Everyone loves to take pictures. With the easy availability of cheap DSLR cameras on the market and the advent of affordable photography gadgets, who wouldn’t right? If you are one of those who loves photography, then you probably are already aware of one or two techniques to make your pictures look awesome! But if you’re looking to further improve your Continue Reading
The post 6 Secret Photography Lighting Techniques For Capturing A Good Photo appeared first on Photodoto.
[ By Steph in Abandoned Places & Architecture. ]
Locals in the area of Donegal, Pennsylvania would often scratch their heads at the reverberating sounds of roaring car engines and squealing tires seeming to come from beneath a nearby mountain in 2003. Hidden just under a layer of earth and trees was the Laurel Hill Tunnel, a former part of the state turnpike system, but it had lain abandoned since 1964. Then, people started seeing NASCAR haulers, equipment and supplies coming through the area. Was there a connection?
Sure enough, there are cars tearing through that tunnel at top speeds, but it isn’t some kind of secret underground theme park for race car drivers. It’s a test site for the study of aerodynamics. Hikers investigating the site found that the tunnel has a new, tubular steel entrance with dual garage openings, and discovered discarded barrels of motor racing fuel of the sort used by NASCAR. But for years, the suspected users of the site wouldn’t acknowledge its existence.
Only in recent months has the Chip Ganassi Racing team been willing to confirm the rumors that have been swirling since 2004, and explained a little more about the purpose of the tunnel. Team leader Ben Bowlby told Racecar Engineering Magazine that the tunnel happens to be an ideal place for IRL (Indy Racing League) testing in a straight line in a wind tunnel, with total control over wind resistance and other environmental factors, using a full-sized racing car. The car zooms through the tunnel at a set speed and the wind forces are measured.
This straight-line testing has been considered a key to success in the Indy Racing League since track testing was banned in 2004. The facility includes a 460 meter (1509-foot) acceleration zone, with a total length of 1384 meters (4,541 feet.) While the tunnel has provided a virtually ideal environment for testing, it hasn’t been without its snags: there have been several crashes. Learn more about the logistics and see drawings of the inside of the tunnel at Racecar Engineering Magazine.
[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]
     |
Article and photos by Oded wagenstein.
In an era when we are drowning in images and lots of people and talents are competing for the viewers’ eyes or the magazines’ attention, have you ever wondered what makes you have a longer look at an image?
Is it the person that was photographed? Perhaps a certain color or an angle?
What is the secret of the photographers that mange to get their work published on magazines and newspapers? What is the secret of taking a strong image that lasts?
The secret of all strong images is their ability to provide the viewer a story .
Since the dawn of time, People gathered around the fire and shared stories with each other.
It doesn’t matter what subjects you like to shoot. If you want to become a good photographer, you have to be a good storyteller first. An image with a story, one that evokes emotion and curiosity will rise above other images and catch the viewer’s attention.
So what is the stuff of which “visual stories” are made from?
In most cases it is an emotion that the image creates. It can be empathy, curiosity or even negative emotions such is anger.
Even if you are dealing with macro or landscape photography it is better to have an image that tells a story. However, the best way for me to get a story is with people photography, as people are a large “pool” of stories and emotions.
Here are 5 tips for finding your “visual story” in Travel photography before departure, and on the road:
The thing that makes the difference between an amateur and a professional in almost every field is usually preparation.
A professional photographer will start working even before leaving home, while an amateur photographer will wait for things to happen in front of their eyes in the field. Professionals will gather information that will help them exceed the potential of getting those photogenic stories on the road in minimum time and by doing so, increase the amount of good strong images.
What are the things that are worth checking before going to shot on a trip for example? Here are some classic examples:
Will there be any festival or photogenic event during your stay? Festivals are a great place for finding stories. Is there any taboo related to photography or culture in general in the country you are going to visit, that you must know? For example, the hill tribes that can be found on the mountains of Asia (as the woman from the Karen tribe in photo number 2) mostly believe that taking their photo would also take their soul. And trust me, the custom officers in your home country would not like the “soul” attached to your camera.
The best thing you can do to get this kind of information is to get the advice of a photographer who has already been there. Online photography forums would love to help you with that.
Want to take your photography to the next step? – Take a journey deeper into the place and read a little bit about the culture and history, prior to arrival.
The best tip someone has given me is to learn a few words of the local language. Locals appreciate people who try to speak their language (even if they laugh at them a bit at first)
Learning “Hello”, “Thank you” and ” may I take your photo?” will do wonders to your story telling images.
Taking photos of people from a distance with telephoto lens may be safer and will not ruin the spontaneity of the story, but there’s nothing like the narrative and emotional quality of close-ups in people photography.
