They Lied, Words Can Hurt

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue and those who love it will eat its fruit." Proverbs 18:21

You have probably heard the old saying, "sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you." Wrong! It's because words have such a powerful effect that we devise defenses against them. If words truly did not matter we wouldn't put as much emphasis on the power of words.

The Bible says that, "Life and death is in the power of the tongue." (Proverbs 18:21) James puts incredible emphasis on the power of the tongue by saying, "So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!" (James 3:5)

Negative words can be more damaging than a stick or stone breaking a bone. A broken bone will heal within a few months, but a damaging word can cause pain for a lifetime. Think about the young man that was continually told he was going to be like his sorry no good father. After hearing these damaging words day after day, year after year he begins to believe them. When he grows up he becomes a living testimony of the very words that were spoken over his life.

Think about the young woman that was constantly told she was ugly and no man would ever want her. Hearing these negative words infiltrates her thinking and it results in her believing the lie. She begins to give herself over to any man that approaches her with enticing words. Her self-esteem and confidence has been deflated because of the degrading words spoken into her life. I can give story after story of the devastating effect negative spoken words can have in a person's life.

One of my favorite stories that illustrate the power of the spoken word was in my favorite movie, "The Five Heartbeats." In a scene early in the movie, Eddie Kane, Jr. was talking to his father about his singing aspirations. During their conversation his father made what I thought was a very damaging statement. Eddie was sharing with his father his desire to become a famous singer and his father commented by saying, "I wasn't nothing so you will never be nothing." He used more seasoned words than I used, but you get the point.

In the movie Eddie became the famous lead singer of The Five Heartbeats. The fame and fortune would soon become Eddie's Achilles heel and eventually cause him to venture down the wrong road. He went down the dark, unforgiving road of alcohol and drug abuse. He forfeited his fame, fortune and family for perceived pleasures. I believe the power of his father's earlier spoken words had a drastic impact on the way Eddie Kane, Jr. turned out.

I know that this is a movie played by actors, but in real life there are millions of individuals that are living deflated lives because of the damaging words spoken over their lives. They have allowed the negative words to keep them in a perpetual hostage mentality. They believed the detrimental lies of the enemy and thus live life void of God's vision. Damaging spoken words of the enemy and others can keep you and God's vision for your life locked in a sealed, lonely box never experiencing the awesome blessings on the outside.

What if we decide to season our talk with positive and encouraging words? What if we decide to permanently close our ears to others negative and pessimistic spoken words and tune into what God has to say about who we are and what we can do? What if we stop believing the curse words of the enemy and start believing the elevating Word of God? I suggest that you read God's Word for empowerment, listen to inspiring messages and surround yourself with people that will encourage you to achieve better. You need to get around people that will encourage and inspire you to achieve better.

At the end of the Five Heartbeats, Eddie Kane Jr. was restored. One of the former group members, Choir Boy, encouraged him by telling him that God could change his life. Choir boy took it upon himself to go after his friend. He knew God could take a shattered life that was in a million pieces and put him back together again better than ever. At the end of the movie we see Eddie singing in the church choir, his family was back together and he was overcoming his alcohol and drug addictions. The power of encouragement can do wonders in the life of an individual. Eddie Kane Jr. went from on top of the world, to the valley, to restoration.

I definitely know sticks and stones will break bones, but I believe the power of encouraging and empowering words can change a person's life. When our spoken words are seasoned with God's life changing Word we will see self-esteem rise, the suicide rate plummet, discouragement transformed to encouragement, peace of mind overshadow depression and defeat turned into victory.

"Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another." Napoleon Hill

Looking Into Online Film School Options

Film school is available in a range of different options. The most traditional form is through University training. Many small colleges and Universities offer degrees in film education. Students go to film school for many reasons. The most common, of course, is to become a filmmaker. There are both undergraduate and graduate degree programs for film students.

Filmmaking is very exiting and lucrative career. Film studies can include several different disciplines including animation training. Film students should have a clear idea of what type of films they want to make. Students typically learn how to shoot, write and edit their films.

Traditional film schools in Canada can be very expensive. The tuition can be quite high depending on the school. For many, the costs are too steep. But there are alternatives to enrolling in a college or university for training. There are some filmmakers that have found success teaching themselves about the industry. They read books on the subject matter and practiced their craft. But this is not the typical route for most filmmakers.

Many filmmakers turn to online training. There are many online course that teach a range of film concepts necessary to learn how to shoot films. The cost for online film programs vary but the are generally less expensive than a traditional school. There is a spectrum of price ranges for online courses in film study. It is important to research the programs and see what they have to offer.

There are online course that teach students a number of important skills needed to work in the film business. This industry offers many different career options. Several online training programs are very comprehensive in their film education curriculum. There are course in producing, editing, management, operating the cameras and writing. Once a student gets the basic training and they have a true talent, then their chances of becoming employed in the business are very good.

Enrolling in a good online film education program will equip the film student with all they need to know to start there career. Whether going to a traditional school or an online program, it takes a lot of hard work to make it in the industry. Training and education is very important but it is important to get your work out where it can be scene. A lot of a young filmmakers success will come in taking risks and networking with people in industry.

There are also many training programs that are tailored for individuals interested in all kinds of animation, including 3D animation. Animation courses are also available online. Although online training is not a tradition form of learning how to become a filmmaker, there are many excellent programs that can help start your career.

There are many film school training programs that are available online. It is important to know what aspect of filmmaking you will want to learn. You can research the available schools online. All you will need is an internet connection and a video camera. Every online school teaches their course differently. It is important to select a school that you are comfortable with and the provides the best training.

Intro to Black & White - Dodging & Burning Methods

When you are familiar with the printing process there will come a time when you will want to have more control over the result. This is where burning-in and dodging comes to assist you. This method can be used with both the wet printing process as well as dry i.e. your photo editing program. However, this article focuses on the wet process.

Parts of your print can be made darker by burning-in or kept from darkening by dodging. This method is as old as photography itself and every photographer should be using it regardless of the printing system used.

1. Burning-in

Burning-in refers to giving a selected area of a print more exposure than the overall exposure. This is generally performed after the overall exposure is made. This method requires an opaque mask with a hole through which the enlarger light may pass. The opaque material is up to you, but cardboard is mainly used as it is easy to cut to the required shape and size. Commonly a disc shape is used but it really doesn't matter, choose what is ideal for you. Another method used for burning-in is to simply cup your hands, shaped to cast a protective shadow over the rest of the print while image light passes through your cupped hands. An advantage to using your hands is that the burn hole is infinitely flexible in size. You burn in selected areas for a pre-determined amount of time.

2. Dodging

Dodging the print describes holding back light from selections in the image for a portion of the overall print exposure. Your own hand is an extremely flexible tool, capable of assuming very intricate shapes. A dodging tool may also be cut from cardboard and can vary in shape and size; be as small as a 5c coin or as large as the print itself. Dodging tools are often made of circular or oval pieces of material taped or glued to handles of stiff wire. The handles should be long enough to easily reach the middle of the image; otherwise the shadow of your hand will appear at the edge of your print.

With both dodging and burning-in, a constant motion is applied so as to bleed the differing exposures so the method is not obvious in the final result. If this is not done, hard edges will become obvious between the differently exposed areas. This is an instant give away to sloppy dodging or burning.

Dodging and burning can achieve delicate control of exposure values and avoid obvious changes in the print. Too much burning-in may produce too many dark tones that are obviously not natural and burned edges become evident. Awkward or extreme dodging will also be quite apparent. Dodging and burning can make the difference between an average photograph and a dynamic photograph. It is an essential skill to acquire, as most photographs (especially outdoor) need some manipulation to provide a satisfactory tonal range.

Photography For Beginners - Do You Understand Depth Of Field?

Depth of field is one of the most important aspects of photography you can learn. Use depth of field well in your photography and you can gain immense control over the look and impact of your photos. Unfortunately, depth of field also seems to be one of the toughest aspects for beginners to learn and master.

Even when you break it down to the simplest terms, the relationship between aperture and depth of field can seem confusing. Whenever I teach a class, or try to explain the manual settings on a friend's camera, this is the always topic we have to go over again and again. The good news is that with practice and concentration, the aperture/depth of field relationship will finally 'click' for you. The bad news is, there is more to understanding depth of field than just using your aperture.

But let's start at the beginning. What is depth of field?

In simple terms, the depth of field is the area behind and in front of your main point of focus, that is also acceptably in focus. So if you focus on a subject one metre away, you might look at your photo and find that everything from 0.9 to 1.2 metres is in focus. In this case, your depth of field is 0.3 metres (30 centimetres).

The very first thing a new photographer learns about depth of field is that it is controlled by the aperture on your lens. Very simply, a smaller aperture creates a larger depth of field, and a larger aperture creates a narrower depth of field. So if we go back to our previous example, let's say the 30cm depth of field was captured with an aperture of F-8. You could narrow the depth of field considerably by adjusting the aperture to F-2.8, a much wider setting.

Sound confusing? It is hard to explain it any more simply, especially without showing you photos as examples. If this is your first time working with depth of field, don't worry. Go outside right now and take some shots just as I have described, and you should be able to see the results right away.

