Arts and Entertainent
Digital Photography: Overcoming Your Manual Fears
So, you bought the best digital camera you could afford, with every intention of finally learning to take better photos. All those features sounded great while you were in the camera shop. Then you took one look at that inch-thick manual, full of technical terms and complex detail, and thought 'Maybe I will stick with auto after all'. After all, if you make a mistake, you can just delete it, right?
Does this sound like you? Don't worry, you are not alone. Camera manuals reflect the technical power of modern cameras, but they are intimidating to any beginner who just wants to take a decent photo.
Digital cameras are like most computer programs; you may only need to learn about 10% of the functions on offer. So don't get tied up in knots trying to understand everything. Just learn what you need to know, and learn it well, and you will be well on the way to being a better photographer.
Here are a few tips that may just take the complexity out of photography for you.
Tip #1. Stick with the basics. In the days of film, good photographers used SLR cameras with two main settings; aperture and shutter speed. These were the ingredients of all great photography. Today, cameras come with hundreds of features, but guess which ones you really need to understand? That's right, aperture and shutter speed.
If you can understand these two settings, you are halfway to becoming a better photographer. Your manual (I never said you could throw it away) will tell you which buttons to press on your camera. However, to really understand what these settings are all about, don't rely on the manual. There is plenty of information out there; workshops, websites, books and ebooks can help.
Practice has never been easier than it is today. Most cameras have semi-automatic settings, called 'aperture priority' and 'shutter priority,' that allow you to operate one setting while the camera takes care of the other. This is a great way to practice a skill without fear of getting too many failed exposures.
Tip #2. Learn from your mistakes. If you just delete every photo you are not happy with, you are missing a golden opportunity to learn from your own experience. Your 'failures' contain so much information, you could be learning from each exposure - even the bad ones!
Let's say you are experimenting with aperture. Try photographing a scene three times, with three different aperture settings, for three slightly different results. Instead of keeping your favourite and deleting the others immediately, you could transfer them to your computer and take the time to examine them properly. You can see how each setting changed the look of the picture, and which setting worked best for that subject. Now you can learn from your own results, not from some theory in a book.
Did you know that if you right-click your mouse over a photograph on your computer and select 'properties' you will find a lot of information embedded in the file? You don't have to keep a note of the aperture/shutter speed information; your photo does it for you!
Of course in the long term you don't want to keep every single photo you take, but you might want to keep a folder of 'learning photos' to refer to later, with maybe two versions of each subject you experiment with. To make it even easier, rename the pictures with relevant titles, for example: Red Rose/Small Aperture, Red Rose/Large Aperture; Waterfall/Fast Shutter, Waterfall/Slow Shutter.
Tip #3. Learn The Art As Well As The Technique. Every problem in photography cannot be solved by the camera. Professional photographers rely on light and composition as much as they rely on technology. In fact, most photos fail not because of bad technique, but because they were taken at the wrong time of day, or the photographer did not put enough thought into the composition. Yet daily I meet people who think that all their problems would be solved by a better camera, or some mysterious technique they are yet to learn.
Remember what I said in Tip #1; aperture and shutter speed are the fundamental skills, and with a little practice, they are not hard to learn. Master them and you are halfway there. The key to becoming a really good photographer is a balance of technical knowledge and artistic skill. Practice both, and soon your friends will be coming to you for photography tips!
If you found these tips helpful, Andrew Goodall has released two top-selling ebooks that have already helped thousands of new photographers learn the art and skills of nature photography. See Andrew's images and ebooks at http://www.naturesimage.com.au While you are there, enjoy even more great photography tips by subscribing to our online newsletter...it's free!
Food and Drink
How to Make the Perfect Cup of Coffee
Whichever blend of coffee you prefer or whatever type of equipment you are using to prepare the coffee the objective is the same. To release the coffee oils and soluble coffee compounds into solution in the final beverage.
Not all the soluble compounds are desirable particularly tannin so it is important to brew the coffee is just the right manner to produce the perfect cup.
Although it is possible to extract as much as a third of the mass of coffee from the grounds the optimum amount is about 20%
There are six important factors to consider when making fresh coffee.
1/ The coffee grind - By this we mean the particle size of the coffee grounds. This varies typically from largest to smallest thus: coarse, medium, fine and espresso (or very fine)
Over-extraction can occur if the grind size is too small for the method and equipment used resulting in a coffee being bitter and too strong. If the size is too large then under-extraction will occur resulting in a weak wishy-washy coffee.
Typically one would use a coarse grind for a coffee pot, medium grind for a cafetiere (French Press), medium to fine for a typical filter drip machine and espresso grind for an espresso machine.
2/ Freshness and quantity of coffee - Coffee beans should be stored in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight and ideally kept in an airtight container. The coffee should be ground to order as ground coffee will lose some of its subtle flavours and aromas if is left exposed to the atmosphere for very long.
