| 8 Ways to Take Spectacular Beach Photos Posted: Are your holiday snaps by-the-sea often disappointing? Beach images can seem repetitive, with little more than the water's edge and shore, or people on the beach. With a change of focus, your beach photos can be turned into unique and original images. This article highlights the most important steps to follow when taking seaside photographs. Steps - Take a look at your surroundings and look for a focal point. While the seaside as a whole is beautiful to the naked eye when you're actually on the beach, it is less interesting as a photograph because the viewer sees only a wide, open space featuring blue sky, blue sea, and yellow sand - a fairly predictable scene. To provide something on which the eye immediately comes to rest within a photograph, find a "focal point" - this is the art of focusing on something out of the ordinary to bring the beach shot to life:
- Find the focal point of interest - a shoe, a beach umbrella, a fish and chip wrapper, your child's toes, prints across the sand, a sandcastle, etc. Good focal points are often brightly coloured, or vary in hue from the other colours in the picture.
- Find natural features of interest - some pebbles, rippling sand, the wave breaking at the water's edge, palm trees, shells, seaweed, etc.
- Find something out at sea of interest - perhaps a boat with bright sails, seals playing, or a jumping dolphin.
- Note that anything moving across water can create interesting ripples (a bird, sea creature, boat, or wind, can all create this effect), and movement in the water will distort anything reflecting in the sea water, which can heighten interest of the photograph in good light.
- Avoid putting the horizon in the centre. Centering the horizon can give the viewer a sensation that the photo has been sliced in half, which can be disorienting, as long, unbroken horizons contain little of interest in a photo. Instead, break down the image into thirds (the "rule of thirds"), both horizontally and vertically, to create nine equal parts to your image. Keep the horizon square to the framing of your shot, in order to avoid a sloping effect.
- When imagining the division of the image, focus on where the lines intersect - according to this classical rule of composition, these intersections create the optimum positions for the main subjects of your image.[1]
- Frame your picture. Look around you. Ask yourself what points of interest you can include in the photo. For example, are there any rocks, trees, beach houses, piers, etc., that you can use to add a natural frame to the picture? If so, use them. For example, framing a sea shot through trees can be particularly effective if you have a focal point out at sea, such as a boat.
- Use differing levels and angles. Don't just shoot straight on, mix the angles up a bit. Aim for something kooky, funky and interesting. Get down low to photograph children and their beach activities, stand up high to take a tree, or lie down under a pier.
- Use colour to break up the blues and yellows of a beach scene. Blue, more blue, perhaps some yellow: beaches aren't the most imaginative places colour-wise. This makes it important to capitalise on any splashes of colour. Vibrant colours will really stand out, and make your photo look doubly attractive.
- For a DSLR, consider using a UV filter will reduce the atmospheric haze that is increased by the blueness of the sea.
- Again for a DSLR lens, use a polarizing filter to reduce reflections and boost the contrasting shades. This can help to improve skies and ocean water by making them a darker blue.[2]
- Choose the best times of day to take beach photos. When the sun's riding high it might be a nice time for sunbathing, but it's the worst time of day for decent photos as the light is too strong and bright. The best times of day for beach photos are at the beginning and end of the day, especially around sunrise and sunset. The sun resting on the horizon looks brilliant, and it's hard not to take a decent snap at these times. As an added bonus, you will have less people on the beach at these times of day.
- Morning air is usually still and the light is quiet, delicate and diffuse until the sun rises. Early morning light changes rapidly with the sun rising, so expect your exposure times to change rapidly and to move quickly to capture the special moments.
- Evening light often has a warm glow that provides intense gold and rose colours. Haze and shadows are common features that you can draw on as the day draws to an end.
- Take care not to include your own shadow when taking photographs early and late in the day when the sun's shadows are at their longest; check around the whole frame to make sure you're not forming a part of the picture! You can easily rectify this by moving to a different position.
- Make the most of non-sunny days. Windswept, threatening weather can create incredible, mood-infused photos at the beach. With nobody about, you can take uninterrupted views and dramatic views of dark clouds and stormy seas.
- Mist, fogs, and haze can all work to your advantage in creating interesting features.
