Digital Pictures..useful site

I've been looking at improving my digital pictures and have realised that some knowledge to get the pictures right in the first place is invaluable and it is difficult and even sometimes impossible to perk up a poor shot.
John Hoare is the cameraman in the family as you can see from this example, and is one of those guys who reads the manual when he buys a camera.
That is just one tip from the pdf below... I must look mine out!


















Shoot-Digital-Pics-Like-the-Pros.pdf

blog

September 28, 2007
5 Professional Digital Photography Tips
It is definitely possible that you can take fantastic photos with a simple point-and-shoot digital camera. The problem doesn't lie with the camera. You can take super lousy shots with the most sophisticated Canon dSLR. It is the skills of the photographer.Below are 10 professional digital photography tips you can use without having to fork out money on expensive equipment:

1. Warming Up the Tones
Do you realized that the shots you took sometimes have a cool, clammy feel? The default white balance setting for most digital camera is "auto". This is okay for most shots but it is more towards the "cool" side.

Try taking a test. Take some outdoor shots with white balance "auto" on and then take the same picture with "cloudy" setting. I am sure you will like the "warm" image better.

2. Use Macro Mode
Some amazing fine details of an object can be taken using "macro" mode. Try activating "macro" mode on your digital camera and explore your surroundings. Objects like flowers and insects can give you very interesting images which you can never thought of.

Bear in mind that you will have shallow depth of field when using "macro" mode. Hence, just focus on the part of the object that is most important for you and let the rest of the image go soft.

3. Use Polarizing Filter
Want to enhance your photos with some punch? You should get yourself a polarizing filter. It is very good for outdoor and landscape shooting. You can lower glare and get rid of unwanted reflections. Polarizing shots have richer and more saturated colors.

Your digital camera can't insert filter? No problem. Use a pair of quality sunglasses. Take them off your eyes and use them as a polarizing filter. Place them as near to your digital camera's lens as possible. It works! I have been using this trick for years!

4. Outdoor Photos that Shine
Do you know you can always put "flash" mode on always? Don't let your digital camera determines the light setting. You can control!

When in "flash on" mode, your camera exposes for the background first. It then adds sufficient flash to illuminate your portrait subject. Your photo will end up where the composition looks good.

Another great technique is to put your object under a shade, e.g: under a tree, and use the flash to illuminate the object. This will keep the person looks comfortable with no squinted eyes due to the sun glare.

5. High Storage Media Cards
Even the most common digital cameras nowadays range between 5-8 megapixel. A high resolution picture can take up massive space. You don't want to miss a great shot because your media card is full. Try to get a 1GB card for your digital camera which are 5 megapixel and above.

Even with just a simple digital camera, you can take great shots. All you need is some creativity and skills. With some professional digital photography tips I mentioned above, you can take on dSLR photographers with lousy skills.

Hint hint

send 2 uk

Happy belated birthday wishes Julian. 2009 is the big 50 and Mum will be reaching 80, so sounds like a good time for us to plan a visit. Better start panning soon.

We got a bit side tracked over the weekend as Claire was running a fever throwing our regular activities out the window and I forgot to call to say hello and happy birthday. We can give you a call over the weekend.

Lots of love from us all here in smoggy Singapore,

Nic, Jen, Claire and Daniel.

iPhone + youtube = ......?

JULIAN Many Happy Returns

JULIAN

Originally uploaded by ezappy.

lots of love from all at the .org

Cherub

The Oxford crew went over to Auntie Vals for a late Xmas/NewYear get together on Saturday, and it was the occasion where all six cousins on Barbara's side met up for the first time all together. Ruby is a handfull, (terrible 2's/3's) but her Mum is calling the shots and being assertive, but this little mite is just adorable.
steve millie3 best
Originally uploaded by ezappy.

Gemma and William were amazed to see that the one amusement from years ago was laid out in the lounge, a game called Mastermind,
but we didn't play that. Instead Jamie showed us all his latest Wii gear (Wee or is it Why aye?) for the tv so we had a go at computer baseball. Later after roast beef with all the trimmings out came the cards and the foreign money box and we got stuck into serious pontoon. I had a small photo album in my pocket with the ones of Julian in my Meteor etc and some of Gem and Will when they were small so that kept Georgina busy asking Gemma who that was and that!

group photo at vals best
Originally uploaded by ezappy.

