Health Insurance Shopping

Planning to get yourself a health insurance? Health insurance is really important especially with all the different kinds of diseases being discovered these days. But before you get one, why not do a little research. There are lots of companies out there which offers different health insurance plans.

Here are a few questions which can help you choose which health insurance plan to consider:

What is the company's history?
What are the monthly premiums?
Are there deductibles?
Will I have a co-pay?
Who receives coverage?
What is covered?

Remember that it pays to do a little investigation before picking any health insurance plan.

Lumpiang Ubod

Heart of Palm Spring Rolls

Wrappers:
3 eggs
2 tablespoons vegetable oil or corn oil
1 cup cornflour
1/2 teaspoon salt
375 ml (1 1/2 cups) water

Filling:
3 tablespoons vegetable oil or corn oil
1 tablespoon finely minced garlic
1/2 cup finely minced onion
2 cups heart of palm, julienned, or 2 cups canned bamboo shoots, julienned
250 g (1/2 lb) prawns, shelled deveined and minced
250 g (1/2 lb) boiled pork, julienned
1 cup green beans, julienned
salt and ground black pepper to taste
14 lettuce leaves

Sauce:
1/2 cup brown sugar
500 ml (2 cups) chicken stock
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons cornflour

1 cup finely crushed peanuts to granish

To make wrappers: beat eggs thoroughly and add the oil. Add the cornflour and salt and stir until dissolved. Add the water and mix well. Heat an omelette pan and pour in a thin coating of batter to make the wrapper. Cook for 1 minute then flipand cook the other side for 1 minute also. Set aside. Repeat until you have made 14 or more wrappers.

For the filling: sauté the garlic and onion in oil. When the garlic browns and onion becomes transparent, add hearts of palm and cook until tender. Stir in the prawn and pork. Cook until tender. Add the green beans and simmer for 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Lay the spring roll wrappers on a flat surface. Place a lettuce leaf on each wrapper, part of the leaf should extend beyond the edge of the wrapper. Add 3 tablespoons of filling. Roll and fold one end. Leave the other end open to show the lettuce.

For the sauce: combine all ingradients in a saucepan. Cook, stirring constantly, over high heat until the sauce thickens. Let cool.

Brush the rolls with sauce and sprinkle with crushed peanuts. Makes about 14 rolls.

Recipe by Reynaldo G. Alejandro and photo by Luca Invernizzi Tettoni from The Food of The Philippines by Periplus World Cookbooks.

VoIP

Familiar with VoIP? Voice over Internet Protocol is a technology that is used to transmit voice conversations over the internet or intranet. Using VoIP is an affordable alternative to traditional phone service when making long distance calls. The leading provider of broadband telephone services is Vonage. The Vonage phone also has features like any traditional phones like caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, call transfer, personalized voicemail, and much more. And if there's anything that you want to know about Vonage or VoIP then visit the very useful Vonage Forum which provides helpful information. Sign up now and avail of their free month offer!

Choosing the Right ISO for Digital Photography

What ISO is best for my pictures? - Reader Question

Changing the ISO setting on your camera changes the sensitivity to light of the image sensor inside of it.

The lower number that you select the less sensitive the sensor is to light (and conversely the higher the number the more sensitive it becomes).

This is useful when you’re shooting in different lighting situations - particularly when there’s low light and you might not be able to use a flash (you’d bump up your ISO setting in this case).

The only cost of increasing ISO is that as you do it you’ll notice that the ‘noise’ or ‘grain’ in your shots also begins to increase.

You probably won’t notice this graininess on your images when lookin at them on the LCD on your camera - however when you get them back to your computer they’ll become noticeable with higher ISO settings.

Here’s an example that I’ve used previously with two images taken with exactly the same settings except for the ISO (100 on the left, 3200 on the right). Click it to enlarge to see the difference.



As a general rule you should choose the lowest ISO possible for smooth and grain-free shots.

Of course when photographing low light scenes there may be no other alternative so I’d suggest asking yourself some of the following questions when choosing what to set ISO at:


• Am I hand holding the camera? - when using a tripod you might be able to use a slower shutter speed which would allow you to lower your ISO.

• Is my subject moving? - if your subject is perfectly still (like when shooting a still life) and where you’re using a tripod you’ll be able to slow your shutter speed and lower ISO.

