12 Creative Photography Ideas

Here are 12 ideas to get your creative juices flowing and increase your skills and value as a photographer.

TIP 1 - Time Lapse photos. I showed my niece how to do this with clay figures and stitch the resulting frames together into a video file, and she was busy for days. If you control the exposure consistently to keep the images consistent with one another, you can do some really fun stop-motion animation. Or, you can set up your camera to capture other slow motion effects such as flowers opening and seedlings growing.

TIP 2 - Night Lights. Things look very different at night. Shooting city scenes with available light creates some interesting images. And shooting outdoor images under moonlight or with "light painting", where you open up the camera shutter for an extended exposure, and "paint" your targets with colored or plain light, can create some truly bizarre images.

TIP 3 - Astrophotography. Hook that SLR up to a telescope, and you are ready to peer into the depths of space and time. You'll need some adapters, and ability to compensate for the earth's rotation for really long shots. Start with the moon and move on from there.

TIP 4 - Macro photography. From flowers to coins to stamps, you can polish your skills at close-up photography and capture some really detailed images. Often a macro lens or close-up attachment will help. See my tips on Flower Photography to get more information.

TIP 5 - Micro photography. If you can interface that camera with a microscope, you can get some really crazy images. Or, stack up a bunch of close-up magnification and try your hand at turning salt crystals into surreal imagery.

TIP 6 - Insurance Photos. OK, maybe a bit boring, but you and your friends and relatives will thank you. Take a couple hours and touch and photograph everything of value, with a full shot or two if each item of value, accompanied by a shot of the identifying marks - manufacturer model or serial number. Then burn a CD or DVD and store it off site. If you have a fire or other loss, this could save the owner thousands of dollars.

TIP 7 - Family Recipe book. Anytime those family favorites are prepared, copy down the recipe and take some photos of the food. You can produce a printed or electronic cookbook of family favorites that everyone will love.

TIP 8 - Stock Photography. This is a very busy market niche, but the cost of entry is low. Specialize in things you love, and you may be able to generate some income from your stock images. Search for stock photography sites, and make sure you understand your rights before you post images.

TIP 9 - Special Effects. Maybe you want to specialize in high-speed images of athletes, or surrealistic collages. Try your hand at using your editing skills to put someone in a soda bottle or floating on a candy lifesaver. Often more artistic than photographic, it will test your composition, lighting and editing skills to come up with believable artificial realities.

TIP 10 - Still Life. Ahh, the bowl of fruit. Sometimes a simple object or collection, properly lit, shot and edited, is a thing of beauty. It's a great way to study light. Start with an egg on a light background, a lamp and a window and see how you can learn about lighting and composition.

TIP 11 - Computer Control. Many cameras have a USB interface and remote control software. You can actually control the camera from the computer. See if you can get it to work to your liking, and maybe even program some time lapse or exposure bracketing experiments.

TIP 12 - Be Like Andy. Take some images of everyday items and try to create those neat colored backgrounds like Andy Warhol used to make. Create a 4-up print of the same image and change the colors of each quadrant to make an interesting square print.

Have fun with these ideas, and let me know when you become famous!

12 Creative Photography Ideas

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

Video Clips. Duration : 5.75 Mins.

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

photographyequipment.yolasite.com (Budget Equipment) razzi.me www.facebook.com twitter.com Equipment used in this video DSLR - Nikon D7000 Nikon Lenses 50mm 1.8 D lens and 85mm 1.8 D prime lens Lastolite Diffuser (1 stop) A short behind the scene video / tutorial of outdoor shoot. Photographing kids - children - family portraits

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

Kindergarten Activities - Creative Kids Math

How do you identify creative kids?

1. They are imaginative, resourceful and uninhibited.

2. They are open to new ideas and see things in a different way.

3. They are curious, alert, and adventurous and risk taking.

4. They are independent in thinking and social behavior.

5. They are inventive and good at solving problems.

6. They love challenges and are easily bored with routine and mundane tasks.

Kindergarten activities which develop creative thinking encourage the kids to think critically, using their existing knowledge to explore new ways of thinking. We can incorporate language, music or math into these activities and for this article we will discuss on using math to develop creativity.

