How to Create Great Abstract Photography Images Using Blur, Zooming in, Partial Object, and Filters

This short article covers four techniques you can use to create abstract images. Once the techniques have been learned, they may be applied to various subject matter to create beautiful abstract images.

Blurring the Image

The blurring of objects is the initial technique that will be covered. Images with a dreamy feel work best with this technique. As a result, it is crucial to select the subject matter very carefully. Therefore, the more carefully the subject matter is chosen, the better the final results.

There are a variety of ways that this technique can be carried out. Possibly the simplest way is to use a soft focus lens. On the other hand, this is also the most expensive method. Another method is to use a soft focus filter which can be mounted on just about any lens. If you would prefer to save some money, panty hose stretched over the front of a lens also works. For people who prefer, the blur can always be added with Photoshop during the editing of the images.

Using Zooming In

The zooming in technique produces a very interesting effect. However, it does require a zoom lens. The technique is fairly simple. A long shutter speed is selected. Then, while the shutter is open, the photographer alters the focal length of the zoom lens.

It is crucial to make use of a tripod whenever using the zoom technique. Without a tripod, the photo will be blurred by camera motion. A strong center of interest is needed. For those images that lack a strong center of interest, the image generally seems to be just a collection of blurry lines. Keeping these points in mind can help to improve your abstract images.

Trial and error is part of this technique. Many photos will, most likely, be taken to produce one beautiful image. This is simply part of the process.

Using a Partial Object

With this particular technique, the whole object is not photographed. Rather, the photographer isolates just a section of an object. Then, that section is photographed. The best thing to do is to isolate a part of an object that is especially interesting. By using only a section of the object, some mystique is created.

Objects should be chosen that have strong form, color, and lines. These types of objects will create superior abstract photos.

Utilizing Photoshop Filters

Another method is to add the abstract effect in the computer. For this approach, Photoshop can be utilized. The filters in Photoshop are a good way to do this. The Filter menu can be used to access the filters. The best way to create a great abstract image, with this technique, is to just experiment with the different filter choices. Then, you can choose the filter that creates the best results.

Wrap Up

Impressive abstract photos can be created using all of these techniques. All you need to do now is pick up your camera and go create some photos.

Wedding Photography Techniques - Selling Your Work

No matter how good your wedding photography techniques, if you are in business your work has to be sold.

The idea that good wedding photography work will sell itself is nonsense. You will starve in the meantime! So whether you do the selling yourself, leave it entirely to another, or in fact handle some of it, you need to be aware of the characteristics that go to make up the expert sales person.

You've heard the clichés "Salesmen are born, not made"; "Selling is a skill that can be learnt like any other". You need both acquired skills and personal qualities. The skills come from training and experience, but they only result in fruition if the individual has a number of personal qualities.

The basic ones are belief in the job, empathy, enthusiasm, integrity, loyalty and friendliness. Many people have these qualities but they do not have the training needed to succeed, or they may be restrained by inhibitions.

Let us look at some personal characteristics required by the wedding photography salesperson: -

Belief in the job: You must believe that what you are doing is a worthwhile job and that your product - your wedding photographs - is a benefit to the client. If you are interested only in taking the photographs and sell under sufferance, you will fail.

Empathy: This is the understanding of the customer's feelings and opinions. You may not share your client's views, indeed you may differ on many counts, but you need to understand and respect his or her viewpoint.

Listening will tell you what the client needs and wants in way of photographic coverage. You will then have the opportunity to fill some of those needs. Steer the conversation round to the wedding and find out all you can about the day, the family and the bride's expectations.The essence of salesmanship is listening, allowing the customer to talk.

Most people have a tendency to talk on, but the salesman needs to check himself and encourage the client to do the talking. As the client does so, you must listen intently, and not be thinking about your own sales pitch.

Alertness: Willingness to listen needs to be reinforced by alertness. Observe carefully as they speak; body language may be telling you something else, not expressed in words.

Enthusiasm is good; it stimulates attention and generates conviction. But do not become the bore that you have met so often! The most difficult thing here is to strike a balance between being enthusiastic so that you excite and stimulate the client on the one hand, and being over enthusiastic on the other. The latter can turn the customer right off you and your photography.

Be positive: A conversation can easily drift into a series of moans! Control the situation and keep it positive at all times. Be the optimist for whom the glass is half-full, not the pessimist who sees it as half-empty. A positive attitude produces sales; allowing the conversation to become negative loses them fast!

Be open minded: Although you have a particular style and package to sell, be open minded to alternative ideas that may be suggested from casual remarks or specific requests. Many good sales are made by being receptive to the desires of the client.

Make Money By Putting Your Photography Skills To Use

Despite what some people may think, taking pictures can yield dedicated, determined, and talented photographers a nice living. It is not impossible to use the hobby you enjoy as an income generator. However, you have to be smart about it and take advantage of as many avenues as you can. As a freelance photographer, the best thing to do is to diversify so you can have multiple sources of income from your photographs.

One of the newest ways to make money from your photographs is to do so online. The great thing about earning money online is that many of the details are taken care of for you. It's also a good way for fledgling photographers to break into the market. There are a couple of ways to earn money online from photography.

One of the ways you can work from home as a photographer is to sell your photos to stock photography agency websites or microstock sites. On these sites, stock agencies offer the photographer a space to host their images, and pay the photographer a percentage of the fee charged to the buyer. The stock agency takes care of the marketing. All you have to do is hope that there are buyers for your images.

Microstock sites pay less and are less exclusive, but they are still a good way to earn money, especially for those just starting out. The better sites will have information on their sites discussing what makes the type of photograph that someone would want to buy, plus they will reveal the photos that have recently been licensed.

This is helpful for new photographers, or photographers who are just starting to make a go of making money from their hobby, so that they can see what kinds of photos are in demand. When dealing with stock agencies and microstock sites, your best bet is to sign up with and submit to as many as you can.

You can also make money by placing your photographs on your own website if you have one. If you don't have one yet, starting one is a good idea so that you can begin marketing yourself and your photography services. You should have a section on your website where you display your work. Be sure to invite visitors to your site to browse your portfolio. There are many different ecommerce services you can use to create your own site even if you don't know anything about web design.

You can also make money by selling your photographs directly to a variety of buyers, including magazines, websites, books, and postcard companies. You can also teach photography classes or self-publish a photography book with your images.

By far, the easiest way to start as a freelance photographer is to work from home first and try to earn money online from your photos. Once you have some buyers, you can evaluate your photos and see which ones are selling, so you may have an idea what your strengths are. From there you can move on to make money in other ways.

Photo Book Design Tips - Ideas For Your Layouts

Tips and techniques from the fields of art and design can help you achieve more impact for the pages you create in your photo book projects. The following simple ideas can be used to transform your pages; it is easy to apply the techniques to your current projects.

First, consider how you usually edit and group your photos. Many people group photos in chronological order in their photo books. This can sometimes lead to a sense of discontinuity across both pages of the two-page spread (the pages that face each other when the photo book lies open in front of you).

Instead of grouping photos chronologically, consider grouping your photos by theme, colour, or subject matter, since these will unify the look of your photo book pages. You can use this same tip when deciding which pages should face each other within the book. You may also want to experiment with the photo software on your computer, or with the software provided by the company that manages and prints your online photo books. You may be able to a add colour to each page as a background, or to change your colour photos to sepia or black and white-these can both really transform the look of your pages in your online photo book. An entire spread of black and white or sepia photographs will unify the design; adding one or two colour photos in the mix will really draw the eye to these images, creating a focal point for the page.

Creating one focal point for each page in the photo book is also a great idea. As you select and edit your photos, choose one or two close-ups or simple, crisp images that can serve as a focal point for every two-page spread of your book. As you take your photographs, keep these things in mind, as well. You can begin by taking a series of photos for every special event you attend; if you take between five and eight photos, you will be sure to have enough to choose from when it comes to designing a page or two in your photo book around this particular event. If you tend to take group photos, make sure you zoom in for close-ups of individuals or objects, and zoom out for wider landscape shots. If you tend to focus on landscapes or the environment, consider other subject matter to give your photo book variety: people, pets, or specific objects, for example.

As you design your pages, you can also think of how the reader's eye moves across the page as she looks at the photo book. Use repetition horizontally across a two-page spread, or else use a layout based on triangular or circular patterns so that the viewer's eye will be led through the series of images. Some online book programs give you pre-designed pages, and other programs let you set up the page design yourself. Don't be afraid to use several smaller photographs in your layout: several small images in a row can give the impression of a series of photographs taken in quick succession, or of a small sequential story being told.

Finally, in the art world, collage techniques are known to give interesting results. Collage in photo book design allows you to include a large number of images from various sources, all on the same page, without any need for formal organization. Some ideas might be a collage of favourite people, special events, a "day in the life of" page, or a collage featuring the same person or occasion, captured at different moments throughout the years.

