Pinhole art is not something you commonly see but the creations are beautiful and very easy to make. There are several different techniques and many different ways to display the pinhole art. One technique is to use a coloring page as your guide. Simply lay the page on top of the new paper then place them on a piece of cardboard. Use a pin or needle to poke holes, every quarter-inch or so. A large pin, like a hat pin, is perfect. It helps to tape the paper and pattern to the cardboard to make sure the pages don't slip. Upon covering the entire design with pinholes you can tape it to a window or a picture frame with no backing.
Another way to make the design is to use stencils. Draw the entire design on to the fabric or paper with a disappearing marker, found in sewing departments. The marker's color will last for about 72 hours then disappear for good. This allows enough time to make the pinhole arrangements before allowing the pattern to disappear.
The disappearing ink markers are perfect for making intricate designs from a poster or large picture. Make dots with the marker, spaced evenly, then go back and poke a hole in each dot. The picture is then outlined for display.
Some people prefer to keep the original picture rather than having it disappear. During certain conditions only the picture can be seen, not the pinholes. In other conditions, the pinhole art will show rather than the original picture.
Any number of things can be your pattern maker. Calendars, postcards, wallpaper, and posters all make great patterns. And, the pattern doesn't have to be done on paper only. You can make pinhole art on cloth, cardboard, foil or poster board.
Pinhole art requires no colors, markers, or paints but does require a light source that will shine through the pinholes to form the design. Windows are a perfect place to display your pin art because the light will shine through yet bright sunlight will be filtered through the artwork.
Besides windows you can also display the artwork in a picture frame that has no backing. Make the design on a dark piece of felt, then place a single light behind the art. A bulb, made to look like a candle, is the perfect way to shine light through your artwork. The candle bulbs can be found around Christmastime in stores that sell Christmas decorations. You can also burn a tea light behind the picture.
For denser materials, like felt, try using a nail rather than a pin to make the holes. Be careful not to tear the fabric when inserting the nail. You'll find many creations that you can easily do by looking around your home for things to make the patterns and finding places to hang the artwork.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
How to Do Pinhole Art
The New Britain Museum of American Art..A Wonderful Daytrip Destination
New Britain, Ct is a suburb of the Capital city of Connecticut, which is Hartford. For many years, New Britain, Ct has been known as the "Hardware City", because several large Hardware Companies have based their headquarters there. The most notable among these companies is Stanley Tools. New Britain, Ct is primarily an industrial, blue- collar town known for its large Polish community. Located on a bucolic, tree- lined street there, in a Victorian mansion, is a wonderful American Art Museum.
The New Britain Museum of American Art, at 56 Lexington Street, is located near Walnut Hill Park, a beautiful public facility lined with cherry trees. The museum's main building has housed its impressive art collections since 1937, but beginning in April 2006, after years of expansion work, the New Britain Museum of American Art will grow by 43,000 square feet, to twice its previous size.
Upon entering the New Britain Museum of American Art, one of the first things that visitors notice is the cherry and oak woodwork present throughout the building. Large Abstract and Realist canvases grace the walls of the community area, where patrons gather for films, lectures and other events. A sunny Cafe', a charming Gift Shop and an information booth designed to look like a ship, are some of the features greeting visitors to the New Britain Museum of American Art. Works by Sol LeWitt, an internationally known conceptual artist and New Britain native, figure prominently in the lobby of the New Britain Museum of American Art.
Part of the museum's expansion is an attractive new stone and glass building adjacent to the original structure. The additional space, with its high- ceilings and abundant windows, provides a modern sensibilty to the contemporary museum visitor. Twelve new galleries are housed at the New Britain Museum of American Art. On the first floor, several small galleries are arranged in order of painting period. Many very old and famous paintings ranging from Colonial- era to late 19th century , are exhibited in these galleries. The upstairs galleries feature works ranging from early 20th century artists to examples of modern art. Works by Edward Hopper, Mary Cassatt, Jackson Pollock and Joseph Badger, among many others, are featured in these galleries.
With 5000 works of art, spanning 400 years, in its collection, the New Britain Museum of American Art is especially proud of its series of Thomas Hart Benton's murals titled " The Arts of Life in America". The well- known series of images portraying a cross- section of America in the 1930's fill an entire room, or gallery. Other areas of note are the Colonial period, American Impressionism and the Hudson River School of Painting galleries.