It is vital to use the recommended dosage of coffee depending on the equipment being used. Using less coffee but increasing the brewing time will not result in a standard brew but create an over-extracted drink. Using more coffee than recommended but a quicker infusion time will result in an under-extracted coffee.
3/ Temperature and water quality of the water - Always use fresh cold water to start off the brewing process. Ideally the water should be filtered to remove unwanted taints and odours and be very slightly hard.
Water should be used that has just come off the boil and be approximately 95-98 degrees Celsius for optimum extraction of coffee. Too hot can scald the coffee and too cool will result in under-extraction.
4/ The infusion time - The length of time that the hot water is in direct contact with the coffee grounds is crucial in producing the perfect cup. In reality this is determined by the equipment being used to brew it, so always follow the manufacturers guidelines.
As a rough guide however consider the following.
10-30 seconds for espresso grind 3-6 minutes for fine grind 6-8 minutes for medium grind 8-10 minutes for coarse grind
5/ Brewing method employed - Basically there are three different methods employed to make coffee. These are steep & strain, filter infusion and pressure infusion.
Steep and strain simply involves putting hot water in contact with coffee grounds in a pot or container until under extraction has occurred. The resulting brew is strained to isolate the coffee liquor.
Filter infusion is common in many applications and uses a filter basket filled with coffee grounds that has hot water added from above. The infusion time is relatively short as the water infuses briefly with the coffee until the liquor passes thought the basket into a flask or container below.
Pressure infusion - Hot water is forced under high pressure though a small tablet of compacted grounds to produce an individual serving of coffee. This is the standard method of producing espresso.
Again it is imperative to use the right method with the correct type and grind of coffee.
6/ Cleanliness - Coffee contains oils that will leave a tarry residue on equipment that can contaminate and spoil the taste of subsequent brews. Daily washing and cleaning of equipment is an absolutely vital part in producing the perfect cup.
Have fun - producing a great tasting cup of your favourite coffee should be an easy and enjoyable task.
For more information about coffee and coffee making equipment visit http://www.cafebar.co.uk
Health and Fitness
Pets and Animals
What to do to remove that cat urine stain on the carpet?
So you want to remove that cat urine stain on your carpet or furniture. Wondering which cat urine remover should you select. What is the process to select a cat urine remover?
Most importantly how to find the cat urine remover ? Or is there any home recipe for cleaning the stain at all?
It's a common dilemma. The scent of cat urine is strong, its stains are vivid. It becomes very difficult to remove from carpet, flooring,upholstery, or anywhere else. Realize that regular household cleaning products, such as carpet-cleaners can't remove the stain properly. Also you must avoid using ammonia or ammonia-based products. Ammonia smells similar to cat urine, so these products will only encourage the cat to urinate in the area again.Your cat will still be able to smell the urine, which tells the cat that it's a good spot to urinate.
Don't go for fragrance cover up products. This will not fix your cat urine problem. If you are going to buy a cat urine remover, make sure the cat urine remover is simple to use which saves you time. An effective product will be one that doesn't merely suck up or absorb stain but cleans it completely so that your cat doesn't soil again in the same area.
Applying vinegar is an effective home remedy for cleaning cat urine. Mix it with water in equal proportions and wet the problem area with this. If it's on carpet then you have to use enough solution to penetrate the fibres. Then dry it either with a fan or blotting with paper towels.The acidity of the vinegar will neutralize the ammonia in the cat urine.
Finding the exact spots on the mat to clean could be a major problem. the cat urine is not in the mat but in the mat padding underside so you need to try and remove that cat urine from deep down below the mat. Scrubbing the mat is usually not a good idea.This is a mistake often done by cat owners. What it does is that it absorbs the urine deep into its fibers and then the stain or the odor will be far too difficult to eliminate.
Realize that cats drink little water so their urine is very concentrated and stinking. That ammonia-like smell is so strong and annoying.Most people think cat urine is hard to remove.Cat's urine is rich in protein and if you learn diverse ways to remove it you will never get annoyed in the future.Also learn to train your cat so that he doesn't urinate again wherever he pleases.
Cats drink little water so their urine is very concentrated and stinking. Cat urine problems are serious issues that a cat lover can't avoid.
Sports and Recreation
Muscle Building Workouts vs. Powerlifting Routines - What's The Difference?
Before starting a weightlifting program you need to make some decisions regarding what you want to accomplish. There are many different styles of weightlifting and these different styles will accomplish different things. You could break the main styles of weightlifting down into two categories: bodybuilding and powerlifting. These types of weight lifting offer different benefits depending on what your goals are.
What are your goals with weightlifting?
