. Most of FR 259 in the early 20th century used to be an old rail road line called the Bradshaw Mountain Rail Road and its one lane bridges are still being used today. We first passed through the small town of Bumble Bee, then on through an even smaller and much more old and rustic looking town, called Cleator. The drive on FR 259 is absolutely beautiful with scenic views all around as you slowly climb up in elevation and further into the rugged Bradshaw Mountains and Castle Creek Wilderness. Overall, I thought the road was in pretty good condition and in dry conditions would be very passable for regular vehicles if you took it slow enough.

We arrived up at the top, elevation 5500 feet, called Poland Vista Point, and our trailhead by 7:30am. It's not an easily recognizable trail head from the road but at mile marker 25, watch for the small pull out and parking area on the left. After a couple of group photos, we set out on our hike by 7:45am. In order to reach Poland Creek, you first need to follow the Algonquin Trail. The views of Horse Thief Canyon from the Algonquin Trail are breath taking and the decent, although a total of about 1000 feet, is really quite gradual. After making our way down, we hung a left and headed down into the canyon and into Poland Creek. This is where the hike actually becomes a bit more strenuous as you begin hopping over huge rocks and boulders in the creek bed. We continued on for a short ways past various small swimming holes until we reached the falls area, what's called the "Big Dipper". Unfortunately though, the water level at this time was too low and no water fall was running. A small group ventured on in search of another possible swimming hole while the rest of us hung back and rested. When they had returned, they reported having seen a full grown Black Diamondback Rattlesnake sunning itself on a rock!

After about an hour or so, and with temperatures starting to quickly warm up, we decided to head back. The return trip back over the rocks and boulders in Poland Creek, then up 1000 feet in elevation on the Algonquin Trail felt more difficult by this time. However, the scenic views of the surrounding area were again absolutely stunning as I stopped here and there to catch my breath and take some photos. Most of us had arrived back at the hill top where our cars were parked by about 11am for a total round trip hiking distance of about 3 miles.

After collecting our group at the trailhead, we got back into our cars and headed two miles down the road into the old west town of Crown King. They had a lot of road construction going but after only a couple of minutes wait, we were allowed into town and immediately were personally greeted and welcomed. We were also invited to have lunch at "The Mill Restaurant" up on the hill, an old reconstructed Gladiator Mill built in 1893, and said to have the best food in town, and it did! The food was great and the service across the board, very friendly, personal with everything done with a homemade touch. Really excellent! After lunch we decided to check out the rest of the town of Crown King. The town originated back in 1875 after a prospector found gold and then grew for about 45 years after that as a gold mining town with the Bradshaw Mountain Rail Road to support the mining economy. However the mines were not productive, they say, and the rail road went out of business early in the 20th century. Today, they still have a few gold mines in operation and mining their own gold too. It's definitely a very quaint town that hasn't lost its "rustic" old west history or charm. Nestled in the pines at elevation close to 6000 feet, the temperatures on this August day were warm, but mild, in the low 80's and with a slight cool breeze too. Perfect! After checking out the town's old saloon, Prospector Mall and General Store & Post Office, we returned to our cars and left Crown King at around 2:45pm.

The drive heading back down in elevation on FR 259, was single lane with many switchbacks and tight s-curves. It seemed a bit more hair raising too with a lot of oncoming trucks and construction vehicles, all of whom seemed to be driving at a fast clip. We almost went head on with a dump truck! But thankfully, my good friend Dan was a great driver with a lot of experience behind his belt so we were in good hands. We thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the beautiful drive and arrived back at Anthem, where our cars were parked by 4pm.

In all, it was a great day of fun, amazing mountain wilderness scenery, an excellent "moderate level" hike with some really wonderful people and a very enjoyable visit to the old west town of Crown King. So if you're up for a hiking adventure and a scenic day trip back into the old west, then I definitely would recommend checking out Poland Creek in the Castle Creek Wilderness, at Crown King, Arizona.

Become a Professional Wedding Photographer

In the network of photography professionals, many emails and phone calls are received from aspiring and novice wedding photographers. These beginners are typically seeking advice as to how to go about breaking into the business and how to succeed once business is established. Many of them embrace questionable motivation (i.e. it's easy money, they want a good side business, et cetera) but, once in the great while a novice will embrace a true passion for the craft.

Wedding photography can in fact be a profitable venture once success is achieved in the wedding industry. The wedding industry in itself earns 40 billion dollars annually, so it stands to reason that photography gets a big chunk of that. However, being a successful wedding photographer is not as simple as buying a new camera and printing some business cards. Wedding photography requires artistic viewpoints and talent, a sense of human emotion, mastery of photographic techniques, a business sense, and a desire to learn as much as possible about he industry while delivering top-quality work.

Some great tips for breaking into the wedding photography business are as follows:

o Educate yourself on photography first. To be successful in wedding photography, you must be a master craftsman. It will be your job to capture some of the most important events life has to offer. There should be no on the job training when it comes to wedding photography technique.
o A fancy camera doesn't automatically make you a good photographer. While the tools of the trade are important, good photography goes far beyond gadgetry. Take time to learn about composition, lighting, color, and artistry. Learning to use your new camera is only part of the equation.
o Learn to master digital editing and processing. Color management and file processing will be key to maintaining organization in your growing business.
o Make photography your passion. If you love what you do, your products will be that much better. If you're in wedding photography only for the money, you won't get very far. Couples can sense whether or not you're as happy to be photographing their dream wedding as they are to be marrying. Don't be dilusioned by the idea of making lots of money. According to the Professional Photographers of America "the average photographer in America makes about $24,000 a year".
o Remember that quality is more important than quantity.
o Don't be a copycat photography. Concentrate on developing a style that's all your own. Creating a unique style will ensure specialization in your field.
o Remember that a record of your work and effort will live on forever, so put your all into it.
o Don't force photographs. Try to capture natural human tendencies. Your photos will always be great if you do.
o Establish a network with other professionals. It's always good to have connections.
o Enter your photos into contests. This will ensure you're continually raising the performance bar.
o Always try to learn something new. Attend workshops, go to classes, never become complacent in business or in your craft. Making an effort to constantly improve will help you gain more business, thus making you more money!

Guide to Most Used Photo Restoration Software

Whenever fixing photographs, the most crucial tool you'll use is definitely the software. There are several alternatives on the market, from devoted photograph recovery software to photograph editing and enhancing leaders such as Photoshop.