So if it is that simple, why do so many people struggle with depth of field? As I wrote earlier, there is more to depth of field than just the aperture.

Depth of field is also affected by how close the subject appears in your photo. That means either how close you are to the subject, or how much you magnify or reduce the subject using different sized lenses.

The closer you are to your subject, or the closer you make the subject appear by zooming in with your lens, the smaller the depth of field becomes. Let's say you are photographing a person five metres away. At this distance, a standard or wide-angle lens will not only show a lot of background, but the wide depth of field could make the background quite distracting. However, if you walk much closer to the subject and re-focus, the depth of field will become much smaller. As a result, the well-focused person will stand out clearly from a blurry background. You can maximize the effect by opening the aperture to its widest setting.

Now imagine your subject is posing in front of a beautiful waterfall. If you stand close to the subject and photograph them with a wide aperture, you could get a great shot of the person but the waterfall will be an out of focus blur. You could improve the situation slightly by closing the aperture a few stops. However, the most effective way to improve the depth of field is to stand a few metres further back, and/or zoom back to a wider angle with your lens. Not only will you capture more of the background, but it will be much sharper than if you only adjusted your aperture alone.

So there you have a quick look at not one, but three factors than can make it easier to master depth of field; aperture, distance from the subject, and the size of the lens. This really is a topic that needs to be illustrated with a few photos, but hey - you have a digital camera. Why not go and try out these ideas at the next opportunity? It won't cost you anything, and you can see the results right away. You will soon develop a feel for the best way to make depth of field work for different subjects in your photography.

Types of Digital Cameras

If you are in the market to purchase a digital camera, you have surely seen several different types of cameras. It isn't exactly clear what the differences between the types are, and it can be confusing trying to choose the digital camera thats right for you. In this article, we wil discuss the different types of cameras so that you can better understand what to look for in purchasing a digital camera.

Point and Shoot Digital Cameras

Most consumer cameras on the market today fall into the category of Point and Shoot digital cameras. These cameras usually provide resolutions of between 2 and 4 megapixels (million pixels). These cameras are the digital version of your typical 35mm consumer camera.

A point and shoot digital camera is designed to do just that - take snapshots. They provide limited flexability with options, although many newer models have some limited options for special effects. The image quality from a point and shoot digital camera is generally good enough for common uses, such as auction photos, and even 4 X 6 prints.

If you just want a standard, entry level digital camera for family snapshots and auction photos, then a point and shoot digital camera is a budget conscious choice.

Semi Professional Digital Cameras

A semi professional digital camera is a more advanced version of a point and shoot digital camera. Typicaly, these cameras provide resolutions between 5 and 6 megapixels (million pixels). They also often offer the user additional settings and greater control over the camera. The image quality of these cameras is good enough to produce clear prints up to about 8 x 10.

A semi professional digital camera may be the best option for you if you seek greater creative control than you can get with a point and shoot model. The increased flexability does come with a price. Most semi professional models are priced much higher than point and shoot models.

Digital SLR Cameras

If you are a serious or professional photographer, no less than a Digital SLR model will do. SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex. Digital SLR cameras are very similar in operation to their 35 mm SLR countereparts. Also, many camera companies (such as Cannon and Nikon) have built their digital SLR models to be compatible with 35 mm SLR lenses. This is a great benefit to professional photographers who can select a model that is compatible with their existing lenses.

Digital SLR cameras provide an amazing amount of creative control over the camera and the resuting images. Also, these cameras provide resolutions over 6 Megapixels and can produce prints of poster size without noticeable pixelazation.

A Digital SLR camera (without lenses) is a pricey investment indeed. Currently, you can expect to spend $1500 or more on the camera alone. Accessories and lenses cost extra.

Graphic Design Tools That Every Designer Should Know

Who designed the graphics on your favorite web page?

It was most likely done by a graphic designer.

Graphic designers, or graphic artists, create visual graphics that are intended to communicate a message to audiences. Designers create graphics for websites and games as well as film media. Graphic designers also use illustrations and photography to create layouts for print media. Marketing companies often call on graphic designers to help create promotional displays and brochures for products. Graphic artists can be trained at schools with graphic design programs and degrees can also be earned online. As with many fields, designers cannot complete their work without the proper tools. Below is a list of what is necessary for a designer to be successful.

COMPUTER

Most of today's graphics are computer-based so this component is absolutely critical in graphic design. The computer is not only essential for designing graphics but it is also necessary for business purposes and is needed for email and communication. Computers are used to create illustrations, write copy for websites and publications, editing photos and designing layouts. Deciding which computer to purchase can be challenging but Apple's "Mac" is preferred by many designers because of their graphic capabilities.

SOFTWARE

Your computer can't design anything until it is told to, and this is where the software comes in. Software programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator help create and edit photos and images. Designers who specialize in website creation may use editors such as Macromedia Dreamweaver or Microsoft FrontPage to create sophisticated web pages with rich color and content. Time management and project tracking software is also essential for the business end of design.

BOOKS

Graphic designers are constantly learning and refining their craft. It is helpful for designers to build their own library of graphic design books. These publications can be used for technical assistance, business tips, or for inspiration when needed. You may also consider attending a graphic design school for specialized training.

OTHER CREATIVE PROFESSIONALS

One of the most important resources that a graphic designer can have is other peers in the field. Professionals can critique the work of others while receiving information and tips on their own projects. Complex assignments may require collaborating with other designers, and having someone to brainstorm with can create the best ideas.

Wedding Photojournalism Photography - Storybook Photography Defined

Just as the term "Google it" and Facebook have become common household phrases in today's world, wedding photojournalism is becoming the same way. Over the years, photography has evolved and changed, moving away from the more traditional style photos to a candid unposed style of shooting that catches the individuals in action, living life, and experiencing reality.

Photojournalism Defined

To understand what wedding photojournalism is, it is better to explain what photojournalism is in general. With photojournalistic photography, it is almost as if you can feel the breath that the person is breathing. You can see the flicker in his or her eyes. The laughter looks as if you can actually hear it ringing in your ears.The style of photojournalism tells the story through the images, unposed and unplanned. The pictures are raw, real, and natural. It is almost as if you are watching a documentary where a specific tone is set and the events are relatable to the person looking at the images.

Evolution of Wedding Photojournalism

Over the years, people began to waiver from the traditional direction from the photographers. Instead, the moments were allowed to unfold as natural and organically as possible. The term "wedding photojournalism" was actually penned by Denis Reggie, a former sports photographer, in 1980. He, along with others in the genre felt that this style of photography was more memorable and precious. However, each photographer has his or her own opinion of photojournalism and looks at the style very objectively. Although content is the most important element in shooting in a wedding photojournalistic style, choosing what to take pictures of, how to correctly expose it, the way the image should be cropped, and editing techniques are always debated. Because in the photojournalistic photography style the interpretation is up to the viewer, it is rare that two photographers will ever interpret the same scene or the same photo the same way.

Wedding Photojournalism Techniques

Photojournalistic wedding photographers always do their best to somewhat melt into the background when shooting a wedding. The goal is to stay unnoticed and be as inconspicuous as possible. While photographers do put together and gather groups for wedding group photos and formal portraits, the main style centers around the photojournalistic feel. The key method of delivering wedding and engagement photos to the clients is in chronological order - with wedding photojournalism and engagement photojournalism, it is very important that the images be viewed in order. Photojournalism embodies the telling of a story and this way, the viewer can see and experience the day moment to moment.

The Standard of Wedding Photojournalism

Shooting in a photojournalistic style requires the skill, talent, and experience necessary to view a scene and interpret it in a photojournalistic and creative way. While many amateur and professional photographers can shoot a wedding in a semi-photojournalistic style, the experience increases the value of your photography, assuring clients that in this genre, you truly have the training and background to portray this style of wedding photojournalism. I encourage ambitious and motivated photographers to apply to shoot with a photojournalistic wedding photographer and shadow photographers working out in the field. Photojournalistic photographers have worked hard to hone their skills over the years and are most are more than willing to share their knowledge of photojournalism with others who desire to learn!

How to Shoot Video of Your Kids Sports Team So That Anyone Else Will Watch it!

Break out that video camera, there is a game this weekend!

1. You bought a video camera

2. You want to shoot sports of your kid

3. Here is how to do it right!

What a wonderful age of technology we live in. You can buy the greatest gadgets now days to record video and music and play them in all sorts of ways on other great technology gadgets from computers, DVD's, MP3 players, VCR's, and many more. It is all great stuff. But they all come with thick owners manuals that do not always get you going the right direction. You may eventually learn to use your great new camera for instance, but that does not mean you will necessarily take pictures that are worth looking at down the road. Rolling tape in your camera is one thing and creating video that is high quality and interesting is another thing. The goal of this product is to bring you up to speed with using your video camera (whatever format, and whatever brand) to get the best results for recording those precious moments of your kid's athletic achievements.

We as parents spend plenty of hours out on the field, court, pool, or track watching our kids take part in and compete in youth sports. If you have a video camera you are going to want to record some of these events for posterity and perhaps education. Following the simple steps in this guide will help you to capture them in the best possible fashion so that it is watch able but also usable down the road.