Whenever the word math is mentioned, numbers and formulas come into the picture. Math is more than just number crunching but when it is being introduced to kids creatively, can improve skills like reasoning, logic and problem solving and also widen the kids understanding of Math to a wider scope as listed below:

1. To enable the kids to sort objects in a logical series according to size, shape or any other characteristic.

Find objects of different shapes like a book, a clock, a piece of sandwich or pizza, a photo frame, a ball, a pencil case. Put them together and ask the child to group them according to their size. For example a book is a rectangle, what other objects here are rectangle shapes.

You can invent different kindergarten activities by finding objects of different sizes or talk about animals and ask them what animals are big and small.

2. To enable the kids to understand the concept of numbers by letting them have direct experience with objects as the kids will discover that numbers are not just digits but extend to our everyday lives.

Kindergarten activities which kids under five need are songs, rhymes and finger plays that include numbers like Little Indian Boys/Girls, while singing, finger play with them, show your fingers while singing One Little, Two Little, Three Little Indians and so on.

You can also ask questions like - Mummy bought 5 apples and put them in the refrigerator yesterday. You ate one apple and Daddy ate two, so how many apples are in the refrigerator now? Allow the kids to answer and ask them to check the refrigerator to see whether they are correct.

3. To develop their spatial skills by discovering how to fit things together, take things apart, rearrange things and navigation.

Kids with well developed spatial skills are very creative, dramatic, artistic and musical. Some kindergarten activities which encourage spatial skills are playing with Lego, tangram, mazes, play dough and chess.

Engage your kids in creative thinking activities the whole day while you are preparing your meals, gardening or clearing your laundry by asking open-ended questions which are worded in such a way that there is no one correct answer. An example is while clearing your groceries asks your kids what they can do with this tomato. Open-ended questions like this engage the kids in divergent or creative thinking to come up with a whole range of brilliant and imaginative ideas.

If you want to play more of such creative kindergarten activities for child development, you can visit http://www.gamesforfunkids.com as they have more than 360 of such activities.

Kindergarten Activities - Creative Kids Math

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Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

Tips for the Harry Potter Attraction at Universal Studios, Orlando

The latest Harry Potter blockbuster sets a new standard for amusement park attractions, drawing record numbers to Universal Studios Florida. Visitors to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will discover all the magical places they've come to know and love in the book and movie series, but they'll also find packed crowds and wait times of up to two hours for the most popular rides. Don't let the muggle mobs deter you from this extraordinary adventure!

On a recent sweltering Florida weekday, with temperatures nearly into the triple digits, we ventured in to see if the Harry Potter attraction was worth all the hype. It was hot, crowded, and loud. And yes, it was worth it. My jaded teen, a veteran of the scariest roller coasters, deemed the Forbidden Journey "THE BEST RIDE EVER!" Her tween brother vowed to read all the books as soon as he returns home. Both begged for another Harry Potter movie marathon.

Here are a few tips for making the most of your visit.

Admission - It's not cheap to visit Universal Studios. You can realize some savings if you purchase multi-day combined park tickets, especially if you take advantage of the discounts and incentives for buying online. Instead, I bought the bare bones one day, one park option for Universal's Islands of Adventure at /adults (ages 10 & up) at the gate entrance.

I was tempted to get the Express Pass which allows you to bypass the lines for the rides, but couldn't justify the expense of an additional /person. (Note that the pass is significantly less expensive at other times of the year.)

Age Level - Although the Wizarding World is compelling for those familiar with the book or movie series, you don't have to be a Harry Potter buff to enjoy the attraction. Children (and adults) of all ages will get a kick out of exploring the magical settings, and there are rides for both the under and over 48″ crowd. While the Dragon Challenge roller coaster is only for the above 48″ crowd, the milder Flight of the Hippogriff roller coaster can be enjoyed by all.

The most sought after attraction in the Wizarding World is the Forbidden Journey, which takes you on a tour through Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry before depositing you at the ride. This exhilarating, total immersion ride through the monster-ridden school halls is not for the faint of heart, or those under 48″; however, you can always skip the ride at the end of the tour.

Dress For Success - When dressing for a day at the amusement park, think marathon runner. Shock-absorbing sneakers are essential when standing on long lines, and fast drying fabrics are helpful when going through fog machines, misters, or water rides.

Sun protection is critical in Florida, especially if you're unaccustomed to the strong rays. We slathered on waterproof, high SPF sunscreen before leaving the car, and carried a small tube for reapplying later. My daughter and I wore sunglasses, and I purchased a pair for my son who promptly lost them it in record time. Hats are also advisable, but we just made it a point to travel in the shade as much as possible.