You'll notice that Georgina and Jamie are clutching a couple of pooches, which will need dog sitting in the summer during holidays. If the attraction of a house with pool tickles your fancy with public golf club and Epping Forest to the rear.. The mutts Border Terrier "Ben" & King Charles Spaniel "Rosie" are both soft!

Trains and boats and planes....

Evening all,

in keeping with the euro travelling bug I'm off to Spain on an early morning flight out of Luton and will be picking up a van on Wednesday down Alicante way so as to haul back our belongings. The plan is to empty the house a little and so pave the way for a face lift prior to letting it out. I'll cross back Friday night, all being well.

Managed to seriously impact our last day in the country by dropping the car into the brook while reversing to a passing place on Thursday evening. Reversing into the brook was not so much the problem since Kip Manning towed me out fairly easily later that night. No, the problem was the branch that came through the back windows when the car tipped. Back window and quarter light went with a horrible sssshruooowsh and a thump. A couple of minor abrasions to the body work I can live with but the glass was a fine mess. We were all in the car at the time and had to make a brisk walk home down the lane to keep warm. Autoglass are patching it up tonight but the reglazing will have to wait until next Saturday.

Ho hum. It all makes work for the working man to do... Anyway, if I've been a little out of touch, perhaps you'll understand why, what with helping Jan plan the trip and book the various services we will be using. School is out for half term, so on the back of this lovely February weather, we head for Spain and a tan! Happy birthday dear boy on the 24th should I fail to make contact.

Love to all, Pete and Jan

Grand Central Station Artwork

Love the windmill. Also like the girls and the beer in Holland but those are also distant memories. SO anyone coming over for the F1 Grand Prix at the end of September? - Steve, what tie are you likely to swim in from Ulan Bhatar or whatever?

Update: Dagenham Smile

Hi Julian and Grandad,

Clive has checked and unfortunately the word boffins at OED are bit behind the times as Dagenham Smile isn't in, but the Urban Dictionary is more with the current parlance. Prepare to snigger at the amusing suggestions of contexts given after each definition. The "Word of the Day' feature also good!

Gem x

One for Nic

Working windmill under canvas seen from the motorway.. they're used for all sorts of tasks, to pump water and saw wood as well as the milling... not the same ones of course!
more info


back in uk now.. 6 hours door to door under the tunnel..


























Sunday I felt I had to return to the VanGogh Museum, and outside was a cool little quartette playing jazz (alto accordian drums and bass), with a little tiny child in red absolutely enthralled.
Nearby the locals were skating on the paddling pool.

Wikipedia Love - for Clive

I don't think I'd heard 'Dagenham Smile' before but I'm sure you Oxford contingent have!

Buttock cleavage


Julian
(from kottke)

Seat Marbella in the Red Light District?

Seat Marbella in the Red Light District
Originally uploaded by ezappy.

"Excuse me do you speak English?"

"But of course"...says the entire Dutch population it seems. "How can we help you?"
What a fabulous time in Amsterdam is being had, with lots of walking and hopping on trams, plenty of reviving and excellent coffee & applecake and many new sights to cheer the middle-aged eye!

The first day was spent getting used to moving about the city on the trams and avoiding the mobile toting bicycling nederlanders.
The weather is cold and breezy but sunny today and the dress is reminiscent of those Bruegel paintings, coloured leggings, bulky jackets and ornate woolly hats!
Yesterday a visit to the house of the familiy of Anne Frank, and today
Rembrandts Huis near the now Red Light district, where he lived in grand style before he got repossessed (tcho!) ending up near where I'm staying (Herengracht).
View Larger Map

Tomorrow more galleries and I'll be returning via the Eurotunnel on Monday so see you all later.

lots of love from Steve

latest from hq

Pleased to say that Mum's ankles are on the mend after her horrendous scalding last week.
The insurance man (Rainbow cleaning man from no. 10 opposite) has been to view the tea stains and because they cannot be shifted will be sending the carpet man next week to re-measure and supply us with a new one. Query is what are we gonna do with all the furniture while the new carpet is being fitted. I'll no doubt find some room somewhere. I hope the weather keeps fine!

We are going shopping today to buy a new dress for Mum as we are spending the weekend 21st - 24th Feb at the Marsham Court Hotel in Bournemouth with a group of friends from the Banbury Catenians. We'll try to contact our birthday boy from there. I have finished setting up the washing m/c in the garage and the new d/washer in the kitchen, with the heavy work done by Steve, for which again, many thanks. We did our first d/washing yesterday!!