Sometimes I want to photograph people from just a few inches away and still keep the spontaneity and intimacy.
What do I do? – I look for this moment in which the person returns to routine activity, after creating a bit of a connection with them and letting them understand that my camera and I don’t have any bad intentions.
I never approach people while the camera is hanging from my neck. It is threatening and may result in negative responses from the locals.
After greeting the person (in their language) I sit with them for a while, let them get used to my camera and me and only later I begin taking photos
Never ever forget- people don’t like to feel they are on a show for you. Always treat them with respect. The best way to do so is with the help of a local. So go to the next Section
Professional photographers use a fixer, which is a local who knows their needs as photographers and helps them to get around.
You can use a fixer, but you can also find your “fixer” in a much more interesting way and for free, in most cases. You can connect with local at your age in advance to your visit on the basis of “culture exchange”. The local will help you get to the best places and will also recommend which places to avoid. They will speak for you in their local language and will be the best “ice breaker”. All you have to do is be polite but it won’t hurt to bring your host something for your own country, like postcards or a unique product related to your place.
If you can find a photography student to be your fixer, it can be an exciting experience for both of you.
Hanging with a local as a friend or with a professional fixer does not give exemption from the previous section of “getting closer”.
Feeling lost? Feeling unpleased with the photos you took? You can always try to visit a “story generator”. It can be anywhere that people Gather: a market, a central square or a festival. Just be alert and keep your eyes open and the stories will simply appear before your eyes.
The best tip for finding a “story generator” place is just to go to the places that interest you. It could be a church, a busy street, a quiet beach or even an abstract shooting of a building. Go with your passion and you will find your stories.
We talked about the preparations and the work needed for good story finding, but sometimes all you need is to leave the tour guidebook in the hotel room and just go outside to walk the streets and roads looking for the unexpected.
Some of my best stories and photos came to me with this way of traveling.
Don’t forget to check with the locals or your fixer about the places that should be avoided and always, but always, check the time of your last ride home.
Oded Wagenstein is a travel photographer. His photographs were published on numerous magazines and websites world wide.
He is known for his intimate culture portraits. In his works he put the emphasis on understanding the culture and achieving good relationship with the person being photographed pre-shooting.
You can join his Travel photography group on Facebook and continue to discuss on travel and people photography:
Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.
Check out our more Photography Tips at Photography Tips for Beginners, Portrait Photography Tips and Wedding Photography Tips.
The Secret of Creating a Strong Image – 5 Tips for Creating a Story in Your Image
[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]
When it comes to tall apartment and condo buildings, the idea of adding more space is almost always out of the question – but what if you could push a balcony outward on demand, rather than adding an entire deck or patio? Here are three designs to expand outdoor space in creative ways.
The Bloomframe is a Dutch architect-designed system that turns a simple set of windows into a spacious exterior extension that can be electronically deployed and retracted – like a convertible top, you can experience the outdoors during nice weather, take out the grill, then close the unit as desired.
An alternative from Fakro works with existing frame sizes on angled roofs, and provides you both a way to lean out (a form of Juliet balcony, with window frame doubling as front rail) as well as overhead shelter from the rain. This system is also simpler and entirely mechanical, so deploying it is as easy as opening a normal glass window.
And for those who already have a deck, but not enough room to put any furniture on it, this space-saving furniture solution (Spaceless) by Sandy Lam is a great source of inspiration: her designs for a table and seat set that fold up for use and hide, camouflaged amid wood decking, when tucked back away.
From the designer: “the average price of residential buildings in downtown Vancouver BC has reached $ 800 per square foot. Many people have to give up their garden living and move into concrete buildings because of this increase in housing prices. Even though living space is expensive, there is one space rarely used in condo buildings—the balcony. The goal of having “Spaceless” is to use the condo balcony to maximize living space and to improve the building environment by enhancing the functionality of the balcony space.”
[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]
 |
 |
[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]
When it comes to tall apartment and condo buildings, the idea of adding more space is almost always out of the question – but what if you could push a balcony outward on demand, rather than adding an entire deck or patio? Here are three designs to expand outdoor space in creative ways.
The Bloomframe is a Dutch architect-designed system that turns a simple set of windows into a spacious exterior extension that can be electronically deployed and retracted – like a convertible top, you can experience the outdoors during nice weather, take out the grill, then close the unit as desired.
An alternative from Fakro works with existing frame sizes on angled roofs, and provides you both a way to lean out (a form of Juliet balcony, with window frame doubling as front rail) as well as overhead shelter from the rain. This system is also simpler and entirely mechanical, so deploying it is as easy as opening a normal glass window.
And for those who already have a deck, but not enough room to put any furniture on it, this space-saving furniture solution (Spaceless) by Sandy Lam is a great source of inspiration: her designs for a table and seat set that fold up for use and hide, camouflaged amid wood decking, when tucked back away.