Making Money in Bucharest

Whether you are a World traveler, or an expat deciding to settle in Bucharest, unless you are independently super-wealthy, you've probably thought about what you can do to earn income and/or occupy your time overseas. The internet today is awash with many "get-rich-quick" schemes and "retire-over-seas" plan of action kits. While all this is information is nice and in some ways functional, it almost always assumes that you are beginning with a rather large nest egg. Sometimes we don't actually have a couple hundred grand lying around from pensions or retirements or other investments to "drop" into an apartment and "turn-key-lifestyle" at our new home overseas. So that brings us to the "I wish to create some income, maybe start a business, so what do I need to do next" people. Within the next paragraphs, you'll get an inside look at what to expect when moving forward with your business venture.

Identifying a niche

When we [our group of expat friends] first arrived in Bucharest, Romania 4-5 years back for real estate purposes, we had all the excitement one would expect when first landing and wandering around in a land that was essentially foreign to us. We passed through all the stages of ex-patriotism, most importantly the stage where we as business owners and entrepreneurs look around and think "wow...wouldn't THIS be a great idea for Bucharest?" While this is great fun to do and helps you spawn realistic ideas, don't be to keen on falling in to this "trap" as I'll call it. We've looked at opening fast food chains, luxury spa's, Name Brand clothing labels, real estate offices, and more. We looked at both traditional and highly westernized business concepts. At the end of the day, we've found that when taking into consideration the amount of overhead versus the time for the business to actually absorb and be accepted into the local marketplace, and the amount of red-tape to get there, one may be better off pursuing other "offbeat" types of income streams. We'll talk specifically about these off beat type plans in an upcoming post. Always keep in mind that whatever we can do in the US or the UK, the Romanians can typically do it cheaper. Not necessarily better in all cases, but cheaper... and this has a "trickle down" effect. Run your numbers accordingly.

Right now in this "worldwide economical crisis" laziness and affordability somehow go hand-in-hand. I was told twice in recent days by two different Romanians the following phrase: "Romanians don't like to give money. They only receive. If they don't receive they take." I debated long and hard about referencing this in here, as I was afraid that too many people would take offense to that and say it is demeaning and insulting to Romanians. I disagree and I feel it is some important wisdom when considering a business or service of any form here. You see, the thing about that phrase is that it's so blatantly true and honest for virtually any culture or society around the globe. Isn't everyone's economic well being based on receiving money rather than giving money when it comes right down to it? (Please no Charity comments here) Now clearly transactions occur, business open, and trade occurs in Bucharest... but the PRIMARY point of that phrase is that Romanians are really "tuned in" to the fact that you MUST provide value if you expect to earn any money. Period.

So what is the simplest way to identify a proper niche when living in Bucharest? Well, the basic answer is easy, as well as universal. Do what you enjoy! If you have a passion for something and are knowledgeable about the subject, you will automatically default to "providing value" for your customers. Once you begin with the passion, you'll find your way and you'll find your answers. There is no "secret" business that will magically grow in Bucharest because it's different. You may decide that a landscaping company is a sure bet here, or a 1950's American Diner, but slow down... someone else has probably thought about it, and in some instances moved forward with it, only to find that reality sets in, and the numbers just become numbers. But then again... you never know. The less passionate move on... and fast. The faux-passionate lose their asses.

What are your hobbies? What are your skill sets? What do you feel you enjoy doing that you know better than the next person? If your passion is real estate than by all means, go down that road. If your passion is writing, than talk to me... you're in business already. Marketing? the same. Art and photography? Open a themed art gallery. Cars? Open a repair or performance shop for an iconic brand! Did you know that there is a growing niche in paint-less dent removal in Bucharest? Computers? "Expat Computer Service & Repair... We Come To You"! As with any of these business, you'll have to run the numbers and complete your business plan, as well as build through all the trials and errors that will occur in normal business growth plus a little extra! The bottom line on choosing your niche is to start with something you believe in and love. If you don't it will be a rough ride.

Legalities

Attorney's and permits and licenses... oh my. This is the big WTF of business here. All the red-tape. Yes you do have to be registered to do business here, especially if you have a brick and mortar business. You must be licensed, you must be registered with the proper governmental agencies (everyone has their hand in your pocket here, truly) and you must be additionally registered to actually perform the duties and sell the products your company actually intends to provide and sell. This is the "multi-tiered" process of documentation you'll come to find just pleasurable here in Romania. Each legal document is a "secret key" to 50 more hidden documents. It's like a role playing video game sometimes. Did you collect the notarized golden goblet of fire in the appropriate amount of time? Uhhoh.. game over.. try again. All the joking aside on this one, make sure you consult an attorney in the beginning and start properly. Be clear though that a lot of the legal "issues" you'll come across in Romania as well as other "growing" nations are simply ways of creating bribes. Here is another HOT TIP you'll thank me for later... if you don't speak fluent Romanian, hire a professional translator to stand by your side throughout EVERYTHING. We've found that things (especially in legalese) do indeed get "lost in translation" quite often. Overlooking critical information can be detrimental in your home country. Overlooking something in Romania can lead to trouble... and expensive bribes (I didn't say that for the record). We all know the old adage "It's easier to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission" and while that is essentially true here in Romania, sometimes when looking at the big picture you will see that it is better just to "deal" with an issue today than to pass it off until tomorrow. Legalities and paperwork in Bucharest must be gone over with a fine-tooth comb, and you MUST make sure that your documents follow your plan of action from start-to finish. If not, you may be looking at a "Re-Set" of your time, effort, and money. Not good. A quick secret with the legalities, internet and web based businesses can be headquartered overseas yet still effectively do business here, or anywhere. Just keep in mind the next issue that will arise, and that is the overwhelming desire that Romanians have to receive a stamped receipt...

Accounting

Bon Fiscal. I've been asked for one of those many times, and been accused of many things if I was unwilling, or unable to provided this "coveted" receipt. It makes perfect sense that one would want to keep adequate records, as well as create a paper trail for tax purposes, but sometimes I would much rather just exchange goods or services for some cold hard cash and be done with it right? Maybe. If you can. You see, here in Bucharest, a lovely and simple adding machine is more than meets the eye. It's a multi-hundred-euro piece of cash register gold. You need to have one, it will cost you money, it will provide receipts, and account for your taxes that you will have to pay. That brings us to our next point.. taxes. Romanian is by far NOT a tax haven. This isn't Cypress, nor is it Panama. It's Romania. You must pay taxes (unless you don't) for everything you account for. Tax rates will very, but expect to be somewhere between 15% and 20% off of anything you sell. I will not be going to deep into anything legal or administration-wise on this article because I am NOT an accountant or a lawyer, so as with any column, the best advice I can give on this is that just because this is Romania, you can't get away with everything, so consult the proper individual(s) before moving forward. Overseas earned income taxes and portfolio income taxes? Ask your accountant. Don't stop when you hear information that doesn't sit right with you. Tax laws have legal loopholes. Use them.

Employees

If your company's business plan calls for employees, great. If not, you may consider hiring anyway if you can squeeze it in the budget. Romania is still known for it's relatively cheap wages. Employees are typically associated with a larger percentage of business overhead in the UK and the States (or most elsewhere for that matter) and this simply isn't the case in Romania. Consider running the numbers with a focus on employees doing more of the day to day activities, as well as the "replacing yourself" approach. In some, as well as many, instances it may be a great return on investment to pay an employee to pass out promotional flyers for instance. At 8-10 dollars per hour in the US this may not be very cost effective, but here you could probably get away with a profit. Employees here typically start off their working careers with an average salary of 800-1000 lei per month full time. Full time is also a bit ambiguous, and is often more than the 40 hour work week we are accustomed too.

Working, interacting, and managing employees is a little bit different then we are used to, however still vaguely sticks to the same basic "rules" of managing. If you pay a salary, nine out of ten times you will receive the work output roughly equivalent to "just enough to keep their job". There is a lot of distrust here when it comes to employee/employer relationships. It goes both ways as well. Employees do not trust their employers because they typically get taken advantage of when it comes to actual duties and responsibilities compared agreed upon job description. There are also quite a few instances where the threat of termination or salary cut is used as a dangling carrot in order to get more out of your employee(s) than originally agreed. This is one of the reasons the employee advocate groups have risen to be as strong as they are. Employers also tend too take the offensive with their employees as well when they [employees] often "take advantage" of every opportunity they have to earn money for nothing. If you give too much slack, it will definitely be taken, trust me.This is basic management 101, but is multiplied ten-fold here. Keep your job duties clear. Honor your agreements, and hold your employees entirely accountable for their actions and responsibilities as well. The best way to hire and overcome the largest obstacles? Seek students of public or governmental universities looking for gigs. Why public and not private? Private schools have a large quantity of students that are NOT attending school, or bribing someone to pass them through school.

The private students [generally] tend to have a diminished work ethic, where as at governmental or public schools, a student will cease to become a student if certain milestones (including attendance) are not met. Pay commission and assist with transportation if needed. If you are paying only commission or a large percentage of the employee's earnings are based on commission you will be much better off. You're employee will be better off as well. You will achieve higher profitability and productivity, and you re employee will be motivated by the potential to create a greater lifestyle for themselves as well as go above and beyond their job responsibilities to achieve MORE MONEY! If they don't like this, move on to the next employee. There are plenty of people that will claw for this opportunity. The bottom line on employees is this: If you can justify hiring, do so, but be aware of the tax complications as well. Treat your employees well by giving them above average opportunity to succeed and prosper. Protect yourself by doing what you say, while only tolerating the same treatment in return from your staff.

