Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Free Money Through Grants: Fact or Fiction?

It's posted all over the Internet. You hear it on the radio, and see it on television. The United States government is giving away free money in the form of federal grants. While it's true that the government does indeed award $400 billion annually through its 26 federal entities, the statement of free money through the government doesn't exactly pinpoint the definition of a federal grant.

A grant isn't a gift or a free-for-all giveaway. It also doesn't mean that if you've been awarded a grant, you've won the lottery. According to American Government and Politics by Jay M. Shafritz, a grant is "a form of gift that entails certain obligations on the part of the grantee and expectations on the part of the grantor. " The key word in this definition of the word is obligations. Getting a government grant will get you an unbelievable amount of obligations, and not fulfilling your obligations will, in turn, grant you legal problems.

The majority of federal grants that are awarded are the farthest thing from being considered free money. Grants are most often awarded to organizations planning major projects to benefit a community. It could include money to be used for repaving streets in a city. A grant could also be awarded for a nonprofit organization featuring an art exhibit or musical performance. Grants are also awarded for technological research, conservation, and flood control projects. While there are other sources that are awarded grant funding, in general, the free money aspect is lost, and individuals, in general, are not qualified for most grants other than those used for educational purposes such as to pay tuition bills for higher education. Businesses can also tap into the federal grant program, but only by meeting strict criteria through the government agency offering the grant, such as if grant funding is available for research in a particular area that is of specialty to that business.

Once the free money is provided through the grant, the organization that has been awarded the free money must keep careful track of all project expenditures. Organizations that are awarded free money must be prepared for detailed audits, which will be conducted by the Federal government annually or more often. Any money not spent and accounted for goes back to the United States Treasury, and is not extra free money for the organization. Detailed program goals must be developed, approved, and completed by the organization exactly as specified in the grant application without exception. Any unforeseen project changes that occur along the way must receive prior approval by the government agency that awarded the grant. All project phases must be completed as planned, and even more importantly, completed successfully and on time.

The free money offered through a grant program can lead to financial and legal disaster to an organization that does not abide by the strict rules that the grant holds. By failing on a part of the obligation agreed upon when the grant is approved, the organization and/or persons in charge are held accountable. Penalties can range from economic sanctions to prison in the instance of improper use or theft of this free money.

The majority of grants, or free money, that is requested is applied for and awarded to other Federal agencies, state governments, city governments, colleges, universities, and research organizations and businesses. Few individuals have the money, time, and expertise necessary to prepare adequate applications that are awarded free money through federal grant funding. Most active grant seekers, such as universities, employ full-time grant writers to do nothing but apply for and administer Federal grant funding. A full staff of grant writers is not uncommon at a large university.

Because this free money through Federal grants is carefully monitored, the truth is that the money isn't actually free. Applying for Federal grants takes an unbelievable amount of time. Additionally , by even unintentionally not abiding by the grant's requirements, as mentioned, an individual that is unfamiliar with the Federal government's grant programs can find themselves in a financial or legal disaster. With Federal funding cutbacks and the competition for grant fundings becoming more intense, seeking free money through a grant requires not only time, but also money, with no guarantee of success.

Stating it plainly, Federal grants and free money are fictitious. Often , it's more work, not to mention more time and money spent obtaining a Federal grant, than obtaining a low interest loan. Large organizations, such as universities, can benefit from grant funding much easier because they can apply for multiple grants at once, and a skilled, knowledgeable staff can monitor the grant's use carefully. A small business or organization may not see as much success in obtaining a grant due to the time needed to apply, monitor funds, and prepare materials for auditing.

The plain truth is that with federal funding cutbacks and competition for them becoming more intense, seeking a federal grant always requires a lot of time and potentially a lot of money up front with no guarantee of success. Dedication is needed, and is the most important part of attempting to obtain free money through grant funding.


Click here for more information


SMART ART GALLERIES .COM - BEST POP ART ON THE WEB

Friday, May 25, 2012

3D Plasma Television Or 3D LCD HDTV. Which Is Better?



To understand how 3D TVs works. We might figure out how 3D works, we need to find out how it is when people look at three dimensions. We have 2 eyes a left and a right eye. If you took a finger and put it close to your face and you look through your left eye and through your right eye. You may see a vastly different object. If you move the object farther away and repeat the exercise. You can still see the difference between the two, but not as much as it was. This practice explains why you see 3D objects when its close to you and how the effect slowly goes away as the objects move further away.

Their our two different light sources inside the movie-theater, 2 different polarize on 2 different projectors. one for the right eye and 1 for the left eye. So as long as you have a pair of eye-wear which have the same polarity as the left and the right, then were ensured that the left image goes to the left eye and the right image goes to the right eye.

When you buy TV, it only has a simply single light source. So you' ll have to create a right picture and a left picture in 2 various ways. We do this in a frame sequence kind of way. The projection image produces. What we have to do though for it to synchronize with our eyes is we have to use a pair of glasses that is synchronize to the television. So the television will tell the eye-wear... I' m showing you the right image. So therefore the lens of the left side of the eye-wear will become transparent, the right lens will be going dark. So therefore the left image is being seen by the left eye. The reason why you may not notice the flashing is because its done really fast (usually over 100 times a second).

When it comes to LCD HDTV or plasma television there is bad wrong with neither of them in respects to 3D TVS. The difference between plasma and LCD HD TV and that difference is basically how they produce light.

For LCD HDTV they have to refresh their picture very quickly. LCD TVs light source works in a way like little gates that open and close to let the light source in it. It takes sometime for those tiny LCD molecules to change their state, This may cause a problem when the right eye sees part of the left image and the left eye sees part of the right image.

When it comes to plasma television. Your producing frame sequential images. A right then a left. A plasma television starts with a pixel that makes its image, then erases it and then produces the next one. So when these TVs create a right, left, right, left picture, There’s a small chance of getting distortion between the left and right image.



Old Age Makeup for Theater : How to Apply Base Makeup

The Pablo Picasso Museum, Malaga

The Pablo Picasso Museum in Malaga is a wonderful tribute to this great and innovative artist of the twentieth centuary. It had been a long time desire of the artist himself, as well as his family, that he should have a presence in his birthplace city of Málaga. The Picasso Museum is one of only three in the world dedicated exclusively to the artist. He was one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century being as he was both an innovator of artistic styles and techniques and thus changed the course of modern art.

The Picasso Museum is located in the historic city center and is housed in the wonderful 16th. centuary Palacio de Buenavista. The majority of the permanent collection is exhibited in the Palacio de Buenavista. This large, noble house is typical of Andalusian architecture of that period with its blend of Renaissance and Mudejar influence. Christine Ruiz Picasso, the principal donor of the funds, had expressed her wish that the building should be of typical Andalusian architecture and this indeed is a fitting monument to house the great man's works.

In its twelve halls, the Picasso Museum displays amost 200 works of art which constitute the permanent collection. The art gallery also include 4 other halls for temporary exhibits. Completing the museum facilities are an assembly hall, a library, an educational department and an investigation and a promotion center.

The main collection is principally made up of works donated, or on loan, from Christine Ruiz-Picasso, daughter-in-law of the artist, and her son Bernard, grandson of Picasso. The museum opened with 204 permanent works of which 133 are due to Christine’s collaboration. An additional 49 works are on free permanent loan for a period of 10 years. Another 40 pieces are on loan from Bernard for the period of one year. Of incalculable value, this collection consists of works and paintings that Picasso gave to his family members and the majority of the exhibits in the collection have not been seen in public before. Among the numerous works to be seen for the first time are Olga Kokhlova con Mantilla (1917), Madre y niño (1921-1922) and Retrato de Paulo con Gorro Blanco (1923).

Exhibitions.
24th. Oct. 2005
Picasso, ceramics and traditions.