If you are looking to achieve power and strength then you should consider a powerlifting routine. Powerlifting comprises what it says - lifting weights to gain power. There are three major lifts in powerlifting - the bench press, squat and deadlift. A powerlifting routine will center itself around training to improve these lifts. If you are looking to achieve a sculpted body with ripped muscles then you will want to perform a bodybuilding routine. Bodybuilding routines focus on developing the look of your individual muscles by toning and shaping them. These muscle building workouts will help you achieve muscle definition so you can look your best in your summer beach wear!
So what's the difference between a powerlifting routine and a bodybuilding routine?
The basic answer to that question is this - a powerlifting routine is centered around low repetition and lower sets while a bodybuilding routine is focused on higher repetitions and higher sets per body part. For example, when working on developing the bench press lift a power lifter may do some variation of the following: Bench press, Incline bench press, Military press, Bent-Over-Rows and Skull crushers. Sets and repetitions may look like this - 4 to 6 sets of 4 to 6 repetitions of each exercise. The amount of weight lifted should force you to struggle to complete each set and each repetition to constantly challenge the muscles. This type of lifting strengthens the muscles and makes you stronger. There are several different exercises that can be substituted for your various body parts. You will have to pick and choose depending on your weak areas and what you need to develop to maximize your core lifts.
A bodybuilder will focus on higher repetitions and a higher number of sets per body part. So staying with the above chest example a bodybuilding routine may look like this: same exercises as described above but the sets and repetitions would be in the range of 6 to 8 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions. The amount of weight lifted should allow you to complete this higher number of sets and reps but still provide enough challenge that you struggle to complete the series. This type of lifting tones and shapes your muscles and provides definition. You will gain strength when performing a bodybuilding routine, just not at quickly or as much as if you were powerlifting.
So where should you start?
If you are new to weightlifting then my advice would be to start with a muscle building workout (i.e., a bodybuilding routine). I say this because this type of routine uses less weight. You won't be inclined to try and lift more than you are capable of lifting. You will be able to focus on learning how to perform each exercise properly, with good form. This will help you prevent injury and will maximize your muscle development. When you are ready to increase your weights you will be able to better handle the additional poundage's with less risk of injury. An important point to remember is that in the first 3 to 4 months of starting a training program your muscles are inefficient - meaning they are not performing to their maximal ability. It takes 3 to 4 months of consistent training to get your muscles to contract to their maximal potential so you will benefit from each and every repetition you perform. So an experienced weightlifter gets more benefit from a lift than an inexperienced weightlifter.
If you are new to the sport then it is wise to
educate yourselfas much as you can. The more you know the better your chances of accomplishing your goals. Invest in educating yourself from someone with
experience in weightlifting and bodybuildingthat can pass their knowledge and success on to you.
Travel and Leisure
Known as the city that never sleeps
Known as the city that never sleeps; you will need to have at least seven days in New York City if you want a real taste of what it has to offer the visitor. One of the busiest visitor locations in the city is the Empire State Building and even if you don't get to the top there is still a great deal to see. For even better views, when the weather is fine, it requires a trip to the top of the 820 feet tall Rockefeller Centre. Visitors to New York will often get the best view of the Statue of Liberty from the many tour boats but New York has seen a dramatic rise in the number of tourists since 9/11 and often it is worth disembarking at Ellis Island instead.
As an alternative why not go to Staten Island via the free ferry and look at the Statue of Liberty from there; this is also a great place to spend some time enjoying the talents of local (almost professional) street entertainers. Whilst you are on a seven day visit to New York New York a trip to the area where the Twin Towers used to stand has become something that every person who visits this great city must do. It's strangely moving location and the terrorist struck World Trade Centre site covers a huge area but it is a peculiarly unfriendly subject for the photographer. The reason many people travel all the way to New York, even for a weekend, is for the stores and you can pop along to Tiffany's or look for bargains around Broadway and Lower East Side.
Bloomingdales is another famous store (for the wealthy) to look around but it is Maceys, who will give 11 percent discount on production of a tourist card where most people will head for. Another popular visitor destination, which is currently closed for refurbishment is the ISASM or the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum which will be opening it's doors again late in 2008; if you're going to be there next year it will be a worthwhile place to see. There is a great deal there with the focus on the USS Intrepid, a Second World War aircraft carrier but Concorde is also there and many other interesting vessels, including a submarine. The New York City Police Museum is worth an hour if you're down that way; it's free to enter but a five dollar donation is recommended to help with its upkeep; because it's about New York's finest (and some not so fine), it has some really excellent NYPD souvenirs.
Another museum is the Lower East Side Tenement Museum which focuses on the appalling conditions experienced by the immigrants back in 1864. If Central Park is on your list of places to see then there is another museum aptly named the City of New York Museum which has exhibitions exploring the city's past, its present and the future. It is all housed in a beautiful building and entrance is free but a nine dollar donation is recommended. Most visitors seem to be on a flying visit so end up missing some of the most beautiful areas and that's why seven days in New York should really be the minimum stay.
More Resources http://www.travelguides247.com