• Photoshop is considered the king with regards to fixing photos. Largest is not always best, but in this case Photoshop is declared the winner. Its loaded with functions which will make picture repair far less difficult. I would personally wager that 99% of photo repair services employ Photoshop.You'll find several options to Photoshop, but this can be a downside to several applications: minimal documentation. As a rookie, you absolutely need as much documentation as you possibly can and Photoshop features that. Indeed it might appear like a very challenging program, however when it comes to photograph restoration, you will see merely a handfull of tools you must learn about,which methods give good results remarkably well compared to other programs. I would suggest finding out how to employ Photoshop or the free application GIMP brought up below.


• Photoshop Elements is not really nearly as powerful as Photoshop or GIMP, but it offers quite a few nice functions that enables some reasonable image repair. Photoshop Elements is Adobe's image editing computer software for novice photography enthusiasts, and small enterprise clients. Because the name indicates, Photoshop Elements is made around key elements of Adobe Photoshop, excluding a number of advanced, professional level options and including one of a kind characteristics for photo lovers. It offers a fully featured photo editor, image organizer, project templates, graphics and patterns, and sharing alternatives.


• If Photoshop would be the King of photo repair, then GIMP stands out as the Prince. This free software is nearly as powerful as the King him self, and although it is not as intuitive it's free of charge! GIMP is actually a versatile visuals adjustment package. Lots of digital image problems can be simply fixed using GIMP. Correct perspective distortion brought on by lens tilt simply by choosing the corrective mode in the transform tools. Eliminate lens' barrel distortions and vignetting with an effective filter but an easy interface. The incorporated channel mixer provides you with the flexibility for making your black and white pictures stick out the way you want. GIMP is good for advanced picture retouching methods. Eradicate unnecessary particulars while using clone tool, or modify moderate specifics very easily with the innovative healing tool. When using the perspective clone tool, it is not hard to clone items with perspective in your head.


• You can also find specialized software available that is created especially for photo restoration. I cannot recommend this software, as both Photoshop and GIMP offers a lot more freedom compared to other software.

Christian Posters and Prints Can Help Change the Atmosphere!

Change the atmosphere into something positive! Christian posters are and can be a simple reminder to our sons and daughters when they are faced with hard decisions to help make the right choices. Their making a wise decision because of the daily reminders is well worth the small investment of a Christian poster or print especially when you can not be there to advise or give them direction. Since most dorm room walls are bare and are in need of some color, creating a warm, positive and friendly atmosphere can be achieved with Christian art and prints.

Freshman in college often need a visual reminder that you care. In addition to classes, a beginning student is often faced with building a new communal network and staying grounded during the change. Seeing something from home or a Christian poster or print purchased especially for them will help keep them get through and be true to their core principles.

Christian art can also be a great starter for a conversation for those that need answers to help fight unnecessary peer pressure in their new environment. Christian art can communicate priorities in ones life, and let others know where you stand in your walk with the Lord. When it seems easier to give up, Christian art can offer support to keep going. Taking a few minutes to reflect on the picture and what it stands for can give them the power to stand in their conviction and values.

Everyone can connect with Christian posters and prints. Although we go through trials and tribulations we can always trust in God to "walk by faith" and not by sight. They are a must in everyone's dorm room, home, or office. They uplift and motivate us to stand strong in our faith. Bless someone you love with an inspiring Christian poster or print today and show them how much you care!

Digital Versus Film Photography

Most people today own a digital camera. The superfluous number of models on the market has made photography a hobby and activity that is no longer restricted to the professional. Further, with social networking websites and the online world, digital photos are easily shared and stored. But as with most technological developments that signify a departure from traditional or longstanding practices, a dialogue has emerged as to the benefits of digital versus film photography. The portability and ease of the digital camera makes it a more popular amateur photography option. However for professionals, there is still an argument as to the merits of both film and digital photographic cameras, with both versions still in use today. Here's a quick rundown of the advantages of both digital and film photography.

Advantages of digital photography

1. Instant review of pictures. Digital cameras allow photographers to assess the lighting and composition of their work immediately after taking a photograph. If need be, they can simply recapture the image.


2. Fewer ongoing costs. Once a digital camera has been purchased, it costs very little to take, and store, hundreds or even thousands of digital photographs.


3. Various functions and settings. Digital cameras can be used to capture videos as well as photographs, and there are a number of settings through which the photographs can be taken, such as sepia and black and white.


4. Metadata. Digital cameras are embedded with metadata. The time, date and model of camera are all recorded with the image and form part of the image's memory.


5. Digital manipulation. Once a digital photograph has been transferred from the camera to the computer, it is easy to digitally manipulate, retouch or affect the image.

Advantages of film photography

1. Better to capture detail. Film photography can pick up and capture greater variations between light and dark, making black and white film photography preferable to digital.


2. Photo quality. Film cameras produce photographs with higher definition than digital photography. For larger photographic prints, film cameras produce much higher definition and clarity than their digital counterparts.


3. Cost. For amateur or hobby photographers, digital cameras are affordable, easy to use and perfect for capturing special moments. For the professional, however, quality film cameras are significantly cheaper than their digital counterparts. Furthermore, because new digital models are continuously hitting the market, digital cameras tend to lose value rather quickly while film cameras usually retain their value over the years.


4. Aesthetics and tradition. Many photographers vouch for an aesthetic quality to film photography that cannot be replicated by digital cameras. Such advocates are also often drawn to the tradition and history of film photography.

There are pros and cons to both film and digital photography. For many photographers, however, the final decision rests on their personal style and their budget. Or, many dabble in a little bit of both! To find out more about photography and the differences between digital and film, there is a range of photography courses available. If you don't have time to attend classes, it is possible to study via distance education and learn the ins-and-outs of the trade on your own time.

Business Portrait Photography - Breaking Into the Market

Finding someone who is going to pay for your services is high up on your list along with sorting out the technical aspects of your new venture. At the end of the day, it all comes down to paying clients. Where are you going to find them? By the time you have completed reading this article, you should have some ideas on where to look for likely business portrait photography clients.

Think of where people connected to local firms congregate. Trading associations, chambers of commerce, and lunch clubs come immediately to mind. Network at these places and get your details out to people with a small brochure, if possible.

Find out the newspapers and periodicals in your area. Some of these will be targeting the world of commerce so get yourself mentioned in it. You could pay to advertise but a no cost method might be a better idea. For instance, you could hold a charity event such as taking photos of people in a shopping centre very cheaply and donating the proceeds to a local cause. Tell the paper in advance and get an article written about yourself as a result.

One of the simplest things is to use signs. It costs hardly anything to place a postcard in a shop window. Try printing something professional and placing it where traders might visit. The post office is a good example. Traders visit there to send mail to their customers each day.

Print a good quality flyer and deliver it yourself to shops, offices and factories. It will cost you hardly anything if you print it at home and the delivery is no more that your time. You might just bump into to someone and start talking about your business portrait photography service and get a client as a result.