My video expertise stems from two decades as a network television cameraman and as a parent with several kids actively involved in youth sports. In my years of shooting video professionally I have been around the world and seen just about every type of news event. I also spent 15 years covering pro sports events for my employer. These were the best type of assignments as far as I was concerned. In my entire career the things I have enjoyed most is being able to go to places where the average person cannot. In sports that usually means being on the field, next to the court, in the press box, or in the pit. I have shot football games of all levels up to and including NFC and AFC championship games. Living in the Bay Area has allowed me to cover many baseball pennant races and several World Series. I was right behind home plate the night the earth shook in the 1989 World Series. Talk about a shock. I had to give up covering a World Series between the two Bay Area teams to go and cover a huge news event. Baseball seemed small for a while after the magnitude of the earthquake. The point in this is that I love sports, have been around sports my whole life and I know how to shoot video of sports. With that in mind I will do my best to give you advice on how to do the same.

Gear

Now whether you have the latest DV camera in your hands or an old VHS format camera there are basic things you will need to keep in mind if you are going to shoot sports. As we say in the video business your camera is only as good as the glass that you hang in front of it. The better the lens the better the results will be no matter what kind of recording format you use. Now you already have a camera in hand and may never have heard this particular bit of advice so it is too late to factor it into the equation. However if you have camera in hand and it has any limitations on what it can do due to the lens being less than wonderful there are things you can do to mitigate the situation. We will discuss those things in more detail later on.

The key factors before setting out on your game day video assignment are to make sure you know the operating functions of the gear, have a tape supply in hand (soon to be DVDs with the revolution in gear design that is taking place right now), and batteries fully charged. I know these may seem like the simply obvious things but even the pros have to constantly remind themselves to check and double check these items.

A little aside here about preparation. Over the many years of covering news I learned lots of little tips from other photographers in the field and applied them to my work regimen. In the early days of video we always had to carry around a portable hair dryer because the record decks would seize up if the moisture levels got to high. So in the winter time if you came in from the cold outside into a nice warm building the air would condense inside the machine and cause moisture build up. The warning light would come on and bang we were dead in the water. One of us would have to run to the car and get the hair dryer, fire it up and chase the water away from the record heads of the deck. It caused some very funny moments in public places I can assure you. (This by the way can still be a problem even today with electronics/VCRs/lenses. Too much moisture can cause havoc. So just remember a portable hair dryer can save your day)

Another thing I learned from others is the value of backup. A few years ago I was out on assignment and we had a young eager college intern along with us in the field. This young man wanted to learn all about what we did in our job. He was very interested in how to take pictures, unlike most of our interns who only wanted to become reporters or anchors. He asked many questions and after seeing that he was really paying attention I decided to take him under my wing and really fill him up with information. One tidbit that I shared with him was to always have an emergency stash of tape in his car when out on assignment. He didn't quite understand the importance of this at first since I had already drilled him about always bringing tape stock with him when going out on assignment. I filled him with stories of times when something or other happened and I'll be darned if you didn't need another tape and there under the seat of the car was that emergency spare. So anyway he went off to graduate from college and get a job in a small market TV station. He would send us progress reports from time to time, which I really enjoyed. Then lo and behold one day he sends me a letter telling me how he got into a jam one day on a story and needed that emergency tape. He had dutifully tucked one under the back seat and it was there to save the day. I hope that what you learn in this book will in some way keep you from having a video failure down the road. What I learned in my career is that video production is 80% of it is dealing with the curves and problems that are thrown at you and 20% talent. If you can learn to trouble shoot then you will always be successful.

My first suggestion for shooting your kids sports activities is to go watch TV. Yes sit down put your feet up and watch some sports on TV. Really watch how they make it interesting at the top level. Then watch the news and see how they cover the games from a news perspective. Don't pay attention to the content; just watch how it develops visually. Now of course you can never duplicate what the networks are doing with just your one camera. However if you can glean anything from watching it should be how they try to bring intimacy with the athletes out in the broadcast. All the new improvements in covering sports have to do with getting you the viewer as close to the athlete as they can. Bring you into their world. From cameras on wires overhead that swoop along the field to cameras in the net of a hockey game to cameras inside the cars at Daytona, it brings you into the game. Now you cannot stand on the pitchers mound at your kids' baseball game but you can learn some techniques that can make your baseball video more intimate and therefore more compelling to watch.

A side note here, if your task is to capture the whole game or sporting activity for review as a coaching tool you should focus mainly on getting a good high view and putting the camera on a tripod. Pan slowly to follow action and don't zoom in and out. My main goal here is not to teach you this skill since it is pretty darn basic. However if this is what you are doing you should do it right. Find the right framing to keep as much of the activity in the frame and follow it carefully. Some sports move quickly from one end to the other and you will have to be smooth. Resist the temptation to follow the ball on full zoom. You will lose. Those guys that shoot sports on TV are full on pros using much better gear than you will ever have at your disposal.

Now in order to get a good video of your child's game you need to find that emotion and excitement that exists in any game. Think of it as capturing a few of the things that occur and making those golden. Does the team do a pre game cheer? Get up close, stick your camera wither way up high over their heads looking down or get underneath looking up and shoot it in a way that takes the viewer where they can't go. Capture an at bat in baseball by taking a full pitch cycle in close-up of the pitcher, and then one of the catcher and then as close as you can of the hitter. Show their face if you can. If they get the big hit don't go crazy rushing to zoom out. Follow the runner down the line. It will be almost impossible to follow the ball so stay with the runner. Look for the angles that will give you these emotional shots.

Some sports are more of a challenge due to the size of the field and the amount of movement up and down the field. Take soccer of instance, if you follow the ball the camera is moving all over the place and the viewer gets queasy. To capture some good video of your kid playing you need to focus on specific shots and not try to follow the play. Look for moments such as throw ins, free kicks, kick offs when things are predictable and you can get closer to the action. Walk down the sideline and wait for the action to come to you. If you child is playing right forward then get ahead of the play and when you see the ball moving towards you then you can find you child and roll tape in anticipation of them playing the ball. Be sure to get some shots of the crowd cheering, the coach watching (not yelling I hope) the goalie waiting in anticipation.

Hold your shots steady for 6-10 seconds at a time. If you are taking a shot of someone watching the game actually count it out in your head (thousand one thousand two...) This will ensure that you get good solid shots and that you don't run on and on with the shot. Brace your arm against your chest for stability and use your other arm across your belly underneath to create a stabilizing platform. This is in lieu of a tripod of course. If you have a tripod it can always be a good thing to use if it does not get in the way.

Use creative angles as much as possible. Get down low and wait for the action to run by you. Don't pan with it but rather let the action race through the frame. At a swim meet get the camera down on the deck for more of a swimmers perspective of the action. Of course you may not want to stay there when the swimmers approach for a turn. Digital electronics do not like water inside them. I was getting the most awesome low angle shots of some open water ocean swimmers one time and the boat lurched on me and salt water sprayed over the camera. I had a cover on the camera but salt water seeped into the crannies and it caused us much grief getting it cleaned out so as to avoid damaging the electronics of the camera.

Online High School Classes - Is Virtual Education Good?

The process of education is one of the oldest and most universal aspects of society. No matter who we are or where we come from, it seems that human beings, one way or another, develop a way to teach our children about a variety of subjects that they will need to live successful, happy lives. The goals of education rarely change, but the methods and subjects can change quite a bit. As new technology develops and the structure of society evolves, we adjust our practices accordingly, sometimes for the better, and sometimes for the worse.

In this day and age, the spread of high speed internet connections, and the proliferation of online video has created a very new and exciting, although potentially problematic, option for high schoolers, which is the ability to take high school classes online. Is this a good idea, and a step forward for students and educators alike? It is hard to say at this point, because this sort of thing has only just become plausible and realistic recently, but there are certainly both advantages and disadvantages to be considered when evaluating the efficacy of this new practice.

One great advantage of taking high school classes online is sheer convenience, and that convenience can take a lot of forms. It can mean rural students, or students who access to certain types of classes is otherwise limited, would have the opportunity to take a wider range of classes. Students also have the ability to take the classes at their own pace. In other words, a more advanced student may be able to speed through the material and have some time to learn the more advanced side of a subject, while a student who is struggling can take the time to review lectures and make sure he understands a concept before moving on.

On the other hand, it is a very real possibility that students who take online courses just will not learn the material as well. The physical classroom setting is an important environment for students who want to learn, because students are able to ask the teacher questions, and teachers are able to be sure that the student has understood the material. Without that kind of interplay, you may end up with a lot of students who just watch all the videos the night before a test, cram the information they need, and then forget it all the next day.

The best way to use online high school courses is probably as a supplement instead of as a main form of education. Students who want to learn more advanced material can have the option of doing so on their own, and students who want to spend more time on a current topic could watch videos for extra review, but it is important to hold on to the experience of a physical classroom as an effective place to teach students. As we move into the future and incorporate the possibilities being opened up by new technology, we must not forget to hold on to what has worked in the past.

Choosing the Right Photobook Publisher

Once you have taken several digital pictures you may be ready to create your own photo books. Photo books are printed on high quality paper and can be more than a printed photo album. With the variety of layouts and backgrounds you can make a book on any topic that you want.