Marketing & Advertising

The US and the UK have been bombarding it's citizens with passive and active advertising for many. many decades now. This marketing and advertising has been fine-tuned and tweaked over the years to adjust against the "immunity" that people inherently build up against such tactics. Marketing and Advertising nowadays is an entirely new animal. The days are slowly disappearing when one could achieve greatness in business simply by "outspending" the next person. Companies that are attempting to market their goods and services with high cost media via traditional methods will more than likely fall in to the "pit" of anonymity. As an expat, when starting a business, always think small and effective. Try the guerrilla marketing techniques. If you've decided to open a international name brand business that will carry it's own weight in brand awareness, the you probably have a golden goose. On the other hand, as an expat, you're more likely going to be pursuing your passions as we've previously discussed. This being the case, you'll be watching where your money is going, and want to focus on low cost methods of advertising and marketing. For Bucharest, as they are relatively new to the many "in your face" guerrilla techniques, you can stick with something as simple as handing out flyers, or even making your "storefront" if you have one, stand out more than the competitors'. The bottom line we've learned on marketing in Romania is never plan your campaign based on successes elsewhere around the globe. Go to where your customers are and learn what they want. Ask. Relationship marketing is key here. Keep in mind that the consumer protection laws here are somewhat stringent. Be well aware of what your product is, or what service you are providing. At some point in time you will be challenged on who and what you are. Be prepared for that.

In Summary-

Doing business in Romania can be and is something that requires a lot of courage and a lot of determination. Romania is clearly not the Holy Grail of "business friendly" or "foreigner friendly" for expats traveling the Globe. But once you get over the start-up hurdles, and get to know the right people, running the correct business here can be profitable. Learn the ways, and learn your demographic. Getting this wrong can set you back. Build and grow your network of knowledgeable people, and be humble. You never know who knows who and who knows what. Make sure you plug in to Bucharest Forums and networking groups. Get familiar with the big names in the worldwide expat network online like http://www.escapeartist.com and others. Although this website is about 75% advertisements, try to weed out the good stuff. There is a wealth of information online for virtually every overseas income topic. Try not to buy into hype.

Pigs Don't Sing

Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and it annoys the pig. - Mark Twain

Wonderful analogy to prove a powerful point ... don't push yourself to be or do something you are not and don't push someone else to go against his or her natural configuration.

The end result will be frustration, annoyance and disappointment.

Have you ever tried to be someone or something you were not? How did you feel? You may have done this thinking it was the right thing to do or because someone else expected it of you, but in the end, what was the result?

You may have felt unfulfilled, suffered a blow to your confidence because you believe you failed, or lost all hope whatsoever of creating real happiness for yourself.

You worked hard, gave everything you got and still felt dissatisfied in the end.

Before committing to a goal and pouring all of your energy into making it a reality, you need to know if it is in alignment with who you are, not who you think you should be.

The best way to determine what makes you happy is to venture out and create a variety of experiences for yourself.

Whether it be socializing with many different people; committing yourself to a month of solitude to begin writing a book, song or screen play; taking a variety of short courses or participating in workshops; or experimenting with photography, painting or any other creative endeavor, allow yourself to experience a wide variety of activities so you can determine what makes your heart sing and gets you excited.

What is an exercise that you do that causes you to lose all track of time? When you are in "the zone" and hours fly by without you noticing, you are being authentic.
If your day is dragging by and your energy is low, you are functioning outside of your authentic self.

When you are operating in alignment with your true self, there is a flow that carries you effortlessly and you feel inspired, excited and on purpose.

If you have a child that loves to sit and draw, don't insist he or she take up ballet or piano because you think it is better.

By all means, expose your children to the wide variety of learning opportunities available to them, but let them settle into their chosen activity once they have been able to sample other offerings.

Jim Carrey, the actor who starred in Ace Ventura, The Mask, Liar Liar, and many other hit movies, used to spend hours in front of a mirror as a child, making faces at himself and practicing impersonating others.

Most would have thought him a strange child, but his passion has made him a multi-millionaire, famous around the world, and he is doing what he loves to do.

You never know what lies ahead for you or your children, but by allowing yourself to do what feels right and trusting you are on the right path, you will find your purpose.

Be open to possibility, have the courage to explore, and the strength to walk away from situations that do not serve you.

4 Ways to Learn More About Digital Photography

No matter what type of camera you own or how often you use it, chances are that you are at least somewhat interested in improving your photography skills. Fortunately, it is possible to learn more about digital photography regardless of what type of camera you have or how much time you have to devote to the hobby. Learning more about digital photography will enable you to take better pictures and enjoy it more, regardless of how frequently you use your camera. It may even inspire you to take pictures more often and devote more time to studying photography.

One of the easiest ways to learn more about digital photography is to read a book on the subject. A good book about digital photography will explain topics such as focus, exposure, and framing in a way that anyone can understand. Reading a good book about digital photography will give you ideas for different things to try and ways to adjust the settings on your camera and change the pictures that you take. You can read about a technique in a book then get out your camera and try it out for yourself. If you do not want to purchase a book about digital photography then check your local library. There is a good chance that they have several photography books available.

If you normally do most of your research online rather than in a book, then you are in luck. There is a wealth of digital photography information available on the internet. Simply searching "digital photography" will return thousands of results. You can read blogs written by professional photographers, look through online galleries of pictures, and research to find out exactly how a specific photograph was taken. Doing all of this online allows you to refer to a specific picture or piece of information repeatedly as you seek to improve your photography skills.

If you are really serious about learning more about digital photography, then you may want to look into taking a photography class. Most specialty camera shops offer photography classes taught by staff members. Sometimes these are complimentary if you purchase a camera or a lens from their store. Alternatively, many community colleges offer basic photography classes for a reasonable price. Taking a photography class at a community college will give you the opportunity to refine your photography skills over a series of weeks or months. You will receive assignments and be expected to photograph specific subjects or use techniques and bring your results to class for feedback. This can be an excellent way to improve your photography skills.

Whether or not you are able to take a photography class, the best way to learn more and become a better photographer is to simply take more pictures. Keep your camera with you as much as possible and don't hesitate to take it out and take a few pictures of something that attracts your attention. Once you've taken some pictures, try submitting them to an online photo gallery or other area for critique. This will enable you to receive feedback from other photographers and continue to refine your techniques.

Home Business Photography - 5 Top Tips

The demand for photographic services seems very strong. There are weddings, children, pets, commercial work and more niches that you could consider. At the end of this article you will have 5 top tips to help you to get going with home business photography as efficiently as possible.

Get Planning - It might not sound like much fun but the trick to starting any new venture is to use a pen a paper and write out your plan. Start a list of things that you want to know, need to research, worry about, who to contact and more. Keep it all in one place and then go back to it every time that you think of something new.

Speak To Your Partner - This could be your husband, wife, girlfriend boyfriend or your best friend. Just try talking the whole thing over with whoever is important to you and win their support. Every new venture is going to cause change and you will want them on your side and backing you. You will have to tell them sooner or later so it might as well be now.

Be Realistic - It is unlikely that you will give up your day job and start earning thousands straight away. You might be able to build things part time and then make the move to full time later on. Are you willing to put that kind of effort in things in your spare time?

Keep Your Eyes Open - There are opportunities all around to make money from taking photos. Try to see where you could fit because you need to find a niche for your home business photography venture.

Start Thinking About A Name - You could use your own name such as John Smith Photography. But wait until you find your niche before making a final decision. You would want to be John Smith Wedding Photos if you specialised in that arena, for instance.

Best of all, make sure that you enjoy the adventure that you are about to commence. There will be ups and downs as you start home business photography. Enjoy the ride.

Becoming A Graphic Designer

Graphic designers are artists in business. Graphic designers need to not only have an artistic inclination in life, they also need to have a knowledge base that includes art history, painting, typography, illustration, photography and computer design software.

To become a successful graphic designer, one must have excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to sell ideas to executives. Having a keen sense of color, type and composition, a graphic designer also has to know how to present and discuss ideas with corporate clients, understand market research and work under tight deadlines and budgets. It is preferable to take drawing courses while in high school, to develop a sense of art. It is possible to work as a graphic designer without a degree, but most companies do prefer graphic designers with a degree. So work for a degree in fine arts or advertising, with concentrations in graphic art and computer graphics. You could join any School of Art and Design for such a degree. Search for training in current graphics-related computer technology, with electives for business and finance courses.

You then contact your top school choices and, if required, send samples of your artwork along with your application. Some schools may also call you for an interview, so be ready for it. When in the school, try to get an internship in a design company or an advertising agency. This adds to your resume, and provides you with valuable career contacts for the future. While studying, try to do as much freelance work as possible. This will help you build a strong portfolio that you can show to your future employers upon graduation. Always make it a point to pay attention to packaging designs and advertising trends in all forms of media.

To learn about jobs for graphic designers, the best place to check is the Internet. There are many job openings for graphic designers here. Graphic designers are required in various fields of advertisement and printing, with openings also found on the Internet. And remember, the main thing that is required to become a successful graphic designer is to build an impressive design portfolio to present to your prospective employers so that they can get an idea of your capacity in graphic designing.

