Archive for September, 2009
Many couples put hiring a photographer at the bottom of their list, and whatever money they have left after buying the last of the unique wedding favors, that’s how they decide which one to choose. What amazes me about this kind of thinking is that your photographer is truly the only one who provides a product that will last you a lifetime. Flowers die, your gown is worn once, the food is eaten, the unique wedding favors are gone and on and on and on. Photos of your special day will be with you for many years to come. So why do so many couples give this part of their wedding so little thought? Honestly, I don’t have a clue, but I’m hoping this article changes that.
A professional photographer is one of the most important people on your wedding day. It is up to them to catch memories; to make this day one that will be forever memorialized. There are many different types of wedding photographers. And please hire a wedding photographer, not a photographer that will shoot anything. Hiring someone that specializes in weddings will make a huge difference in the quality of the photos.
Getting references from friends and relatives is one of the best places to begin looking for this special person. Also, spend some time visiting with photographers and looking at their portfolios. You will know immediately if they are the right one for you or not.
Many wedding photographers specialize in different looks. Some are more traditional and will have mapped out your entire day covering the highlights and setting up shots at the beginning of the reception. Others will be more contemporary, specializing in candid and unique setup shots. Some will fall in the middle. Only you will know which you prefer, making sure that whomever you choose, they are the best at what they do for the best price.
After you make your decision and hire a photographer, you need to arrange a pre-wedding meeting so that you can review what you expect him to capture during your day. Also, this meeting allows you to get to know each other better and become better acquainted with what is expected of each other.
If the photographer has been in the business for awhile, they will be very familiar with the local venues and know exactly where the best shots are to be taken. Also, they probably know the Officiate and what is expected of them during what parts of the ceremony. If they don’t know each other, it would be a good idea to speak to each of them to better understand what is acceptable during this part of your day.
Don’t forget to specify how long you expect the photographer to be in attendance during the day, the number of pictures to be taken (only applies to film, not digital) and what kind of album you want. Hint: if you pass on the album for yourself and your families, you can save a ton of money.
Again, of all the costs involved in a wedding, especially those unique wedding favors, photography should be put near the top of your list. Fight the impulse to go the less expensive route. Years from now, you’ll thank me for it!
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An Art Fair is a good spot to discover up and coming artists. At many, the creator of the art are scrutinized by gallery owners. Here the quality of the work may still vary wildly, but the artist has found at least one person to vouch for them. Other Art Fairs allow for anyone willing to pay for a spot. With the advent of digital technologies nearly anyone can market their photographs. Regardless of the excellence of the work, there are other factors that should be examined or the purchased photograph may fade away in a year or so. The patron is responsible for vetting the work him or herself . Here are some suggestions when looking at photographs.
First and foremost; Does it appeal to you? Don’t invest too much time figuring out why something is appealing. Maybe the rock looks like Aunt Annie’s backside; making that connection might ruin the warm fuzzy feeling. Individuals are moved by different things. If it is a big cash outlay, a second visit might be merited to make sure it wasn’t just the martini and olive doing its magic.
Once enamored by a piece there are several questions that should be discussed. Finding out the medium is essential. Was the picture shot with a digital or film important thing find out if it’s digital. There are many different types of printers and scores of paper that can be used for digital prints. Up until recently most papers suffered from image fade. The quality of desktop devices and papers has gotten better and now images can last from 15 to over 100 years typically displayed. Does the artist understand about paper and printers?
This leads to several important questions. Are the prints pigment based or are the prints dye based? Pigment fades less in light and is more durable Dye-based prints don’t run or bleed as much improving.
What type of paper is the picture printed on. Often the ink or pigment is designed to work best with a certain paper and printer. These are factors the photographer should be well versed in. If he or she isn’t articulate concerning the longevity issue, Reconsider purchasing.
Attending any Art Show you will see many landscape paintings. Landscapes seen at Art shows owe a tip of the brush to members of the Hudson River School, an art movement born in the mid 1800’s. This period gave rise to Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Wesley Powell and John Muir. The conservation movement was just starting. The Hudson Valley was seeing a growing population, the natural world falling under the plow. Some artists, aware of the changing land started painting the natural world around them, bringing landscapes to a new prominence in art.