Tell people what you do. Think of all the places that you go where you meet potential clients. Weddings, parties all sorts of social gatherings, in fact. Always have a supply of your contact details readily to hand to give out when you have mentioned what you do.

Make yourself an advertising calendar. You will only spend what you have budgeted for and you can see what is working and where you could do better. It can be built around the best times to advertise, too. It is essential that you are highly organised because you need to make every penny count.

Finally, get referrals from your existing clients. What is the easiest way to do this? Simple. Be amazing. Make your business portrait photography service so astounding that clients will naturally tell other potential clients about it.

Gold Coast Colleges and Accommodation

Gold Coast is the heaven for foreigners as Queensland greet them with golden sands and rolling waves of Pacific Ocean. Many people are considering to live their and find the best earning, learning and education facilities. Gold Coast accommodation is expensive for visitors, but if you are planning to study in Gold Coast College then it will be very helpful. As most of the colleges are providing accommodations along with study. It is the dream of many people to study abroad in international institutes, where they can excel their career in different fields. Because of popularity of the Gold Coast colleges and universities students are coming to get the quality education. Students are getting benefit from affordable accommodation, as for other people and travelers accommodation is very expensive. Gold Coast College offers the best education for international students; they keep their courses updated with the demand of the industry. Students can get successful career plan in different fields of life. Gold Coast art courses are very famous for international students; they can choose different photographic courses that can lead to interesting jobs in the industry like photo imaging assistant, real estate photographer and even you can set up your own studio.

Small class sizes of Gold Coast college provides you the best learning opportunity and which allows you to receive personalized attention by the qualified teachers. Small classes does not mean that there is shortage of space, they are designed in way keeping in mind that students get more attention in the courses. These colleges offer fully air conditioned campuses with qualified staff that are specialized in their respective field. The learning environment in Gold Coast College is of the best quality, providing the latest software and equipment. They have established agreements with famous universities like Bond University and Griffith University to provide quality education. The most important factor for students is a problem of transport and these colleges are easily accessible through private transport from different areas. The aim of the institutes is to provide quality education and their teachers are industries professionals updating their skills regularly. The most of the people suggest to study in Australia for quality education, students from the UK are now traveling to study abroad to enhance their skills in the field of Arts, Technology and business.

The accommodations provided by these colleges are at affordable prices with clean rooms and air conditioned rooms. They charge the accommodation fee with the duration of the course. These hostels are near colleges so that students reach the institutes easily and on time. Now with the increasing number of demand from international students they are increasing their space and capacity to fulfill the demand. The modern and newly built hostels provide the best studying opportunities. It is premier holiday destination of Australia, getting an accommodation at affordable is desirable for every student. With the beautiful 70 kilometers of coastal line, it is a perfect location for students which are studying photographic courses. It provides more than a place to study; as it is such an exciting and diverse place to live. If you plan to choose photography courses, then it will be a perfect location to utilize your skills. Make sure you choose the right Gold Coast College so that you get accommodation along with education.

The Law of Reciprocity - Camera Settings Like Shutter Speed, Aperture and ISO Explained

Perfect exposure settings: Reciprocity is the law of the relationship between shutter and aperture. It stipulates that one stop increases in aperture is equivalent to the shutter duration doubling. Both increase light by one stop.

Thus, once you have the correct level of light for perfect exposure you can choose to increase aperture by one stop and trade this off with a doubling of the shutter speed (halving of the shutter duration). Twice and much light coming in for half the time = same amount of light.

This allows the photographer to retain the same exposure but change either aperture or shutter for artistic or practical reasons.

In addition to this the photographer may wish to over expose or under expose. Understanding the law of reciprocity allows them to do this in a controlled and intuitive manner, understanding the exposure differences on the image PLUS the different changes to the depth of field or any motion blur increase or decrease.

Sometimes however, the aperture you want and the shutter speed required do not give an adequate exposure with the available light (either natural or including flash). Fortunately there is another variable which effects exposure with the same degree of effect and working in the same measurements of stops of light.This is ISO and refers merely to the cameras sensor's sensitivity to light.

You therefore have THREE variables at your disposal. Each however alter the image beyond just the brightness of the final image.

The Law of Reciprocity

In summary image brightness is determined by the amount of light that contacts with the light sensitive sensor and how sensitive that sensor is.

This is controlled by the duration of the exposure (the shutter speed), the intensity of the light (aperture) and the sensitivity of the sensor or film (ISO).

When setting these elements you take into account the law of reciprocity which states an inverse relationship between the intensity and duration the camera is exposed to in order to shoot at the correct exposure. ISO merely acts as an additional method of control.

Exposure = intensity x time so equivalent exposures can be gained by decreasing one variant and increasing the other proportiionally. So if duration is halved, intensity must be doubled.

Aperture How FAST does light get in.

Aperture is the diameter of the lens opening controlled by an iris. The larger the iris the more light gets in over a given period of time.

Aperture is discussed in f-stops' e.g. f/4 or f/2.8 (the length of the focal lens divided by the diameter) but like all things photographic this refers to stops of light. The smaller the f number the larger the aperture.

Apertures can be remembered with a simple concept, the numbers 1 and 1.4 doubling alternately. So

1, 1.4, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22, 32 with each one being an increase by 1 stop.

therefore f/1.4 is one stop higher than f/1... f/8 is three stops higher than f/2.8

Larger apertures are preferable in low light to allow more of the light in. Every lens has a maximum aperture or aperture range (for some telephotos where the aperture closes when zoomed in)

The larger your aperture however the shallower your depth of field.

Shutter Speed How LONG the lens lets light in for.

A cameras shutter normally remains closed. When the button is pressed the camera's shutter opens for a given period of time. (either set by you or the cameras auto settings). The 'Shutter speed' refers to how long the shutter stays open for.

A shutter speed of say 1/100 sec is open for twice as long as say 1/200 second, letting in light for twice as long.

Rather conveniently shutter speeds are discussed in seconds and fractions of seconds and can also be compared in stops of light with doubling of duration meaning an increase of 1 stop.eg.

1/ 100 second is 1 stop of light brighter than 1/200. 3 seconds is 1 stop less than 6 seconds.

Therefore, along with the aperture setting, shutter is controlling the light reaching the sensor or film. How sensitive that sensor or film is of course a different matter.

ISO How ligh sensitive is the cameras sensor or film?

ISO (International Standards Organisation) is an older concept from the days of film. It refers to sensitivity to light and brilliantly all round it works on the basis of again, stops of light.

The higher the ISO the more sensitive and the brighter the final image. ISO can therefore be used to effect shutter and aperture combinations.

If you find the shutter is too slow for the fast action you are shooting and you cannot achieve a wider aperture to allow light in faster to counteract the problem, you can then select a higher ISO making the camera more sensitive meaning you can speed up the shutter speed.