Market Your School Effectively

When a parent chooses a school for their child, they are looking for more than just the school which has a record of excellent grades. They are looking for a school which will not only provide their child with an excellent education, but also a place where they will feel happy and comfortable and will offer them a wide variety of different subjects, activities and opportunities. This is why how you market your school is vital in attracting the right amount of candidates.

One of the most effective aspects of your marketing will come from images which you use within leaflets, brochures, and even around the school. Photography within brochures and leaflets allows you to emphasise on what you think are the most appealing aspects of your school. However, when doing this, you will need to take into consideration how many pages and how much size you have to work with, so the photographs in which you use must be carefully chosen. Images which show the exterior of the school as well as any additional exterior land you have including Astroturf fields, running tracks, etc will be important images to show. You should also look into including 'set up' or action shots of students participating in a lesson, which gives a sense of what the environment within the school is like. In all, your images must give a snap shot of what your school is like and what any student can expect in a typical day.

Photography around your school can also be a great way in which to market your school when it comes to prospective students visiting the school or when you have any outside visitors visiting the school. School photographs of classes show the school throughout the years, as well as showing the sense of union which has been created throughout the classes. Images of landmark events such as the school receiving different educational and sporting achievements will also show visitors the level of success your school has gained without you having to tell them about this yourself. However, if you have included information about these achievements, some form of proof such as photographs can help make these statements more solid.

Many schools now use the internet as way in which students can gather information about their classes which they may need for their homework etc which has paved the way for more schools to have their own websites. This is also a pivotal place in which to include great images, and as there is no limit to the size of your website, you can include many more images, further marketing your school to prospective students and outsiders.

Imagery is important in any aspect of marketing as it provides the user with a true image, rather than forcing them to create their own interpretation. By using photography in order to market your school, you will not only show your school as the establishment it is, but will also be able to show the potential is has for a child's education.

A Short History of the Smartphone

Modern technology moves fast and furious, especially when it comes to capabilities of the smartphone. Just what is a "smartphone"? Actually there are no agreed upon or exact definitions for the term. Most would agree however that smartphones do more - much more - than what Alexander Graham Bell first envisioned when he invented the original telephone back in the 1870s.

Definition

The smartphone differs from ordinary mobile phones in that they are capable of advanced functionality because they contain software applications that can be run directly from the phone itself. This software is typically open-source, an advantage that makes adding applications as easy as loading them onto the phone via wireless downloads. Today, these devices are not considered very "smart" unless they can accommodate a datebook/calendar, advanced internet connectivity, photography, music and even video capability.

Origins

IBM was the first to venture into the business of offering consumers a highly advanced mobile phone. In 1993, the company introduced what could be considered the world's smartphone - simply called Simon. Considered low-end by today's standard, this first smartphone featured an amazing array of features - email, address book, clock, calendar, note pad, and even the ability to send and receive faxes.

During the mid-90's, Nokia began to heat things up by introducing its first line of smartphone - the Nokia 9000 series. This phone was not only the first in a series of popular smart phones manufactured by Nokia, they were also the most expensive, coming in at 20-40% more costly than its rivals. The Nokia 9210 was indeed the first real and true smartphone due to its open operating system.

Cutting Edge Smart Phones

The 21st century has spawned smartphones that are incredibly powerful and easy to use. Touch-screen functionality has become the norm and manufacturers such as Apple, Nokia and Research in Motion are furiously vying for the smartphone consumer and business dollar.

Apple changed the smartphone industry with its introduction of the Apple iPhone in 2007. Nokia has since countered with the unveiling of its Nokia XPress Music Phone [http://nokia5800phone.com/nokia-5800-vs-iphone/] in 2008. The Nokia 5800 is a touch-screen lovers dream that includes just about every feature a user would want. The handset even comes with millions of downloadable music tracks at no cost. Google recently joined the fray by introducing it Android phone during the same time period.

The Future

Could the smartphone get any smarter than it already is? Sure can! In the not so distant future, virtually everyone on earth will be carrying some type of smartphone - devices that will make today's handsets pale in comparison. Increased bandwidth and speed will allow phones to be able to handle video in real-time with no problem. In the future, these mobile handsets will be indispensable to daily life, used for a wide array of functions, including consumer purchases, banking, real-time video connectivity, advanced GPS tracking, entertainment and much more.

Y2K: The Watershed Year for Indian IT Industry

In the world of Information Technology India's name is taken with respect. What is the reason of India's sudden rise to prominence? This is a country which is way behind in many human development indices, a country whose English speaking population is around two percent and per capita income is about USD 1000 and it is so far away from the West, especially the US.

Let us try to examine the reason for this phenomenon.

Maybe this is because India is the source of so called Arabian numbers. Zero came from India, and a binary number is the combination of zero and one, and a byte in made up of binary numbers. But this is not reason enough, Indians' legendary facility with mathematics and numbers notwithstanding.?

The reason may lies elsewhere. In the mid eighties Texas Instruments established a facility in India through satellite uplink. Here software people worked in India for Indian wages and exported software without actually being present on-site. The success of this venture drew the attention of other American corporations and India began to engage with America in IT.?

TI was the first multinational to establish a software design centre in India and was the first to install and use a satellite dish for exporting software.?

Over the period of time, the fame of good work done by the Indian techies spread to America, which was facing the actual threat of Y2K problem for both digital and non digital documentation and data storage which resulted from the practice of abbreviating a four-digit year to two digits.

Before the dreaded year Y2K thousands of Indian cyber techies were hired to scan and rectify millions of lines of data.?

India had a trained English speaking workforce seeking respectable employment; their labour came cheap, and they were not coloured by any ideology, incendiary or otherwise, except for being gainfully employed and doing well for themselves in life. This largely ideologically neutral and secular workforce suited the West in general and the US in particular.?

This workforce toiled hard through the nineties, and smoothened the Y2K bug from the mountains of data. As the end of the millennium approached, the air was thick with anticipation and fear and some doomsayers predicted a D-Day scenario. People began stocking eatables. Some thought that on the fateful day the lifts will stop midway, water and electric supply will come to an abrupt halt, and data of health and insurance will be erased from the disc, and many other things, as year 2000 will be read as 1900 by the machines.

However, nothing of this kind happened, and the transition from 1999 to 2000 was smooth. People heaved a collective sigh of relief. This cusp was a coming of age, a rite of passage phenomenon for the Indian IT industry.?

It was this trust won by the Indians that made them so much reliable in the eyes of the American corporations, and the inflow of business has never stopped ever since. Therefore, this is an historical coincidence that the Indians were the right people at the right time to take the advantage of the opportunity that presented itself in the garb of crisis-as they often do-and the other overseas cyber communities cannot duplicate this success, ever.

Digital Photography Tricks - The Marvelous Magic of Macro!

If you delve into the incredible world of macro photography, with the aid of a few digital photography tricks, you can take photographs of insects that would blow your mind. A normal housefly may seem just annoying, but up close and personal, you can capture a macro image that reveals every single hair on its body and the millions of tiny dots that make up its eyes. You see an array of magnificent colours that you do not perceive with the naked eye. Once you have truly experienced macro photography, you will never see tiny creatures in quite the same way again.

Macro photography works on ratios from 1:1 (where the image is true to size) up to ten times enlargement (10:1). In most cases, the larger the ratio the more fascinating the final image. To successfully capture macro images will require investment in appropriate equipment - a decent camera and specialised macro lens. I normally use a Canon EOS50D SLR camera and a Sigma 50mm f/2.8 macro lens. A vast range of lenses regularly come to market, so it is always a good idea to discuss options with your local stockist first.

Once you have spotted a bug you wish to capture, here are a few digital photography tricks to consider to ensure you don't scare it off before you have had the opportunity to grab your winning shot: -

* Get up early - bugs are still cold then and don't tend to fly off so regularly
* Don't block out the sunlight on the insects
* Keep low - as low or even lower than your subject, if at all possible
* Locate yourself near a popular plant or flower. Bugs may see you as part of the scenery if you are already there
* Smaller bugs tend to take less notice of you than larger ones
* If a bug flies off, don't panic. Give it a little while, and more often than not it will be back.

A flashgun can also be an essential piece of kit - for example, if you are shooting in near-dark forests. This location opens up access to a wide range of interesting insects. You can use the flash in its normal position on top of the camera, but another idea is to use a flash extension cord. In this case, take a friend with you who can hold the flash to the side, or to provide imaginative backlighting. You will find that a flash will also help to enhance the sharpness of your shots.

These are just a few digital photography tricks that will benefit your macro photography. It can be a challenging area, and trial and error is expected. Initially you may find yourself disappointed with results, but once you get the hang of it you will be glad you persevered. It's always a good idea to get some feedback, and a decent online photography course would give you guidance, as well as expert opinion on your work.

The Art of Digital Photo Retouching

The Limits of Photo Cameras

We live in an age of amazing technological advancements in the visual technology fields. Photo camera models renew themselves each year with the promise of more mega-pixels and new features. And yet, if we think about it for a moment, the photo that comes out of each of our digital camera models most times has strengths and weaknesses that persist through all the successive models that go through our hands.

Digital Cameras and in general all photographic cameras are, despite all of the marketing buzz, still very limited machines. For example, they register our world with sensors that can only capture a fraction of the tonal range that our eyes can perceive.