Pack Light - You may be tempted to bring all kinds of essentials, but keep in mind that on many rides you won't be allowed to carry loose items or bags. Lockers are provided, for a fee, throughout the park, but who wants to waste time looking for an available locker?

One advantage of traveling with older children is that, unlike the days when I had to haul a diaper bag with snacks and sundries, nowadays the only items I carry to an amusement park are: a point and shoot camera and a Neck Wallet containing cash, ID, chapstick, and a mini-sized sunscreen.

Hydrate Often - Given the limitation on carry on items, holding onto a drink container can be tricky. Fortunately, many rides such as the Forbidden Journey provide water fountains, or you can spring for a drink when you get off a ride and finish it before the next. Consider bringing a Platypus Softbottle that can be refilled as needed, or folded flat when it's time to get on a ride.

Arrive Late - There is no advantage to arriving early; in fact, some visitors contend that lines in the Wizarding World diminish considerably later in the day. On our mid-July weekday visit, we didn't see any visible reduction. The lines were just as long at 7:30 PM as they were at 2 PM!

Still, a full day at any amusement park can be exhausting, so I recommend going with your natural inclinations. I prefer to start late, and go nearly until closing, but a morning person might prefer a different schedule. The key to enjoying the experience is to realize that you can't do everything, so choose wisely.

Timing - Universal's Islands of Adventure is laid out like an oval donut around a large pond, with the Wizarding World placed on the opposite side from the entrance. When you enter the park, you can turn left or right and eventually circle to the Harry Potter section. With older children, we chose to head left so that we could take in some of the more thrilling park rides first.

Between noon and 2PM, we managed to take in three rides: the Incredible Hulk Coaster, the Spider-Man 3D Ride, and the Jurassic Park River Adventure. All of these posted 45 minute to 1 hour wait times, but as we were willing to split up our group to get into the Single Rider line, we bypassed much of this. We could've gone on even more rides, but we finally, after years of fruitless requests, fulfilled my daughter's wish to get a hair wrap.

Wizarding World - Plan on spending the bulk of your day at this attraction if you want to see and do everything. Here is how we did it all:

Enter - At 2PM, we crossed into the Wizarding World from Jurassic Park. Butterbeer - At either entrance, you'll find carts selling Butterbeer, a popular wizarding in the Harry Potter books that tastes like a cross between butterscotch and cream soda, and is available as a soda or slushie. We conducted a taste test of both to confirm that the frozen version is the yummier choice! Forbidden Journey - Carrying our drinks, we went directly to what we thought was the end of the Forbidden Journey line, not realizing that this was actually for the lockers. Most of the people in line didn't realize this either, so it might have been awkward to walk past them to the real line inside the building. Indoors, you can skip the tour to join the much shorter Single Rider line, but we didn't want to miss seeing the interior of Hogwarts. And there is much to take in, as well as many hidden secrets and variations, that it's worth letting people pass so that you can fully appreciate all the effects. Filches Emporium of Confiscated Goods - One of my pet peeves is being forced to exit an attraction through a souvenir shop so I just made a beeline for the door and didn't see much of the wares. Three Broomsticks - Nearly 4PM, we had worked up quite an appetite by the time we left the Forbidden Journey, so we headed over to the Three Broomsticks, an extremely well-run cafeteria that looks like an old English Tavern. We were soon at the front of the line where a hostess assigned us our number, and the system of dedicated cashier and server soon had us moving on with our filled trays to where another host led us to our table. The food was hearty and filling, and I highly recommend the combination of fish and chips washed down by Hogs Head ale. Moaning Myrtle - Even a visit to the bathroom is entertaining! The Girls' Room of the Public Convenience located next to the Hog's Head Pub is enlivened by the sounds of Moaning Myrtle. Olivanders - After our early dinner, we carried our drinks with us as we joined the queue for Olivanders, the wand shoppe. This turned out to be the longest line, but with our drinks in hand and street entertainment that included a frog chorus and ribbon waving girls from the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, it was tolerable. Inside, the store is filled to the rafters with wand-filled boxes, and spectators watch as one young boy, selected from each new group that enters every 10 minutes, is outfitted with a wand that can be purchased afterwards in the connected store, Dervish and Banges, for merely . We passed on the shopping and headed out to the rest of the rides. Dragon Challenge - The line for this ride was fairly short, just 20 minutes, but it's only for the fearless (who are over 48″.) Every rider can choose from two dragons, each a different roller coaster, that zoom and twist, nearly colliding as they come within 18 inches of each other on multiple occasions. When it was over, my kids wanted to repeat the ride on the other dragon but my stomach had had enough. Flight of the Hippogriff - With no Single Rider option, we had to wait the full 45 minutes for this ride but as with the rest of the Wizarding World, the wait is part of the attraction. In this case, you pass Hagrid's hut where somehow we missed his instructions for properly approaching a hippogriff, but it was a great photo stop. Later, my kids complained about the tame ride, but I thought it was a delightful with a splendid view of the park. Honeydukes and Zonko's - We saved the best shops for last, as we thought we might be tempted by candy and joke gifts. The two shops are connected, so we spent a good deal of time going back and forth, mulling over our options. Many items, like the foul-tasting every flavor jelly beans, we'd seen and sampled long ago. After careful consideration, we purchased the two items that my children deemed unique and interesting, the Chocolate Frog and Chinese Fortune Sticks. (FYI - The Chocolate Frog was disappointingly waxy and flavorless.)

