Monday, July 12, 2010

Tips For Taking Better Vacation Pictures

Submitted By: Autumn Lockwood
(Arts and Crafts)

Have you ever gone on a vacation and the pictures just didn't turn out? This is a common problem because we're so concerned with documenting the trip we forget to focus on taking quality photographs. Thankfully, there are several things you can do to take better pictures the next time you go on vacation.
Tips For Taking Better Vacation Pictures

Think Like a Pro
No matter what you’re taking photos of, the basic rules of composition still apply. Take the time to frame your shots properly, find unique shooting angles, and utilize the best possible combination of exposure time and intensity. Every picture you take helps to tell the story of your vacation so always ask yourself what you want each picture to say about your trip.

Additionally, be wary of putting your friends or family in every photograph you take. Although it's great to get pictures of everyone together, you'll want to have pictures of landmarks or scenery just for framing on your wall. A good way to go about this is to take a couple of photos of your family, then try and take a few “serious” photographs of your environment. Thanks to the near-infinite shots provided by digital cameras, this is much easier to do than it used to be.

Take Pictures from Start to Finish

Your vacation starts in your home, not on the beach. It’s a good idea to start shooting as soon as vacation plans take effect; this will lend itself to establishing that vacation story we mentioned earlier. Some of these "preparation pictures" may not seem like much but it can really add to telling the whole story of your vacation.

Another thing to consider is to always have your camera handy even if your vacation takes a turn for the worse. Regardless of what happens, your camera can be a great way to share your story and document your adventure. While vacations-gone-wrong are not fun to deal with while they’re happening, they’re often some of the best stories and fondest memories a family has together. For example, if your spouse were to break their arm on your honeymoon it would certainly be a disaster, but at least you can have fun showing your children pictures of the cast, the hospital staff, and all of the other parts of this life story. Although your vacation may not have gone like you expected, you'll at least be able to look back on you pictures with a smile.

And lastly, make sure that everyone on your vacation has a way to take pictures. If you have children, grab a couple of disposable cameras and allow the kids to document their own experiences from their perspective. This is a fun way to incorporate the entire family in documenting the trip, and often leads to surprising results. It also makes your photos tremendously unique and meaningful, and spreads out the photography workload so you don’t always have to be the one working the camera.

As your taking pictures of your vacation, just make sure not to forget to relax and have fun. Incredible pictures of your vacation are fun to bring home and share, but don't forget to put down your camera from time to time and take a break. Besides, relaxing and having fun is the main reason for going on vacation anyways!

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Collecting Cut Glass

Submitted By: Dave Matthews
(Arts and Crafts)

Collecting contemporary glass art pieces can be one of the most rewarding pastimes. It is lovely to see real craftsmanship in this most fragile of materials, and many people love visiting museums to see the finer pieces on display. But how do you go about organising your own collection? What do you need to know and do?
Collecting Cut Glass

One first step is to work out what style you would like to collect the glass in. For example, many collectors like to start out with something that is not incredibly demanding as regards upkeep, like paperweight glass art. This is neat and compact, and you do not have to create too much space in your home to keep the pieces together.

You could always go down the figurine route, and this is a perfect example of a field that allows for diversification within it. For example, you could have a go at collecting female figures, or figures from mythical stories. Many people love collecting this particular type of glassware because it is easy to display and often gains appreciative noises from people who visit your home. It is worth considering this as an entry point for a glass art collection.

Then take the time to educate yourself about the different kinds of contemporary art glass pieces available and the price ranges they fall into. It is very easy to get caught up in the excitement of buying art pieces, but it can be the case that you can end up finding yourself paying out for expensive pieces that would best suit the more experienced collector. It is worth having a good look around in trade magazines and on websites to see which particular price bracket you feel comfortable operating in.

You can buy a price guide that covers the types of pieces that you want to buy; this price guide will serve you well when you visit auction houses or other such places where you can buy art glass pieces. Having a good price guide will enable you to be objective about a purchase.

Then the fun begins. Search art galleries for pieces that fit into your desired sector. You can even visit antique shops, because many offer more desirable pieces among the usual fare that you are used to seeing. Perhaps the most unusual venue that you can buy art glass in is the flea market, where you can quite easily pick up a bargain if you are careful enough when you are looking.

The auction website eBay is also a great place to pick up some bargains in the sector that you are interested in. Take your time to look around the site carefully, and then pick up a piece that you will really enjoy. This is not something to be rushed.

The final place where you might find a good piece is a local art show, where younger artists may be exhibiting. Snapping a good piece up here early on in someone’s career could mean you have an investment for life on your hands.

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Sunday, May 30, 2010

4 Points to Keep in Mind When Buying Jewelry Boxes

Submitted By: Simon Johnnson
(arts and crafts)

You have to know stuff about what you are going to purchase.(ArtS and CrafTs) Jewelry boxes are no exception to this rule. You have to know all about the brands and the types of boxes available along with the price range.There are mass-manufactured jewelry boxes which are fairly cheap. There are also luxury brands dealing in fine makes and designs. Here are a few brands you could look at:4 Points to Keep in Mind When Buying Jewelry Boxes

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