Imagine yourself on a sunny day in front of a beautiful landscape.

Below you, around your feet, you can see the rich lush green vegetation; above you, the bright blue skies. As we contemplate this scene, our eyes are able to perceive all its richness, the details in both the shadows and the bright clouds above. The dynamic range that our eyes can process, which goes from the darkest to the brightest areas, is enough to contain most of the rich detail in that scene.

Now take your photo camera and snap a shot from your position including both the vegetation and the sky. The result is very telling. Depending on the parameters that either the camera or you choose, some detail of the scene will be gone from the result. Either parts of the vegetation will blend to black and lose all detail or parts of the sky will blend to white and lose all detail.

In summary, the retina of the camera, its digital sensor, which captures the light of the scene, is not capable of dealing with a tonal range as large as our eyes can. It can only capture the full detail in a small range that can be positioned at different levels of brightness by the camera itself or us. Because of that, in a scene like the one described above that has a very large contrast, it ends up capturing the detail only at the highlights and mid-tones, or mainly at the mid-tones, or mainly at the shadows and mid-tones. It simply cannot capture simultaneously the full detail of the scene from the darkest to the brightest areas.

This is of course a simplification of an scenario that we could describe in much more detail. But the conclusion is still the same. When we look at the final photo, we realize that what we remember seeing with our eyes is not what the photo shows. That richness of detail everywhere is gone. And this is just one of the limitations that all Photo cameras share. We could go on to describe many others related to color precision and other areas where cameras simply cannot cope with the depth and richness of the world around us.

Photo Retouching comes to the rescue

Here is where photo retouching enters the scene. So what really is photo retouching and what is it useful for? We can approach this question from two angles and both are related to each other:

Bringing the Photo closer to what we remember

1) On the one hand, photo retouching is the art of taking that initial photo and working on it by various means to bring it closer to what our eyes saw when we were in front of that beautiful scene.

Photo retouching applied to the scenario described above is, for example, the art of manipulating the image we captured and making more visible some of the details that almost disappeared due to the limitations of our photo camera. It enables us as well to enhance the color of the picture and bring it closer to what our eyes enjoyed. In short, retouching allows us to take the photo and compensate for the limitations of our camera. It gives us the possibility to try and bring the final result as close as possible to what we remember.

Two key points here:

a) First, retouching is not synonymous with Photoshop. Photoshop is the most popular of the tools used in our digital age to retouch photographs. But retouching can be done in numerous ways, either with the many software products available on the market or by processing the digital outputs in other ways (such as printing and scanning the photo successive times including physical interventions in the middle to alter different properties of the image).

b) The second point is that when we talk about - what we remember from the scene - we have to take into account the psychological implications of that statement. It has been shown that often when we remember a beautiful nature landscape, we remember it greener and more saturated in color than it really was.
Therefore, when we retouch that photo, should we manipulate the output to approach what we remember from the scene, or what the scene truly looks like when we stand in front of it?

But no one can possibly say what the scene truly looks like. For each of us, the experience of looking at something will be completely different. Furthermore, what we remember from our visual connection with the scene will also be different for each of us as vision is truly relative. (let's remember the example of the person who is enclosed in a room painted completely red and with nothing else inside to compare that color to. The person will be unable to see that red color until we introduce something with which he can compare it).

So, if we are retouching a picture for ourselves, we will attempt to bring that image closer to what we remember based on our own personal experience. If we are retouching it for somebody else, we may either bring that scene closer to what generally is accepted as attractive for such a scenario or we may ask the client whose photo we are retouching the details of his/her perception of that scene and then manipulate the result towards that direction.

Moving Beyond what we see

2) On the other hand, retouching allows us to go beyond the first point and enhance reality in infinite directions. As we mentioned previously, vision is very relative. We all remember the same scene in different ways. That lush green vegetation will be remembered by some of us as more saturated in color than by others, some will remember it more yellow and others greener. Some will remember the vegetation to be brighter and others darker; some will even remember it larger and others smaller. This is all a consequence both of the biology of our eyes and of the continuous filtering that our brain performs on our perception of the world around us.

Depending on the importance and resonance that our different memories have on us, the brain will remember different scenarios in different ways. Therefore we can summarize by saying that once we leave a scene, its representation in our minds starts to get distorted. What we remember is a mixture of the filtering and processing performed by our brain plus how our mind wants to remember that input. All in all, most times what we remember has little to do with the actual physical input we had in front of us.

This very same human trait that at first may sound a bit disturbing is also what powers our imagination and our capacity to invent, to create, to expand beyond what we see. It allows us to blend, interconnect, associate and produce ideas and images that we have never seen in real life.

And here is where retouching again becomes an extremely powerful tool. Not only can we start from that initial photo we snapped with our camera and take control of the distortion that happens naturally in our minds, but this time we can modify the image consciously in whatever directions our imagination suggests.

We can make a blue shirt red. We can expand that forest of trees and make it five times larger. We can put an ocean around our house or extract a figure from its background and make it fly through the skies. The possibilities are endless. As such, from this second perspective, retouching becomes a wonderful way of visually imagining, exploring, creating and expanding ideas.

The art of retouching, described from these two angles, is an art-form that requires conscious thought and decision-making strategies. We have to decide what parts of the picture we will work on and what style of retouching we will perform. Will it be retouching that will go unnoticed and simply enhance the picture without calling attention to itself? Or will it be retouching that aims to transform the image into something completely out of our imagination and therefore will aim to look surprising and new in an elegant way?

A professional photo retoucher works with the image like a craftsman. He must work carefully with his electronic brush, repairing, correcting, blending and transforming the image in subtle ways that slowly change it just as a sunset or a sunrise slowly transition into a new reality without sudden changes that could call attention to themselves. As such, the work of a professional photo retoucher is similar to the work of a painter, a sculptor or an illustrator.

Precision work full of creativity and focus that aims to do what our photo cameras could not do; Enhance and transform the photo closer to what our eyes enjoyed and our minds remember.

Retouching can cover an infinite array of treatments including basic color correction, high end beauty retouching, skin retouching, make-up enhancement, glamour retouching, lighting enhancement, photo montages, portrait retouching, eyes retouching, photo illustration, photo restoration and touch up, magazine photo retouching, photo cartooning, background extractions, damaged photos restoration, wedding photography retouching, panoramic photography, photo paintings, other special effects and so much more.

Some online services offer minimal automated basic retouching services like automatic color and contrast enhancements. These perform generic automated corrections to an image and fail to produce optimum results for the same reason that all automated processes in life fail to adapt to the unique individual circumstances of a subject, in our case an image.

Every picture is a different world. Automated processes can improve the contrast and color of an image sometimes, but other times they can degrade the image instead of improving it, taking the image in the opposite direction needed by blindly following theoretical rules and mechanical algorithms.

And what is even more important, automated processes cannot think and cannot create a strategy of what they want to achieve. They cannot contemplate an image and create a plan to bring it closer to what our human eyes would enjoy or to the dreams that our souls envision.

That is why the best retouching can only be done by humans, by artists, by creatives, by truly, magicians that with their electronic wands work for hours and days on the pictures and create results that sometimes reflect our memories and other times transform our dreams into realities, as real for our eyes as what we remembered but even better, taken to the edges and peaks of human creativity and beauty.

How to Take Good Pictures of People - Photography Secrets Revealed!

Unlike animals or inanimate objects, we're very picky when it comes to how our photos come out; which is why it is so important to know how to take good pictures of people. It's not everyday that someone brings a camera, right?

Usually, we take pictures in order to preserve memories. And who wants to keep a memory of a bad shot in their photo album? No one, right?

As the photographer, you have to know how to take good pictures of people. If you need a little help with that, here are some tips to improve your shots.

1) Find the best angle.

People have different angles. Sometimes, one person looks better from the left or from the right. That person may not know it himself/herself, so it's up to you to determine the best angle for the picture.

It's not only about left and right though. It's also about how high or low you angle your camera. For example, positioning yourself too low will only catch the unflattering view of say... your cousin Leah's nostrils and your sister Tammy's double chin. Do that and you'll never be allowed to touch the camera again.

2) Catch candid moments.

One way on how to take good pictures of people is by catching them during candid moments. Sometimes, people have a hard time smiling naturally in front of the camera. The photo then becomes stiff and boring.

However, by catching them mid-laugh or mid-talk, you'll have a better chance of scoring beautiful images. Just be sure to time the moment right because candid moments can also make for unflattering pictures.

3) Try different positions.

Old-school photographers like to take pictures of people by lining them up side by side. While there's nothing really wrong with such a composition, don't you think that that's a little too boring?

If you want to take good pictures of people, I suggest trying out different positions. Group them together like a bunch of flowers and take their picture from above so their faces are the ones in focus. Be as fun and as creative as the situation allows you to.

Frankly, it's easy to learn how to take good pictures of people. You don't have to buy the latest camera model to come up with fantastic photos. All it takes is a little bit of ingenuity and an understanding of the overall composition of the photo.

What It Takes To Be A Lawyer?

When you see all these handsome Lawyers in TV series like LA Law, sitting in their fancy offices, driving these flashy cars, have you ever realized what they have been through in terms of time, years of education, money, certifications, etc...