The New Britain Museum of American Art is a very community- minded institution that provides many programs and services. There is a music series on Sundays, "Art Happy Hours" are held frequently and a host of children's and family programs are regularly offered. With an on- premises cafe' and modern- art diversions, the New Britain Museum of american Art is an ideal place to bring well behaved children on a rainy afternoon. For art lovers of all ages, the New Britain Museum of American Art is a great place to stop and smell the roses and appreciate some wonderful works of art.
The New Britain Museum of American Art
56 Lexington St, New Britian, Ct (860)229-0257 www.nbmaa.org
Open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday 12 noon - 5:00 pm
Admission is $9.00....$8.00 for senior citizens..$7.00 for students....free for children under 12.
Tips for Breaking into Sports Photography
here
Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC, student photographer Chris Osborne hopes his experience in sports photography will take him to the next level - his goal for every shot is "Sports Illustrated Cover".
Osborne explains how a sixth sense is valuable in sports photography, but without the basics of photography, you will still miss the shot.
What first attracted you to photography? How did you get started yourself?
Photography was something I could do since I have always been able to see how I wanted things to look. I have started and restarted a few times. My first camera was a 110 mm back in 3rd grade. I moved onto other interests until college, where I got a Coolpix L3. It is good for general use, but trying to shoot basketball did not work at all. So, I purchased a Rebel XT and have not looked back.
What photographers - well known or unknown - inspire you?
Beyond the sports photography culture, two unknowns got me where I am today. The first is my sister. She says that I stole her interest in photography and will not hold back any criticism of my work. The second is Paul, a fellow photographer at the school paper. After seeing one of his pictures in the paper and not liking it at all, I decided that I could do a better job and filled the other sports photographer position. Only later did I learn that an editor and not Paul made the cropping decisions.
What equipment do you use? Is there a certain piece of gear you could not live without?
I am currently using a Canon Rebel XT with the kit 18-55mm lens, Canon 50mm 1.8, Canon 75-300 4-5.6, and a Tamron 28-200mm 4/5.6. My only other add ons are a Canon battery grip and a polarizing filter. Being on a college student budget, I do not buy new equipment unless I will really use it. But if I had to pick one item that I couldn't live without it would be the battery grip. I missed too many shots by flipping the camera the wrong way to shoot vertically or simply missing the shutter button.
Do you have any goals in mind with your photography?
For my sports shot, there is always one basic thought running through my mind - Sports Illustrated cover. I would love to have one someday. For everything else, I think about if I could see the shot hanging on someone's wall. If I cannot, I find something that fits that requirement.
What do you feel are your strengths and weaknesses in sports photography?
As much as I hate to say this one, one of my strengths is that I have a camera that can handle the speed and lighting at college sporting events. Beyond that, I am able to have a personal relationship with most of the athletes and am able to predict fairly well what is about to happen. My weaknesses are that I am still too slow at times to get the shot that I want, despite knowing almost exactly what is about to happen and that I have a tendency to tilt my camera. Also, where the Winthrop athletic department lets me go during games limits what I am able to shoot.
What does it take to be a quality sports photographer?
To be a quality sports photographer, you have to be a little bit psychic. By that I mean that you need to be able to know where to point the camera to get the shot. Some sports are easier than others. What sports do you like to shoot? I like to shoot basketball and volleyball most. They are high intensity and usually have something new to get every time. I like baseball the least because most of the shots are just excessively similar.
What post-processing tools/software do you use? How much does that influence your photography?
When I want better control over the photograph, I will use Photoshop 7 or Gimp depending on which operating system I am working under (desktop runs XP while laptop is in the process of switching over to Linux). I use Picasa for basic editing such as cropping and overall brightness/contrast. I sacrifice the overall control for speed when I have to turn things in to the school paper.
What advice would you give new photographers?
A) Don't get discouraged. Photography is an art, which means you will have to work at it.
B) A good photographer can overcome bad equipment, and good equipment will not make you a good photographer.
C) Less time editing your photographs means you'll have more time to take more, so get things right in camera as much as possible.
D) Try to see all of what there is to shoot, not just the stereotypical snapshots that everyone else will find.