This exhibition brings together some of Picasso's astounding ceramics and those from the past milenia in the mediterranean which so influenced him. There are 56 original works by the artist and 36 from different historical periods ranging from antiquity to the 19th. centuary.

13th. March. -11th. June 2006.
The Picassos of Antibes.

In 1946 Picasso was offered one of the great rooms at the Castle of Antibes to use as a studio. He was so pleased with the offer that he exclaimed, "I'm not only going to paint, I'll decorate the museum too! " The resulting series of paintings reflected the jubilation of liberation. Picasso later added sculptures, graphics and ceramics to this collection thus forming the base for the first French museum dedicated to him. This exhibiton will comprise a selection of these most outstanding works, none of which have been seen in Spain before.

Address of the Picasso Museum
Palacio de Buenavista
c/ San Agustín, 8
29015 Málaga, España
For more information on all of the above visit the Website of Picasso Museum www. museopicassomalaga. org
Tel: (34) 952 127600
Fax: (34) 952 127607

Opening hours:
Tuesdays -Thursdays: 10: 00 am to 8: 00 pm
Fridays - Saturdays: 10: 00 am to 9: 00 pm
Sundays and Holidays: 10: 00 am to 8: 00 pm.
December 24th and 31th: 10: 00 am to 6: 00 pm.
Closed Mondays, December 25th, and January 1st.

Entrance fees:
Collection: 6, 00 euros
Exhibits: 4, 50 euros
Combined entrance: 8, 00 euros.
Ticket Desk will remain open until half an hour prior to closing time.


Click here for more information


Jim Goldstein\'s Tips on Landscape

Oil on Canvas: Painting Conservation 101

Conservation is defined as remedial attention given to extend the life of a work of art. The process often reconstitutes missing material by additions. These additions may be either visible or invisible and serve to restore the work's unity.

One of the most noticeable defects the public observes on a painted surface is craquelure. Craquelure appears as a minute crazing pattern on a painting's surface. The following layers make up a painting:

1. Stretcher bars are covered by a canvas support

2. Canvas is coated with a sizing medium

3. Gesso (a ground layer) is applied over the sizing medium

4. Paint is layered over the sizing medium

5. Varnish is capped over all these layers

Ideally all these layers dry uniformly. When the harmony of these layers is disrupted, a problem results, requiring conservation. For instance, as the different layers absorb and release moisture, expansion and contraction take place. As the materials age, the ongoing process of change can take its toll. Vibrations when art is transported can be harmful to one or more layers, even though temperature and humidity are controlled.

Returning to craquelure, it is understandable that the canvas has responds to a change in climactic conditions by either shrinking or swelling. The amount of stress might differ from the ground or paint layer. As these materials react to change differently, they result first in craquelure and finally become cleavage. Cleavage is the paint layer lifting from the canvas.

When craquelure appears as a function of age, it is generally left untouched, provided the painting is still legible. Should this condition become cleavage, a professional conservator must be consulted.

Another easily noticed problem is a slackening of the canvas, producing more "play" than was originally intended. Examine the stretcher bars. If all the corners are fixed by glue or nails and cannot be adjusted mechanically, your painting is attached to strainer bars, not stretcher bars. Stretcher bars have keys (wedges of wood that permit adjusting of the bars) or sophisticated metal elements that allow for adjustments. A canvas left for many years on strainer bars could rip once the canvas becomes brittle.

Yellowing or darkening varnish is another readily recognizable issue. About every 25 years, review canvases for a re-application of varnish. First the original varnish must be removed by a professional conservator.

Frequently-Asked Questions

How do I find a good conservator? American Institute of Conservation in Washington, DC 202 452-9545 is one source of competent people. Call your local large museums for recommendations as well as art appraisers in your area.

What can I expect from a conservator? It is customary for you to be provided

a) Estimated cost of treatment

b) Estimated time to complete the treatment

c) Conservator's steps to complete treatment

d) Anticipated result from the treatment (identification of what is possible to remedy and to what degree)

How are the fees assessed? Conservators guestimate the number of hours needed to complete the work (based on their past experience).

Word of caution: Find out if your conservator has insurance and if so , how much and what are the limitations of their coverage. If they do not, call your insurance company to find out their position on insuring your property while it is in the hands of a conservator.




Field of Lillies Watercolor and India Ink

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Sculpture As An Art Form


In many ways, sculptures are the art of the people. More so than paintings. More than literature.

Sculptures of great military figures in the parks of many cities are meant to inspire pride and patriotism in ones country. Sculptures of great religious figures found in churches are meant to create a sense of spiritual awe. Sculptures of great political leaders are meant to inspire people to achieve greatness. The sculptures of a society, because they often reside in accessible public places are seen by millions of people every day. They reflect society like no other type of art.

Sculpture like most forms of art is created with the idea of expressing a view. That view can be personal, political, religious, or other in nature. Invariably the view is meant to also meant to trigger an emotion in the heart and head of the viewer.

Determining the quality of a sculpture is very difficult and is subjective as best. artists as well as artist styles go in and out of vogue. But generally, any sculpture which can cause an emotion whether it is bringing tears to your eyes or joy to your heart can safely be considered art by most people.

A sculpture, even if not particularly distinctive in and of itself, can also be considered art if has influenced other major artist or art pieces. Paintings and sculptures also seem to attain "art" status as they survive the passage of time. That is why prehistoric drawings that you see in museums are treated as art even though they would not pass muster if an art student painted them today.

Sculpture is a unique form of art - related to but separate from painting, music, poetry, and writing. Unlike the others, a sculpture is a three dimensional work of art. From its very beginnings, a sculpture was meant to last. Sculpture pieces were created using materials that themselves had passed the test of time - stone and marble, hard metals such as gold and silver, and wood.

One reason art is so hard to define is that artists, especially the creative ones, are often attempting to break the mold, to create something new. They want to create something unlike anything else around. And many times when that happens, the people of that time aren't willing to accept the work as art. It's just too far ahead of its time. Then later, if it lasts, people gradually begin to see the layers of complexity in it. They begin to understand and appreciate its meanings and nuances.

Early and even some later Pablo Picasso sculptures are a perfect example of this. I remember when Picasso's 50 foot high untitled sculpture was first placed in Chicago's Civic Center Plaza. Many considered it a monstrosity. Some newspapers panned it. And now, what was once so controversial, has become an undisputed landmark for the city of Chicago.

Sculpture is truly the art of the common man.




RICHARD SCHMID Portrait Painting Landscape MAY

Art Destinations on Long Island

The arts are alive and well on Long Island. There are far too many places to cover in a single article, but there are some definite places you’ll want to begin your journey though painting, sculpture and mixed media art. Some of the Long Island galleries are artist-run, so you’ll not only get a taste of the arts, but experience work by talented local artists as well.

If you have a fondness for 19th and 20th century European and American art, your first stop should be the Heckscher Museum of art at 2 Prime Avenue in http://www.longislandexchange.com/towns/huntington.html Huntington. The Heckcsher collection includes Dadist George Grosz’s masterpiece Eclipse of the Sun. Grosz was a resident of Huntington between 1947 and 1958. The Heckcsher collection also features the art of "one-time" Huntington residents arthur Dove and his wife Helen Torr. The Heckcsher Museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 10AM to 5PM, with weekend hours from 1PM to 5PM.

Great examples of Long Island talent can be found at the BJ Spoke Gallery, located at 299 Main Street in Huntington. This artist-owned cooperative gallery features annual juried art competitions, but their biggest event is the Expo. This competition highlights work in oil painting, watercolor, drawing, photography and other visual art forms. The Expo scheduled for 2006 is scheduled for March 6 through April 2 . Whatever time of year you visit, you’re sure to see some of Long Island’s finest artistic talent on display. Operating hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 11AM to 5PM. Friday hours are from 11AM to 9PM.