There are many photo book publishers and choosing the right one can be highly personal. Although photobooks are quite easy to make each publisher has a slightly different product to offer. Here are some pointers to consider when choosing which photo book publisher to use.

Are You Already Using an Online Photo Sharing Site?

If you already have most of your pictures uploaded to an online photo sharing site investigate if they offer photo books. If they do, this would be the place to start. Make a practice book to see if you like the interface and the options available. Most sites allow you to save a book you are working on, so you can make and share a book without placing a final order.

If you haven't used online photo sharing yet, choose a group of 10 or so pictures and then choose 3 or 4 photo book publishers and upload these pictures to each site. This will give you a good idea on how easy it is for you to upload photos to that site. Since you will be uploading a lot of photos if you are making photo books you want a site that is easy for you to upload. When you have the pictures uploaded start a photo book with each publisher to see how you like the interface they use. If there is one that you really like, that might be the publisher for you to choose. There are also a few other considerations.

Compare Photobook Prices

If cost is your primary consideration, you should compare the photobook prices.

Compare Book Sizes and Covers and Backgrounds Available

There is a minor variation in photo book sizes and covers so this can be a consideration if you are very particular about your choices. There is a wide variety of backgrounds available and this can make a big difference in your choices. You may even choose to use more than one photo book publisher depending on the project your are making.

Shutterstock Tips - 5 Ways to Sell More Images on Shutterstock

Shutterstock is a microstock photography website that specializes in providing stock images that are royalty-free. Buyers purchase a subscription which allows them to look through an huge online image library with over 6 million images and download whatever they want. Photographers, illustrators or videographers upload their work to Shutterstock and earn money whenever their content is downloaded by buyers.

One of the most popular microstock sites, Shutterstock is a great way for photographers to make money and is highly recommended by many professionals and amateurs. If you're new to Shutterstock or a current Shutterstock user, these 5 tips will help to improve your earning potential and get more of your pictures downloaded. Let's get started.

1. Use the Right Keywords.

One of the most important points about submitting work to microstock libraries is the ability to be found easily by the buyer. You want to be found on Shutterstock when a user browses through the library so pay extra attention to make sure that you use the right keywords for your images. Never upload something and leave it alone with a generic title, nobody will be able to find you. But don't stuff your photo with lots of irrelevant keywords, this will cause your photo to be deleted by the admins and your account might fall into bad standing. If you have the time, put the keywords and descriptions in your EXIF data as well since Shutterstock can use it to auto-input it. And batch upload whenever possible, don't waste time uploading images one by one, since that isn't as productive.

2. Learn to Cater to Buyer Demands

Look at what images are selling well (being downloaded) and start proactively taking photographs of these sort or creating illustrations in this field. Add and tag them with the right keywords and you'll find yourself getting more downloads fast. Judging demand is an important skill and as you use Shutterstock more often, You'll develop an instinct for what works and what doesn't.

3. Increase Your Portfolio Size

This is one of the most important points in making money using Shutterstock. You must keep on increasing the size of your portfolio on a constant basis. Don't stop uploading images. Make it a habit to upload new stuff every 3 days or so (at minimum). How much money you make depends on the size of your portfolio. Know one thing: As long as your images are on Shutterstock, they stand a chance of making money. If they are in your hard drive, its not going to help. Generally speaking, the more images you have in your Shutterstock portfolio, the better. Everything that is already online stands a chance of being discovered by buyers. A lot of mistakes made by new users is that they are consistent in the development of their portfolio. They upload a set of images and leave their Shutterstock account alone for a month or so. This is the wrong way to go about it.

4. Link to and Promote Your Portfolio

If you're a photographer or illustrator, you should have a website of your own. This is a place where you can include contact information and a brief introduction to yourself or your work. It's also a great place for you to link to your Shutterstock portfolio. While you can sell images from your site directly, you might not want the hassle of doing so. This is where linking to your Shutterstock portfolio will help. Let the prospective customer browse through your portfolio using Shutterstock's interface and decide what suits his or her needs. This is very useful if you're interested in picking up some quick sales. Put links to your Shutterstock portfolio in your email signatures or in the forums you participate in. This will help you to pick up a few sales.

5. Learn from other Shutterstock users.

Making money from Shutterstock isn't difficult but it can be daunting for new users who are not familiar with how the system works. I would recommend visiting the Shutterstock forums where a lot of the regulars hang out. Upload your pictures and ask for their critique or suggestions on how to improve. You'll not only learn a lot about ways to shoot better pictures (or draw better) but you'll also get an idea of what they think is sellable on Shutterstock. It's important to interact with other photographers/illustrators and you'll gain a good understanding of what works or not in the microstock field.

Ultimately, microstock photography is a commercial venture. Buyers are not always looking for that perfect artistic shot: they only want images they can immediately use for their website, ad campaign or business etc. So bear that in mind and learn to provide material that appeals to buyers. Hopefully these 5 tips will give you an idea of how to get started!

The Best Organizing Twin Bag

Good Morning!

Today's article is coming after spending 4 days in Atlanta attending the Thirty - One National Conference. This conference was not only amazing on a personal level but on a team level as well.

I want to share with you different things I learned about the company and their mission as well as one of the top products we have.

Arriving in Atlanta, I was already feeling a little overwhelmed having just spent 6 hours in airports and planes getting to the conference. Then, I received my welcome packet and started pouring through the information we were about to learn over the upcoming days.

I was also pleasantly reminded that the company was named after Proverbs 31, The Virtuous Women. And as a mom of twins, this is a verse that is always welcomed in my life.

There were different classes to attend, general sessions, guest speakers, and the fall catalog premier (which is amazing), providing way more information than we could absorb in a two and a half day time frame.

While I can't disclose all the new products yet, I will tell you, one of my favorite new pieces takes an existing piece a step further. Many of my clients have told me how they can not imagine life without the large utility tote and I am here to tell you, after September 1st, YOU aren't going to know how you lived without it either.

This one organizing twin bag can function in so many different parts of your house and life. Let me ask you this, do your twins have a toy room that needs organized? A double closet that could stand a make over? Some place to put all the twins towels, sunscreen, and clothes for the pool or beach? This bag, can do ALL of that and more.

In our house, you can see 3 large utility totes in use at any given time. One is holding coloring papers and markers, one is being used for playdoh and all the pieces we have for that activity and one is packed by the door ready to go to the trunk or pool, stocked with towels, clothes, water tools, and sunscreen.

So, what are you waiting for, get yours today so you are prepared for next month when the new products are revealed.

Anytime you can get away and focus on yourself, your business, and your family at the same time is a wonderful experience. I encourage you to read Proverbs 31 and think about how it relates to your life with twins.

Happy Organizing and Playing!

Kristen

Oh, and by the way, it comes in thirteen different patterns AND it can be personalized!

Brands - Models and Varieties of Nikon Cameras and Their Features

Nikon has introduced numerous models of cameras since it has hit the market. Each year it is introducing newer models and these new models are coming packed with better features and facilities. So, each year the company is introducing cameras that are better than the last. These cameras have better quality of image and better usability. You need not spend a lot of cash if you want to buy these cameras. You can get cheap Nikon cameras if you do a bit of research. Cheap cameras of Nikon are also available but you will have to look in the classifieds. You can get some of these cameras second hand too. If you are buying second hand Nikon cameras, you can get it for a lot less.

This place is very valuable for cheap Nikon cameras online. Nikon is a trusted brand in cameras industry. When it comes to buying cameras, majority opt for branded cameras. Branded cameras are very dependable and the photographs taken by these cameras are of high quality. There are numerous brands of cameras that have flooded the market these days. Every brand comes with its own set of unique features and facilities. Nikon is one such name that has won the trust of millions across the globe. It is a Japanese company that excels in the manufacture of film, optical and cameras. The camera production from this company started in the 1990s when it made 'digital SLR cameras'. Over the time, the brand became more and more sophisticated. There are many options available when you want to buy a Nikon camera. Nikon cameras come at discounts also. You can also get Nikon cameras for cheap if you buy it second hand. Used cameras are available online and you can locate the advertisements in the classifieds.

Nikon rules the camera market with its numerous models. The features that it offers in its cameras are world class and every photographer's dream. The models are very user friendly and come backed with the decades of experience behind it. Cheap Nikon cameras are not very tough to find. You just need to look at the right place. There are numerous cameras that can be found in advertisements, if you keep your eyes open, you might just locate the best deal. Cheap digital cameras from Nikon come packed with numerous features that work in the present times. Nikon cheap cameras are the ultimate brand in the world of cameras. It popularized 35mm SLR when it introduced the Nikon F series in 1959. With the introduction of these cameras, it became the first choice of the photographers. Though there are numerous rivals in camera brands, Nikon is still dominant in the SLR market. It encompasses the beginner models like D40 to professional cameras like D3X, D3S, etc. the Coolpix range from the house of Nikon has become a fast selling name among the amateurs.