At The End of The Day - Departing the Wizarding World, we still had two and a half hours until closing time but I was ready to call it a night. The kids selected our last rides of the night, The Cat In The Hat and a return engagement on The Incredible Hulk Coaster, and we left Islands of Adventure by 9PM.

Again, was the Harry Potter experience worth the expense and effort? Definitely! For one day, we entered a magical world where I was as much of a kid as my children. We laughed and screamed, and just enjoyed playing together. It doesn't get any better than that!

Tips for the Harry Potter Attraction at Universal Studios, Orlando

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

Tube. Duration : 5.75 Mins.

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

How to Shoot Portraits - 5 Camera Setting Tips For Great Results

Camera setting tips for portraits:

Portrait photography delivers best results when you focus attention on the subject and control the background. Avoiding distracting elements or blurring the background draws the attention on your subject. Besides making your subject "the star" of the frame you also need proper exposure and focus, showing right skin tones and details.

Whether you are shooting for posed portraits or moving children, if you can control 5 camera settings you will capture excellent portrait shots.

Control 5 Camera settings for superb results:

1) Shooting Mode
2) Focus Settings
3) Exposure
4) Metering
5) White Balance

SHOOTING MODE

Aperture priority is the most popular shooting mode for portraits. Using this mode Photographer sets the f-stop and the camera chooses the shutter speed.

Aperture priority mode gives direct control of depth of field. Controlling depth of field means that you can blur the background to draw attention on your subject.

Alternatively you can use Manual Mode. Using this mode you can you can control both aperture and shutter speed. If there is a consistent light source use manual and you still be able to control surroundings of the subject.

EXPOSURE

When you shoot portraits and slightly overexpose you will notice that your background details will be washed out and your subject's skin tones will appear lighter. After your camera meter suggests exposure values,first shoot with suggested settings. Later shoot couple extra using plus 1EV or plus 2EV of exposure compensation to see what they look like.

FOCUS SETTINGS

Single-Shot AF (Auto Focus) mode is perfect for shooting portraits. When using Single-Shot AF Mode, select a Single Auto Focus point. For example for portrait shots, focusing closer to the subject's eyes works best. When focusing on the target point, you may use either Centre or Off-Centre settings. This way you will get sharp focus.

One of the most difficult portrait shot is a moving subject. If you are photographing moving children use Continuous AF mode. In addition choose multiple focus points. Combination of continuous AF mode and multiple focus points will increase the chance of capturing a sharp image.

METERING

For general portrait shots Multi-Segment Metering works just fine. However, if you are shooting a back-lit subject, Multi-Segment may not work properly because this mode will underexpose the subject's face. In such case take a reading from your subject's forehead or cheek using Spot Metering. Then use the values and shoot in Manual Exposure mode. Make sure that you are not shooting in Aperture Priority mode - (you will need to set both aperture and shutter speed values manually since you have use the spot metering and received new exposure values).

WHITE BALANCE

Auto White Balance is good for general shots. However shooting in different environments things may go wrong. For example if you are shooting in a shady area you will not get the proper white balance. Or if you shoot in scenes with predominant white blue or green (beach, botanic garden, forest etc...) your subject's face will reflect that predominant color. In such you can take a custom white balance reading and use it.