The Islip art Museum is a contemporary art space located at 50 Irish Lane in East Islip. Past exhibitions have included "Food For Thought" which features artists who use food as both subject and medium. "The Nature Of Things" focused on ten artists view of the landscape tradition in the face of increasing technology. The Islip does five major shows a year and attracts both the New York art crowd as well as people on the international art scene.

The Parrish art Museum at 25 Job's Lane in Southampton is a different experience altogether, combining student art competitions and unusual shows. One interesting recent attraction was called "Finders Keepers" The Obsession of Passionate Collectors". The show highlighted the collecting obsession—everything from walking sticks to celluloid Santas. In between student work and the special exhibits, you’ll find landscapes, photography and much more. Hours for the Parrish are Monday through Saturday from 11AM to 5PM. Sunday hours are from 1PM to 5PM. The museum is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

These are only a small sample of what Long Island has to offer. There is a great diversity of new talent, classic work on permanent display and unique exhibitions. If you have a passion for art, Long Island is sure to please. For a good overview of the Long Island art scene, take a look at www.longislandarts.com and you’ll get the latest news on local artists, services for those in the arts, and calls for entries to local competitions and juried shows.




CraftMe.co- NZ FREE Fine Arts

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Frontier Portraits - Ilkka Porkka, hostel and gallery owner

TV5 Monde has published a document Frontier Portraits, Daily life at the gates of the European Union. The home page of the web document is http://portraits.tv5monde.com/.
There you can first choose the language: French, German and English. After that you can watch several interviews and portraits of persons who are living and working near the border: Bulgaria // Turkey, Poland // Belarus and Finland // Russia.
The group of film makers lived at my apartment hotel in Hamina. They made a small portrait of me - Ilkka Porkka - as hotel and art gallery owner, who is dealing and co-operating with Russian citizens. If you would like to see the docoment, please click the link: http://portraits.tv5monde.com/version_en/menu_en.html#/2/3/3/

Top 3 Free Marketing Techniques

If you have zero budget then this is the article for you. In this article I will discuss the best ways to market your website for free.

#1. articles:

An example of using articles to promote your website is this article. At the bottom of it should be my author bylines. If you are a good writer and know were to submit your articles then this can be possible they best traffic generator ever. By submitting articles to ezine editors, website owners, and publishers, you can generate traffic through your bylines. If you even get 1 ezine editor to publish your article in a popular ezine you can generate 50 visitors for free. The best way to get targeted visitors is to write something that people who buy your product would be interested in. For example I wrote this article because I know that webmasters are always looking for marketing techniques and my website is for webmasters.

#2. Ebooks:

People love free information and ebooks are one of the main sources for this. Ebooks have the potential to keep on growing if they provide important and unique information. Though the only way they can grow rapidly is if they have distribution and resell rights. Ebooks like articles are viral because they provide free information and information is shared quickly if it is quality. If they have distribution and resell rights then people will customize the ebook with there links but as long as you have your links scattered in the ebook then you will generate many visitors. The best technique is to email all your affiliates and tell them they can customize the ebook with there affiliate links making them some money and you to in the process. This gives them incentive to distribute them.

#3. Search Engines: This one doesn’t seem to go with the first 2 but it is the 3rd best free traffic driver. The reason this is third and not first though it brings more traffic than ebooks and articles is because it is an art to getting top search engine ranking for your keywords. Search engines drive approximately 40% of my traffic, I would rather this number be closer to 20% because it is not good depending on one source of traffic especially one as unstable as search engines. For example goggle’s Florida update.




Learn how to draw

Saturday, May 19, 2012

How To Travel The World For Free

It sounds like a dream doesn't it? Hopping onto a plane and taking a flight to the destination of your choice. Imagine collecting your flight tickets to New York, London, Goa - or wherever takes your fancy - and not having to pay a cent for them.

For a few people, this dream is actually a reality. How? Simply put they have discovered a little travel secret - namely that a lot of companies will actually pay the travel expenses for you to oversee their package or document from one country to another. Now this may bring to mind images of having to smuggle a microfilm past some dodgy russian customs ala James Bond, but the reality is nowhere near as exciting or dangerous - which is great news for the budget traveller. The even better news is that with a little know how, any adult can act as a courier and score free and deeply discounted flight tickets to the destination of their choice.

It's completely legal and can save you thousands in saved airfare every year. Courier companies are continually on the lookout for willing travellers to carry their items overseas. There is nothing sinister about it and nothing is hidden from the authorities - the traveller is paid with a deeply discounted (and sometimes free) air ticket. According to a survey by the Air Courier Association the standard saving that travellers get when they act as a courier is 85% on the normal flight price. There isn't a travel agent in the world that will match such a discount.

So what are your responsibilities as a courier? Well it's as simple as turning up to the airport on time and meeting the courier companys representative at the destination airport. As soon as you walk through the customs area at your destination, your job is over.

What are the drawbacks of this deeply discounted travel? Well for a start you're probably only going to be allowed one carry on bag as your luggage - so learning how to travel light


Acrylic Painting Techniques : How to Paint a Canvas Picture

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Hello From Orlando - A Walk Through St. Augustine - The Oldest Continuously Inhabited City In The United States


On our way home from Orlando, a little more than an hour into our 20 hour road trip back to Toronto, we stopped in St. Augustine, "the nation's oldest city", just north of Jacksonville - indeed the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the United States, having been founded by the Spanish in 1565.

St. Augustin's founder, Don Pedro Menendez, came ashore on September 8, 1565, and chose to name the settlement after the patron saint whose feast day coincided with the day of landing. Of course , before the Spanish ever set foot on Florida soil, the Timacuan Indians had already been here and they watched Menendez and the roughly 1500 colonists and soldiers settle here. Over the last few centuries the city experienced governments from different countries, including Spain, Britain, and since 1821, the United States.

The real rise of this community came in the late 1800s when Henry Flagler (1830 to 1913) built two hotels and took over a third as part of the Flagler hotel chain. Flagler was the co-founder of Standard Oil, and although not as well known as some of the other early magnates of capitalism, he was one of the wealthiest individuals of his time. Flagler had a major impact on Florida: he founded the Florida East Coast Railway as a means of transporting guests to and from the north to his hotels in St. Augustine, Palm Beach, and Miami. A honeymoon visit to St. Augustine in 1881 with his second wife inspired Flagler's vision to transform this sleepy town into a winter playground for the rich.

Three of Flagler's former St. Augustine hotels are still in use today: Flagler College (the former Hotel Ponce de Leon), the Lightner Building - St. Augustine's City Hall (the former Alcazar) and Casa Monica, redone as a county courthouse in the 1960s, and reopened in 1990 as the restored Casa Monica Hotel. During the late 19th and early 20th century Flagler also developed a residential neighbourhood called the Model Land Company tract.

Within a few short years Flagler's dream of a resort town for northerners faded and he, and the wealthy northern visitors, moved further south. He continued to develop the Florida East Coast Railroad down the peninsula, into and across the Florida Keys, creating hotels and communities along the way.

St. Augustine is centered around the Plaza de la Constitucion, which anchors the Lightner Museum / City Hall, Casa Monica and Flagler College, three stunningly beautiful structures. Located in the former Alcazar Hotel, the Lightner Museum houses collections of legendary hobbyist and antiques collector Otis Lightner.

St. Augustine has a wealth of other historic and architecturally interesting structures. The most historically significant structure in St. Augustine is the Castillo de San Marcos, built by the Spanish between 1672 and 1695. The 19th century Lighthouse Museum is located in the St. Augustine Lighthouse on Anastasia Island east of town across the Bridge of Lions. St. Augustine also houses the oldest store in town dating to the turn of the last century. Talking about old buildings, St. Augustine is home to the Gonzalez-Alvarez House, dating back to 1727, known as the "Oldest House Complex", a National Historic Landmark.