Nikon is a very well known brand in the world. It manufactures a variety of cameras that have different types of features. Every kind of facility can be found in Nikon cameras. If you want to buy Nikon cameras for cheap, you can find the deals in the classifieds. You can find the deals in the newspaper classified as well as in online classifieds. Nikon d7000 was designed to fulfill the desires of the lovers of photography as passionate photographers always demand for the overall performance of the camera. Nikon d7000 is a complete classic model that would be loved by millions of photographers. Nikon D800 is simply a generous in the world of DSLR cameras. Nikon D800 availability is what most of the photographers are looking these days. Nikon has endowed D5100 with some really advanced features, which make the camera capable enough to deliver excellent image quality. Nikon Coolpix S6300 is undoubtedly an excellent option for the photography enthusiasts, who love to experiment with their photography skills. The best part about Coolpix S6300 is that one can easily carry it anywhere he or she likes. Yes, it is highly portable and easy to carry.

How to Start a Photography Business Right

Do you have a passion for photo taking? Have you ever thought what can you do with the photos that you had taken instead of setting it as your desktop wallpaper or uploading it onto Facebook for your friends to "Like?"

There is a better way to deal with your photos and earning some spare cash in the process. To start a photography business! It required a lesser capital as compared to other businesses and it is easier to get a kick start too.

However, how to start a photography business right?

Let's start preparing!

1. Passion. The word says all, without passion, you would not be able to take breath-taking photos.

2. Choose your area of focus. What kind of photos do you wish to take? Weddings, portraits, posters, brochures, animals, food, nature, etc?

3. Draft out a business plan. Plan the capital that you will need and the profits that you will make. Do your own research about the photography market.

4. Get a business license. Big goals, big steps, bright future.

5. Build a portfolio. Showcase your best photos to the world; creating a site for that purpose will be good.

6. Get the right equipments. Needed for your area of focus to get the best results out of your photos. The newest camera model is not necessary, just better equipments will do.

7. Expand your contacts. And establish friendship with them. Those people are probably people who will work side by side along you in the future, like make-up artists, studio owners, production assistants, etc.

8. Advertise. Advertise yourself and your services. The internet is always a good way to start. Forums are also a good place to post threads of your service and your portfolio.

The important thing that you should note is your attitude towards your customers in the near future. They will be act as your free advertiser if you left them with a good and memorable service. Photography is actually a rather social business and most of it is about your social circle and skills.

You can always start it small as well, for example trying to sell your photos on the various micro stock photography websites to make a good head start.

Be patient and you will gain your first customer very soon seeing how vast the industry for photography is, with thousands of photos all over magazines all around the world. As soon as you became slightly famous, you can slowly increase your charge per hour and money will start rolling in.

You need not have professional photo-taking skills to make it far in the photography business, all you need to know is how to market yourself. Better skills will give you an advantage over others though.

All the best with your business venture!

5 Lightroom Tips You Must Know

I have been using Lightroom for a couple of years now and it is a very powerful program, especially if you are a wedding photographer and you have a large quantity of photos to cull and edit. Not only is it great for organizing you photos, but it is very good for editing them. It is most advantageous when used to edit RAW images because, as we know, RAW images keep every bit of information stored just as the image was shot. This is not to say that it is not good for editing.jpg, but you will not unleash the true power of Lightroom until you start editing your RAW files.

I'm going to share with you 5 tips about Lightroom that I feel you must know to improve your image workflow and also your editing capabilities. These are tips that I have accumulated over the couple of years that I have been using Lightroom and they help me tremendously. So, without further delay, let's get to it!

1. Use Brightness Instead of Exposure

Okay, okay... so the header of this tip is a little misleading. I am in no way saying to use brightness over exposure all of the time. But, there are times when you will have more control over your image when using brightness, opposed to exposure. The difference between brightness and exposure is that exposure takes priority on shifting the highlight range of the image. Say you take a landscape picture and everything is a touch underexposed, except for the sky. If you bump the exposure up by using the exposure slider, then you will potentially blow out the highlights and this is because when using the exposure slider, it increases the highlight area more than it does the rest of the tonal range in the image. Now, if you use the brightness slider, you will shift the tonal range evenly. This has the same effect when darkening and image, or lowering the exposure. You will notice that the exposure slider takes priority of the highlights and lowers them more than the rest of the tonal range. Don't believe me? Give it a shot and see what I mean. Take two of the same images, load them into Lightroom and look at the difference between brightness vs. exposure. By the way, +50 equals one stop of light on the brightness slider and +100 would be 2 stops of light, and so on and so forth.

2. Control Your Use of the Clarity Slider

The clarity slider can really make the details in an image stand out and also help out with inherent blur from the camera. What the clarity slider does is look for contrast in the middle of the tonal range and boost the contrast. In images with a lot of detail this can really make a huge difference. I usually set mine to +30 for starters and then gauge it from there. Now, there are times when you will not want to bump the clarity slider up because it can counterproductive. If you are editing a portrait, you will more than likely not want to bump your clarity slider up. As we know, every person has pores and those pores just happen to be in the middle to upper tonal range, which the clarity slider affects. When you are trying to get nice, smooth skin, you should try backing off of the clarity slider and seeing what it does to the skin. I usually start with -15 and make changes from there. The good thing is that you will not lose detail overall in the image, unless you make a dramatic adjustment, but you will start to see the skin smooth out quite nicely. With a few more adjustments, you will have some really smooth skin that look very pleasing. This brings us to our next tip...

3. Use the Adjustment Brush for Smoothing Skin

This is a feature of Lightroom's that I think is far better than anything Photoshop can accomplish, and it is much faster too. When trying to smooth the skin of a nice portrait, just grab the adjustment brush by pressing K and then click on the little arrows (one pointing up and one pointing down) to the right of "Effect:", and click on "Soften Skin". This will change the settings of the brush to lower the clarity and also lower the sharpness. I paint over the subject's face, being careful not to paint over the eyes, eyebrows, lips, or hair. Don't worry, if you do paint over one of these features, you can hold the "alt" on PC, "option" on Mac, to erase your brush strokes. Another quick tip is to press "o", for overlay, to see where you are painting. This will show the red mask of the areas that are painted. Once you paint where you want, turn the overlay mask off by pressing "o" again, and then adjust your clarity and sharpness sliders for your brush to get the overall intended result. Remember, don't overdo it. You do not want your subject to look fake.

4. HSL Works Magic for Skin Tones

As a wedding photographer, my goal is to always give my subjects pleasing skin tones. If I happen to have to correct the exposure of an image, chances are that my skin tones are going to need to be adjusted further than just white balancing. Of course, we all want to shoot a perfect exposure every shot that we take, but unfortunately, this just doesn't happen, or at least not for me. So, when I have to adjust the skin tones, I head to the HSL panel for the rescue. With an underexposed image, I start off by de-saturating the skin tones just a bit. Not too much or you're your subject will look like they have grey skin and we don't want that and I'm sure your subject doesn't either. The best way to do this is to grab the target selector tool, which looks like a target and is in the top left side of the HSL panel. Grab on the subjects skin and drag down. This will target only the colors that you grab with the target selector. Once you have lowered the saturation a bit and got it looking decent, I move to my luminance and brighten things up a bit. This will really make your subjects skin glow. (And it will glow a LOT if you are not careful.) This takes a bit of practice but you will get the hang of it by trial and error. This is probably the most complicated tip and takes some getting used to, but it will really help your workflow once you get the hang of it.

5. Post-Crop Vignetting

I absolutely love Lightrooms Post-Crop Vignetting tool. In my opinion, it applies the most natural looking vignettes of any method that I have tried, and I have tried a few. There is something about a good vignette that helps make and image complete. It takes your eyes and pushes them to the center area of the image and keeps them from going outside of the photo. This is another feature that I believe is better than anything Photoshop has to offer, because it looks so great and you can add one in about 5 seconds. I will give you a recipe that I often use. Once you are through editing your photo, scroll down to the "Effects" panel and use there settings for your vignette. Amount = -52, Midpoint = 67, Roundness = +20, Feather = 50, Highlights = 0. This should darken the corners just a little without interfering with the rest of the image.

Those are my 5 Lightroom tips that I believe every photographer should know, especially wedding photographers. Please e-mail me and let me know what you think. I would love to hear your feedback and I would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Until next time, happy shooting!

List of Top Colleges in California

California is a place which is not only renowned for its varied landscape and Hollywood celebrities, but it is also a great center of education. Apart from the residents of California, students from different parts of the world also come here for pursuing different programs from the top colleges. There are numerous colleges and universities in California which offer varied programs to students worldwide. Several disciplines like photography, business, acting, nursing, etc are in offer for the students. If you are interested in pursuing courses from California, you can have a look at the list of colleges in California offering different programs.

Top Colleges in California

Here we will be discussing about the top colleges in California of different disciplines of study.

Popular Junior Colleges in California

The junior colleges help students to gain skills and knowledge which prepare them for 4 years of degree programs or for entering into professional field. Some of the popular junior colleges in California are listed below:

1. Santa Barbara City College

2. Napa Valley College

3. College of Alameda

4. American River College

5. Los Angeles City College

Popular Fashion Colleges

Presence of Hollywood makes California an ideal place for fashion. The fashion industry is flourishing in this state and students can create great career for themselves in this industry. Some of the top colleges which are well known for different courses in fashion are listed below:

1. California College of the Arts

2. Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM)

3. Otis College of Art and Design

4. Academy of Couture Art

5. Academy of Art University

Top Acting Colleges in California

If you want to make a career in acting, then you can enroll in any of the top colleges which are well known for their acting programs. The skills and technique of acting are taught in these acting programs. Here is a list of colleges in California which are well known for their acting programs.