Let me Describe to you the Lawyers course of training. Formal educational requirements for lawyers include a 4-year college degree, 3 years in law school, and the passing of a written bar examination.

Competition for admission to most law schools is intense. prospective lawyers should develop proficiency in writing and speaking, reading, researching, analyzing, and thinking logically--skills needed to succeed both in law school and in the profession.

Regardless of major, a multidisciplinary background is recommended. Courses in English, foreign languages, public speaking, government, philosophy, history, economics, mathematics, and computer science, among others, are useful. Students interested in a particular aspect of law may find related courses helpful. For example, prospective patent lawyers need a strong background in engineering or science, and future tax lawyers must have extensive knowledge of accounting.

Acceptance by most law schools depends on the applicant's ability to demonstrate an aptitude for the study of law, usually through good undergraduate grades, the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), the quality of the applicant's undergraduate school, any prior work experience, and, sometimes, a personal interview.

During the first year or year and a half of law school, students usually study core courses, such as constitutional law, contracts, property law, torts, civil procedure, and legal writing. In the remaining time, they may elect specialized courses in fields such as tax, labor, or corporate law. Law students often acquire practical experience by participating in school-sponsored legal clinic activities; in the school's moot court competitions, in which students conduct appellate arguments; in practice trials under the supervision of experienced lawyers and judges; and through research and writing on legal issues for the school's law journal.

Law school graduates receive the degree of juris doctor (J.D.) as the first professional degree. Advanced law degrees may be desirable for those planning to specialize, research, or teach. Some law students pursue joint degree programs, which usually require an additional semester or year of study. Joint degree programs are offered in a number of areas, including law and business administration or public administration.

After graduation, lawyers must keep informed about legal and nonlegal developments that affect their practice. Currently, 40 States and jurisdictions mandate continuing legal education (CLE). Many law schools and State and local bar associations provide continuing education courses that help lawyers stay abreast of recent developments.

The practice of law involves a great deal of responsibility. Individuals planning careers in law should like to work with people and be able to win the respect and confidence of their clients, associates, and the public. Perseverance, creativity, and reasoning ability also are essential to lawyers, who often analyze complex cases and handle new and unique legal problems.

Lawyers held about 695,000 jobs in 2002. About 3 out of 4 lawyers practiced privately, either in law firms or in solo practices. Most of the remaining lawyers held positions in government and with corporations and nonprofit organizations.

(Source: http://www.bls.gov)

For Additional information:

www.Lawyers-Best-Infoweb.com

Introduction to Travel Photography

If you're a traveler and a photographer you're blessed with the opportunity of a lifetime to capture moments in time from throughout the world and allow others to experience the world through your photography. Your adventures will become others dreams and inspiration. Often a particular photograph could make someone want to follow in your footsteps. Just one photograph could trigger the travel bug in someone and the next thing you know, you, the photographer, and enhancing people's lives through the use of your camera.

Besides the impact travel photography has on others, it's also very rewarding to the travel photographer. Chances are you would have had a camera on you anyways, so why not apply the creative principles of art photography to help enhance the pictures you take.

How to take the best travel photographs

There are two types of travel photography.

1) The "stand in front of that sweetie" brand and the "spontaneous and interesting" brand. Unfortunately most travel photography falls into the former category. We've all seen this type of photographer before, and regrettably most of us are guilty of it as well. We will try and capture the shot of something for no other purpose than to just prove we were there. The result is an often scripted, uncomfortable, predictable and visually boring picture. These types of pictures clog photo albums. Page one; the family in front of a water fountain. Page 2; the family in front of a monument. Page 3; the family in front of a sign that says something only funny to tourist. Congratulations, you've taken the same shots, in the same position as thousands and sometimes millions of other people. Let's now turn our attention to the other brand of travel photography, the spontaneous and interesting brand.

2) with this type of photography you are still free to capture the tourist site and you are still allowed to include yourself in the picture. However, there will be a stark difference in both composition and character engagement. Let's say for example that you and your family have gone on a kayaking for the day. Some people may line the kayaks up, gear up and stand in front of the kayaks, throw their thumbs in the air and "click". The picture is taken. When you get home to look at your shot you realize that the picture didn't capture the peacefulness of kayaking, the calming backdrop of mountains or the scared look on sisters face when she had to duck under a log. You've simply captured proof that you've been there and done that. A better idea would be to have someone on shore (because you probably don't want a camera in a kayak unless you're very skilled), and have them take pictures of the action while its happening. Even if you have to recreate events, it is still better than the scripted and visually boring alternative. Obviously capturing the moment spontaneously is best, but recreation finds itself in second place if that's the only other option.

Likewise if you're in Rome and you'd like to get a picture of your friend and the Coliseum all in one, try quickly pulling out your camera while they are looking at the size of the structure and snap a shot of the wonder and curiosity in their eyes. Often this takes some preplanning with however you're with. You will need to tell them; "Look, when I take out the camera I don't want you to stop what you're doing and "say cheese". Just keep doing what you're doing because I'm trying to capture our unpredictable and beautiful life as it unfolds". It may take a couple of times before they stop turning and looking your way, but once you get this down pat as a team, your pictures will turn out much better.

Learn Digital Photography

Have you ever wanted to learn digital photography? Believe it or not, but if you are truly passionate about learning digital photography, then you can do it. There are so many different resources available for anyone who wants to use them. It all depends on you though and what kind of effort you are able to put forth.

You could learn digital photography in a classroom if you wanted to. Nowadays, almost every major college and university offers a major in digital photography (or at least, regular photography). Some smaller schools offer individual courses for people interested in learning digital photography. Even community colleges are offering courses that take place on nights and weekends for the convenience of working adults. There are advantages and drawbacks to learning digital photography in a classroom, but I will just say this: for sheer basics, a classroom will work well enough.

You could learn digital photography by interning with a photography studio. This is a very "hands on" type of learning process. You may have to work long days, with few or no breaks, and you are rushing to help the real photographers beat deadlines. Now, this is not the same as a portrait studio that you see set up in malls around America that take pictures of your kids for grandma. You need to take an apprenticeship with a real studio that goes out and shoots for newspapers, magazines, calendars, or private collectors. This is a more common route for teenagers who want to learn digital photography, but adults can do it too of course. Also, remember that not every studio is willing to hire an intern, so you may have to shop around town before you find a place.

A final way you could try to learn digital photography is by buying a handbook on digital photography. Handbooks are useful for people who prefer to work at their own pace or don't have time for a course at a learning annex or an internship. There are hundreds of different books you have to choose from, so be sure to choose the one that is right for you. For example, if you want to learn digital photography so that you can take pictures of the daisies in your front lawn, then buy a book on outdoor photography.

Anybody who really wants to learn digital photography can do so with just a little bit of grit and determination. Good luck out there!

The Importance of a Business Plan

The Business Plan is by far the most important element in starting and effectively operating a company. Whether you intend to secure funding via family, friends, acquaintances, venture capitalists, banks, or any other avenue; A professionally written plan enables you to present yourself and your company as a viable competitor in your prospective market. The entrepreneur can not make the assumption that a great idea and years of experience in a particular field of expertise is enough to win the hearts and minds of investors or lenders. In today's marketplace funding resources want to see a well articulated, precise, and detailed depiction of the aspects that set your company apart from competition, how you plan to grow your business for at least the first 3 to 5 years, and the education and expertise of your management team.

Although a Business Plan is crucial in obtaining funds for start-up and operational costs, it is just as critical in the day-to-day operations of any company. A Business Plan gives each company and its management team a "blueprint" to follow as to how the business will achieve the goals set forth prior to the start of business. These goals can include: Securing a place in a particular market, carrying out community involvement initiatives, maintaining employee morale, and garnering maximum profits to name a few. It is not necessary to follow a plan every day of business, however it serves as a reference to be examined annually, semi-annually, or even quarterly in order to make certain your company does not veer off of its predetermined path.

The final benefit of a well developed plan is its use as a recruitment tool for upper level management and key personnel affiliated with a company. It would behoove any business owner to form a management team whereby every individual member brings his/her own skill set and educational background to the "board room." No particular manager or key member within an organization will be adept in every aspect of the company. Furthermore, a well prepared plan assists an owner in acquiring adequately trained professionals to complete the company management team and any company/team is only as good as its leaders.

A professionally prepared plan is paramount in the development AND execution of all successful businesses. If attempting to secure financing, no investor or lender will take you serious without a well thought out and well prepared Business Plan. Funding sources have detailed guidelines that they want to be followed in the format of your business plan so Solicit the help of a professional Business Plan Writer to help convey your ideas in a clear, precise, and detailed manner. Remember, ultimately your Business Plan is the most essential investment in your company and its future successes.

~A.L. Demings~

"Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now" ~Alan Lakein~

Entry Level Digital SLR - Compare Canon Rebel T1i and T2i

Many anxious photographers jumped on the upgraded Canon Rebel T2i when it was first available. Others have been waiting for the excitement to settle and get the real "hard" reviews.

Well, the data has been analyzed, and it appears that those early buyers were the smart ones. We can now use hard evidence to compare the Canon Rebel T1i and T2i.