From the designer: “the average price of residential buildings in downtown Vancouver BC has reached $ 800 per square foot. Many people have to give up their garden living and move into concrete buildings because of this increase in housing prices. Even though living space is expensive, there is one space rarely used in condo buildings—the balcony. The goal of having “Spaceless” is to use the condo balcony to maximize living space and to improve the building environment by enhancing the functionality of the balcony space.”
Multifunctional and convertible furniture solutions from Resource Furniture unfold and expand in unexpected ways, fitting lots of function into tiny rooms.
Click Here to Read More »»
In some cases the discovery of a secret room is a wonderful find but it can also be a twisted nightmare.
Click Here to Read More »»
[ By WebUrbanist in Architecture & Houses & Residential. ]
[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]
[ By Steph in Design & Fixtures & Interiors. ]
High-tech looking spiral wine cellars that either blend into the floor or glow with colored lights will entice even non-oenophiles to take up collecting Cabernet. A company called Spiral Cellars offers prefabricated cellars in traditional and modern designs that can be inserted into the floor of nearly any home, even if you don’t have an existing basement or cellar.
The water-tight, cylindrical system can store up to 1,900 bottles of wine. Because it relies on the surrounding earth for its insulation, and comes equipped with an air-flow system, it doesn’t require any power to keep the wine at a constant temperature. The system was inspired by a spiral staircase from 1844 found at the Pont du Gard aqueduct in France.
Wood-paneled doors practically disappear in a wood floor, especially the recessed trap doors that can be covered in timber, engineered wood or laminate flooring to match the rest of the room. Others are made to be seen, with LED lights that make them glow like some kind of space ship portal.
Some of the doors are motorized, so they pop up at the press of a button. A retractable round glass trap door features two semi-circular glass panels that swivel over each other to open. Craving wine yet?
Thankfully, wine racks and cellars have evolved a lot over time, as a wine is only as good as the conditions in which it’s stored.
Click Here to Read More »»
In some cases the discovery of a secret room is a wonderful find but it can also be a twisted nightmare.
Click Here to Read More »»
[ By Steph in Design & Fixtures & Interiors. ]
[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]
[ By Steph in Design & Fixtures & Interiors. ]
Whether they hold a cache of high-tech, Batman-style weaponry or just a quiet retreat from the kids, secret rooms can make anyone feel as if they lead a life of mystery and intrigue. A company called Creative Home Engineering designs incredible secret passage systems that are virtually undetectable, hiding private spaces behind bookcases, wine racks and ordinary-looking walls.
While many secret rooms involve replacing a regular door with a bookcase on hinges, Creative Home Engineering’s carefully designed systems contain hidden cavities with steel structural support, so they won’t begin to sag or scrape over time due to weight and humidity.
They’re also designed to blend flawlessly with the surrounding room. The key to security for any secret room, of course, is proper concealment. You could also get an optional vault door with a super heavy-duty locking system that can be integrated into your home security system. Other options include armored doors and biometric access control devices, like fingerprint scanners.
While armor-plated panic rooms with hidden surveillance aren’t exactly accessible to most of us, financially speaking, it’s fun to dream about creating an network of secret passageways in our own homes.
Hidden rooms and secret passageways are no longer only found in ancient castles and fantasy books. Beautifully subtle hideaways can now be purchased by anyone.
Click Here to Read More »»
In some cases the discovery of a secret room is a wonderful find but it can also be a twisted nightmare.