Check out Osborne's photography at http://sapidexistence.com
Friday, March 4, 2011
How Baby Talk Helps a Baby's Language Development
baby seats reviews
Adults speak to babies in a distinctive way in all cultures, in baby talk. In some ways, baby talk cannot be helped, some adults are not even aware they are speaking differently with a baby. The face of a baby appears to inspire adults to speak in a slow, high pitched, singsong voice. In a different context, in which a baby is not involved, it often sounds silly and out of place. It is not the voice that adults generally use with other adults. Why is that that we as adults distinctively use baby talk with babies?
One might be tempted to say that it is a cultural phenomenon. After all, we see other people coo-chi coo-chi coo-ing to their babies, and we were also coo-chi-ed at when we were babies. Perhaps using baby talk is a latent memory of our own early days as babies.
These are all possible theories, however, some clever social scientists have found reasons to suspect that we are, in essence, programmed to engage babies in baby talk because it helps them to develop their own language skills.
Babies are fascinating people. They are born with the ability to soak up knowledge like a sponge. They have an innate ability to watch, listen, and imitate the people around them. Yet, if you watch the preference of a baby in the crib, they will pay more attention to the person speaking in baby talk than the person speaking in a normal voice. Why is that? Do they prefer the voice of the mother and the caretakers, the people who will speak the most baby talk?
Tests have shown that babies not only prefer baby talk, but they prefer any kind of baby talk to a regular voice. Baby talk in French or any other foreign languages will be preferred over the normal voice of the mother. We can then deduct that they like to listen to the certain pitch and tone that comes with baby talk of all languages. Why the preference? Babies are not susceptible to cultural phenomenon just yet, and baby talk is distinctive different than how adults interact with each other.
As it turns out, baby talk is not just the way we happen to speak to babies, but it is a mechanism of helping babies learn language. Analysis of baby talk shows that the vowels are lengthened, and speech is slowed down, and more articulated. It is an exaggeration of adult speech. What appears to be an unconscious effort is actually a lesson plan in language. Even mouth movements are exaggerated for the baby’s benefit. One would press their lips more tightly together to say “baaaaaaaaaaall” to a baby. In fact, when the full length baby talk is written down, it has the look of a grammar lesson, repetitive, but varied by description and structure: “Look at the ball, look at the bouncing ball, look at the pretty bouncing ball”.
As silly as it may sound, baby talk has all the important components of language. It is an important part of a baby’s language development skills because it provides them what normal adult speech lacks, a methodical way of providing the basic building blocks of language. So baby talk is not just an unconscious effect of babies on adults, but rather, the unconscious way people teach babies how to use language.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Stephanie Harrison Photography - Where You'll Find the Best Photographer in Town
Photo Credit: celtics baby clothes
Whether you're looking for that perfect photographer for senior pictures, wedding photos, new baby celebration or special family moments, Stephanie Harrison Photography is the place to go! You'll not only find a professional studio that is conveniently located in the heart of the Historic Depot District in Richmond, Indiana, but you'll meet one of the friendliest, easy going photographers around; not to mention at a great value!
The photographer at Stephanie Harrison Photographer, none other than Stephanie Harrison herself, offers an artistic style that can't be found elsewhere. The results of her work give an eclectic, non-staged, and real feeling. She captures expressions and movements perfectly in her photographs. She's got the perfect personality for children and adults alike. She can accommodate any situation from serious, quiet moments to doing whatever is needed to get an unsure baby to smile, make nervous folks feel comfortable or even catch that wondering gaze of a beloved pet.
Photos aren't always taken inside the studio at Stephanie Harrison Photography. The opportunity is also there to go outdoors and use the resources of the Historic Depot for a more urban look, combining the exposed brick of old buildings with the sweet, fresh face of a new baby, for example. Stephanie is also often available for on-site shoots for weddings, special celebrations and other purposes!
Stephanie Harrison has the experience to make your photo shoot the best it can be! She's been featured in a number of magazines across the world and has won various photography awards. With such skill and recognition one might think her prices would reflect it, but at Stephanie Harrison Photography, the value is unreal!
The session fee is a very reasonable $40.00 for up to four people. Prices for prints obviously vary by size but range anywhere from $8.00 for eight wallets up to $90.00 for a huge 20x30 print! She offers packages for senior pictures starting at a low $99.00 and Wedding Packages that can be had from $550.00. Also available are Gallery Canvas Wraps in various sizes which are, simply put, awesome!
Stephanie Harrison Photography can be found at 195 Fort Wayne Avenue in Richmond, Indiana and reached at (765)962-3133. The website, www.stephanieharrisonphotography.com offers numerous examples of Stephanie's work, a price sheet, bio, and contact information for setting up your first session.