• Do I need a big Depth of Field? - If you don’t need a large depth of field you might be able to increase your aperture which allows more light into the camera and will allow you to lower ISO.

• Can I use some Artificial Light? - using a flash or even switching on a light can help to get more light into your camera - allowing you to decrease your ISO setting.

• Can I get away with Grain? - sometimes a photo can actually look better with grain. Some photographers love the mood and atmosphere that a little noise can add and will bump up their ISO in the hope of getting it.

• How big will the image be enlarged? - the reason that noise is not able to be seen on your camera’s LCD is that it is very small. As a result the pixels in the picture are small also and the grain is unable to be seen. It is only when you enlarge the picture on a larger screen or in printing that it becomes noticeable. If you’re only ever going to use the shot in a small size you can probably get away with a higher ISO.

Keep in mind that it’s only when you shoot in a manual or semi-manual mode that you need to change ISO. When you’re in auto mode or one of your camera’s preset modes it will select the lowest one that it can for you.

Also keep in mind that if you change ISO that you will need to get in the habit of checking what setting is selected at the start of every photo shoot. Many photographers have been disappointed at the end of a shoot to find that they’d forgotten to check what ISO setting they’d left their camera on in their last shoot. There’s nothing worse than thinking you’re shooting at an ISO of 100 only to find you forgot to switch it back from 1600.

Try to get in the habit of not only checking settings before shooting but returning them to a low ISO at the end of a shoot.

(Article from Digital Photography School)

Leica Binoculars for Birdwatching

My friend and I are planning to go birdwatching... yup, in the city. There are actually a number of places where you can spot different species of birds right in the heart of Metro Manila. A few of our friends are joining us for the first time and they are eyeing to buy Leica binoculars. Leica binoculars provide unsurpassed sharpness, clarity, color rendition and image definition. It is perfect for birdwatching because a distant image can be drawn in until it appears close enough to touch, sharp and crystal clear.

Eagle Optics has a wide variety of Leica binoculars from the basic to the powerful and ultra-high-perfomance type. Aside from the excellent selection of binoculars, Eagle Optics also has outstanding customer service and great low prices.

Peanut Butter Pizza

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate pieces
1/2 cup peanut butter pieces
3/4 cup tiny marshmallows
2/3 cup peanuts
1/2 cup miniature candy-coated semisweet chocolate pieces

In a bowl beat butter and peanut butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Beat in brown sugar, granulated sugar, egg, and vanilla. Beat in the flour on low speed. Spread dough evenly in an ungreased 12- or 13-inch pizza pan.

Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 15 to 18 minutes or until golden. Remove from oven and sprinkle with chocolate and peanut butter pieces. Let stand for 1 to 2 minutes or until softened. With spatula, spread melted pieces over crust. Top with marshmallows, peanuts, and miniature candy pieces. Bake about 5 minutes more or until marshmallows are golden. Cool pan on wire rack. Makes 12 servings.

(From eDining.ca. Source: Better Homes & Gardens)

Credit Cards Anyone?

You can easily apply for a credit card these days. But are these good or bad for you? Using a credit card is very risky for you may find yourself buried in debt without you realising it, especially if you're a shopaholic. Owning a credit means being and having a lot of self control. In my opinion, you should at least own one credit card. It is very handy, especially during emergencies and you just don't have enough cash in hand. If you're from the UK and you're looking for credit cards that offer the best deals like 0% credit cards and 0% balance transfers, then check out CreditCards-GB. CreditCards-GB is a one-stop-shop for credit card information. They provide financial advice and a guide to the best deals on the UK market today.

Cocktail: Gl¸wein

Red wine
lemon
sugar
a cinnamon stick

Serve warm in a wine glass or mug.




From Drinkalizer.com

Redecorating My Room

When in the mall, my dad always goes to the home decors and furnitures section. I don't know why but when I'm there, I love looking at the lighting fixtures. Maybe I'm attracted to the ones with unusual designs which inspires me to plan redecorating my room. I want to transform it into something extraordinary, maybe something whimsical or enchanting. I also surfed the net and found these:



I'd love to have these for my room. It'd be perfect! And I also wanted to change my bathroom lighs and this is the one that I'd like to have mounted on my wall



Now isn't that classy?