Standard ISO is measured as 100, 200, 400, 800.... and these doubling numbers represent 1 stop of light each time it doubles. 100~ISO is 1 stop of light darker than 200~ISO.... etc....

In summary, once you understand the relationship between shutter speed and aperture, and then how you can utilise ISO to further hone your settings you are safe to use a digital slr in its' manual mode and not have to rely on manufacturers program modes for lazy photographers. As these program modes make assumptions which may not be what you're looking for.

The Mental, Physical and Spiritual Health Benefits of Nature Photography As Your New Hobby

The primary reason you should take up adventure nature photography as your new hobby is that it promotes physical health and wellbeing. Physical health is important in all of our lives, and often it is difficult or mundane to force yourself to exercise in a repetitive routine. Many Americans suffer from obesity and a lack of physical activity is the cause for this disease. Taking up an active hobby such as adventure nature photography helps promote physical exercise in a unique and interesting manner. When I began gathering nature pictures and taking little hikes with my son in 2004, I weighed in at over 270 pounds. I was seriously out of shape, but now I weigh in at a trim 180, and have lost 90 pounds doing something fun and exciting.

Another important reason you should consider adventure nature photography is mental and spiritual health. Thousands of people suffer from anxiety and depression all over the world, and this is often caused by a lack of perspective in what really matters. If you take up adventure nature photography as your new hobby, the cares and concerns of work, school and the everyday stressful tasks of life will begin to melt away as you focus on the beauty and peaceful creation all around you. When you consider the way that God takes care of his creation, and that nature does not stress and worry about money or about what is going to happen tomorrow, we can then possibly begin to believe that he will, in his own way and time, take care of us even more than he does the animals and flowers in nature.

One of the greatest benefits of becoming an adventure nature photographer is that it will give you an interesting reason to spend more time with your friends and family. Loneliness can lead to depression and anxiety, and having a friend or a loved one to share a nature photography experience with helps to build and strengthen your relationship. Husband and wife, as well as parent and child relationships, are critical in all societies and cultures; as family is the primary building block of all our lives. I often will consider going to the mountains by myself, and when I picture doing this in my mind I think to myself, "I would be lonely going on my own", so I will ask my wife and kids if they want to go with me.

Although you may be concerned that you will not be able to hike if you are seriously out of shape or have another physical disability. You can begin by walking and hiking just a little at a time (such as walking in your back yard or neighborhood), and this will help you to build strength and endurance. Then again, you may be concerned that nature photography will be too expensive and you simply will not be able to afford a camera or equipment. However, quality point and shoot digital cameras are fairly inexpensive in today's market and you can obtain a high resolution digital camera that is easy to use and operate for less than a hundred dollars.

In conclusion adventure nature photography is an exciting hobby, which promotes physical health and vigorous exercise in an interesting way. When you have an interesting hobby such as nature photography, your focus will begin to see God's provision for creation and this helps you to mentally shift from monotonous daily routines, thus relieving stress and anxiety. Quality friend and family relationships are critical in all of our lives, and often an interesting reason to spend quality time together is all that we need. So, If you suffer from physical, mental or even spiritual health issues; and would like a way to spend more time with family and friends, you should consider adventure nature photography as your new found hobby.

Who knows, maybe if you take up adventure nature photography as your new hobby, it may develop into a small home business for you as well.

Remote Controlled (RC) Helicopters - Are They Toys or Tools?

Although they are a heck of a lot of fun to play with, RC helicopters like the Draganflyer is saving lives and solving crimes. It saves lives by reducing human exposure to hazards and helps solve crime by giving investigators a bird's eye view.

Draganflyer-x8 is an eight bladed RC helicopter that carries a digital video transmission IP camera system. This means it can take digital photos while simultaneously recording video. It can also carry infrared and low light cameras for night search and rescue operations. Four brushless electric motors power eight counter rotating carbon fiber rotor blades which lets the Draganfly move through the air with minimal noise. This makes it the perfect recon platform for swat teams who need to gather intelligence without being detected. Draganfly's phenomenal stability and maneuverability is achieved by varying the speed of each individual rotor and an array of on board sensors which include GPS, one barometric sensor, three accelerometers, three gyros, and three magnetometers. Engage the hover hold function and the GPS will lock the Draganfly into a three dimensional position for as long as needed. Another remarkable feature of this RC helicopter is its ability to auto land.

So who is using this technology and what are they using it for?

1. Law Enforcement

繚 Accident scene analysis
繚 Crime scene analysis
繚 Swat team recon
繚 Bomb squad recon

2. Fire and Emergency Services

繚 Fire damage assessment
繚 Hazmat recon
繚 Fire investigation
繚 Fire scene control

3. Real Estate Applications

繚 Golf course promotion
繚 Real estate promotion
繚 Property assessment

4. Professional Photography and Video

繚 Wild life
繚 Weddings
繚 Music videos
繚 News media
繚 Advertising

5. Education

繚 Advanced UAV research
繚 Colleges
繚 Universities
繚 Technical institutes

Ok, so you still think a RC helicopter is just a toy? What if our toy weighed 6,000 lbs. and was powered by an 813 shaft horse power Rolls Royce turbine engine? It would be called Fire-x, The Northrop Grumman and the Bell Textron-owned vertical unmanned air system (VUAS).

Fire-x is a fully autonomous unmanned helicopter. It combines all the outstanding capabilities of the Bell 407 with the US Navy's Northrop Grumman MQ-8B fire Scout UAV. This meaning the Fire-x can carry a useful load of 3,000 lbs. or recon up to 16 hours or carry 2500 lbs. of internal or external cargo up to 110 nm. On December 10, 2010 at the Yuma Proving Grounds in AZ. the fire-x lifted off for the first time. With many more tests to go the fire-x is not operational yet but in the air only 11 months after its inception is a fantastic start.

Imagine your child with the biggest smile you have ever seen on their face as they dive and climb that RC helicopter around the back yard. Now picture a US Special Forces Ranger guiding his Fire-x through the mountains.

So I ask again, RC helicopters, toys or tools?

What Can You Learn At Art School?

One of the things many people say as they get older is that they wish they had gone somewhere like art or music at school or at college which would give them that bit more satisfaction from their life. It is a sad fact that many people as they approach middle age, tend to have regrets about what they have chosen to do with their life. Luckily though, it is never too late to go back to Art College and learn about something you always wanted. This of course holds true for people of any age too.

Here is some information on what you will have to look forward to if you do apply and get accepted.