1. American Musical and Dramatic Academy

2. The Hollywood Film & Acting Academy

3. Stella Adler Academy of Acting and Theatre

4. Theatre of Arts Multimedia School of Acting

5. The American Academy of Dramatic Arts

Top Colleges of Nursing

Nursing is a profession which is growing day by day. There are many colleges which offer different nursing programs. There are different job roles for nursing in the professional field. Here we will list some of the top colleges which have different programs in nursing which the students can avail.

1. Biola University

2. University of San Francisco

3. Humboldt State University

4. Loma Linda University

5. Samuel Merritt University

Top Dancing Colleges

Dance is all about passion. If you have the passion, you can establish yourself as a renowned dancer and make dancing your profession. However it is essential to get a certificate or degree from a good dancing college. Let us have a look at some of the top dancing colleges in this state.

1. California State University Long Beach

2. University of California-Irvine

3. Pomona College

4. Sharon Disney Lund School of Dance

5. School of Music and Dance, San Diego State University

This is an extensive list of colleges in California from where you can make your pick.

Even Willie Sutton Finally Understood Marketing

I got a note yesterday from an acquaintance who is trying to break into the field of professional photography. He's young and has experience in photography but he admits he's not a good "self marketer" and therefore is "suffering."

It got me to thinking about my life changing experience that occurred under the same circumstances 35 years ago. I had moved from the field of photojournalism where I was fed assignments by magazines, newspapers and bureaus to a permanent studio location. I was still a "kid" by today's standards and really had very little understanding of marketing. But, who cared, I thought. I was a very good photographer and once people saw my work I was bound to be a success.

Well, a little over a year later I found that I had exhausted all my funds and while the business was growing every quarter, it wasn't growing fast enough for me to make a living at that moment. With no access to money to invest, I quickly determined that I needed to learn how to market - and FAST!

I had tried advertising and I knew that while it got me some name recognition and the occasional new customer it took too long and the value of it was far less than the investment. I needed to find something that would get people talking (word of mouth) and yet wouldn't cost much. Even better, I decided I needed to stir up word of mouth for my business and get paid to do it.

As Willie Sutton the bank robber said when asked why he robbed banks, 'because that's where the money is' I took a look at the advertising of the largest local bank (and where I had two business loans) and decided I could create a promotion for them that would be better than their advertising.

I made an appointment with the president and outlined a promotion that I called "Faces of The Tri-State Area." The bank was in Ohio and on the border of PA and WV - hence the tri-state area. I told him how I would go into the local business, steel mills, potteries, schools, churches - everywhere the bank's customers lived, worked and played - and I would create vivid black & white portraits of these people. I'd then enlarge, matt and frame them and we'd hang the display in the bank's main lobby. At the same time, the bank would change their print and radio advertising to bring people in to see the gallery while stressing that their customers are their most important asset - part of the theme.

He loved the idea and asked how much. I named a figure that besides the photography included building the gallery display and writing the advertising copy. It was a large number for me at the time but they went with it and the show was a hit. Of course, my name was given credit for the photography and the show which brought in many new customers. And, I also got to make fantastic contacts at the local businesses where I did the photography which led to more commercial business. Last, but not least, I was stopped on the street about a month into the show by the chairman of the board of the local competing bank. He complimented me on the promotion and asked how it came to be. I told him the story and even explained how I knew I had to learn to market or starve. Later on he and his son became very influential in guiding more business my way including that of his bank and other businesses.

This story, by the way, was the genesis for my getting into marketing and sales consulting full time while gradually moving away from photography. I found I enjoyed the creativity of marketing; I was able to help more people be successful and I got to work "normal hours."

If you are a new business or one that is struggling to get to the next level, think about my story and ask yourself what you are personally doing to create marketing for your company. Don't rely on print and off line media advertising. I know it's easy to have someone create an ad and all you have to do is write the check - but it is almost always a waste of time these days. Remember - no matter what business you are in - you are first and foremost a marketer. And, don't hesitate to call a professional for some guidance to get you through that initial attention getting period.

By the way, in 1970, Willie Sutton did a television commercial to promote the New Britain, Connecticut, Bank and Trust Company's new photo credit card program. He had finally learned that it's marketing that pays - not crime.

The Esoteric Teachings of the Ancient Wisdom - Part Two

Where do these esoteric teachings come from? What is there original source? These inner teachings go far back into the distant mists of time, before recorded history, but we can at least trace them back to several thousands of years and to more recent times, to the ancient Egyptian mystery schools, the Eleusinian Mysteries of Greece, the teachings of Hermes Trismegistus, the Druidic Mysteries, Dionysian Mysteries, the Orphic Mysteries, the Pythagorean philosophy, the Hebrew Cabbala, the initiatory school of Moria-el, the Essenes, Jesus Christ's teachings, and so forth. But the sources of these schools and mystery teachings essentially come from the ancient and mystical White Brotherhood (existing in the higher planes) and its emissaries who have walked the Earth for several thousands of years, teaching and enlightening people of all nations. To cite an example, Moria-el was a great master from the White Brotherhood who lived around 1300 B.C. in Egypt. He initiated countless souls through a particular initiation we currently call Baptism, for he emphasized the mystical rite of immersion by water, a form of spiritual purging that prepared each soul for further illumination. Naturally, the initiation of Baptism was continued by John the Baptist and Jesus Christ, becoming a common ritual in the Christian churches, although its esoteric level is misunderstood by most.

What do these Ancient Wisdom Teachings consist of? In general, they involved spiritual initiations, alchemy, sacred ritualism (or sacraments), symbolism, universal principles, spiritual disciplines and practices, a number of other sciences and arts, etc. These often manifest through various different forms, systems, and schools or traditions, depending on the particular land and culture and era. In most cases they manifested through vehicles such Shamanism, Hermeticism, the Cabbala, the Tarot, Eastern and Oriental traditions, Gnosticism, Theosophy, Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism, and so forth. Although the majority of world religions are exoteric, there are esoteric levels within them that only their teachers and students will acknowledge. But the essential aim for the Greater Work of the sacred Wisdom Teachings is to raise the consciousness of mankind, to uplift people into a higher vibrational level, through Illumination and the other great Initiations, so that they will eventually enter Cosmic Consciousness. At this point they will become Masters of Life who will reach down and lift others up as well. And so the cosmic cycle continues, until all members of mankind eventually become enlightened. The Age of World Illumination is nigh approaching.

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Let us venture back in time to view the evolution of the consciousness of mankind and see how it has progressed. In the beginning, our world seemed so vast that we could not even fathom it, or its actual parameters. In those primitive times, we hardly comprehended anything beyond the next horizon. Our thinking process was likewise limited, for we knew very little of our own world, nor of our own origin.

In the early stages of humanity, our concepts of many things around us were limited, because our minds were not yet advanced or evolved enough to conceive or comprehend them. But this developed with time, as we gradually expanded our thinking processes and awareness as we simply yearned to know more. Thus, the "inner being" was awakening. It inwardly developed the human vehicle, slowly but surely. The God within had to prepare the human temple for eventual full residence, but the evolution of this process would take many thousands of years.

Eventually, explorers discovered what lie beyond the immediate horizon, and even further, for voyagers ventured across the seas and oceans, discovering other lands, so our field of awareness expended. Likewise, philosophers and teachers arrived, who broadened our mental and spiritual horizons of this world and levels beyond. This gradual progression in learning of our planet Earth and beyond is symbolic of the expanding awareness and consciousness of mankind on all levels; mentally, spiritually, and physically alike. Throughout time, as we learn more, and become more receptive, and desire to know more, our intelligence increases; even our creativity develops. This is natural human evolution.

Several centuries ago, many people believed the Earth was flat, for the idea of a round world was new at the time, except for a few philosophers who knew better. About four centuries ago, most people believed the Earth was the center of the universe, and this absurd idea was intertwined into church doctrine; hence, many progressive scientists or philosophers were severely persecuted, some executed for their heresies. Soon, as astronomy advanced, mankind had no choice but to accept the new truth that the Earth was merely one of several planets that circled the sun, the true center of our immediate universe, or solar system in this case. The idea of our local galaxy, the Milky Way, or the innumerable galaxies that make up the whole universe was still unknown in those early days, if not incomprehensible.

With continual advancements of the telescope as technology developed, we begin to see further into space, observing that there is much outside of our small solar system, and even beyond the billions and billions of stars in our Milky Way galaxy, that there are countless galaxies beyond this. Our awareness of the vast universe has increased beyond what we would have ever dreamed one hundred years ago, not to mention four hundred years. We can be especially thankful for the Hubble telescope for revealing to us countless beautiful wonders of our vast universe. We may not as yet be able to travel to the stars, but our imagination has taken leaps and bounds through the medium of science fiction in accomplishing this, perhaps paving the way for preparing us for such travel, an idea totally unfathomable a few centuries ago.