Slow Shutter Speeds and Long Exposure Photography

by: Rick Blythe


Many new cameras will come with built-in shutter speeds of up to 30 seconds or longer, which is enough for most long-exposure photography. Other cameras will have a B (bulb) setting that will keep the shutter open as long as you keep your finger on the shutter release button or a T (time) exposure setting that will keep the shutter open until you press the shutter release button a second time. Cameras with bulb settings can also be fitted with a locking cable release so that it isn't necessary to keep your finger on the shutter for long exposures. If your camera doesn't have a cable release, you can use the self-timer option found on most cameras. This will eliminate camera vibration from your hands.

A tripod, or something to rest your camera on, is essential because the camera must be completely still during the time that the shutter is open. If you want to make a fast-moving car blur as it speeds by you, a relatively fast shutter speed of 1/20 of a second may give you the results you are after, however, if you want to make stars in the nighttime sky look like glowing rings as the earth rotates, your exposure may last all night.

The light meter on your camera may not be able to accurately judge the best aperture setting for longer shutter speeds, especially in low-light situations, so your best bet is probably to "bracket." This means taking up to six pictures of the same subject, but doubling the shutter speed each time. This will give you a variety of effects and exposures and allow you to choose the best shot. In general, slow shutter speeds will allow a lot of light into the camera, which means that you will want to use a small aperture (ie. f/22) to avoid over-exposing the shot. In bright daylight it will be necessary to use the lowest ISO available and a neutral density filter to cut the light down.

Some great effects and shutter speeds to try are:

Moving stars: several hours
Moving cars at night: 10 seconds
Waterfalls: 4 seconds +
Amusement park rides: 1 second

About The Author
Rick Blythe authors Better Digital Photography.
This and other articles can be found at http://betterdigitalphotography.blogspot.com/2004/10/slow-shutter-speeds-and-long-exposure.html

Mint Credit Card

Aren't you bored with how all your credit cards look? I came across Mint Credit Cards site and saw a different shaped credit card which has the bottom right-hand corner removed. If you're from the UK then you've probably seen it already, but aside from it's unusual shape, Mint Credit Cards has more features that other credit card companies doesn't offer. You can manage your account and shop securely in the comfort of your own home through the internet, your purchases and balance transfers are interest-free until the 1st of December 2007, and if have any queries they have a 24 hour customer service to assist you.

Find out more about benefits of the MINT Card by visiting their site.

Flight and Travel Tips

Author: Matthew Reider

Plan in advance: If you have a plan to visit out of your country, start your plan at least three to six month prior to your visit. Know the country and destination where you are planning to visit. Know more about the climatic condition of that country and find out the travel advices for the country. Select best time of travel for that particular country or city.

Book air tickets in advance: If you have finalized your tour program, book air tickets in advance as many airlines offer a discount for tickets booked in advance. Now get your passport, visa and other travel documents ready.

Learn the local expenses: You might not know whether you are paying the right amount for taxi, hotel and other commodities in the particular city, therefore it is better to search for the basic information about the city and you will get plenty of information on Internet. You should also have the fair knowledge of exchange rate, as this will help you in converting your currency.

Visit local shops: We all do shopping whenever we are on tour and you should try to do shopping from the local shops instead of big malls. In local store, you will find things cheaper and affordable.

Keep essential medicine: You should have a fair idea of the medicines that may be required to you while you are on tour. In addition to your daily medicine, you should also carry away with you some common medicines such as medicines for cough, cold and fever. You should also see that if immunization is required for a particular city or country.

Keep Traveler’s checks: Instead of taking a lot of money with you, it is better to take traveler’s check or credit card with you. In case if you miss these, you should immediately report to the banks or credit card providers. You should also avoid bringing valuables with you.

Dress casually: Your dress sometimes indicates about yourself to thieves and that is a risk for you, so you should dress casually. It is better to stay alert while you are in another city or country. If you see something wrong in your neighborhood, keep yourself in safe position.

Travel Insurance: Many insurance providers are also offering travel insurance and you should ensure a suitable insurance policy for you and your family.

Stay in medium to large Hotels: Never stay in very small hotels, as the security arrangement in these hotels is insufficient. Try to take a medium to large hotel. In most of such hotels adequate arrangement of security are made. Do not go out alone or with your family out of the hotel especially during nighttime and if you have to go, ask hotel staff to provide taxi.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesBase.com

About the Author:

Having travelled to over 40 countries around the world, Matt Reider started CanuckAbroad.com as a resource for finding cheap flights, travel advice, and information for expats abroad.