- Try shooting in black and white, or flip it to black and white using a photo program such as Photoshop when you get home to cover the overcast, cloudy, sky and make things look a whole lot more atmospheric.
- Just after a storm moves through can produce dramatic light contrasts.
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A clever use of black and white to make a silhouette rather than a shadow - Wait for cloud cover to soften the light over their faces.
- If there is no sign of cloud, use other cover, such as trees or umbrellas.
- Have your subjects turn away from the sun and use spot metering to focus on their faces. This will allow you to expose their faces well while the image around the person will be over-exposed. You can use a photo program to put the entire image into better shape later. [3]
- Use the flash. Forcing the flash can take care of shadows caused by clothing, caps, sunglasses, etc., and will help to improve the exposure of the person. You might need to experiment with the level of flash, however, if relevant.
- Consider using bracket exposures if you want to be sure of getting one really good shot. This means taking several pictures, one at the usual exposure and then others a stop more or less exposure than indicated by the meter.[4]
- Try photos from behind. They can be effective provided there is enough interest in the entire scene.
Video Tips - If your digital camera comes with a macro setting, use that to your advantage while taking pictures of seagulls, shells, or crabs.
- Take care when handling your camera at the beach. Sand is not a camera's friend. Do not place it on the sand, handle it with sandy fingers, or shake sandy objects over it. On windy days, use a protector for it, such as waterproof housing.[5]
- Avoid sea spray problems on a lens by leaving on a protective skylight filter (salt spray can damage the lens). Clean the equipment as soon as possible if you've been exposed to salt spray while photographing.
- Simple shots that focus merely on the sea and the horizon can make good abstract compositions if the colours are superb; just don't rely on these as unique or interesting photos because there is nothing for the eye to rest on.
- Using the rule of thirds is great when you first start out taking photographs; as you become more familiar with taking photos, you will find this rule isn't as essential because you will come to rely more on your own intuitive sense of a well proportioned shot.
Warnings - Sand, sea spray and sharp objects can damage camera lenses. As outlined in the "Tips", take the appropriate precautions to care for your camera at the beach.
Things You'll Need - Suitable camera
- Lens filters if relevant
- Protective items if needed such as filters, covers
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| Into Reusing Plastic Bottles? 5 Creative Ideas for Using the Indented Bottoms Posted: If you like reusing plastic bottles, you can make a funnel from the top, make wire from the middle, but what do you do with that funny-shaped bottom? The base of a plastic soda bottle that has indentations can be viewed as a "petaloid", because it is shaped like a flower with petals. Here are some ideas for what you can do with it. Steps - Cut the petaloid portion off the base of a washed plastic soda bottle. Use craft, gardening, or kitchen scissors, or you can use a craft knife. Be careful when cutting, and use a non-slip surface to prevent any accidental movements of the bottle while cutting it.
- Decide what length to cut the plastic petaloid. While it should be cut to a length that suits your needs, a standard length of about 7-10 cm should work for many of the uses outlined here.
- When arranging an edge, cut the edge following the direction of the arrow marked in this image (shown for a right-handed person). Keep the cut as clean and straight as possible. Snip off, or sand off, any rough edges.
- Use as a measuring cup. Cut it so it holds a certain capacity of a particular ingredient that you use often.
- Use as a food mold. Since the soda bottle is food grade plastic, the plastic petaloid can make an excellent food mold that creates an appealing appearance for food when placed on the dish. The photos here demonstrate the process for making a rice mold. The mold is also ideal for shaping butter, mashed potato, grains, dips, etc., and it's a perfect jelly mold.
- Clean the container thoroughly.
- Cook the food. In this case, it is rice. Add it to the mold and even off the top.
- Carefully tip the mold over onto the plate. Remove slowly so as not to damage the molded shape. If you do damage it, simply try again.
- The mold in position.
- Add the rest of the meal to the plate.
- Use as an artist's palette. The shape of the plastic petaloid lends itself perfectly to being turned into a paint palette. Just add your colors for painting and paint as usual. Wash after use and reuse as many times as wished.
- Use the plastic petaloid as a container for maintaining order in your jewelry or sewing projects. The different compartments of the petaloid make it ideal for keeping beads, sequins, findings, pins, etc., in separate zones while you work on your jewelry or sewing project, as shown here.