The Mission of Nombre de Dios is located on the west bank of Matanzas Bay, and it is said to have been the site of the first Catholic Mass in what is today the United States. The Spanish Quarter Village is a living history museum composed of a collection of colonial period houses where guides recreate the dress and lifestyle as seen in 1740.

Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth National Archaeological Park exhibits foundations and artifacts of the first St. Augustine mission and colony. It also houses the Landmark Spring, Explorers Globe and navigators' Planetarium. St. Augustine also houses the Oldest Drug Store and the nation's Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, built more than 200 years ago while Florida was under Spain's rule.

Unfortunately we did not have a chance to explore St. Augustine in detail, but our brief excursion into this historic city quickly proved what a unique destination St. Augustine really is. As a matter of fact, the city welcomes around 2 million visitors every year who come to discover a unique historic part of America. A settlement with authentic Spanish roots, complete with Castillo and all, is a truly unique sight in the U. S. and it was definitely worth the detour.

Here is a collection of websites for further information on St. Augustine:

- the City of St. Augustine,
- the St. Augustine Visitor Guide
- Visit Florida's information page about St. Augustine
- the St. Augustine Historical Society
- the City of St. Augustine's Department of Heritage Tourism

This entire article including photos is located at travelandtransitions.com/stories photos/orlando st augustine.htm" class="hft-urls"> http://www.travelandtransitions.com/stories photos/orlando st augustine.htm




SocialMediaDaily.com Video Update #1 - Michelle MacPhearson

Monday, May 14, 2012

Budget Travel for Martial Arts Karate Tournaments

Once martial arts competitors and coaches decide to follow one of the large karate circuits like NASKA or NBL, it will soon be realized that participation in this sport can be very expensive. Many years ago, I attended a seminar conducted by Charlie Lee and he said that the only main difference between many national and local competitors is that the national ones have the funds to travel. I’ve been on both the NBL and NASKA circuits. I’ve also dabbled in international overseas competition as well so I’ve learned a few tricks over the years to help save some overall costs involved in competition.

Competition Fees

Most karate tournaments offer some savings through pre-registrations. With many promoters adding online registration capabilities recently, pre-registering is a snap. Of course , there’s the risk of losing your entire fee if for some reason you don’t show up at the event. Even if you have made commitments to attend certain tournaments, other circumstances can prevent you from going. For example , I have missed tournaments due to flight cancellations because of bad weather. It is also possible for flights to be delayed or missed due to reasons beyond your control. Of course , unforeseen emergencies at home can always cause trip cancellations. So even though one can save some good money over the course of a year by pre-registering for all events, it is a risk to take.

Hotels

Most tournament promoters also work out a special room rates at designated tournament hotels. These special rates usually range from about $100 to $125 which are quite good considering that most event hotels are top major chains like Hyatt, Sheraton, Hilton, etc . However , I have found that if one is willing to do some research, even more significant savings are possible with accommodations. I almost never stay at event hotels anymore. Instead, I will do research to find out hotels that are close by. The maps facility at the Yahoo site is wonderful for this. Just go to Yahoo and click on ‘maps’. Then enter the address and city of the tournament hotel. Do a search of other hotels close by and the site will show you where they are on a map as well as how far they are from the event hotel. I also use travel websites like Travelocity and Expedia to verify other nearby hotels. Many hotels are often much less expensive especially the ones that are one level lower in quality. In addition to the travel websites, I would also check room rates directly with Choice Hotels (Comfort Inn, Econolodge, Quality Inn), Holiday Inn, Days Inn and Motel 6 via their websites. The rooms at these chains are not as luxurious as those at major hotels but they are clean and comfortable. They are not the bottom of the barrel like some independent motels are. Rates can be 50% lower than even the tournament rates at the event hotels. My average rate for rooms has been about $50 and that often includes free breakfasts which event hotels seldom offer.

Many lower priced hotels are within walking distances of the tournaments. Even if a hotel is not within walking distance, a small cab fare is usually worth the room savings. I’ve even stayed at airport location hotels and then utilized the free hotel shuttles of both the place I was staying at as well as the event hotel to get around. Of course , all this is not as convenient as staying at the event hotel but if you are willing to plan ahead a bit, good savings are possible. Of course for events where I’m extending my stay for vacation purposes, a rental car will allow me to stay wherever I want.

Another way to chop off half of your hotel expenses is to leave right after your competition is over. You will miss the evening shows but if you don’t mind that, then you will have to stay overnight for only a single night rather than two. Over the course of a year, single night trips can result in significant savings.

Flights

Driving would be the most economical way to travel to tournaments but if the locations are too far, then flying would be the most realistic way to get there. One could also explore trains too. As for flights, one could wait for seat sales to purchase tickets. Another strategy is to fly in or out of different airports that are nearby the event city. There could be significant savings in prices for flights if you are willing to use alternative airports. Some cities have more than one major airport in the region. Alternative airports can reduce travel costs for competitors who have to cross the US-Canadian border as well. Canadians driving to US airports right across the border could save up to 50% sometimes for flights. Travelers should join all frequent flyer programs but try to stay with one or two main airlines if possible. Points do add up which can result in future free flights. Of course , points from hotel stays, car rentals and credit card use also help.

Transfers

As mentioned previously, I try to use free hotel shuttles whenever I can. If my hotel doesn’t have a free shuttle and it is close to the event hotel, sometimes I would take the event hotel’s free shuttle and then walk to my hotel. I often use the event hotel’s shuttle to catch a ride back to the airport too. Just hang out at the event hotel lobbies so that you look like a guest and nobody should question your use of the shuttle.

Many cities where large tournaments are held have very efficient and safe transit systems right from the airport. For example , instead of paying for cabs or airport shuttles that charge, taking the local bus or subway train for about $1. 50 will get me to the tournament just as easy.

So as you can see, there are different ways to take a bite off the overall expenses of karate tournament travel. You just have to do your research for every trip. As for meals, you could always stuff yourself silly for a very reasonable price at those Chinese buffets found almost everywhere.




Traveling with a Sketchbook

Sunday, May 13, 2012

How to Start a Fine Art Photography Business

The definition of fine art, as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is “art concerned primarily with the creation of beautiful objects”. With such a “wide” definition of “beautiful objects”, the beauty is in the eyes of the photographer. Virtually anything can be fine art, a simple household item such as a fork, a nude body, travel, landscape, wildlife, a landscape. Not everyone will agree on what constitutes fine art, many years ago I was awed by the sight of the Sydney Opera House, and thought it was the most beautiful building In Australia. However I remember thinking that it perfectly complemented Australia, it would look pretty silly in the centre of Madrid. However if you don’t like the Sydney Opera House, then it does not matter how great the photo you are not going to like it. So whatever constitutes Fine Art photography is a pretty subjective decision.

School of Photography give you a good idea of what will constitute in their view Fine Art photography.

For many photographers this is an ideal line of work, because it allows you to represent a part of your personality, through your work. It is possible to make a political statement by being a fine arts photographer. A clear analogy here would be the emergence of the acceptance of the gay male in photography, over the last thirty years. In it’s wide ranging definition it is possible to be more creative, and in this creativity be more personal.

There are a lot of resources on the Web regarding fine art. One of the better ones concerning resources and links is http://art-support.com/links.htm. There are excellent links to photographers’ web sites, as well as grants available to the photographer. Because the definition of Fine Art photography is so wide, it has perhaps a more specific marketing need. Fortunately there are more ways to market them than just stock photographic galleries It may be advantageous for you to think about engaging the services of a full time sales representative. A sales representative will work with clients in the advertisement industry, the travel industry, and also graphic design firms. The advantage of employing a sales rep is that it leaves you free to create without the hassle of “cold selling”. If you are not a natural salesperson, it may be better for you to consider someone else doing the selling. That person should also be a!

ble to evaluate the true value of your work, be experienced enough to know where to get the prices, as well as having a proven track record in negotiating the best prices.