Keep in mind that you have the option to change white balance settings and apply correction if you are shooting in RAW mode. So if that portrait shot is quite important for you, shoot in RAW so you have an option to correct white balance later on.

How to Shoot Portraits - 5 Camera Setting Tips For Great Results

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

Tube. Duration : 5.75 Mins.

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

More Modeling Tips For Teenagers

So you want to become a teen model? Well you have come to the right place, to find out a bit on what you need to know.

Despite the stereotypes, breaking into the modeling industry requires a lot more than beauty. It requires dedication, smarts and perseverance. First and foremost is to realize how difficult it is to become a top fashion model in such a competitive industry. Millions chase the dream but only a handful actually make it as top fashion models. However, many people succeed as part-time models and enjoy an exhilarating life of being paid for fashion, tv, movies and much more...

There are several different types and levels of modeling, and if your expectations are realistic, you Needn't feel discouraged. There are different kinds of models such as child models, tall runway models seen in fashion shows, plus size models who are a size 10 and above and body parts models whose hands you might see in a diamond ring ad on a billboard.

The list goes on but the first thing you have to do is look at yourself, be honest and see where you qualify. Look at models in magazines like Vogue & Elle and see how you measure up.

Starting a Modeling Career.

Important Tips:

Yes, modeling is all about the right look but the what really determines whether a model is successful or not is what we call The 4 D's - Desire, Dedication, Determination and Devotion. There is so much competition in the business that every job usually has hundreds of applicants and models that show professionalism and reliability usually end up on top.

Here are a few tips you should remember.

1. Always show up early unlike a regular job as a model your job will most likely be in a different location each time, so always be prepared for traffic, getting lost or looking for parking.

2. Always be available the last thing you want as a model is to miss out on job opportunities because you missed a call, so always make sure you return calls promptly and that your agency and clients have your cell phone number.

3. Always be Professional most people think modeling is a laid back and easy going profession when is actually the opposite. From the moment you show up, pay attention, act professional so people will enjoy working with you, and offer you more work.If you are going on an audition or casting call do not bring friends, children or parents (unless you are under 18) because most agencies will not accept it. However for safety reasons, if you are unsure about the company or person you are going to see, we advise you bring someone.

4. Be Yourself always be yourself, relax and be comfortable because it all ends up showing when you get in front of the camera. Being yourself also means being honest when asked questions or asked for your opinions. Do not be intimidated or pressured into doing something you are not comfortable with, for example if you are not comfortable with nudes or implied nudity do not do it to please the photographer, simply say no.

The 4 Steps to Starting Modeling:

Step 1. Do Some Reading we highly recommend that you do some research by reading about the modeling industry so you can be aware of the way the industry works, the scams and also to better prepare yourself to get involved

Step 2. Build a Portfolio you are going to need some professional photos other than the snap shots you have to build your portfolio. Do not spend hundreds of dollars on this, instead ask photographers for test shoots, get involved in modeling shows, or volunteer to model for a college photo class. Collect all the photos you get and put at least ten good shots into a nice portfolio binder, now you have something to show agencies and clients. The more photo shoots you do the more experience you get.

Remember the modeling business is very competitive and there will always be someone who is taller, prettier and in better shape than you, so keep a positive attitude, learn to deal with rejection and you will do just fine.Also remember you cannot buy a modeling career so beware of people who will try to sell you your dream with expensive portfolios, photo shoots and pointless modeling classes.

It is obvious that you are determined to become a model because you have read this far and that is a great sign. Remember it is all about your attitude, knowing your role and exposing yourself to the right people.

Please remember that no single person can claim to be an expert on the modeling industry, it is way too dynamic therefore some people may have different views or opinions on our information. We have simply gathered this information from different reliable sources and our own personal experience to benefit you.

So good luck with your dreams of becoming a teen model.

More Modeling Tips For Teenagers

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

Video Clips. Duration : 5.75 Mins.

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

No URL Outdoor ancestors portraits - Children Kids Photography Tutorial Tips in Natural ablaze w/ diffuser

photographyequipment.yolasite.com (Budget Equipment) razzi.me www.facebook.com twitter.com Equipment used in this video DSLR - Nikon D7000 Nikon Lenses 50mm 1.8 D lens and 85mm 1.8 D prime lens Lastolite Diffuser (1 stop) A short behind the scene video / tutorial of outdoor shoot. Photographing kids - children - family portraits