- Make a candy dish. Since it's made out of plastic, it's unbreakable, which is great if you're giving kids something like candy, raisins, or nuts to snack on.
Tips - Use fine sandpaper if you need to sand the edges of the cut petaloid.
- Recycle the discarded portion of the soda bottle, or find other uses for it.
Warnings - Take care when cutting the soda bottle; the edges can be sharp. When finished, check the edges and sand them if necessary.
Things You'll Need - Plastic bottle (pressure-resistant, soda beverage bottle) - wash it out prior to attempting this project
- Measuring cup, ruler, or measuring tape to determine the height of your plastic petaloid
- Craft, gardening, or kitchen scissors; or, a craft knife
- Sanding paper (fine) (optional)
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| 9 Tips for Interacting with the New In-Laws Posted: Hopefully a wedding is a time that bonds families, reinforces friendships and marks a momentous rite of passage. Yet, it would be unusual to proceed without a few uncomfortable social situations along the blissful way. Once you're engaged, you'll be meeting the in-laws and introducing families, moving along formally on the path to uniting kin, and your future family. Unless you're high school sweethearts, you probably haven't met each other's parents and siblings. Even though you're planning on being your perfect self during this encounter, having the right small talk ammunition can be the key to setting off a great first impression. This article provides you with some basic rules to live by when meeting your future in-laws. Steps - Give a compliment. Tell your fiancé's mom how much you like her shoes, or her home. Or better yet, compliment her on the amazing child she raised, the person with whom you can't wait to spend your life. Compliments automatically make people feel more comfortable and can often be an excellent launching pad for conversation.
- Practice politeness. Politeness is paramount when interacting with your future in-laws. Generally, whatever you learned in kindergarten is a good rule to follow: share the speaking floor, say "please" and "thank you", and be respectful. If you don't demonstrate manners at this meeting, your relationship with your in-laws could be off to a rocky start.
- Ask questions. This is a great opportunity to ask questions about your in-law's family history, traditions, or specific values. Not only will you seem considerate for caring, but you'll gain some interesting insight into the person you're marrying and be able to incorporate your fiancé's family legacy into the wedding.
- Stay on neutral topics. In your first meeting with your new family, don't ramble on about your deep connection to some ancient and eccentric spiritual belief. By avoiding hot topics like religion and politics, the conversation will keep the mood light. That's not to say you should hide who you are, but reserve those more comprehensive conversation topics for a more appropriate time.
- Control your cocktails. Don't let your drinking get out of hand when initially meeting in-laws (or throughout the entire wedding process). If everyone is having a cocktail, slowly sip one graciously, and leave it at that. Over consumption of alcohol can lead to bad behavior, inappropriate remarks, and embarrassing conduct that you can't take back. You want to be married forever, not leave a bad impression forever.
- Introduce your families to one another. Now that you've aced meeting your in-laws, it's time for both families to make an acquaintance. If that means introducing your liberal, outspoken New York parents to your fiancé's conservative, reserved Nebraska parents, so be it. Breathe. Ensuring that the meeting is effortless means following all of the above rules, which continue to apply throughout your entire wedding process.
A shared love of racing cars, perhaps? - Give clear indications on possible conversation topics. Fill your family in on some interesting facts about your future family. Things such as occupation, favorite hobbies, and general likes and dislikes, are a good place to start. If you provide your family with some specific insights, they will be more equipped with conversation clues.
- Follow up. After the meeting, send a thank you email to everyone and attach a picture or two. By doing this, you will open up new lines of communication, giving everyone a chance to say anything they may not have had a chance to say and this will help to keep the conversation flowing. By tying up loose ends, you'll feel more comfortable tying the knot.
Video Tips - Consider taking along a gift, even some flowers from your own garden.
- If you are marrying into a different culture from your own, it's a great idea to do some research in advance so that you know what to expect and how to be polite. Ask your partner for advice. Discuss issues such as greetings, food and eating, gestures, and special occasions or days of the week, so that you're well aware of rituals, taboos, and manners.
Things You'll Need - Planned conversation openers
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