Share Anywhere!

Box.net is a virtual storage space where you can store your files of up to 1GB for free. And now you can easily share your files to your blog readers with the new Box.net Widget.

Box.net Widget is a flash player that lets you share your podcasts, favorite music or vides, photos, and any other types of files easily right on your blog. And what's great about is they offer unlimited bandwidth, unlike the other file sharing sites which has limited number of downloads.

Get your own Box.net widget and share anywhere!

Digital Photography - What's So Great About It?

Author: Carol Miller

I admit it - I've been slow to embrace the digital photography phenomenon. As a hobbyist, I have two film cameras, an old manual focus Nikon and a newer autofocus Canon Rebel, and I resisted the temptation to indulge in a digital camera up until recently, even though each of my children had them for years now. But recently my father gave me his mid-priced Olympus (he didn't like the menus), and I've been giving it a try. And, to my surprise, I even like it.

My favorite thing about the camera is pretty obvious - no film. My father gave me two (bless him) substantial memory cards, and I just don't run out of film. I don't pay to develop photos that I don't really want now that I've seen them (I don't pay to develop photos period), and since I can actually see how they look on the spot, I can delete bad shots to save the space for more. Taking lots of shots helps me improve, and improves the chances of a better than average photograph as well, and now it's free. My camera has settings on it that allow me to pretend I have film - I can set film speed and worry about aperture/shutter speed combinations just like with my other cameras, so I can still use what I already know about photography, which I really like. And I love not having to wait to see how the pictures came out.

The other really cool thing about digital photography is photo editing. I haven't invested in Photoshop yet, but I have my eye on the Elements program for next year. I just use Google's free Picasa and sometimes my PhotoDeluxe editor (came free with my scanner), and even then I can do an incredible amount of really exciting things with my pictures. The best is being able to correct poor exposures (I admit, I often don't notice backlighting). With a couple of adjustments, what would have been a throwaway photo can become a keeper! I remove red-eye easily, sharpen focus, adjust contrast, warm up colors, and remove excessive unwanted tint (such as from lamplight). Cropping is my favorite - those lucky few who have their own darkroom crop their photos routinely, but us regular folks used to have to take what we got - no longer! We can pick and choose, and glory in removing unwanted background, excess sky - we can even remove most of the shot and make it a close-up. Resizing is a snap - want some wallets? No sweat. 8x10, 5x7, some oddball size - just a simple selection will do it. And don't forget special effects. Depending on the editor, you can turn your photo into a painting, add glow, filters, neon - your imagination can go wild!

When you have your masterpiece ready to go, you can print it on photo paper at home, or you can send it out for processing. Through Picasa, you can click and send it to a processor via the internet, and get your professionally printed photos in the mail - but only the ones you have decided you want. You can upload your photos to a web page, email them, use them in a blog or on MySpace - they are easy to share.

So, as you can see, I am a digital photography convert. There is so much fun in having this kind of control over your work that it has actually rejuvenated my love of photography. If you haven't already converted too, think about it. It really is a blast.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesBase.com

About the Author:

Interested in learning more about digital photography? Then try visiting DigitalPhotography4All.com where you can get real information for regular folks, and lots of ideas to improve your own digital photography.

Cocktail: Chapala

125 ml orange juice
2 tsp grenadine
a little salt
a pinch of cayenne pepper

Shake well with ice in a cocktail shaker.
Serve either over lots of ice in a highball glass, or in a cocktail glass.


From Drinkalizer.com

Create Your Own Music Videos

Want to create your own music videos the easy way? Check out FlipTrack. Just download the FlipTrack tool then add your pictures then choose a song from their list of hundreds of songs and voila! You can also easily match your photos to the lyrics and rhythm of the songs just like a pro.

FlipTrack provides a huge assortment of music from different decades and genres. And the songs are pre-licensed so you can legally share your videos to anyone on the web. Email the URL to your friends or embbed them to your blog and be proud of what you create. Register now, it's free!

Online Dating

Have you tried online dating? It is a fun and exciting way to meet new people and maybe that special someone that you've been looking for.

Most online dating sites lets you register for free but gives limited features unless you you become a paid member. Not JustSayHi! JustSayHi is completely free... you won't ever pay a single cent. And they have the same features as any other paid online dating sites, if not better.

Register now! Today may be your lucky day to meet someone special!