Global exploration subsided in the last centuries and gave way to space exploration, the new frontier. Another example of the expansion of mankind's consciousness is demonstrated in the astronauts= orbiting of the Earth and landings on the Moon. Whereas before we had a vague idea as to what our planet accurately looked like, now we have a very clear view of it from space and from the surface of the Moon, and film footage and photography to demonstrate this for all to see. This progression is very symbolic of our spiritual unfoldment, from the standpoint of how we come to experience our true selves; not as we think we are, but as we truly are, as we look deep within now. Just as the astronauts revealed to the rest of mankind what Earth truly looks like, so do the teachers of truth show us how to look within and see the reality of our own inner selves. The realization of the God-being within for each soul is one of the higher levels of the Esoteric Initiations, and likewise one of the primary aspects of Ancient Wisdom Teachings.

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These Esoteric Teachings encompass both the Lesser and Greater Mysteries; however, the former is more prevalent because it is much easier to communicate since it is more digestible for the human intellect, whereas the latter must be intuited and realized within your own being. The seeds are in the Lesser, which will sprout forth, grow and blossom into the Greater as one's consciousness expands. One leads to the other. One is the door, the other is that which lies beyond the door. But if you merely stop at the door and go no further, there will be very little inner unfoldment. Unfortunately, certain religious dogmas prevent people from taking the next step.

The very concept of Greater and Lesser Mysteries are symbolic references in order that the finite human mind may more easily comprehension the Teachings. The Lesser Mysteries are aspects of a vehicle that shrouds the inner teachings of truth in mystery, allegory and symbolism. But the actual Greater Mysteries refers to the penetration of the deeper Divine Wisdom that only intuition realizes, beyond all symbolic forms and comprehensive ideas. For the real truth is a matter of experiential spirituality, not merely intellectual comprehension.

Only through the well-developed intuition, realization, and mystical experience can we witness the real Divine Wisdom. On such a Mystical Path as this, many have reached this higher realm of realizing the Truth. For this reason, the Ancient Wisdom Teachings can never be suppressed. Truth will always demonstrate itself throughout time and through many mystic sages and teachers and traditions. But we need to know where to look, and we need to know HOW to look. We can read great spiritual literature, but when we learn to go within for true Wisdom, here is the real source of Truth. This can be achieved through continued disciplines and practices, for when you learn to listen within through meditation, you will penetrate an inner knowing of truth, which many mystics call gnosis, or Divine Wisdom. This inner gnosis is the true source of the Ancient Wisdom Teachings.

Countless written teachings in the esoteric fields or other philosophies have been virtually lost, mostly due to persecution. Great literature and libraries have been destroyed or burned in past ages, and this is unfortunate indeed. In particular, the destruction of the Royal Library of Alexandria was considered a great loss, which historians estimate once housed anywhere from five-hundred thousand to one million scrolls. However, if all the ancient scrolls or manuscripts and sacred scriptures, and all the important books on spiritual and esoteric teachings and the great sciences in the world had been completely lost or destroyed, many people would panic and grieve the great loss; but ultimately, it simply would not matter.

Why?

Because as long as we have Initiates and Teachers who can tap into the true Divine Wisdom, the gnosis which is not hidden from us, we shall always have the True Teachings. For the Truth is One. Then new books would be written and given to the world.

You yourself, if you conducted the discipline of meditation on a regular basis, enabling yourself to intuitively connect to God's Wisdom within, void of your own opinions and personal investments of course, will be able to write many pages of genuine wisdom. Disciplined meditation and contemplation will reap such positive results from any true spiritual practitioner. This portal to truth is not reserved for only the elite or highly evolved souls, as many would think. Anyone who has applied a regular and sincere practice of meditation, by centering and tuning into the God within the heart, will also receive this wisdom, this gnosis. The various mystery schools and traditions will teach many aspects of the Ancient Wisdom Teachings, but the greatest gift a Teacher can offer is how you can receive this Wisdom internally, and especially how to receive Illumination so that access to Wisdom becomes an established connection within your heart and soul from now on. The point we are making here is that Illumination leads to Wisdom, not the reverse. You cannot reach Wisdom or Illumination by the limited human mind. You must transcend this, seek and find the Light which leads to the God-Self within, then you will receive Illumination and Wisdom and Unity. There are many paths, but only one way to Truth, and that is through God within the heart, for God and Truth are one and the same.

May your journey in the discovery of Divine Wisdom within be enlightening and fulfilling!

Event Photography - Why Do People Buy Your Images?

If you want to know how you can improve your sales you need to understand why people buy and when. Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory in psychology, proposed by Abraham Maslow in 1943 and breaks down our requirements into a pyramid with our most basic needs at the bottom of which are physiological needs, these are the obvious requirements for human survival such as Breathing and Food, so no requirement for photographs.

The second layer, Safety needs deals with such aspects as Personal Security, Financial Security and Health and Well-Being, so it could be argued that expensive portrait purchases at a high street photographer would be a threat at this level. Layer 3 is Social needs and deals with Friendship, Intimacy and Family and deals in part with belonging, a need to identify who we are. People like to be part of a group and have an identity and photographs can help to reinforce those identities.

The fourth layer is Esteem and takes the ideas of belongingness a step further because everybody wants to have recognition via their activities that make them feel accepted i.e. everybody wants their 15 minutes of fame or just the respect of their peers. At this level people buy photographs because they want to show who they are and what they can do.

The pinnacle is Self-actualization and as with all stages you must have achieved the lower stages to get here. Self-actualization which is the personal need to be the best at what you want to do such as the best photographer or best forum moderator. At this level people buy your photographs because the photographs are the best that they can buy.

So after the Psycho babble where exactly are we? The reality is that given the choice between Food & Drink or purchasing a photograph, the photograph comes second. At an event we deliberately reduced the price to £8 which allowed any child that had been given a £10 note to buy their photograph and a can of coke etc. which allows them to fulfil layer 1 and hence layer 3.

A purchase at an event covers many layers, Layer 3 to be part of the group, Layer 4 to show how good they were to others. It is only when Layers 1 & 2 are in place that people will consider buying. Shelter is one of the most basic needs so if the weather is bad people will leave early, or they may end up in your sales tent but you can guarantee lower sales.

There is also the use of emotions.

Guilt comes into play - if some children have been bought photographs it makes parents guilty that their children do not also have photographs - you do not need to work on this emotion as there have always been the haves and the have nots - you will often hear we will take a card and look on-line - if you cant get them to buy then and there your chance of them buying afterwards will probably be in the region of 10-20% - again think of the way that venture sell.

Greed, why do many businesses use the idea of buy 2 get one free? It is because people are greedy to get the free one and often they think that they are the ones gaining but if I sell at X and my costs are Y it is far better to make 2X-3Y than it is to make X-Y from a customer.

Vanity, make the customer feel good, tell how fantastic they look in the images, all my customers have the best looking horse or best looking child. At social events it is the photographer that starts the sales patter to put people in the mood to buy, leaving the sales people to close the deal and not having to initiate it.

There are further things that come into play such as gullibility or stupidity - £9.99 sounds a lot less than £10 but is only 0.1% less - they are essentially the same price but this meets with another idea that people like some change from a note or that they do not like to have to hand over a note and change - potentially sales will decrease so much by selling at £11 each instead of £10 each that you would have made more profit at £8 each.

So you know that the conditions and the price have to be right so what is the major factor that stops people buying when the product is good? It is the ability to pay - if people do not know that you are going to be there and that they are going to want your product they will not come armed with the ready cash, they will have budgeted for food, travel costs etc. but not for you so the addition of such things as wireless chip and pin terminals allows the impulse buy.

The situation is very different if it is the customer that has approached a studio because then they will have known in advance what they are doing but again they are limited by what they can pay so the opportunity to buy via credit or installments means that they can buy what they want and not what they can afford or need. As was once explained to me, the man in the Range Rover can afford it but the man in the Mondeo aspires to it (possibly appealing to layer 4) so give him the opportunity to buy it as well.

If you want to know about sales techniques just look at what supermarkets do, they pipe the smell of fresh bread around the store, they change the lighting in different areas to make the produce look better, they put special offers on row ends to make you go up and down the rows, they put special offers at the front door. Premium brands are at eye level whereas budget (where they don't make as much money) are set much lower or higher.

Business to business is very similar with only one difference, they will use rolling or continuous discounts i.e. buy 3 or more and the price is lower for each one - it is proven that buy 2 get 1 free means most people will only buy 3 and they want you to buy what you want. How do you know if the price is right? There will always be moaners but a proven trick is to put the price up to a point that more people start to moan i.e. past the background level and then you will have found what is right for your market.

Have something that is just so expensive that people are unlikely to buy - if they do it is a bonus (some just have to show off what they can afford, and hopefully that will attract others) but it also makes your other products look better value for money. If customers continually tell you that you are cheap or good value it is probably time to reassess. Offers/discounts/deals will always attract people but you need to give them something they want and the opportunity to buy it.

Nature Photography - World Beauty Captured by the Digital Camera

Nature Photography means taking pictures outdoors. You could capture unique pictures of landscapes, sunsets, mountains, waterfalls, birds, flowers, wildlife. These are all good reasons for which I love nature photography. Anybody could be an expert nature photographer and can sell the photos they take, if they find out a way to do it. There are lots of photography classes, workshops, plus lots of books where you can find all details for taking awesome nature pictures. You could take pictures of nature as personal hobby or you could make a career from doing the thing you like: photography.