However, before beginning, this statement from the DPReview full review of the newest Rebel:

All in all, the EOS 550D is the most compelling DSLR of its class that we've ever tested. It is hard to imagine how much more we might realistically expect from a product of this type, and although the improvements that Canon has made over the EOS 500D aren't revolutionary, the 550D is a better camera than its predecessor. In terms of both still and video capture, the 550D is currently the best camera of its type on the market.

Now, that should be enough to get you moving in the direction of the nearest camera shop.

And if that is not enough, just check out what contributors at the online forums are saying. They are either singing the praises of the new camera or trying to find reasons to defend their own personal investments in "the other" brand equipment or purchases of different models.

A few of the features to compare the Canon Rebel T1i and T2i are listed below. Not every feature will be mentioned, just the upgrades that help this Digital Rebel to stand out from the crowd of entry level DSLRs.

HD Video - photographers are now expecting this feature when they upgrade to new equipment. The older model did have video, but the upgrade is now sporting full HD at 1080p with a choice of 30, 25, or 24 frames per second recording speed. The older version had only 720p at 24 fps.

In addition, the manufacturer has remedied the major complaint concerning sound input by adding an external microphone input jack along with stereo rather than mono capability.

Image sensor - 18.7 megapixels, up from the previous 15 megapixel sensor. This matches the image sensor of the 7D, which, of course, is almost twice the cost.

ISO - again Canon delivers in a "problem area" as many reviewers were not impressed with the higher ISO settings on the older version. Reviews are acknowledging that the image quality at higher ISO settings is improved when you compare the Canon Rebel T1i and T2i. This makes this new image maker a great choice for indoor events such as school plays or night concerts.

Exposure compensation - for photo enthusiasts, this is a major upgrade. Now, instead of merely 2 stops (plus or minus) the new camera can give a 5-stop differential in exposure compensation. This is fantastic for photographers who are into HDR work.

LCD panel - this has been upgraded to allow very good visibility, even in high light. This is nice for using the new and improved video mode.

Voila! There you have it.

You Can Use These Different Successful Ideas For Making Easy Money Online

There are many ways to make easy money online, but most look for easy and free ways to do it while working from home. Craigslist is the easiest, simplest and most straightforward way to make money online. And why not? It serves about 20 billion page views a month; talk about free traffic!

Craigslist is the primary choice if you want to make easy money online from just about anything. As one of the most powerful classified ad sites, it must be used by any online entrepreneur. To begin making money, sell or post items on the site at the right group within your locality. Category list is complete so you will not have trouble looking for the right one.

Write a good headline for the product you are selling-make it as concise as possible yet containing complete details about the product you are selling. Remember that users-when searching for items-only see headlines (unlike on eBay where posts include images). People who make easy money online using Craigslist make sure that the headline is eye-catching and include attractive price so that users view their posts. Posts with pictures inside are also more likely to be viewed than those that do not contain pictures.

What's the first thing people look for when they go online? You guessed it right: information. If you can supply this in any form and at the same time be paid to do so, it can look to a whole new career and will help you make fast money online. Here's how you can get started:

Find writing projects from reputable sites is the first way to make fast money online. As a freelancer, Elance and Craigslist should be your first choices. Feel free to look for other classified ads that offer writing projects. Usually, you need to pay a membership fee to be able to bid on writing projects, but make sure to background check the website if it is legit.

How long before you can get started may depend on how aggressive and experienced you are in writing. But to make fast money online by writing articles is not exclusive to those with years of experience. Because there are thousands upon thousands of websites that need articles constantly, you will be able to land on a client who is looking for a ghostwriter. Don't worry about your skills, you can develop it as you go along-after all, many clients focus heavily on the budget.

Can you make fast money online in writing? The answer is, yes you can. Can you build a career out of this? The answer is yes as well, but make sure that you are fast and can deliver quality articles because if you give fast turnaround and produce good work, clients come back to you and may hire you as a permanent writer.

If you want to know how to make money on-line using YouTube, here's the post you need. There is a lot of money that can be generated by creating videos and uploading them on YouTube. Just like any other freelance job, creating videos requires natural talent, video editing skills, SEO knowledge, and ability to sell your ideas to potential clients. If you can put all these together, you can definitely make money on YouTube.

Making money on YouTube, therefore, comes down to creating good videos and getting the videos to rank well. If you can somehow put these things together in a way that it can benefit a person, a site or a business, you can definitely benefit from today's most successful video sharing website. The good thing is, you don't have to draw in blank to come up with a way to make money on YouTube. Below are the steps on how to make money on-line by creating videos for others:

How to make money on-line starts with finding a client. You can do it two ways. You can promote yourself by uploading several videos on YouTube about the service you are offering so that clients may find you or find a business in your area that are in need of videos for their marketing campaign and show samples of your work. Take note that these steps on how to make money on-line is centered on those who are really into video making.

If you are able to find clients, work with them and create videos for fee. Rate depends on the budget of your client. Rate may also depend on the production cost of the video. Now, your question about how to make money online is answered.

Over the years, there is only one generally known way to earn money work from 8-5. But with the popularity of work from home jobs, people have started the exodus and abandon their office cubicles, the daily commute and the traditional way of making money. They start their own business or look for home-based jobs. Either way, they make online money without leaving their home.

People with programming, tech support, and other IT-related backgrounds can easily make online money at home. Because they are often working web-based, their presence at the office is not really significant. For non-IT, home-based jobs available including transcription, translation and virtual assistant jobs can be good. Freelance photographers who sell their photos also earn money online.

Freelance writers meanwhile make online money easy because of high demand for fresh content from websites. Freelance writers can be paid per project or per page and depending on their skill and the budget of the client, they can receive from $3-$150 per copy made. Freelance writers can be bloggers, article writers, technical writers, e-book writer, etc. Elance and Odesk are two of the best websites to find freelance writing jobs.

Perhaps one of the most popular and easiest ways to make online money is to sell on eBay. You'll notice that every article related to making money at home includes selling items on eBay. And why not? eBay is the best place to sell just about anything: from gadgets to antiques, health products, sporting equipment, vehicles, accessories, artwork and old stuff in your closet.

Making money on the net often requires you to have your own website. But just like setting up a traditional business, creating a website requires time, money and people who will promote it. So how can you maximize the internet without even having to own a dot-com? Below are tips to help you jump-start your online career:

If you want to start making money on the net, the first thing you should do is to tap your existing skills. Do you have a talent in writing, blogging, web design, photography, translation, transcription, video editing, logo making, CSS, HTML and other computer language? These are the most sought after skills that make a lot of money online. There are unlimited projects you can get online as a freelancer.

Now, look for clients who are in need of a particular service to begin making money on the net. Elance or Odesk is a good place to start; either is legitimate. There are other sites such as Craigslist where you can find a lot of project listings, however there is a good chance to run into scams since anyone can post project in this site. As a reminder, be careful where you get your projects from and don't accept any job that requires you to pay for membership.

Different clients have different requirements. Some will pay upfront while some pay 50% before and 50% after the project is completed. Be wary of clients who promise to pay after the project, especially if you get the project from unregulated websites. As a last tip: enjoy what you do and you will surely be making money on the net easy.c

Whether you are a seasoned trader or new to the idea of Forex trading, you have a great opportunity to make money online by entering the Forex market. The basics of Forex trading are simple and you are actually doing it all the time, even a buy as simple as buying a bottle of wine from Greece from your grocery. While you are using local currency, the company that imported the wine used Euro. That said, how can you make money in Forex trading?

Some years ago, Forex trading was only exclusive for large financial institutions and the wealthy. But with the popularity of the internet, you can make money by simply opening an account for as low as $100. Today, currency trading is very accessible to anyone who wishes to venture in to this kind of investment. While generating large sum of money requires larger investment, even a low start-up could get you going.

To get you started, choose a Forex robot or an expert advisor. This expert advisor, as the name implies, will do the trading for you. Under the limits you set, the EA will do everything a human trader can do. Of course, no computer is better than the human mind.

This is why, if you want to make money online by trading Forex, you have to make sure that you do not depend on Forex robots alone. You have to know everything about Forex as well as how you can use the EA to your advantage. It may take time to learn it all. Still, as you go along, you will be able to become an expert yourself as maximize the potential of the Forex market.

Dany Cooper

Top 10 Senior Photography Do's and Don'ts

Here's a quick guide for the upcoming high school senior and his or her family to consider when preparing for senior photographs.

1. DO get your senior photos taken! You'll regret not capturing your memories.

DON'T wait too long to reserve your session. Many photographers' schedules fill up quickly.

2. DO ask your friends about their photography experiences. Note the good and the bad stuff.

DON'T be forced into the "official school photographer" routine. It's not what goes into the yearbook that matters, it's how your images are captured and how you feel about the experience. Do you really want your senior photos taken by the people who did your 7th grade pictures?

3. DO your homework. Know which photographers offer the kinds of sessions and experiences that meet your needs. Do they travel with you? Will they take pictures of you with your dog? Boyfriend?

DON'T be impulsive and grab that old card that showed up in the mail sometime this spring. Think about it...probably 2000 other people got that same card.

4. DO shop on the web. Try searches like "Senior Photographer " with your city or area to see who specializes in senior photography.

DON'T get suckered into "Ambassador Plans". They often put you in a position to sell for a studio. Is that what you really want to spend your time doing?