By the way have you all seen Steve's picassa pictures with birthday boy at aged 2 or 3 in Haddenham? luv G&G

THE YEAR OF THE RAT

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all our Chinese friends. To all our Chinese relations HNY. Love from a fellow rat and his wife. G&G

Memories of our Haddenham house

My Mum and Dad, Julian, Nic in the dress! and us two - what a long time ago G&G

Who's is that funny face?

1960colour
Originally uploaded by ezappy.

More of the same on flickr...

I'm off to Amsterdam in the morning .. keep €'s Dad for Spanish trip!

Seat and Fiat modifications...!

Hey Steve and Will,

does your little Mongoliam rally monster come with these extra modifications? Might come in handy in Kazakhstan!

Thanks to Cathy for her(long) update

You poor loves. How awful for you to wake up to a flooded terrace. Better than indoors, one thinks but nasty for all that. Our hearts go out to all those poor souls who have to endure these floods. Thank goodness we have to go right down to the railway line to see flooded fields, but so far people are not being inconvenienced like those on the Severn and Thames valleys or up in York and 'ull. We chose our area well.
Mum's ankles are very swollen and painfull, so once more we have to visit our local doctor. My legs itch like the very devil, but I hope there is some ointment that will ease the situation.
More thanks to Steve for moving our washing machine into the garage and installing our Bosch dish washer in the kitchen. What a lad he is!!!!!!!!!!!!! wonderful.
What fools we were not to remember that we each have a stash of Euros, which can be used in Holland. We will try to get some to you, Steve, in the post, otherwise phone us. Love from G&G

Pass the Courvoisier

Thanks for all the birthday wishes, and happy birthday to auntie jen. Having a glass of Moet & Chandon at the moment with Dad, Gem, and Clive. Cheers!

The Flood

HAPPY BIRTHDAY both Jen and Will I hope you both have fun days, although I surpose Jen yours is nearly over by now, so I expect that Nic is spoiling you.

Dad I'm sorry to hear of Mums accident, sounds rather nasty, sorry you had to cope on your own. But you both must be mightily relieve about the good news of the blood tests, poor Mum though no cure for the tummy troubles.

We are still a family with only one working computor, so there is a queue down the hall as everyone waits for John to finish work, so they can msn their friends etc. For Christmas we got Edmund a graphics tablet and there was some mistake made when installing it which was then made worse by trying to fix it and so on..

I have finally finished my three week cooking stint and feel alittle like I have been run over by a steam roller and I have every sympathy for Mum, never wanting to eat a lamb stew or a beef and carrot pie again, you can have to much of a good winter warming thing!

John has been up to the flat twice since I started cooking once to clear up and finish off the decorating, and once to hand over the keys and go through a few thing with the new tenants. He was most impressed with our work Steve!! Thankyou so much for going up to the flat after Mums Hospital appiontment and meeting the prospective tenants and putting the photos on the website and all the work you did when everything was being so difficult

Steve,The new tenants could not abide the sofas so John has agreed to them buying a new one and Oh joy! brought the old ones back here under the delusion that I would be angery with him if he chucked them!

Can you believe it we had a flood thank goodness it didn't actualy come in the house but Saturday night(19th) about 10 o'clock I stepped outside the back door to get a log for the fire and found my self ankle deep in water, I didn't think to much about it as it had been almost as bad on wednesday but by the morning it had drained away(and anyway I was to tired to think anything other than how long will it take for my slippers to dry). But at 8 o'clock the next morning John and I were standing in the kitchen drinking tea and John saw through the torrental rain that we had a river running down beside the greenhouse across the lawn and poring down the steps ( this was all hidden from view for me by the pool table, shorty!) filling up the terrace, the soak-away having already been filled up by the 'river' So we dessed quickly and having phoned the council for help set about trying to divert the 'river' that was coming down the Drovers road, down the little lane behind our house and through our garden etc. So with builders blocks and homemade sand bags(carrier bags, full of soil) we tried our best, John got Orwel up and out to us pumping out the water from our terrace and Charlie,council emploie whose garden backs onto ours arrive with drain rods and his son to sort out the blocked calvert causing all the problem, so by the time the council workers 'proper' arrived to save us the worse of it was over, but the distressing thing is that we now have about 10 inches of damp plaster arround the kitchen and my workshop, but thank goodness we didn't have to carry everything upstairs as John had anticipated! Sorry this is a little long winded!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO WILL

28 tomorrow - have a very Happy Day. love G&G

Seat Marbella in Kazakhstan