Nature photography is very enjoyable so that this activity could lift the mood of anybody doing this, and to also make that person feel good. Being in the nature and enjoying fresh air is also a very good reason why I like nature photography. Pictures of nature pictures could also induce a certain mood for the viewer like comforting, relaxing, happiness, cheerfulness, or dark moods. By knowing what mood you desire to pass over, it helps you to find out what certain elements to add into the picture. Different seasons could create different moods. Depending on the local geographic conditions, like city, ocean, country, mountains, all these landscapes could change the mood for a picture.

Each Photo Is different. Whatever your subjects preference, you could always record nature which is unique, on film and that is a reason also why I like nature photography. Each animal is used in a different way every time. The way flowers dance in the wind gives you the impression that they are always in a different place every time you take a different photo. The sun is reflecting on water and land different every time. You could take lots of photos at the same scenery and you will always get something different, which is truly amazing. There is literally no ending to the designs you could find in rocks, leaves, water, or any other thing in nature. Also, each lens used to create photos gives different views. A correctly chosen lens could make a photo look just like you desire.

Landscape Photography. A good part of nature photography represents taking photos of landscapes. You could take pictures for the same landscape and in different ways every time.

Finding the Right Light for the shots. The light changes a lot the way a photo looks like, so several types of light can make your picture outstanding. But finding the right light conditions which gives a photo the perfect look is one of the reason why I like nature photography. Directions for the light could come from sides, back, front. The light which is coming from front could look the best if a scene has lots of color. Side lights would enhance the texture and back light would emphasize the shape for your subject.

Review of the 5 Best Stock Photography Sites to Sell Your Photos

The stock photo business has been around in one form or another since 1920. In fact that very first stock photography company, called RobertStock, is still in business. In the days before the internet, stock photos were primarily the outtakes or "seconds" from studio shoots. It wasn't until the 1960s that stock photography became its own photography specialty and in the 1980s there was a surge of interest by individual and freelance photographers.

In the days since the internet and digital photography, the number of companies in the stock photo business has blossomed and the number of pictures has soared into the tens of millions.

Digital photography and the explosion of reasonably priced high end cameras have democratized stock photography but also changed the entire pricing structure. The days when photographers could make a living strictly from stock photography are pretty much over, except for a select few at the top agencies. There are a few people who manage to earn as much as $300 per day, but it takes a huge amount of effort. For the majority of photographers it's a part-time income that covers some of the bills for their photography habit.

It should be noted that stock photography can be a pretty decent part-time income. Those who have been at it regularly for a number of years are reporting incomes of $20,000 to $30,000 a year. That kind of income doesn't come easy, but it's a way to pay for your camera gear.

When comparing stock photo agencies there are a number of factors to consider before deciding which ones to submit your images. There are two basic types of stock photography sites: Stock photography and microstock photography sites.

Stock photography sites are the old school type sites where photos are licensed for fees ranging from a few dollars to a few thousand dollars. They are primarily the domain of truly professional photographers and the screening process for photographer acceptance can be both tedious and time consuming.

Microstock photography sites are the newer type sites on the block where both amateur and professionals mix and photo rights are sold for anywhere from $1 to $5. The idea is that lower license fees lead to more sales and more revenue for photographers.

Each type of site has different requirements for image submission and not all images are accepted. All sites screen images, but not all apply the same standards. Every site has different types of image licensing and determines price differently. They also have different requirements for photo releases.

Licensing

Stock image galleries have three basic types of licenses: Rights Managed Exclusive, Rights Managed Non-Exclusive and Royalty Free, which includes several sub-classes of Royalty Free licenses, depending on the intended use.

Rights Managed Exclusive - A customer buys rights to use an image for a limited amount of time and no other company can use that image.

Rights Managed Non-Exclusive - A company buys time-limited rights to an image, but other companies are also free to license the same image. It's a generally a bad idea for companies to use non-exclusive rights for advertising photos because competitors can license the same pictures.

Royalty Free - Royalty free licenses have become the default license type for most stock images. It allows the customer to purchase the image once and use it multiple times in different applications.

Editorial Use License - Images which feature logos, brands or recognizable products, events, and even some celebrities are licensed as editorial use photos, which means they can only be used as part of a news story and not in commercial advertising or applications.

Extended Licensing - Extended licensing and buyout licensing are for companies that want to purchase the rights to use images on products, logos or copyright use marks and use them, essentially, forever.

Releases

All stock photography sites insist on having commercial photo releases for every identifiable person in the image. Minors must have a release signed by a parent or guardian and witnessed. Some sites will accept any commercial photo release; most have their own specific release.

Selecting the best stock photography sites for the individual photographer will require a screening process to determine the best match between the photographer's images, interests and skills. Also the split between the licensing agency and the photographer can make a big difference in earnings.

It might be enlightening to review specific sites, how they're alike and different and how much average photographers make off each site, when that information is available. What follows are reviews of five different stock image sites.

1. Getty Images

Getty is one of the largest stock photography sites, located in Seattle, Washington. Getty has over 80 million images and illustrations and 50,000 hours of stock video footage and also owns microstock agency iStockPhoto. Getty is most famous for celebrity and media, sports, and photojournalist images.

The easiest way to get your photos into Getty is posting them on Yahoo's Flickr, but they also have contracts with photographers of exceptional talent. Getty will accept a portfolio for review, but don't expect the review to happen fast.

For Rights Managed pictures Getty charges between $500 and $600 for limited-time use. The photographer gets between 30 percent and 40 percent of those fees. For Non-Exclusive image rights, Getty charges an average of $250, of which photographers get about 20 percent.

The fees for Royalty Free images are based on the image size.

Like most stock image companies, Getty requires a commercial release for every identifiable person.

Lately Getty has fallen out of favor with many creative companies and photographers because of what they consider overly-aggressive pursuit of even incidental use of their images. Many creative agencies have cut back on using Getty images and switched to microstock agencies.

2. Shutterstock

Shutterstock offers their subscribers access to more than 10 million royalty-free images from 210,000 photographers, illustrators, and videographers around the world. Shutterstock is generally recognized as the king of the microstock market and consistently one of the better earners for photographers, although they do not offer exclusive arrangements with photographers.

Shutterstock works on a subscription model. For $249 a month customers can download up to 750 royalty free images per month. Their license supports use in web sites, magazines, newspapers and brochures, though not in trademarked items or logos.

For a subscription service, Shutterstock maintains very high standards of image quality. Each image goes through an "inspection queue" where it undergoes rigorous testing for quality. Lately photographers have been complaining about the acceptance rate at Shutterstock.

For every photo that's downloaded, photographers get $0.25 to $0.30 cents. The compensation goes higher when they reach a certain level of downloads. The payout threshold for photographers is $100.

3. Jupiter Images

Jupiter has a commanding reputation for customer service and quality, offering rights managed and royalty free images. Jupiter offers multimedia subscriptions for $599 per month or a high-resolution subscription for $2,499 a month.

Jupiter Images offers a catalog collection that is colorful, bright and provocative. Their catalog also includes illustrations, clip art, and object photos as vector images.

License fees vary by the type of license and intended use, as do the payments for photographers. Jupiter, like Getty, does offer exclusive deals to certain select photographers.

Getting into Jupiter Images as a photographer can best be described as "don't call us; we'll call you" kind of arrangement. Jupiter or Getty are not the place to start for photographers trying to break into the stock photography business.

4. Fotolia

Fotolia is a relatively young but growing microstock agency that started out with a focus on the European market and worked its way into broader markets around the globe. They have struggled with web site performance in the past and have few exclusive contributors.

Fotolia currently boasts an inventory of over 2 million images and licenses their products through standard Royalty Free and Extended licenses.

Where Fotolia shines is through their pricing, which runs from $1 to $5 for their standard license and is unique in letting contributors set their own prices within certain parameters.

Fotolia is also generous with its split, giving photographers a minimum of 33 percent and half of any deals for exclusive images. Their payout threshold is also $50, about half of most other stock image sites.

If you're just starting out in the stock photography business, Fotolia is definitely worth a look.

5. Dreamstime

Dreamstime is one of the top microstock agencies and work hard to maintain their position in the industry. It is particularly attractive to photographers as their commission is 50 percent, one of the highest in the market and certainly in the top tier of microstock agencies.

While Dreamstime started as a royalty free CD store in 2000, it became community enabled in 2004. Despite slower sales early on, it has preserved the loyalty of their contributors with high commission rates.

Dreamstime is currently boasting an inventory of 1.5 million images and specializes in Royalty Free image sales, but also offers Extended licenses and buyout licensing. Prices range from $0.75 to $6.00.

Commissions for photographers run in the range of 50 percent to 80 percent with a $100 payout threshold.

Conclusion

Anyone interested in starting in stock photography, will have better luck and more income starting with microstock agencies. After building up a catalog of 1,000 to 2,000 images, the income for popular shots can start to add up over time.

Once you've established yourself in the business and build a name for yourself, then look at sending a portfolio to an agency like Getty.