Stephanie Harrison Photography; you simply won't find a better photographer around!
Tips for Breaking into Sports Photography
photo source
Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC, student photographer Chris Osborne hopes his experience in sports photography will take him to the next level - his goal for every shot is "Sports Illustrated Cover".
Osborne explains how a sixth sense is valuable in sports photography, but without the basics of photography, you will still miss the shot.
What first attracted you to photography? How did you get started yourself?
Photography was something I could do since I have always been able to see how I wanted things to look. I have started and restarted a few times. My first camera was a 110 mm back in 3rd grade. I moved onto other interests until college, where I got a Coolpix L3. It is good for general use, but trying to shoot basketball did not work at all. So, I purchased a Rebel XT and have not looked back.
What photographers - well known or unknown - inspire you?
Beyond the sports photography culture, two unknowns got me where I am today. The first is my sister. She says that I stole her interest in photography and will not hold back any criticism of my work. The second is Paul, a fellow photographer at the school paper. After seeing one of his pictures in the paper and not liking it at all, I decided that I could do a better job and filled the other sports photographer position. Only later did I learn that an editor and not Paul made the cropping decisions.
What equipment do you use? Is there a certain piece of gear you could not live without?
I am currently using a Canon Rebel XT with the kit 18-55mm lens, Canon 50mm 1.8, Canon 75-300 4-5.6, and a Tamron 28-200mm 4/5.6. My only other add ons are a Canon battery grip and a polarizing filter. Being on a college student budget, I do not buy new equipment unless I will really use it. But if I had to pick one item that I couldn't live without it would be the battery grip. I missed too many shots by flipping the camera the wrong way to shoot vertically or simply missing the shutter button.
Do you have any goals in mind with your photography?
For my sports shot, there is always one basic thought running through my mind - Sports Illustrated cover. I would love to have one someday. For everything else, I think about if I could see the shot hanging on someone's wall. If I cannot, I find something that fits that requirement.
What do you feel are your strengths and weaknesses in sports photography?
As much as I hate to say this one, one of my strengths is that I have a camera that can handle the speed and lighting at college sporting events. Beyond that, I am able to have a personal relationship with most of the athletes and am able to predict fairly well what is about to happen. My weaknesses are that I am still too slow at times to get the shot that I want, despite knowing almost exactly what is about to happen and that I have a tendency to tilt my camera. Also, where the Winthrop athletic department lets me go during games limits what I am able to shoot.
What does it take to be a quality sports photographer?
To be a quality sports photographer, you have to be a little bit psychic. By that I mean that you need to be able to know where to point the camera to get the shot. Some sports are easier than others. What sports do you like to shoot? I like to shoot basketball and volleyball most. They are high intensity and usually have something new to get every time. I like baseball the least because most of the shots are just excessively similar.
What post-processing tools/software do you use? How much does that influence your photography?
When I want better control over the photograph, I will use Photoshop 7 or Gimp depending on which operating system I am working under (desktop runs XP while laptop is in the process of switching over to Linux). I use Picasa for basic editing such as cropping and overall brightness/contrast. I sacrifice the overall control for speed when I have to turn things in to the school paper.
What advice would you give new photographers?
A) Don't get discouraged. Photography is an art, which means you will have to work at it.
B) A good photographer can overcome bad equipment, and good equipment will not make you a good photographer.
C) Less time editing your photographs means you'll have more time to take more, so get things right in camera as much as possible.
D) Try to see all of what there is to shoot, not just the stereotypical snapshots that everyone else will find.
Check out Osborne's photography at http://sapidexistence.com
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Budget Winter Wedding Photography Guide
source,credit
Do-it-yourself wedding photography is an excellent way to save money, but it is important to plan the details. Chances are you probably know a few photography buffs who are willing to help with your wedding photos. Use this guide to make the most of their skills and generosity to get beautiful wedding pictures.
1. Recruit multiple friends or family members to help with the photographs.
Designating multiple people as photographer splits the workload and means the wedding pictures will reflect a variety of perspectives. Choose knowledgeable, reliable people who are experienced in digital photography.
2. Use a high quality camera.
Make sure the camera you choose is technologically capable of capturing your winter wedding memories. Varying lighting conditions and action scenes are no problem for a good digital camera.
3. Have backup batteries or a backup camera ready.
Be sure the camera you use is charged and have a backup battery or backup camera ready.
