Sunday, October 19, 2008

Take a Pic with your Outdated Camera

It doesn’t matter how obsolete your camera may be. The camera is only as good as the photographer. Here are some tips on how you can take good pictures even without buying the most expensive high end DSLR camera.


Familiarize yourself with your camera
Be sure to read the manual of your camera first before going out in the street and start clicking furiously.
Know every detail of your camera so you wouldn’t have to bother yourself looking where to zoom in or out or even to turn on and off the flash in the middle of a shoot because a picturesque moment could easily pass by.
Subject
The subject is your point of interest. It is the primary part of your picture and therefore must always be seen. Nevertheless, your subject doesn’t always have to be taken as a whole. A fraction of the subject may do in some cases.
Keep it simple
Less is more. Too many items in your picture can be distracting. It may mislead the viewers from the real purpose and message of your picture.
Contrast
Your subject will stand out if it is in contrast with the background. If you have a dark subject, put a light background.
Balance
Put your subject off center and balance it with other smaller objects. Use the principle of the Rule of Thirds as your guide. The Rule of Thirds divides your picture in three parts, horizontally and vertically.
Vantage point
Shoot at eye level or try to find better angles.
The angle were you are shooting at can give the picture a more dramatic effect so always choose the best.
Frame
Framing your subject with objects available during your shoot will lead the eyes of the viewer to the subject. But sometimes, frames can be distracting.
Background
Your background is as important as your subject. A cluttered background can spoil the beauty of your subject. A simple background can make your subject stand out, same with a contrasting background color.
The background is an essential element in telling the story of your picture. There are cases where a focused background and a blur subject works better.

Photography is not an expensive hobby as most of us think. Shelling out money is necessary but the reward of a good picture is priceless.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Monday, October 6, 2008

UPVC beach volley... not even the surge of storm can stop us!

Simple Indoor Landscaping Solutions

The atmosphere in your environment, whether at home or in the office is very much controllable. A bare looking space can be turned into a much more conducive space with just a few tricks.
You don’t need an entire room just to create an indoor pocket garden or dig deep just to create a feel of an indoor pool. Your wallet should not suffer by spending much. All you need is just a flick in the wand… it’s that easy.
If you’re out of budget and you also have a very limited space, just try to liven up your space by putting some plants. It’s the easiest and the most practical thing to do to break the monotony.
In large empty halls, offices or houses, divide each space by using some indoor plants. It can create and give an illusion of privacy. Most houses have adjacent living and dining area and in some cases, putting a wall is not an option.
One common solution is to put a large aquarium to separate the two areas. Another simple solution is to line up some plants with other ornaments. That way, the television in the living area would still be accessible in the dining area. Most of us want to see our favorite program while eating.
If you want to imitate the relaxed feel of a swimming pool but you have limited space, not to mention the budget, just put a Zen fountain to soothe your spirit. Place it on top of an available table that you have and add some plants as background.
If a Zen fountain is still too much costly for you, you can look for instructions on how to make a home made Zen fountain.
Plants can brighten up your day and can also reduce the brightness of your window. You can use it to block unwanted glare that sores the eyes.
Simple interior landscaping is not just for added aesthetic appeal. It is also functional. It helps in keeping indoor air fresh and increases motivation.

I have 30 million Pesos. Can I buy a shoestring? Wait, I’ll take the lot!

Advertising on a shoestring budget-, would 30 million pesos fit in this category? Err... no! (Well at least from my opinion).

Without any hesitation, I would honestly say that I was disappointed by how this topic was conducted. Should shoestring budget have been defined or at least categorized? Of course! In fact, it should have been the first thing done before going on several figures and letting our eyes strain from staring at gory number details.

If I have an advertising budget of 30 million Pesos, would I not use traditional and most effective medium, which is TV? Certainly not! It still is the best medium to reach the greater public. Nevertheless, it might not suffice a long series of advertisement on TV. So what the hell is this topic all about?

Finding a niche in the market is so easy to say but it takes a longer process and a lot of brain twisting act. The more relevant area that should have been covered by this lecture was media planning, effective media strategy and alternative not I was like this, I did this, I did that and now I’m so successful so please adore me and kneel before me. Okay I’m exaggerating (can’t help it, that’s my forte).

I have nothing against the lecture(oh c’mon!)...Okay, let me rephrase that... ehem, ehem...

I was bored! I was eager to attend the lecture but my expectation was not met. (Good thing I got the privilege to attend the 3-day-seminar without paying 7,500 bucks) The topic could have been great but it turned out to be a great disaster. (Err... maybe it wasn’t that bad).

Friday, October 3, 2008

I need a time out...alone!

I feel the gentleness of the cool wind touching my face, giving me shivers all over my body... The crystal clear ocean reflecting the bright blue colored morning sky soothes my spirit... The green landscape, the luscious tropical cocktail and the roughness of the white sand beach tingling my feet... they all bring calmness to my exhausted consciousness... The sound of splashing waves kissing the submissive shore washes away the loneliness of my soul.

Ahhh... I feel so ecstatic. This is the kind of moment I’ve always wanted to seize with every one tenth of a second. The kind of moment I’ll always remember with every inch of its detail as I frame it in my thoughts.

If ever this is just a dream, I don’t want to be awaken not even by the sound of the slightest scratch.

Snap!

Just dreaming, okay back to sleep! Or shall I say back to work?!

#$^@)(&@#!!!!!