There are other advantages as well. Companies using a wide and diverse range of photographs, such as advertisement agencies, will have more time for a sales rep, who has a large portfolio of work, from different clients, than from one single photographer. By the nature of their work sales reps are normally found in larger cities and towns, they will have a large client base of their own, and will probably promote your work in specialised areas, such as food photographer, or portrait photographer. So how does the relationship work? Normally the sales rep will already have their own business, and they will work for you on a commission only basis. You will pay them approximately 30 percent of the assignment fee, that is the net fee, not the final figure with expenses added on.

How to work out if this relationship will be advantageous to you, balances many factors. If you have developed a highly personalised style as a photographer, then you need to target specific areas to sell the photographs. Perhaps you do not live in a large city and have the right contacts. You have already made a portfolio of work that you would like to specialise in. It may not be cheaper for you to hire a rep, because you may still have to advertise locally to maintain your own business that you have developed, but you are paying a rep on extra sales that you did not have before. It will certainly increase the profitability of your business if you have no time to devote to increasing the number of your clients.

You have decided that this path is for you, - how do you go about it.

One idea is to investigate the names of the best advertisement agencies nearest to you, your local reference library can be of assistance here, as can yellow pages. You can phone them direct and ask them the names and the contact numbers of their reps. The Writer’s Digest publish an annual “Photographer’s Market Book”, this book now lists photographic reps, and it will also help you market your work with lists of fine art reps, as well as galleries and stock agencies.

However you choose to market your business, the essence of what you need to do is to widen your client base. There is certainly more work in the marketing of certain photographs. However in today’s market place communication is as much as an art as creating the photographs. Not only is it important that you keep abreast with market trends, but you have to be in constant communication with your clients. Certain photographers’ enjoy the “Cut and Thrust” of aggressive marketing. If you don’t, then consider paying someone else to do it for you. Never underestimate the power of marketing, it is a very potent tool to help get your work shown to the people who are most likely to purchase it.

Do you really know as a photographer what you have to sell and it’s value. As a freelancer you can learn a great deal from advertising clients, They determine a niche for the product and then work on it’s development to promote it. A product is always promoted with a very specific client in mind. You must know your strengths as well as your weaknesses. For instance if you have a passion for taking seascapes, then it is pointless to advertise yourself as a portrait photographer. You need to find a way of getting your unique photographs to where they are going to maximise your profit.


Click here for more information


Adelsteen Normann Oil Paintings | Fine Art Reproductions

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Bat Printing on Pottery and Porcelain


The invention of transfer printing on porcelain and pottery was, without doubt, one of the most important innovations in the development of the ceramic industry.

The honor of this development goes to the English engraver, Robert Hancock, born in Birmingham (1730-1817). We first meet Robert, recorded as a copper plate engraver at York House, at Battersea's enamel works in London.

Here, beautiful little copper boxes were made for the English 18th century luxury market and quite costly objects of vertu, the so-called bijouterie, scent bottles, little snuff boxes and practical wares, such as boxes to contain sewing implements, toothpicks, trays to hold pens, canisters for tea and sugar and even candlesticks, designed to imitated expensive silver pieces.

In 1756 the Battersea factory closed and we next find Robert at the Worcester porcelain factory in the same year. Robert Hancock had obviously taken his knowledge and expertise to the factory management, under the direction of Dr John Wall. The management was highly impressed with the idea of this rapid decoration technique!

Since the opening of the factory in 1751, porcelain painting had been a laborious and expensive process, undertaken by painters with coloured powdered enamels, mixed with lavender oil and brushes.

Robert was able to teach his printing skills and the process was soon mastered with the first, famous, copper plate engraved, black transfer print being produced in 1757. The subject being Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, ally and hero of the seven years war.

Transfer printing as developed at Battersea, began with the unique skill of the copper plate engraver, who deeply engraved, with a fine sharp steel, the desired design. The design was engraved in reverse!, allowing the final print to appear "right way around".

Pigment was then added, often mixed with oil and heated to allow the colour to run deeper into the copper plate engravings, the excess ink then wiped away with a palette knife. The copper plate, after being cleaned off with a cloth was then covered with a sheet of tissue which was dampened and pressed onto the plate. Next, the tissue was gently lifted from the plate and set carefully onto the shape to be printed. As the tissue was deftly lifted away, the design was left behind. This early printing style left the print on top of the glazed item, which was then fired to finally set the print onto the glazed surface.

As the 18th century turned into the early 19th century, new ceramic printing techniques were developed, to not only improve the technique, but make it faster, time is money! The great name at this point is Josiah Spode who is credited with the introduction of under glaze blue transfer printing into Staffordshire, during 1781-84.

During the early 1800's, the tissue was replaced by a sheet of paper, or sometimes fabric. With a layer of glue applied, this could easily be cut and shaped to fit around curved objects such as dishes and teapots. This is known as the "bat" print and gives the process its alternative name "bat printing".

The inked bat was then placed on the ceramic object and an impression left, leaving the print adhering to the shape. The item was then dipped into the glaze and returned to the kiln for the glost, or, low firing. The glue bats were reusable, plus they conformed better to curved surfaces. Cobalt blue, under glaze transfer printing became a standard of the Staffordshire pottery industry.

Men like Josiah Spode, Wedgwood, Thomas Minton and others, were all entrepreneurial types and leading figures of the great Staffordshire ceramic industry.

While sharing amicable business relationships, each kept an eye on the market! It was at this time that large export markets were opening or expanding in North America, Europe, and India where consumers sought elegant, matched sets of wares.



Click here for more information


Fine Art on Ceramic Tiles

Friday, May 11, 2012

Ancient Egyptian Art -- Timeless and Beautiful Today


Ancient Egyptian art is one of the most recognized, admired and collected art in the history of the world. From delicate gold jewelry to vivid paintings to massive statues dozens of feet tall, for over 5, 000 years Egyptian art has fascinated, delighted and awed generation after generation with its beauty, style and mystery. While genuine ancient pieces of art are rare and extremely valuable, modern Egyptian artists make beautiful art and jewelry that is inspired by some of the greatest recovered works from ancient sites, and which adheres strictly to the styles used by ancient artists. Jewelry in gold and silver with inlaid stones are fashioned after pieces of jewelry recovered from ancient tombs. Papyrus Paintings are painted in vivid color on genuine papyrus, made using the same principles developed thousands of years ago on the banks of the Nile, where the papyrus plant grows to this day. Paintings are executed in the style of frontalism, one of the most striking characteristics of ancient Egypt.

Frontalism

Frontalism is the style in which every known piece of ancient Egyptian art was produced. In paintings, the style of frontalism means that the head of the character is drawn in profile, while the body is drawn from a front view. However , even though the face is in profile, the eye is drawn in full, as it would be seen from the front. The legs always face the same direction as the head, with one foot forward and one back.

Ancient Egyptian figures, especially of gods and pharaohs, are noticeable for their very formal, even rigid stance and posture, but their faces are always serene, regardless of the scene in which they are depicted. There were very strict rules about how a god or pharaoh could be represented, which even included a prohibition against anything being drawn in front of the face or body of the pharaoh, even when the scene depicted clearly required it for any kind of realism. Realism was simply not a goal of ancient Egyptian art. It is these very formal and stylized rules that have made Egyptian art one of the most widely recognized forms of art in the world. Over thousands of years Egyptian artists adhered to this one style, which is quite remarkable, especially as compared to the extreme differences in art expression that have occurred in the modern world in just the past 100 years or so. The only acknowledged variations are in the portrayals of animals and common people as compared to the more formal depictions of pharaohs and gods. As can be seen in many Egyptian paintings, animals and common people or slaves are represented in a more natural manner, though still within very strict and formulaic rules.