Art History

One of the first major classes you will have will focus on art history. For people who have a natural affinity to modern art, this are of study may make you want to stay in bed all day but it is very important part of art school. Knowing the history of art will give you a mature outlook on your own style of painting and will allow you to have as rounded an opinion as possible about all the many paintings and sculptures that people generally refer to as the classics. Being able to follow styles of art and also the particular methods used by certain artists will allow you to transfer all the perceptions people have about that piece on to your own with a skilfully homage to your subject.

Technical Skill

Art school will of course teach you all the technical skills you need to be able to produce pieces in a range of mediums. You will learn about brush technique and selection, how to create affects using different art materials and proper use of easels. It will teach you about creating depth using shadows and perspective and about how to play with people's perceptions to provoke an appropriate response to your work.

Emotional Skill

An important skill you will also learn is how to get in touch with your emotions. Often a teacher will ask you to try and draw out the emotions of your subject and reproduce them on the page. This will help you to explore your own emotional maturity. Photography is popular form of artistic expression which has touched all our lives through newspapers and films, and art school can teach you how to capture those key moments that will really grab an audience or convey a message which gets a response. After all, a picture tells a thousand words.

Five Types of Portrait Photography

Pictures are not only means to capture memories; they are also an efficient way to express creativity. Portrait photography or portraiture is one way to express a person's mood and personality. With a camera and good lighting, you can create drama and art out of you or other persons' body.

Portrait photography usually gives emphasis on a person's face. Modern photographers however, incorporate other parts of the body and different types of background. Portraiture comes in five different types, namely candid, creative, gritty, nude, and fashion photography. Read on if you want to know more about these types.

- Candid - The subject is photographed without his or her knowledge. This way, what shows in the picture is the natural side of the person. Clicking the camera while people are moving results in interesting facial reactions and amusing poses you can never get from models projecting before the lenses. This however, involves a certain responsibility as an artist. You simply can't release or publish your candid photos unless your subject signs a "model release form" as permission.

- Creative - Creative photography aims to take pictures that are more uniquely artistic. This type of portrait photography can be done with the application of different focus techniques, angles, lighting, lens types, and other elements. Photographers experiment with their cameras, other elements, and sometimes their subjects to come up with artistic shots. Creative portraits often make the subjects more interesting.

- Gritty - Most gritty portraits come in black and white. Models show different emotions to add drama to the entire photo. Most pictures appear fairly grainy, thus the term gritty portraits. Light is one crucial element in creating such photos. It helps emphasize the features of the face and other elements in the picture.

- Nude - Many people often see nude photography as a form of pornography. Most photographers practicing in this area believe the human body is one the most interesting subjects. Nude photography is all about art and not a means to express any sensual meaning. Pose and lighting go hand in hand to make great nude pictures. When you want to have a nude portrait of yourself or with your partner, ensure the photographer is professional enough to make it look classy and not against your preference.

- Fashion - As the name implies, this type of photography focuses more on the clothes worn by the subject. Most fashion portraits come in full body shots to show the overall appeal of the dress or any piece of clothing. Some fashion portraits come in close up shots to show more details of the garments. Backgrounds and locations are also important in this type of photography. These elements must match the clothes to express glamour or display a brand of clothing.

Many photography studios today offer different photography services. They offer services from wedding and events to daily family photos. Whether you want nude or creative picture, search online for professional photography services.

Louisville's Art Community - Leading a Vibrant and Diverse Life Bringing Fine Lasting Impressions

Louisville's vibrant and diverse arts community includes lively and active theatrical activities provided by the talented effort of Actors Theatre of Louisville, a Tony-Award-winning repertory theatre housed in a 1837 bank building now designated as a national historic landmark.and whose stone columned portion is one of the oldest buildings in Main Street and one of the finest examples of small scale Greek revival architecture in the U.S. As the centerpiece of the city's urban cultural district, Actors Theatre has made significant economic impact on a vital downtown life and won high acclaim for its artistic programming and business acumen in sponsoring the annual Humana festival of plays which have gone on to New York and London and other ingenious stage productions. The Broadway Series hosts touring productions of Broadway's best. It also presents approximately six hundred performances of about thirty productions during its year-round season, composed of a diverse array of contemporary and classical fare attracting one of the largest per capita subscription audiences in the country with an annual attendance of over 200,000.

Shakespeare's plays are continually being staged at the Central Park at South Fourth Street thus transforming Louisville into the Bardstown in summer. But sadly we missed Shakespeare when we trouped down there from our Kurtz Hall residence just up the road one evening and waited in vain for him and the players. We were to see either As You Like it or Romeo and Juliet.

Walden Theatre, the leading theatre conservatory for young people in the U.S, one of the few annual theatre festivals celebrating William Shakespeare in the annual Young American Shakespeare Festival, which are often presented at the Kentucky Center the three stages of which are always alive with entertainment from Broadway to Bach and featuring bagpipes to bluegrass. Five major arts groups delight the senses with music, dance theater, drama and more while its mirrored exterior reflecting the surrounding city. Opened in 1983 the center has multiple performance venues for the internationally renowned Louisville orchestra famous for its recordings of contemporary works, the Louisville ballet and Kentucky Opera which is the twelfth oldest opera in the U.S., the Broadway Series, Stage One, The Louisville Children's Theatre and extraordinary local, national, and international talents.

Images Friedonas Gallery features Julius Friedman's posters as well as works by many other nationally and internationally respected artists. This 10,000 square feet gallery in the Louisville Design Center, located in the downtown hotel and entertainment district, features a variety of plays and concerts.

The Louisville Palace, the official venue for the Louisville Orchestra, is an elegant, ornate theatre in downtown Louisville's so-called theatre district. In addition to orchestra performances, the theatre also features an array of popular movies, old and new, as well as concerts by popular artists. Located nearby is the Kentucky Theater, which was built in 1921 and operated for 60 years as a movie house, but was closed and almost demolished in 1986. Ultimately it was saved by local arts advocates, and the newly renovated Kentucky Theater opened its doors in 2000 and has become a vibrant community arts center and art film house.

The Kentucky Art and Craft Foundation Gallery serves as a spectacular retail outlet for some of Kentucky's finest craftworks and sponsors regular traveling exhibits and workshops.

The Fund for the Arts the first and oldest in the U.S. has the bust of its founder former Mayor Charles Farmsley sitting proudly as if still alive in front of its headquarters.

Louisville is distinguished, like many American cities, with a multitude of museums of art, science and sports as well as monuments and historic sites and homes preserved for posterity amongst which is The Speed Art Museum which I happened to have visited in June 2006. Though described as the state's first art museum holding collections spanning 6000 years with works by Rembrandt, Picasso, Monet, Rubens and Moore, modern American, African, ancient and Native American artists being exhibited here our visit was focused on the highly eclectic and post-modernist work of the African-American alumni of University of Louisville, Sam Gilliam whose works have traveled far and wide in America up to the Corcoran Gallery. His works are an adventurous and experimental combination of techniques and materials: pastiche, cloth-dyeing, candle work, wood, formica, mat-marking and pottery used to amazing effects especially in his daring display and combination of colors and use of space and the suggestion of patterned folds and ties hanging loose from the ceiling. An art learning center, a café Bristol and a Museum Shop exhibiting and hawking artifacts, curios and dresses from all over the world adds to Speed Arts Museum's compulsion.