A Short Introduction to Photography and Some Things to Consider When Purchasing a Digital Camera

Author: Chad M.


Photography is the art of taking photographs of objects or people, which are then processed into an image by placing special chemicals onto photosensitive paper resulting in a photograph or an image to be captured on paper.

Some people enjoy photography as a hobby while others make their living from it. Many photographers use both traditional film cameras and digital cameras and some still tend to process their own images. What they like to photograph is a matter of individual interest since some people enjoy taking pictures of nature, while others prefer portraits of people, pets, still life and so on.

The Camera Is The Most Important Consideration
Among the best ultra zoom cameras in the market are the Panasonic Lumix cameras. Equipped with a superb lens, they take high quality pictures with accurate colors and exposure. There is no problem with purple fringing, (AKA ghosting), like other ultra zoom cameras.

Ah yes, and the perfect accessory for any camera is a photo light box, which is a controlled lighting environment. With their uniform lighting environments, anyone can come up with professional looking color accurate photos without shadows to upload on websites, online auctions or catalogs.

Many photo opportunities only last for seconds, if your digital camera is too busy writing the last shot you took to the memory card you might miss the next shot. So make sure the camera you choose has a fast recovery time.

What If You Delete A File
And what if you delete an image file by mistake from your digital camera's flash card? Flash file recovery can recover any previously deleted image file. This is an application that every photographer should be aware of. It can also salvage pictures from damaged or corrupted flash drives (including camera's built-in memory) and memory sticks. While camera or storage media failure is a rather rare event, compact flash memory cards (CF for short) are slim, lightweight easy to change out when full.

Great photos need great frames
Many people frame pictures and use them as a great gift idea. We get different types and styles in picture frame moldings.

Before cutting any stock, photo matting should be done because it helps you get an estimate about the size of the completed frame. Most photography or frame shops sell pre-cut photo matting, but you can save money using your own mat cutting system. This is particularly relevant when you are making frames for a lot of family and friends on a regular basis.

Medical Photography
Photographic recording plays an important role in medicine, especially photographic documentation for endoscopy. Photographic or video recording of diagnostic procedures is better than memory or drawing. Moreover, it is a legal safeguard as well as material for research and teaching.

Digital camera prices have fallen so much in the last couple years pretty much anyone can now get into photography. One of the latest trends has been the merging of cell phones and digital cameras, the size of image is still pretty small but technology is advancing and within a couple years I think we may be quite surprised at what our little phones will be capable of.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesBase.com

About the Author:
This article with information relating too photography light box and best light box has been submitted by Chad McDonald from: http://www.photography-light-box.info

Enter Photo Competitions

Author: Mark Fenwick

A great morale booster is to win or even place in a highly regarded competition. Many professional photographers today have competitions to thank for getting them started on the road to a successful career.

Entering and winning photographic competitions can be a highly lucrative business if you take it seriously. Every year photography magazines alone give away many thousands of pounds/dollars worth of prizes. If you add that to the prizes offered by other magazines and organizations the figure is well into six figures, and someone has to win.

Secrets to success:

* Read the rules! There is no point putting lots of effort into shooting an entry if it doesn't fit the brief.

* Come up with something original, so it stands out, and only enter your best work.

* You may ignore your first ideas, though, because they're probably too obvious, and wait until you feel you have something really original.

* Only enter competitions that appeal to you, so you have a passion for the subject.

* Shoot pictures specifically for a competition and start working on ideas as far in advance as possible.

* Use impact. Here are a few simple forms of impact that work well at catching the eye - colour, shape, expression and humour.

* Your images should be well exposed, composed and in focus.

With some of the photography magazines you can enter competitions that are spread over several months, so if you flop in one category you have the chance to catch up in subsequent months and still clinch the overall prize.

You may stand a better chance of victory if you enter photo competitions run by non-photographic magazines, simply because the standard of entry tends to be lower. So always keep an eye out for them.

Rules to watch out for!

Most competitions are honourable. That is they seek to improve the standard of photography by giving prizes and/or recognition to photographers. For that reason, rules often contain a clause regarding the use of the winning photographs, such as displaying the winning pictures without further payment to the photographer. Please note the part that says winning pictures. Winning photographers are usually awarded a material prize as payment-in-kind for the use of the picture in a limited fashion. This should not affect copyright which should always remain with the photographer.