This frontalist style is the primary reason why ancient Egyptian art is so easily recognizable, and its appeal has lasted through many centuries to this day.




9th St. Show-abstract expressionism 1950s artists reminisce

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Six 'Hows' of Choosing Good Books For Your Children to Read


Selecting a book for children to read can be quite a difficult decision. Often you will make mistakes about choosing books such as choosing books that interest you more, are too difficult for your child, don't interest your kid. This article looks at six factors to help you choose books with more success.

How it looks

When choosing books for your students or children to read, one of the first and most important things you should consider is if the appearance of the book is attractive to children. The child will see the cover of the book first, so don't choose something that looks boring. This will immediately lose their interest, especially for those who do not particularly enjoy reading anyway. Ideally, the book's cover should be colorful and give some idea of what the book is about. If you can capture the child's interest as soon as they first set eyes on the book, then half the battle is won.

How long it is

Another important factor to take into account is the length of the book. The more accomplished readers will have finished reading, when the rest of the children are still in the middle of it if the book is too short. If a book is too long, this can discourage children as soon as they see it. For children of ten and under, a book should take no longer than three to five days, and no more than eight to ten days for older children.

How many illustrations

Illustrations are very important to stimulate a child's imagination. They provide a break between all those words, so that it doesn't get monotonous. In fact , most children tend to look through the illustrations before they even begin reading the book. Good illustrations or photographs can capture a child's interest, and often encourage them to want to read the book in order to understand what the interesting pictures are about. A drawing or photograph can also maintain a reader's interest.

How big the words

Check that the font size and style of the book is suitable for young eyes. Younger children can find it difficult to focus on small type and tightly spaced sentences. For readers under the age of eight, it is easier for them if the type is larger than normal, and for those under the age of seven double-spaced sentences are best.

How it connects

Choosing a book that is part of a series can be a good idea to keep the children interested. That way, the children can get to know a character, and follow their adventures through a series of books. Reading books that are part of a series also makes a child eager to get to the next adventure, wanting to know what happens next, and can make them realize how enjoyable reading can be.

How interesting

Finally, choose an interesting subject. A good idea would be to discuss with the children what types of books they think that they might enjoy. Present some ideas to them, and then choose one that most have agreed on. You can always reserve the remaining subjects for another time.





Write4Kids TV: Children\'s Book Apps Made Easy

How to Make Money with Arts and Crafts


I have been to many arts and craft fairs and festivals in my life and there’s one thing I notice in all of them. They are busy. If you pay attention to what’s going on at these fairs and festivals, you’ll notice that people buy these crafts. I thought to myself “Why can’t I do this? ” Well, guess what, I can do this and I do.

Let me tell you how I got started in doing arts and crafts. After I visited many of the arts and crafts fairs and festivals, I went home and decided get some e-books on making arts and crafts. The first e-book I got was about soap making. I got this e-book because at the last arts and crafts festival I was at, the soaps was the biggest sellers. I read the e-book and learned how to make soap. I got to work on making soap for the nest arts and craft festival. I didn’t want to make a lot of soap at first for fear of not selling it all. Well, I made about 100 bars of soap and asked a friend if I can sell at his book. He said yes. I ended up selling 75 bars of soap. I made a nice little profit from selling the soap.

After that arts and crafts festival, I went home and got a few more e-books. I got about gel candle making, bath salt making and perfume making. I read all the e-books and got busy with making some more soap, and I started to make perfume, bath salt and gel candles. With the research that I did by going to the arts and crafts fairs and festival, I found out what was hot to sell now.

Anyway, I went back to another arts and crafts festival and ended up getting my own booth. I ended up selling all but 10 bars of soap, selling all the bath salt I made, selling all but 1 gel candle and I sold all perfume I made. That weekend I made about $500 with only putting in $100 in products. I was happy. So I went home and ended up get another e-book. I got how to make a wind chime e-book. Well, to make this long story short, I read the e-book made some wind chimes for another arts and crafts festival. I ended up selling all of the wind chimes.





Stevie Wonder\'s clavinet- Superstition: The Multitrack Masters!

Free On Line Movies: Bootleg Movies or P2P Legal Downloads?


P2P legal downloads or illegal bootleg movies? Which of these describes the majority of free on line movies downloaded today? Ametican copyright law is extremely complex, and hasn't been helped by the Sony Bono Law designed to protect originators of music and movies, but has made it next to impossible for the ordinary person to interpret.

Let's establish one or two things first, so that we are starting from the same place here. file sharing, peer-to-peer, P2P or networking, whetever you feel like calling it, is not in itself illegal.

Kazaa is illegal in Australia, but not in Holland where the Supreme Court ruled that it was not the software itself that was responsible for illegal downloads, but those that used it illegally. A Los Angeles fedaral court judge gave a similar judgment on appeal by P2p companies Grokster and Morpheus, ruling that they weer not responsible for the use to which others put the software, and that infringement of copyright was not the responsibility of the sofwtare providers but of the users.

Thus, you can use P2P legal software to download free on line movies and music, as long as what you download is free of any copyright protection, i. e. in the public domain. Some have pointed to Napster's demise in their original form as evidence that software is illegal, but those that do have missed the point entirely. Napster differes fubdamentally from other forms of P2P software. Napster was closed down, and eventually came back in a revised form, because it usewd a central server.

To understand that, it is necessray to know the ay in which P2P software operates, and what the differences are between P2P legal downloads and bootleg movies. When P2P site members download movies they are copying the file from another member's hard disk. If you are searching for a particular movie, you will be given a list of those available and normally how many online computers have that movie on their hard disk.

When downloading, you can be simultaneously downloading from the hard disk of several online members of the site. Napster porvided a hub in the form of a central server, through which all downloads were passed between the provider ansd receiver of the files. Due to that way of working, Napster was found responsible for downloads made using their site since they were, in effect, acting as an intermediary to the crime by passing the illegal downloads from one person to the other.

Modern free on line movies pass through no central hub, but are downloaded by means of a direct comnection to the provider's hard drive. You are downloading directly from the hard drive of the computer providing the file - the link is one to one. Because it is software driven, no liability for the way people use it can be laid at the door of those that sell it.

That is why the music and movie moguls were so annoyed and upset: the believed the problem to have been dealt with when Napster had been successfully convicted. However , they got it wrong and found that instead of targeting just a few software firms, they faced the task of chasing the many millions of ordinary people that were downloading copyrighted material every day.

So when is downloading illegal and when is it legal? What is the differenbce between a bootleg movie and a PSP legal download? Very simple to answer, but very difficult to understand. Fundamentally, no work that is copyright-protected can be downloaded or copied with the express permission of the owner of the work. You can be sure that all of the online music, games and movies are copyright-protected unles the owners have licensed them for downloading without permission.

Many do allow it. Particularly new artists or amateur movie-makers wanting to get their name known and their work publicized free of charge, or professionals testing the water for a new album or film idea. Most don't, and if you try to understand the copyright law, particularly in the USA, it is very murky indeed. In the UK, the law with regard to movies is fairly easy to understand: movies are copyrighted ro 70 years after the death of the last main director, composer or writer and music for 50 years after it was released.

The situation has been made even more complex in America by the Sony Bono Law, and it looks like no music at is free of copyright restrictions any more, and that movies are going to be covered as well for many years to come unless, possibly, they were made before 1923. As I said - complicated.

Here are some tips, then on how to avoid downloading bootleg movies and ensuring that you stay legal:

1 . Avoid downloading any files using P2P software unless your are certain it is not copyright-protected.

2 . If you have a specific need for a particular movie, then rent it using an online rental service such as Love films or Blockbuster.