The Speed Art Museum was founded in 1925 by Hattie Bishop Speed as a memorial to her husband, James Breckinridge Speed, a prominent Louisville businessman and philanthropist. Designed by Louisville architect Arthur Loomis, the museum opened its doors on January 15, 1927, with an exhibition sponsored by the Louisville Art Association.

In 1934, the museum received Its first major donation, a valuable collection of North American Indian artifacts given by Dr. Frederick Weygold in 1934 was followed in 1941 by, Dr. Preston Pope Satterwhite making a significant gift - his collection of 15th century and 16th century French and Italian Decorative Arts including tapestries and furniture.and in 1944, he donated the English renaissance room, which was moved in its entirety from Devonshire, England necessitating an enlargement of the museum. The addition bearing his name was completed in 1954, as the first of three additions to the original building.

The Speed Art Museum Kentucky's oldest and largest art museum with over 12,000 pieces in its permanent collection boasts of an extensive and historic collection ranging from ancient Egyptian to contemporary art featuring distinguished collections of 17th century Dutch and Flemish painting, 18th century French art, Renaissance and Baroque tapestries, and significant holdings of contemporary American painting and sculpture. African and Native American works are a growing segment of the museum's collection. On its upper level, small cabinet galleries provide an intimate atmosphere for the museum's collection of European paintings and sculpture.

During the tenure of Paul S. Harris the first professional director from 1946, acquisitions to the collection were made mostly in the areas of decorative arts and furniture. In 1962, he was succeeded by Addison Franklin Page, curator of contemporary art at the Detroit Institute of Arts. who further enriched and expanded the museum collection. After another major addition to the building in 1973, the Speed celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1977 with the acquisition of Rembrandt's magnificent Portrait of a Woman. Mr. Page and the Board of Governors led the campaign to raise the $1.5 million necessary to purchase the work, one of the museum's most significant acquisitions.

Mr. Page retired as Director in 1984 and was followed in 1986 by Peter Morrin, who was formerly curator of 20th century art at the High Museum in Atlanta who in continuing the enrichment of the collection, initiated an outreach program to involve the communities the museum serves. While the museum was closed for a dramatic renovation project in 1996, the museum received a life-changing gift, a bequest of more than $50 million from Alice Speed Stoll, granddaughter of James Breckinridge Speed. The bequest one of the largest given to any art museum significantly increased the Speed's endowment, ranking it among the top 25 in the United States. Mrs. Stoll's bequest secured the museum's future and has allowed for several significant acquisitions including Jacob van Ruisdael'si, (1653), and Paul Cezanne's Post-Impressionist masterpiece, Two Apples on a Table (about 1895-1900).

Since reopening in November 1997, the Speed Museum has dazzled the region with exciting traveling exhibitions,and new acquisitions to the permanent collection. It has also benefited greatly by a bequest from the estate of long-time Board of Governors member General Dillman A. Rash who left the museum works by Marc Chagall, Jean Dubuffet, Paul Klee, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and Maurice Utrillo.

The museum supported entirely by donations, endowments, grants, ticket sales, and memberships focuses its collection on Western art, from antiquity to the present day. Holdings of paintings from the Netherlands, French and Italian works, and contemporary art are particularly strong, with Sculpture prominent throughout. Representative artists include Rembrandt van Rijn, Peter Paul Rubens, Giovanni Tiepolo, Henry Moore, Thomas Gainsborough, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, and contemporary artists Frank Stella, Helen Frankenthaler, Sam Francis, Petah Coyne, Sam Gilliam, Vito Acconci, and Juan Munoz.

The Speed Art museum has come a long way since Mrs. Speed first opened the doors to the original museum nearly 80 years ago with its magnificent building and impressive collection of over 13,000 pieces serving more than 180,000 visitors each year, making it a nationally recognized institution.

The Speed Art Museum's original 1927 limestone building was designed by Louisville architect Arthur Loomis. Loomis chose the Greek Revival style for the exterior and employed large skylights in the roof to bathe the galleries in natural light. There have been three major additions and one extensive renovation to the original 1927 building.

The Preston Pope Satterwhite Wing was added in 1954 to honor Dr. Satterwhite, a prominent benefactor of the museum. The Satterwhite Wing contains much of his own collection of medieval and renaissance works including tapestries and other decorative arts. A focal point in the wing is a 17th century carved period room from England.

The North addition, designed by Brenner, Danforth, and Rockwell of Chicago, opened in 1973. This addition showcases the museum's 20th century art and features an auditorium and café.

The South addition, the museum's most recent wing, designed by Robert Geddes of Princeton, New Jersey, opened in 1983. On its upper level, small cabinet galleries provide an intimate atmosphere for the museum's collection of European paintings and sculpture. Also included in the addition are special galleries for temporary exhibitions.

Today, the Speed Art Museum has over 150,000 square feet of gallery, exhibition, and administrative space, making it the largest collection of art paintings, sculpture, furniture, and decorative arts by Kentucky artists. Since completing a major $12 million renovation and expansion in 1997, the Speed has brought major exhibitions of photography, painting, design, and sculpture to the region to help fulfill its ambitious mission: bringing great art and people together

The Speed Art Museum is housed in the University campus whilst the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, is located in Louville's "Museum Row" in the West Main District of downtown. It is a nonprofit organization founded in 1981 to continue the art and craft heritage of Kentucky through the support and education of craft artists and education of the public. It supports regional as well; as national artists thus illustrating Kentucky's long heritage of fine functional and decorative wood-working. The museum is supported in part by the Fund for the Arts and Kentucky Arts Council, a state agency of the Commerce Cabinet. Founded in 1981 by Phyllis George Brown, then First Lady of Kentucky and former Miss America, the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft (formerly Art and Craft Foundation) was started as a dream to build interest in Kentucky's rich craft and art resources. With the help of Mary Shands, the seeds were quickly sown for the Kentucky Art and Craft Foundation to continue to develop and eventually have a physical presence in Louisville. In 1984 the organization moved into the lower level of 609 West Main Street for retail and exhibition space and in spite of West Main Street being very deserted, the importance and popularity of the organization exploded.

The Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft was established to promote the rich art and craft heritage of Kentucky through three main areas of programming: exhibition, education, and support of artists through a retail Gallery Shop. Since 1984 the organization has presented over 175 exhibitions, reaching approximately 65,000 viewers annually thus becoming a leader on the national forefront in preserving and advancing the art and craft heritage of Kentucky. by 1991. As part of the national "Year of the American Craft" the organization was recognized for its exemplary and unprecedented contributions to the documentation and interpretation of the cultural history of the commonwealth.

The organization has seen artists progress from novices to masters and Main Street transform from an almost a deserted noncommercial street to a thriving business and cultural district. By bringing the work of nationally recognized artists to Kentucky and by bringing the work of Kentucky artists to the national scene, KMAC has been able to preserve art and craft heritage and advance it.

Over ten years ago the organization started educational programming as part of their mission. In January of 2001 the organization purchased two adjacent buildings at 715 and 717 West Main Street in the heart of Louisville's West Main Street Historic District. Built in the 1880s the building is a four-story cast iron structure with a beautiful pastel facade and giant windows. After renovation, the facility provides the organization with 28,500 square feet of interior space in which to operate, spread over four floors and a lower level.The new facility increased the size and visibility of the Gallery Shop, with frontage on Main Street, and houses three exhibition galleries: the Steve Wilson Gallery, the Mary & Al Shands Gallery, and the Lindy & Bill Street Gallery. The Lindy & Bill Street Gallery, on the second floor overlooking Main Street, is rented for meetings and entertaining. The third floor houses the Education Center and the fourth floor is used for administrative offices.

Just across the street we saw the Frazier International History Museum holding as ever a collection of arms, armor and related historical artifacts dating from 1,000 years back.

West Main Street at the center of Old Louisville downtown is at the heart of the cultural district featuring the second largest collection of cast-iron facades in the U.S, which in itself is a collection of the rarest arts in the world as well as a reservoir of individual art pieces as well as artistic activities..

Iroquois Park is the home of the renovated Iroquois Amphitheater which hosts the productions of Music Theatre Louisville as well as a variety of musical concerts in a partially covered outdoor setting.

Louisville is home to a thriving music scene with bands such as the widely known Flaw, Musica Silentis Doloris (MSD), False, Incursion 502 and Evil Engine 9. It is also home to the former members of the once post-grunge band Days of the New.

On Fourth Street in downtown is the brand new Fourth Street Live! outdoor entertainment complex, which features a wide variety of restaurants, stores and nightclubs. The complex sponsors many free concerts, as does the popular Waterfront Park.

The large performing arts community played a role in the relocation of ZFX Inc, the second largest theatrical flying special effects company in the world, from Las Vegas to Louisville in 2006.

FURTHER READING ON ART IN LOUISVILLE:

http://www.art-sanctuary.org/about.php

http://www.louisville.com/

Benefits of Photo Directories for Your Church and How to Create a Photo Directory

My family and I have moved fairly often and without exception, every time I unpack the attic I come across my yearbooks. Some are from elementary school and others from college and I just have to stop and flip through and see what I looked like, remember old friends and see familiar faces. Times change, people grow, mature and dare I say it, age. Things keep moving on, time waits for no man. That is why I enjoy flipping through those photographic treasures and in a sense time stands still and we are forever on that playground. A church directory is very much like those school yearbooks it gives us something useful presently and will even serve as a time capsule as the seasons and years march on.

Maybe you are bad with names but remember faces very well. This is where a church photo directory can be of easy and tremendous help. It has been said that the most wonderful sound any human will ever hear is the sound of their own name. All my high school career, I wanted to be the starting kicker on the football team. Schools around us have sent kickers to the NFL so competition was great. My senior year I was not the starting kicker but was the starting punter. In a game against a great rival I'll never forget taking the snap, stepping, releasing and feeling the ball jump off my foot only to hear the home team announcer scream my name over the loud speakers. God blessed that kick, I suppose angels carried it. I don't remember the punt so much as I remember my name being called. We can give that to others in our church by simply reviewing the directory and greeting them personally.

A photo directory is also a wonderful tool as many of them will also contain birthdays. If you are like me and forget when your own birthday is, it really helps to have an at home reminder of when our friends turn another age older-though of course they don't look it! A phone call or a simple note or card on that day is a blessing to them, all because you took out a directory to see who had birthdays this month. Another important time in the life of members is anniversaries. Most directories include them as well and the same joy and appreciation is there for those whose anniversary is commemorated by others too. Using the directory for these purposes actually helps a congregation grow closer together as life's moments are recognized and shared.

Perhaps someone new comes to the church and wants to put together a children's program or event, a church directory is an easy way for them to see just how many children the church has and how they can get in touch with their parents. In some cases, a directory can help people see family relations and connections with greater clarity and understanding. Sometimes churches need a little something to get excited about or talk about and a new directory does just that. People check schedules, make appointments to have photos taken (most of the time orders can be made to purchase the family pictures) and then eagerly await the distribution. Also, when the church has an event or occasion of great importance and photos are taken and put in the directory, you will have that memory there for you to look back upon and live it afresh.

Usage of Royalty Free Images Of India

India is a country which conjures up thousands of remarkable impressions. For different people, India has distinctive significance. A backpacker would envision India as a land of the mesmerizing Ganga with its timeless Ghats, pristine Goan beaches, The Taj Mahal and snake-charmers. A tourist would perceive India, as a land of temples like Khajuraho, monuments, amazing history and 1411 tigers. A software entrepreneur in California would see India as a land of techies with glass buildings containing the world's most sophisticated hardware and software systems. Spiritualists love India for Yoga, meditation and Kama Sutra.

India is a delightful collage of images, vivid, vibrant and brimming with emotions. Be it Yoga or the tiffinwala's of Mumbai, be it Prince Charles or President Obama, people from all across the world are fascinated with the unique culture, history and people that makes India.

As India continues to charm the rest of the world, there has been a steady rise in the need for pictures showcasing India. There is a growing demand of pictures portraying the diverse length and breath of this beautiful country. The market of Royalty free Images in India is growing speedily. Just as India is making progress in leaps and bounds, so is the segment of Royalty Free Images. It seems like everyone wants to be a part of the great Indian Success story!

There are several established and upcoming stock photo websites that offer clients all over the world a pie of Indian images. Such royalty free websites transcend the boundaries of time, money, space and red-tape. There is a plethora of Indian images to choose from. The categories may be typically Indian with fantastic images of Indian history, monuments and culture. There are some websites that even showcase Indian festivals, clothes and religions. At the touch of your finger tips, you have the most beautiful models brandishing fancy designer wear clothing. At the click of the mouse, you are in the world of Navratri Garbas, Ganesh Mahotsav's and Deepavali Rangoli's. An in-depth search would bring you to the fields and villages in the heart of India.