5. DO Look into the photographers' portfolios. Many have online galleries and/or slide shows. How similar are the shots? Do they have enough outdoor or location images for your taste?

DON'T be fooled by studio size. Large studios may mean a quick, impersonal session where you are limited by changes, locations and poses. Your poses and images may look like many other students'.

6. DO ask about locations, changes, friends, pets, retouches, time limits and proofing.

DON'T be shy about expressing your needs and wants. It's YOUR session!

7. DO discuss with your family. Sure, you are your own person, but the folks and relatives might really love a traditional shot thrown in among your creative stuff.

DON'T Try a new hairstyle or try to get that perfect tan the day before your shoot!

8. DO Plan for your shoot. Set aside clothes, uniforms, props, pets, accessories and shoes.

DON'T worry about cosmetic/skin issues. Any photographer worth the money will take care of that!

9. DO let your personality shine through. Relax and the real you will emerge!

DON'T scan or copy or post any of the proof images without photographer's OK. It's illegal and tacky to steal!

10. DO have a wonderful, unique time with your senior session!

DON'T forget to order enough wallets for your friends and relatives!

Creative and Interesting Ideas for Forced Perspective Trick Photography

We all love taking pictures and sharing it with the world, as shown by the popularity of image sharing websites like Instagram and Facebook. We just like to have fun, get creative, and snap away. I'm sure if you look hard enough you'll find a forced perspective picture taken by anyone who have ever held a camera and seen one on these pictures.

I'm talking about the "impossible" pictures of people holding a mini-sized person on the palm of their hands, or "giant" tourists seen to be pushing or hugging the Leaning Tower of Pisa. In the age of Photoshop these kinds of photos might not be very surprising anymore, but the fact is that it is all done just with creative framing of the camera and some trial and error poses. Sooner or later, you will be tempted to try it, so here are some great ideas to get you started.

Hangman or mini-me

This is one of the more common ideas that people will try, but when you execute it well, it is still incredibly satisfying. The idea is to create a picture where you're holding or picking up a miniature person with your hand or fingers. To do this well, you need maximum distance and depth of field. You need to get the camera very close to the person who is holding the miniature people. Then have the miniature person to stand and pose as far away as possible while still being in acceptably sharp focus. If one of the person is in very sharp focus but the other is not then it ruins the illusion, so get a good compromise so that they match in sharpness. Have the larger person in the foreground hold up their hand and fingers as if they're picking up a very small object. For the mini person, hide a coat hanger or a stick under their shirt so that the shirt appears to poke out. Frame your camera to match the fingers and the tip of the shirt that is poking out and you have a picture of a giant person picking up a mini person by their shirt!

Russian nested dolls

This works best if you and a group of people are standing on an open and very flat area like a desert or on the beach, where the horizon stretches to infinity. Setup the camera and have each person stand and pose at an evenly spaced distance from the camera as well as from each other. Make them all have the exact same pose and pointing to the same direction. The result is you get is an interesting forced perspective picture of a group of people, each smaller than the other, with the same pose looking like a series of Russian nested dolls.

Playing with the sun

The sun, as depicted in photographs are often evocative and expressive due to the warm colours and emanating glow during sunset or sunrise. If you find yourself with a camera during this golden hour of photographic opportunity, why not take a picture where you or your subject is interacting directly with the sun? Hold a pose, such as kicking a soccer ball and move your camera so the sun is where the ball should be. You could also hide the sun behind your subject's head, but with the rays of light clearly visible and spreading out to suggest enlightenment.

There are no limits on how creative you can be with forced perspective. Instead of just taking another picture of a landmark on your travels, or a smiling group photo, you can really liven things up with some imagination and great ideas to create that next great forced perspective picture!

Growing Up With a Bipolar Mother

When I was a kid, everyone said my mom was brilliant, and indeed, she was. She didn't finish high school, but had my older brother instead. Once she decided she wanted to learn something, she just learned it! She had an upbeat personality. People liked her energy and witty sense of humor. She was a young mother of seven children. She also had bipolar disorder.

How Her Mental Illness Progressed

At first, she started doing strange things like running outside barefoot in her nightgown at night in the middle of winter. Her temper became worse. I told myself that most of these symptoms would have occurred in anyone because of the pressures of raising a large family on a farm.

Then, one day in a fit of temper, she tried to kill me with a carving knife. My older brother and I placed a cowbell on my door, so that if she came into my room in the middle of the night, I would know she was there, and be able to defend myself.

A Wrong Diagnosis of Schizophrenia
Our dad had her placed in a mental hospital where she stayed for some time. This was the 1960s before too much was known about various mental illnesses. The psychiatrists diagnosed our mom with schizophrenia, gave her some medication, and sent her home.

The medication made her feel funny, like she wasn't fully herself, and so she didn't take it. Another suicide attempt sent her back to the hospital. After she came home, things got progressively worse. She went back to the mental hospital, and I took over the household. At the age of twelve, I became an adult. I cooked, cleaned, took care of my brothers and sisters, and worked outside in the barns.

Finally, when my mom came home, I didn't want anything to do with her. Our dad begged for a truce between us. Bitterness, anger, and hurt filled my heart. My hatred for her became apparent to everyone.

About the same time, our parents announced that they were getting a divorce. It upset me horribly. Our mom and dad separated, and our mom moved out, taking the four youngest children with her.

Losing Hope and Faith

When I was younger, I had prayed for God to heal all of us, and make us happy again. We had been such an idyllic family! As things became worse, we stopped going to church, and I stopped praying. It seemed hopeless.

Fast-forward to 1999. My husband and I were in San Francisco when my older brother called, and said that our mom had tried to kill her husband. (Our mom had remarried one year after our parents divorced.) They took her off in a strait jacket, and placed her in mandatory detainment in the state mental hospital.

A New Diagnosis: Bipolar Disorder

While detained in the state's mental hospital, the psychiatrists diagnosed her with bipolar disorder, not schizophrenia, and placed her on the right medication for the first time in her life. It calmed the manic part of her personality, stopped the cycling between mania and depression, and she became stable.

What Did I Learn Through All Of This?

First, I learned that bipolar disorder is hereditary: a person may inherit the whole thing or inherit it in part, the fullest cycling or a lesser cycling, or one may get either the manic side or the depressed side. It was truly a revelation. It explained a lot about me, and my brothers and sisters. Knowing this, we have a much better chance of trying to control it.

Second, I learned that I do love my mother. Bipolar disorder demands that she always be the center of attention. That is part of the illness. She has all the potential to be normal when she takes her medication, and then she can be very sweet and loving.

Thirdly, not taking the prescribed medication is a natural disaster. She doesn't like to take it because it takes away too much of the manic side of her personality, and that is precisely what people are drawn towards. If she doesn't take her meds, it leads to the manic-depressive cycling again.

Lastly, I have learned that God is greater than all problems. His love overcomes everything that we have endured on earth, and those abuses no longer matter. Our Lord takes them away, and replaces them with love. His love for us is so powerful that my bitterness disappeared. He, indeed, has finally put everything right. I've forgiven my mom, and my childlike faith has returned.

A Book Is Written

That's not the only miracle. God gave me a miracle in my first fiction novel: Innocence: Simplicity of Spirit. Somehow, He drew out of me all the good experiences of my childhood, and allowed me to reflect on them. I enjoyed remembering the good years before she became ill. God has blessed me with this novel, and I hope it will bless you, too.

How To Sell Funny Pictures Online

In this article I will explain to you how to sell funny pictures online for a big profit.
Perhaps you don't know it but if you have some original funny pictures you are sitting on a gold mine.
If you do a Google search for funny pictures you will find more then thirty five millions of results for that keyword alone.
Such large numbers may impress you but after all everybody wants to be entertained.
In this article I will explain to you how to sell funny pictures online.

1 # Funny pictures: Submit them to break.com.

A great place to sell funny pictures online is by registering a free account on break.com.
If your pictures make it to a gallery you get paid a cool 25$ bucks.
If you have some original funny videos make sure that you submit hem as well.
Break gives you an awesome two thousand dollars for this kind of videos that make it on their homepage.
The best thing you can do is submitting your funny pictures or videos to break.com right away.
But keep in mind that it is break's staff who decided if your pictures will make it trough the gallery or not.

2 # Ebaumsworld.com

Ebaumsworld.com is a site similar to break.com they also pay you to submit your funny pictures and videos.
However it is possible to upload jokes and mp3's as well.

3 # Shutterstock.com

One of my favourite places to sell pictures online is trough shutterstock.com.
They pay you 20 cents per download of your picture.
Twenty cent per download doesn't look much but the user doesn't have to pay a dime to download it.
Sites like shutterstock.com are called online stock photography sites.

4 # Additional stock photography sites.

Buying and selling pictures is a very large market so shutterstock.com is far from the only website that offers a similar service.
To help you out I will give you five additional websites where you can send your funny pictures to it.

- Fototopic.com

- Istockphoto.com

- Fotolia.com

- Spymedia.com

- Canstockphoto.com

Before you submit your pictures to similar sites make sure that you have read their faq and their guidelines.
Most sites don't allow you to submit pictures with people on it.

I hope you have an idea now how to sell funny pictures online.