3. On the other hand, if you download movies a lot, then you will likely be better with a membership with a legal download site. Some sites online permit legally licensed movies to be downloaded for a membership fee. One site is offering unlimited downloads for a 2-year membership fee. This is a very attractive deal, since you are comparing a $40 spend with a potential fine of $150, 000 for illegally downloading movies? That's less than $1. 70 a month!

4. If a movie is given away free, you can be sure it was obtained illegally and hence a bootleg movie. No site is able to profit by providing legal movies free of charge, unless they have some other means of make money from the website. The same is true of music. That is because those that have these tracks or files to offer had to pay for them, unless they also got them illegally, so would be highly unlikely to give them away free? They must be illegal!

Summing up, you can get free on line movies if you pay a membership fee in return for unlimited downloads. Agreed, that is not free, but nevertheless if you downloaded only two movies each week that would equate to only 19 cents each movie. Is that cheap? The same price will be charged for bootleg movies, only you can get caught with these and face a hefty fine. Given the number of people that use P2P sites, this is not likely, but why take the risk if you don't have to?






Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD (1998) - Trailer

How To Download And Convert Youtube Videos?


Sometime ago, people felt frustrated because they couldn’t download and convert youtube videos. The thing is, YouTube offers a wide selection of interesting user-uploaded videos. Because of that, users and site visitors are attracted to get videos from them.

At first, youtube was created to allow others to share their captured moments with others. The main contributors of the site were also their users. Because of the uniqueness of its concept, the contents of the site, more and more people visited the website.

Because of its popularity, many music producers stated to use youtube to introduce and promote their artists’ albums. The truth is, the site is the easiest way to target listeners who would be interested with what they’ve created. Hence, it is no longer strange that music videos are seen played and uploaded there.

The great number of music and video collection in the website created an impact on surfers and downloaders. A person looking for a specific video automatically visits the site among others.

Luckily, you can now download and convert youtube videos into different formats. With this, you don’t really have to spend your whole day browsing the net and website pages just to find the song or video that you want.

So why would you want to download and convert youtube videos? Well, this is a good question. Quite frankly, there are a few good reasons why you should do this.

One is that you should do this is to simply have a copy of your favorite video for free. Usually, downloading a popular video would require payment. But , if you have a youtube video downloader and converter free software, then you can download as many videos as you want.

Additionally , if you use youtube to save a video, you can store rare clippings and performances. This is because users often share their personal collection including concerts and other popular shows.

The youtube video file converter can also help you save your downloads in different format. This means, you can have something for your laptop, mp3 players, cell phones and even cds.

Interestingly, you can easily convert your video files into various formats to fit your gadget without having to install different software.

If you want to download songs from youtube and not videos, then that is also possible. All you have to do is to search for the song and use your video converter software. Within a matter of minute, you will have the song that you want in your player.

Another thing that you could do is download movies. Again, some youtube users also love to share their collection of movies and programs. For this, you will no longer have to install a separate movie converter. With your downloader, you can watch them in your laptops or PCs just as well.

If you download and convert youtube videos, then you are giving yourself a chance to enjoy the benefits if the site. Not only that you got to listen to different songs, and you can also watch some movies without much problem.



International Travel Tips : Where to Find Good Airline Fares

Nude Photography As A Profession


Many keen and experienced photographers have grown to adore nude photography after as little as one or two shoots. The human form can be wonderous and continuously changing. Equally, the industry of nude art photography does have its rogues but when you pass the the boundary of lust and wonder, you can be left with a continuing desire to improve the artform of nude photography for the rest of your life.

Of course , there are major hurdles to overcome to enter nude photography, not least of which is the need to practise technique. By its very nature there has to be at least one subject, and the big problem for the photographer here is image. To some, the image of a nude photographer is tied in with the “dirty Macintosh” brigade, with the false wig, dark glasses and dark hat.

Not everyone believes the adage that an erotic photograph, does not have to be nude, and a nude photograph is not necessarily erotic. The biggest challenge is to find a suitable model, and certainly in small town rural backwater areas, it is not the brightest propaganda move to put an advertisement in the Post Office window. It is also suspect to approach someone in the street.

Impeccable credentials help here, an image of a bona fide photographer, with a studio, and a business card with a portfolio. A professionally created business card also helps; a ripped off part of an old envelope invites suspicion. It is not necessary to have a portfolio of nudes, but it is essential as an aid of creating the feeling of trust. It can be very helpful to not tell a prospective model what you do, but show them, and depending on their responses take it from there.

A lot of nude photographers start with a self portrait an this is better than nothing in some cases. There are several other methods that can be used to find people to model. Your first option is to hire professional (glamour) models. That can be expensive, and they're not often familiar with that type of work. The second option is to hire amateur models, or perhaps even nude still life models, the problem here is that the latter will have no inhibitions taking their clothes off, and may be able to sit still and hold a specific pose for long periods of time, however they may not be the best models to animate themselves. The third option is not to pay a model at all, but find someone with a vested interest in making a portfolio work. Whilst thinking about this matter during the research for this article it occurred to me, that the ideal person, would be someone who would be prepared to model in exchange for a portfolio, or other photographic service. In other words, a model who has a reason to make the session work will undoubtedly put more effort into overcoming any technical difficulties. Perhaps you know someone who is pregnant who might want to model in exchange for the photos.

Secondly that type of model will produce better results, than some eighteen year olds with a perfect body and a bad attitude. A personal model with enthusiasm to explore different perspectives and techniques has to produce better results than a wooden, but perfect doll. It does not alter the fact that your model must be at peace with the thought of nude modelling as a whole, but a sensitive relationship with the photographer will work wonders here. The rules are no different for a photographer here than a portrait photographer, he or she must first have self confidence. If you cannot get that across to your model he or she will be reluctant to give it their best shot.

This type of photography is striving for a look that is natural, and even has a look that it has not been posed for at all. Comfort is essential not just physical comfort though that is important, but mental comfort, the model must be able to understand the concept behind what you are trying to do so that she can co-operate. You have to take the time to explain the techniques of flattering compositions, but equally the model has to work on being fluid and graceful in these motions.

A good relationship with your model built on confidence is essential when you come to evaluate and criticise the work. Your first session will create the tone for future work, but that is when a model will be her most nervous, a way of getting over this barrier might be to ask her to come accompanied, and that may make for a lighter more relaxed session.

Working with the same model over a number of sessions builds up a rapport, and helps the model learn what works in the images, and what doesn't. She has to be able to see the completed image, before this is really possible. As the model becomes more familiar with how you work and experiences the crucial processes of making an image, the model becomes better at generating poses which work for you, and on the whole, the number of successful images increases.

The locations for this type of photography is not important in terms of the finished image, but it needs to be a little circumspect, or you have to take along a person who watches for stray wanderers if it is outdoors. Lighting normally seems to be better if it is natural, but a single candle can be effective particularly with the use of an older model.

It is important to think ahead before this type of assignment and instruct a model to wear loose clothing and possibly no underwear as strap marks into the skin can take a long time to subside and will ruin the final shots.

Once you have managed to break into this type of work there are many stock libraries that specialise in this type of work.




Time-lapse Photography: A Complete Introduction E-Book Preview

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Relationship Help for Women: Letting Go and Facing Forward

There are therapists and dating experts who teach those of us who are still entangled, bound, wrapped up in and held by a lover who is no longer a happy part of our lives, how to let go.

It is said that you can't enter a new relationship while you're still tied to the old. That you must release this person to leave room in your life and your heart for your true soulmate to come on in.

It's a fact that our bodies and hearts get connected to those we love and have sex with. It's chemical, and spiritual, and emotional, and it doesn't just go away because we say goodbye. And it's true that every time we have the same thought about that goodbye, we experience the same feeling we felt when it happened.