With these royalty free image websites, your dreams of easy and inexpensive advertising and marketing are now a reality. Gone are those days when you would need to organize a photo shoot and spend a fortune on your advertising and marketing campaigns. With a simple computer download, you can literally bring Incredible India in your office, work place or institution. Whether you need people, dressing, culture, food, children, teenagers, relations, feelings, and many more are available to you through an easy download. The images available on such stock photo websites are not only royalty free but their quality is amazing. Photos are updated regularly to keep your glass overflowing with colourful and diverse images.

There are multiple stock photo websites you can buy impressive Asian origin pictures at highly affordable rates. These royalty free image site offers an amazingly wide spectrum of images to cater to different individual or organizations. You are sure to find whatever you looking for in India. Pictures of bright yellow mustard fields of Punjab screened in Bollywood films, Yoga positions, Indian vegetables, jewelry, spices, Indian Namkeen and Mithais or photos of modern-day India.

How can royalty free images help you? Let's take an example of a travel website or a travel agency. Such businesses would constantly need appealing pictures to allure their clients. With rising copyright issues, availability of such images is difficult. With the help of websites offering Royalty free Images, they can find spectacular range of pictures without creating a hole in their pockets. An easy subscription can guarantee them an annual supply of superb pictures without the headache of copyright issues. The Taj Mahal is at their fingertips! The travel agency can download images of even lesser known monuments like the Charminar of Hyderabad to spice up its business. Pictures of wildlife, food, clothing and cultural festivals can be used to entice potential clients.

The uses of royalty free images are unlimited. Given the benefit of low-cost and superior quality, such websites will change the process of modern marketing campaigns. With the help of these royalty free images, you can give your business a new exotic edge over your competitors. Hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, travel agencies, schools, colleges, real-estate companies, banks, insurance companies, hotels, students and many others will benefit by using these websites.

Incredible India is literally a click-away! Click your way through such stock photo websites and leave with unimaginable memories etched in your mind.

Koh Haa - Diving & Snorkeling Paradise in the Andaman Sea

The Five Islands of Koh Haa - a Diving & Snorkeling Paradise in Thailand

Thailand is well-known as a great place for diving and snorkelling, with many travel guides recommending the countless locations along its tropical coastline, however to many people, the five islands of Koh Haa offer a unique experience for both divers and snorkelers. Situated just 10km from the south-west tip of Koh Lanta, Koh Haa is easily accessible and features several breath-taking areas for diving and snorkeling.

The warm, clear waters of this small island group are home to many spectacular sights and there is such a wide and diverse variety of marine life that you are likely to catch a glimpse of several rare and elusive species, from nudibranchs and sea moths to frog fish and seahorses, and even the occasional whale shark gracefully passing through. Koh Haa is always full of surprises.

For snorkelers, beginner divers and more experienced divers, there is something at Koh Haa for everyone, an experience greatly enhanced by using a knowledgeable local diving or snorkelling guide who will make sure you enjoy everything this unique paradise has to offer.

Koh Haa Lagoon

The lagoon is a personal favourite of many a visitor to Koh Haa. It is a shallow, protected area that lies between 3 of the islands, full of both soft and hard coral, and providing a safe nursery-style area for many juvenile fish species.

The shallow and crystal clear water makes it an excellent spot for try dives, scuba diving courses, snorkeling and bubble makers. The lagoon is perfect for any family day out in paradise. Children from age 8 can take their 1st step into the underwater world, becoming a bubble maker in an easy, safe and exciting dive experience.

The visibility of the lagoon area is always spectacular. Ranging from 18 to 30 meters, this is great news for divers and snorkelers alike. The two islands which surround the lagoon are perfect for both certified divers and divers who've had some time out from the underwater world. With an average depth of 5 to 30 meters, the best way to get as much out of your dive as possible is to plan your journey around the islands of Koh Haa Two and Four.

Throughout this dive, you're likely to spot, yellow boxfish, hawksbill and green turtles, banded sea snakes, lionfish, leopard and black-tip reef sharks, butterfly fish, trumpet fish, squid, barracuda and countless schools of tropical fish - the list is endless! Like any dive site, the lagoon has its permanent residents. A resident favourite has to be "Pete" the porcupine fish. His friendly face will follow you around your entire lagoon dive, making you feel at one with his world.

For macro photography enthusiasts, the lagoon and all other Koh Haa islands offer countless opportunities for the patient and keen diver. Ghost pipefish, seahorses, nudibranch, sea moths, frogfish and various shrimp are all regularly spotted, and that's just to name a few.

Koh Haa One (The Chimney)

The island of Koh Haa One is only a few minutes boat journey from the lagoon and boasts a tall vertical chimney which you can easily swim through. Starting from 5 meters, and dropping to around 15 meters, the chimney itself is filled with crustaceans and tiny glassfish. Once out the of chimney, a large arm can be seen holding a bundle of life, including a resident sea horse. Along the way, be sure to keep your eyes open for large schools of snapper, trevally, barracuda hunting along the reef, along with the shy octopus, cuttlefish and many other Koh Haa residents.

Koh Haa Five (The Cathedral)

The large cavern located on Koh Haa Five is nick-named the Cathedral, easily accessed through an opening from 6 to 13 meters. With high ceilings and imposing stalactites, you can surface inside the Cathedral and witness the breathtaking view above and around. There are two large entrances where the natural light filters through, giving the Cathedral cavern a twilight atmosphere. Be sure to take along your camera, as this is one shot you don't want to miss.

Continuing around island Five, numerous species can be found including, harlequin shrimps, leafy ghost pipefish, gorgonian sea fans, spiny lobsters in cracks and the magnificent whale shark. The whale sharks can visit any time of year, so be prepared to be graced with their beautiful presence.

The shallow area in front of the beach is a must see for snorkelers and great for beginner divers. Lying at around 6 meters, the beach is filled with coal formations which can be several meters high, purple anemone beds homing clown fish but no shallow coral area would be complete without its angel fish, banner fish, Moorish idols and colourful parrot fish.

Travelling to Koh Haa

There is no better base for visiting Koh Haa than the beautiful, laid back island of Koh Lanta. Situated a short ferry ride away from Krabi, it is an upscale family island perfect for adventure, culture, relaxing, but most of all accessing dive locations.

Departing from Koh Lanta Yai (the south island), you can enjoy the luxurious and fast speed boat journey or the more traditional Thai way, known as the slow boat. Boats leave at either 8 or 9am for Koh Haa, depending on your speed requirements. The fantastic journey time via speedboat (25-30 minutes from the northern beaches of Koh Lanta), ensures you will arrive in Koh Haa Lagoon before anyone else and have a chance to enjoy these wonderful islands before the slow boats arrive from Krabi, Koh Lanta and Phuket.