Avoid competitions where you may lose copyright of your images. Fortunately these are few and far between but mistakes have been made in the past. The use of pictures submitted to competitions can lead to exploitation of photographers by some organisers. This is because all too often competitions may have rules that include phrases like '... we reserve the right to use ALL images submitted...' If an image isn't good enough to win a prize but is good enough to be used to promote the competition or any other use by the competition organisers then the photographer should be paid for use of the image! This may only be a token amount but it should be paid and copyright of the image acknowledged to the photographer.

Enter some competitions and you stand a good chance of making a name for yourself and winning some great prizes. Good luck!

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesBase.com

About the Author:

Mark Fenwick is a Fine Art Photographer. For photo tips of professional photography, and photography jobs and opportunities, visit http://www.PhotographyUpdate.com

sharing the night together

I was listening to my MP3s and heard this song. I really like this song because it's so easy to sing along with. So I searched YouTube for a video and found this Reggae version by Brownman Revival. Cool! The original version is by Dr. Hook and was first released in 1978 from the album Pleasure & Pain.

This brought back a lot of memories... Me and my friend Dave used to work for Linux Philippines and our office used to be in Alfaro St. in Makati. Now Dino (BR's lead vocalist) also worked on the same building and I met him through my friend, Dahl, who was his officemate. (Yep we all worked in the same building and another friend works in same vicinity so it was really fun!) My work schedule at that time was from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. and my bosses would arrive at around 9 a.m. so I just hang around the office before the bosses arrive when I have no project. One time I was having a yosi break outside the office, alone, and when Dino saw me he accompanied me for awhile. That was really nice of him.

So anyway, here's the video and lyrics to the song... Enjoy!


You're looking kinda lonely girl
Would you like
Someone new to talk to
Oh yeah alright
I'm feeling kinda lonely too
If you don't mind
Can I sit down here beside you
Oh yeah alright
If I seem to come on too strong
I hope that you will understand
I say these things
Cause I'd like to know
If you're as lonely as I am
And if you mind
Sharing the night together oh yeah
Sharing the night together oh yeah
Sharing the night

We could bring in the morning girl
If you want to go that far
And if tomorrow finds us together
Right here the way we are
Would you mind
Sharing the night together oh yeah
Sharing the night together oh yeah
Sharing the night

Would you like to dance with me and hold me
You know I want to be holding you
Oh yeah alright
Cause I like feeling like I do
And I see in your eyes that you're liking it
I'm liking it too
Oh yeah alright
I'd like to get to know you better
Is there a place where we can go
Where we can be alone together
And turn the lights down low
And start sharing the night together oh yeah
Sharing the night together oh yeah
Sharing the night

Basic Digital Photography: the Old Rules Still Apply

Author: Christine Peppler

For the majority of us, taking photographs is a rather "informal" event. We spend minimal time posing our subjects, setting up the shot, adjusting the lighting, and so forth. However, understanding some of the basics of digital photography and taking just a bit of time prior to pressing the button can greatly improve the quality of the pictures we create.

Digital cameras introduced two great features into our world. One is the ability to delete pictures and try again. Beginning photographers need to experiment and practice. Digital cameras allow us to do this inexpensively. The second great feature is the ability to edit after the fact. However, the editing function is not unlimited and should not be used as a crutch; getting the shot right in the first place is still much more effective in creating quality images.

Most of the traditional rules for creating pictures still apply with digital photography. What makes a good photograph is the same. Good photography is a topic of considerable study but for now a brief discussion about just a handful of tips that will make the most immediate improvement for the true novice is sufficient.

Avoid blurry pictures by keeping a steady camera. Tripods are of course excellent for this purpose but aren't always handy or available. Without a tripod, you can grasp the camera in a manner that is comfortable for you; using two hands offers the best stability. Steady the camera by holding your arms next to your body with your elbows in close to your chest or stomach. You can brace yourself by keeping your feet apart or leaning against a wall, tree, or other object when possible.

Don't be afraid to set up the shot. When working with people as subjects, it is easy to direct them for a better picture. When looking at the LCD you can see basically how the shot is set up. Would the shot be better if the subjects in a group stepped in closer together, if they removed their sunglasses, if they turned slightly, or looked over your shoulder versus straight into the camera? You are the director and can make alterations at that point.

Another element of setting up the shot is to use an uncluttered background. If a person is the subject of your picture you want to eliminate all the other “distractions” in the surrounding area. A lot of background activity and other objects can take away from your intended subject. Sometimes just repositioning a bit and stepping in closer can help achieve a better background as well.