And yet, it's romantic. Lost love is romantic. Pining is romantic. Yeats and Keats and Lord Byron are romantic. Singing about love isn't as romantic as singing about the love that got away. Longing makes me feel alive. It taps into my imagination and takes me to a place of romance and lust and passion that this daily life of recycling, cleaning the kitchen, working and cuddling don't even graze. And it taps into my pain. What is it about pain that feels so , well – romantic?

Many of us have pain and love hooked up in such a way that easy-going men don't feel romantic to us. Nice men who don't intend to hurt us feel like old shoes. The pointy, spindly ones that'll kill our backs and crunch our toes are the shoes and the men we want. Even while we're wearing running shoes, we're dreaming of stilettos. And we fault men for thinking like this.

Letting go, to me, is a moment by moment act and triumph of courage. Not just letting go of a person, but of a state of mind, a thought of pain that leads to a feeling of pain that then feels so powerful, passionate, poetic and sexy that it trumps everything else around.

Letting go of a person is much easier than letting go of pain. Because if I once let go of the pain of missing someone, anyone, I would feel not just free – but alone. I would come face to face with my serious belief that I will always be alone if I don't hold on. To that man, that thought, that job, that routine. And to hold on, I have to, literally, hold on. Hold on to any man who comes into my space. Hold on to a plan. Hold on to hope. The pain, the plan, the hope fills the void if the man can't.

What if you could let go of the belief that you'll be alone because no one's there just yet? What if you could believe he's there, if only you could see him through the fog of poems, pain, and stilettos? What if, instead of hope, we could operate on faith? What if, instead of hoping we'll meet Mr. Right, or the man we're married to will suddenly turn into Mr. Right, we could simply trust that he's there, if only we'd consider the possibility that he doesn't look the way we thought he should – that instead of bringing pain, longing, holding on, and stilettos, he'd show up with roses, running shoes, and the absolute knowledge that you're the one for him. He might be right.

How to do it? If you were working toward releasing a person who was once loving you and now is not, you would cut off contact, focus on yourself, and practice becoming aware of how your thoughts continually float back to him and the pain of the breakup. You would practice gently redirecting those thoughts – away from him and pain and toward yourself and your future. What if, in the same way, you could release the past altogether? And by the past, I mean the moment that just passed. The one that will never be again, but which left traces of emotional, spiritual and physical connection behind. The one that drags us, longing, pining and in stilettos, back to live it all over again. Over and over.

So turn around. Put your back to the moment that just passed. Use your imagination. Put your back to the person who is no longer loving you. Put your back to the pain, the longing, the holding on. Face out. Face where you want to be. Is it a mountain? A lake? A beach? Who are you with? Yourself, your new, ideal, perfect, fabulously loving lover, a friend? What is it you actually see for yourself in this new direction?

Keep your back turned to the pain, and your face to what you see ahead. Step out. Literally, now, take a step forward. Allow your future to pull on you. Walk up the mountain. Wander onto the beach. Stare in wonder at the sunset. If you can imagine it, you can make it up any way you want. If it feels scary, you can step out slowly and get used to it. If you can keep facing forward and keep stepping forward, you can change your thoughts, change your feelings, change your reality.

If you find yourself at the market, or Starbucks, or the theater, alone and miserable, or with someone you're indifferent to, turn around from that thought. Literally spin 180 degrees and look elsewhere. There will be something new there. Something good will happen. Someone new will step into frame. The person you're with will become more of a real person and less of a poor substitute. Your life will go forward.

Surrender to faith in yourself. Surrender to the impossibility of knowing what's around every corner. Surrender, not to longing, but to the pleasurable possibilities of what's around the corner. Surrender to this idea: Romance is wonderful, love is not painful, and shoes can look good and feel good too. Stilettos are overrated.




Paul Craig Roberts: The Political Theater and The Debt Ceiling Crisis 1/2

Acoustic Guitar Facts And Guitars For Small Hands


music is and has been a huge part of most cultures around the world, and in many types of music the guitar plays an important role in creating and molding the sound and style of the music. Of course different types of guitars are used for different sounds and styles, and one quite common and popular type of guitars used is the acoustic guitars.

Acoustic guitars get their name from the type of amplification that they provide. Unlike electric guitars, it don't need external devices in order to form proper amplification, they are amplified acoustically. But the acoustic amplification provided by the Acoustic guitars does not produce a loud sound, so sometimes external devices are used to help amplify the its sound. It was the only type of guitars until electric guitars were created.

It’s generally feature the standard array of six strings, but there are also twelve string Acoustic guitars available as well. Custom Acoustic guitars sometimes feature fours, eight or ten string depending on the use. It is made of wood and the type of the wood used in the manufacturing process of the guitar will play a role in the quality of the sound of the guitar. There are some Guitars that are made of materials other than wood, but wood is the most commonly used construction material for acoustic guitars.

There is a wide variety of its makers but choosing the maker is not as important as choosing the materials that are used in construction and the overall sound of the guitar. Price is also an important factor when looking at Acoustic guitars, however many of the top manufacturers are known for the quality and affordability of their Acoustic guitars. The more expensive it is made of solid wood tops, sides and backs.

Zager is providing guitars for small hands and large hands. You can buy it online at very cheap rates. The quality of guitars is same as other popular brand but price is very less.



Music Recording : How to Make My Music Sound Like the Pros

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Life is a Beach - A Shore Theme in Your Outdoor Space

Twentieth century American architect Phillip Johnson once said, "I hate vacations. If you can build buildings, why sit on the beach? " Mr. Johnson evidently didn't how to relax, but as another summer is slipping away, you can. Did you visit the beach this year? Do you wish you had? Either way, you can create a seaside feel in your outdoor space and enjoy memories of the shore at home! Here are some quick tips.
Color
Your choice of color will be the biggest stress-reliever in your home "beach. " The relaxing hues of the beach are sun-bleached and sand- and water-washed. Think cool and inviting water, lapping on the shore; the pale sand underfoot; the tall pale green beach grasses; the pale pink and coral of shells; the white clouds in a the blue sky.
For your blue, try Kelly Moore's Essence of the Sea or Sail Away, Beauti-tone's French Blue, or Benjamin Moore's Robin's Egg.
If you prefer brighter colors use bright pink or orange, especially in striped fabric or small accessories such candles.
Furniture
The beach calls for casual wooden seating. Try folding wooden chairs with colorful striped canvas slings, set under a pale colored canvas umbrella that you've propped in a large bucket of sand.
Fabric
What do you take to the beach? Canvas tote bags, terry towels and flip-flops. Use these fabrics for cushions, throws and the seating itself. Install decorative hooks on a wall, and hang beach towels as "art. "
Motifs
Many beach goers return home with a collection of shells, beach rocks and smooth bits of colored glass. If you have such a collection, use them to good effect in your outdoor space. Clean up your treasures by running them through a cycle of the dishwasher in the utensil basket. You can also rub baby oil into rocks to bring out the shine that you saw under the beach sun.
The most obvious way to display your shells and pebbles is in a clear glass dish or jar, or a flat plate. Try filling a saucer with them and inserting a votive candle. Or if the shells themselves are large enough, pour candle wax around a wick in the shell cavity itself. Shells can be used in attractive tic-tac-toe games, for stamping fabrics and many other purposes.
You can easily change the feel of your beach theme by the use of different motifs. Perch a sea-gull on a piece of driftwood draped with a piece of fisherman's net and use a lighthouse or two elsewhere in the space, and you'll be reminded of a coastal fishing village. Folding sling chairs, an umbrella and pots of beach grass give a recreational feel to your space. Or combine the lighthouses with sailboat silhouettes for a more urban shore look.
Whatever kind of shore you prefer, use these ideas to recreate it at home. Put on a recording of ocean waves lapping on the sand, kick off your shoes and enjoy the beach!