4. Bring extra memory cards.
With digital cameras, most people take a few photos then delete the bad ones. The quick pace of a wedding probably will not leave time to edit along the way. Besides, pictures that are out of focus or unusual often have a unique beauty that is not immediately apparent. Bring extra memory cards to avoid missing a good shot.
5. Be very clear about what you want.
Research online and browse friend's wedding albums to get an idea of the type of poses and moments you want to commemorate. Make a list to be absolutely certain each milestone is photographed.
6. Get a mix of candid and posed shots.
A variety of photos best captures the spirit of the day.
7. Plan for the weather.
Depending on the wedding location, winter weather may mean it is too frigid to venture outdoors for a photo session. Plan to take group shots of the bridal party and family members indoors.
8. Edit the photos.
Try cropping and adding different special effects. Sepia and black and white pictures take on an elegant, timeless quality.
9. Order quality photo prints.
Since you saved so much on the cost of a photographer, invest in prints that use high quality paper and ink.
10. Make a wedding album.
You can use traditional photo prints to make a wedding album, but digital photos give you more options. A variety of book options, including hardbound books and small flipbooks, are available online and in many drug and discount stores.
Digital Photography Home-Business Opportunities
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For the next seven years, digital photography is forecasted to remain steady as a job opportunity for those that are interested in this field. While the competition is expected be strong amongst photographers and the demand for jobs will fall below the number of photographers there are expected to emerge in this field.
The most successful photographers exhibit traits in being creative, able to adapt rapidly to technology changes, and management proficiency. There are digital photography business courses available to help you gain the competitive edge. You will be able to start your own full or part-time business when you develop a good business sens and keep up-to-date on the rapidly changing technology.
There are many areas that you can pursue in a digital photography home business. I will cover a few of the areas for digital photography businesses.
Real Estate
Each year there are millions of homes sold in the US and real estate agents use at least one picture to advertise the property online, in magazines, in brochures, and in newspapers. As a digital photographer you could earn $50 to $100 a house working with real estate agents or others involved in real estate.
Portraits
There are many locations that you can use for a photo shoot. Many people like to have a professional portrait done of themselves for various reasons. The common charge for a shoot is $100 per hour and an additional $50 to $100 for prints and enlargements. There is also a strong demand for pet and children's portraits.
Sports
Being a photographer for sporting events can be profitable and exhilarating. As a sports photographer, you can submit your photos to event organizations, to participants and publications, local news agencies, and a variety of other types of news and sporting sites. The local minor league teams could pay $50 to $200 for team photos with extra sales potential for prints, premium items such as photo trading cards, T-shirts, and reprint. Do not forget your local school teams either as there is a hidden potential for a photo shoot for these teams.
Commercials
Every year there are billions of dollars spent on product advertisements. Commercial photography is normally limited to the more experienced photographers who can charges as much as $2,500 a day for high end product shots. There is also an opportunity for those that can also do shoots for the local chamber of commerce for their websites, local businesses for websites, and a wide array of other ways to earn as a commercial photographer.
Glamour
There are many beauty salons, hair dressers, and modeling agencies that use photos to help promote their services and products. While it is not uncommon for them to pay more than $150 an hour for promotional shoots with images that can be used for brochures, online advertising, point of sale materials, and business cards. There is an opportunity for those that wish to have photos of their staff and customers photographed for in house promotions or for conventions.
Stock Photography
There are agencies that specialize in stock photos that they resell to business for promotional purposes. For you to have your work listed with them they normally require a minimum submission of 300 to 500 photographs. As a stock photographer you can submit photos such as travel photos, landscape, people, animals, still life, and various other types of images that will appeal to their customers. The commissions for stock photographers can range from $5 to $100 for images that their customers purchase through their agencies.
News and Events
Many local newspapers, magazines, and newscasts often look for interesting human interest stories and pictures. The requirements for each of the types of periodicals will vary, but it is possible to have your pictures published, receive credit as a tag line, and possibly a payment for your photo.
Wedding Photography
There are photographers who will establish a wedding package of 25 to 40 prints that will retail for $1,500 to $3000. Normally this a type of shoot will take two days to work, the first day is to shoot the event and the second day is to process and prepare the album.
Graduation
There are parents who wish to have a professional photograph took of their graduate walking down the aisle and across the stage at graduation. The charges for photos could range from $5 to $10.