Click Here to Read More »»
[ By Steph in Design & Fixtures & Interiors. ]
[ WebUrbanist | Archives | Galleries | Privacy | TOS ]
froknowsphoto.com It is really exciting when you get a new camera whether it is a new Nikon D3100 or D7000 or Canon T2i or 60D. But as soon as you take it out of the box what are the 7 things I suggest you set first in the menu? 1. Set the Camera to RAW and never take it out (or RAW + JPEG if you are new to RAW) 2. Set the card Lock – make sure that the camera will not fire without a memory card in it. 3. Set your date and time – make sure you do not let it write the date and time on the picture. 4. Set your White Balance to Auto – You are shooting RAW and will tweak it if needed later. 5. Turn off AUTO ISO if it is on – You will make better selections than the camera 6. Picture Review Off – This will keep you from looking at every single picture you take 7. Image Rotation On – This will orient the vertical shots properly when you bring the files into LightRoom There are a lot more settings in the camera I could talk about but I find these 7 will help you get off to a great start. To follow the super secret project please go here froknowsphoto.com
Video Rating: 4 / 5
www.youtube.com Click here to watch the previous episode of Storymode! Storymode – Secret Minecraft Music (S01E18) This week the guys are at home bringing you the best in Machinima. Dex gets freaked out by a Minecraft alien. Minecraft Alien www.youtube.com And reveals the latest characters for Mortal Kombat Mortal Kombat Secret Character Tryouts Ep.3 www.youtube.com While Lyle teleports around for some reason. Jack Walters: Super Hero www.youtube.com And reveals his love of singing. the CoD Files: Das Musik Haus www.youtube.com In this video you will see… HOW TO teleport HOW TO sing HOW TO try out for mortal kombat – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Follow Machinima on Twitter! Machinima twitter.com Inside Gaming twitter.com Machinima Respawn twitter.com Machinima Entertainment, Technology, Culture twitter.com FOR MORE MACHINIMA, GO TO: www.youtube.com FOR MORE GAMEPLAY, GO TO: www.youtube.com FOR MORE SPORTS GAMEPLAY, GO TO: www.youtube.com FOR MORE MMO & RPG GAMEPLAY, GO TO: www.youtube.com FOR MORE TRAILERS, GO TO: www.youtube.com TAGS: Storymode Dex Lyle “Sanity not Included” machinima movies videos clips shows episodes halo fps ” feature films” directors “premiere directors” “original content” storymode comedy hilarious funny jokes random insane silly beard hair emo anime “over the top” “first person shooter” “xbox 360” ps3 wii online “mortal kombat” fatalities “call of duty” “black ops” house music dubstep electronic halo …
Video Rating: 4 / 5
www.youtube.com Click here to watch the previous episode of Storymode! Storymode – Scorpion’s Final Duty (S01E20) This week Dex brings us the best in Final Fantasy stop motion: Final Fantasy Stop motion: Sephiroth The World’s Enemy www.youtube.com and live action: Call of Duty vs Halo Live Action By OhhWowFilms, www.youtube.com While Lyle pretends to be the Star Wars Kid and shows us “Fire and Ice”: Mortal Kombat Fire & Ice: Shao Kahn www.youtube.com In this video you will see… HOW TO be shocked HOW TO end Mortal Kombat HOW TO shoot guns – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Follow Machinima on Twitter! Machinima twitter.com Inside Gaming twitter.com Machinima Respawn twitter.com Machinima Entertainment, Technology, Culture twitter.com FOR MORE MACHINIMA, GO TO: www.youtube.com FOR MORE GAMEPLAY, GO TO: www.youtube.com FOR MORE SPORTS GAMEPLAY, GO TO: www.youtube.com FOR MORE MMO & RPG GAMEPLAY, GO TO: www.youtube.com FOR MORE TRAILERS, GO TO: www.youtube.com TAGS: Storymode Dex Lyle “Sanity not Included” machinima movies videos clips shows episodes halo fps ” feature films” directors “premiere directors” “original content” storymode comedy hilarious funny jokes random insane silly beard hair emo anime “over the top” “first person shooter” “xbox 360” ps3 wii online “los angeles” england “mortal kombat” scorpion sub-zero halo “halo reach” “final fantasy” “star wars” “star wars kid” “liu kang” “pink scorpion” fatalities friendship …
In Shaw Cinemas 2 December 2010 (Thurs) – Join Sammy the sea turtle on a fun and exciting fifty-year journey through the ocean. This wonderfully crafted, 3D animation combines entertainment with an important environmental message. Born on a Baja, California beach in 1959, new hatchling Sammy must do what his fellow newborn sea turtles are doing: race across the beach to the ocean before they are captured by a seagull or crab. After a slow start, Sammy is nearly at the water’s edge when a seagull snatches him. In the air and struggling to escape, Sammy notices another turtle in the beak of a nearby seagull. Thinking quickly, Sammy spits sand into the seagull’s eyes causing the two birds to collide and drop the young turtles to the ground. Sammy lands upside down, while the other turtle lands right side up. Her name is Shelly and, thanking Sammy for rescuing her, she encourages him to turn over and continue the last leg of his dash to the ocean. But exhausted after an eventful day, Sammy is unable to muster the strength to go any further. Thankfully, Sammy has landed on a wooden raft that the tide carries out to sea. Thus begins Sammy’s incredible ocean journey. Along the way he meets his best friend, a fellow turtle named Ray, and overcomes obstacles both natural and man-made while trying to fulfill his dream of travelling around the world. Throughout his voyage, Sammy never forgets about Shelly — the turtle he saved on his first day and loves passionately from afar …
Video tutorial on creating a floor plan in Live Interior 3D by BeLight Software (www.belightsoft.com) Home and office interior design software for Mac OS X Video by Pasha Kyrylchenko Audio by Ray East
You must be logged in to post a comment.