The main influence on the original school was Thomas Cole. Some of his better known works “The Voyage of Life” (painted twice) and “Course of Empire” are a series of paintings with themes of mans relationship to nature over time. These are some of his most symbolic works. Yet Cole is most notably connected with the Hudson River School. Having relocated to the Catskills, Cole often painted his surroundings in the Hudson Valley. Romanticism and Naturalism, Cole aspired to pioneer a different style of landscape paintings. He took on Fredric Church as a student. Church’s depictions of “Niagara” and “Ice Bergs of the North” drew vast crowds, and garnered much attention. Inspired, some artists started portraying Landscapes decidedly motivated by Cole, Church and Asher Durand. So started the Hudson River School and an art movement began.
It was an era of exploration and settling of the west. Some of the members of the Hudson River School traveled through the country, transferring to canvas the sights before them. Albert Bierstadt and William Bradford both painted the western landscape. Bierstadt and Bradford both visited Yosemite. Bierstadt put to canvas “Cathedral Rock” and “Yosemite”. William Bradford, painted fiery “Sunset in the Yosemite Valley”. Paintings such as these of the natural world into the part of this new art movement, and like many of its members viewed landscapes as the highest art form and a spiritual practice because it was capturing “God’s Handiwork”. This concept of nature was a growing perspective shared by Emerson, Thoreau and many others, including John Muir who wrote “God’s First Temples-How Shall We Preserve Our Forests” in 1876. About this time Moran joined one of the first expeditions into the Yellowstone Mountains. Moran’s work contributed to the movement that resulted in Yellowstone becoming the first National Park.
Creative works can change the world. Photographs, paintings and the concepts the written word evokes in a reader can influence the course of a nation. Members of the Hudson River School movement painted the veneration they felt for nature and helped transmit that sentiment to the public and its leaders. These artists participated in the preservation of this country’s wild spaces.
The telescopes available to people interested in astronomy are fantastic tools. They are quite powerful and can allow you to view incredible sights that you can’t see with the naked eye. The telescopes available on the market today are wonderful for anyone who wishes to take a closer look at what’s happening in the sky.
Before you buy a telescope there are a few things that you should consider. These factors include cost, whether you will be using it in an urban or rural setting, how frequently the telescope will be used, and how much magnification you want.
the telescope
Telescopes for city dwellers require a moderate aperture scope while a rural stargazer will need a scope with as much aperture as possible. Aperture refers to the diameter of the lens or mirror collecting the light. The bigger the mirror (or lens), the more light is collected and fainter objects can be seen.
Amateurs usually spend between $250 and $600. Of course, the more scope accessories you buy the more you’ll spend, so it’s best to buy them later once you know exactly what you want. Costly accessories like fancy eyepieces and an electric focuser really aren’t that important. Get a basic telescope and start observing first.
Most people interested in astronomy think that magnifying power should be their key concern. That’s absolutely untrue. To improve the magnification of a sky telescope, all you have to do is change the eyepiece.
binocular accessories
To calculate the telescope’s maximum useful magnification, multiply the size of the lens or mirror in inches by 50. For example, a 4-inch telescope can be used with eyepieces that provide up to about 200 x. An 8-inch telescope’s highest useful magnification is 400 x, and so on.
To get an idea of the kind of magnification you want, observe through as many telescopes as you can. An astronomy club is a good group to join or a visit to a planetarium is a good idea too, to experiment with a variety of scopes and find out more information about cost, maintenance and scope accessories.
When it comes to telescopes for the amateur astronomer, bigger may not necessarily be better. Yes, sky telescope that is bigger will give you more power, but carrying it around and assembling it can be a chore.
telescope science
Beginners generally will use the telescope more if it’s simple. For the space telescope buff, there really is no need to splash out on an expensive piece of equipment. It’s a great way to find out which model is best for you.