Another general rule is to take pictures at the eye level of the subject. In other words, your view angle should not be from above or below. This allows much more detail, the ability to see expression, emotion, personality, and so forth. This doesn't necessarily mean that the subject must look directly into the camera however.

When shooting people, animals, and wildlife it is usually best to move in close. Closer shots can dramatically improve your results. In some instances stepping in closer is not an option but in these instances you can use zoom to come in closer to the subject. Too close is 3 feet or less, this kind of proximity can result in blurry pictures. Special lenses are used for ultra up close photography.

Lighting is probably the most critical factor in image quality and it will be discussed in greater detail in a later article. For now it will suffice to say that mid-day often does not produce the best pictures. The lighting is harsh, it creates shadows, and it can alter the colors you are trying to capture. In general, you want the sun behind you but you need to be sure your shadow is not in the picture! When shooting people you also need to be sure that the sun is not forcing them to squint.

These are just a few of the most basic tips for creating the kind of images you want. To master these concepts practice is critical but the happy news is that they don't really require a great deal of time or require any additional equipment and expense.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesBase.com

About the Author:

Christine Peppler shares information on home electronics and home entertainment on her website at: http://www.homemedias.info

Just Say Hi!

Are you single? Want to meet new friends who are also single? Then visit JustSayHi.com. It's an online dating and matchmaking site whose features are as a good as the other existing paid dating sites, and the best thing about it is it's FREE. No credit card is ever required. Meet thousands of fun and attractive single men and women in your area. JustSayHi.com will help you find your perfect match and a relationship that matters. Meet singles by joining and posting in the active message boards. You can also participate in polls and surveys. So what are you waiting for? Register now for a high quality and free dating site.

Ukoy

Bean Sprout Fritters

Batter:
2 eggs
1 cup cornflour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon Annatto Water (recipe below)
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Filling:
1 cup bean sprouts
12 medium-size prawns, with shell
1 (5 cm x 5 cm) piece beancurd, cut into 0.5 cm cubes
250 g (1/2 lb) minced pork
Shrimp paste (bagoong)
500 ml (2 cups) vegetable oil for deep-frying

For the batter, beat the eggs well; then add cornflour, baking powder and the annatto water. Season with black pepper.

For the filling, place 2 tablespoons of the batter in a saucer, arrange some brean sprouts, prawns, bancurd, minced pork and 1/2 teaspoon of shrimp paste on top. Cover with 2 tablespoons of the batter.

Heat 500 ml vegetable oil in a deep frying-pan. When the oil is very hot, slide the mixture from the saucer slowly into the pan. When it turns a golden-brown color, remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Repeat with the remaining mixture. Serve hot with Vinegar Dipping Sauce.


Annatto Water

1 tablespoon annatto or achiote seeds
4 tablespoons water

Place the seeds in the water and crush them between the fingers to release the red color. Let stand for about 30 minutes. Strain the water and discard the seeds.

Recipe by Reynaldo G. Alejandro and photo by Luca Invernizzi Tettoni from The Food of The Philippines by Periplus World Cookbooks. Frame by Nancy Comelab.

Discover new bands with Unsigned.com

Have you visited Unsigned.com lately? If you love music and want to discover some underground artists then be sure that you do.

Wow! They already have a lot going on their site! Try browsing theit artist by genre all you'll be surprised by the wide selection they've got, from Acoustic to World. I'm not even familiar with some of the genres listed there, it'll be a great resource for me for learning more about music and the underground. And there are a lot of artists to choose from, like in the Jazz Bands category, there are more than 80 artist listed there, I'm pretty sure to discover something new and interesting.

Cocktail: Milli Vanilli

10 ml rum
40 ml Licor 43
10 ml sambuca
20 ml cream

Shake with ice in a cocktail shaker.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Top up with some whipped cream.


From Drinkalizer.com

Belisi Radio

I listened to the new Belisi Radio the whole day today while I was browsing the web and while I was doing my layouts. I love the choices of songs, it made me sing along to the songs and it kept my mojo working. And I even discovered some great new songs. Cool! Check it out!

Belisi, which is a luxury online retailer of high-end silk ties, scarves and women's handbag, has launced a new online radio station featuring today’s hottest artists, music legends, progressive lounge tracks, jazz, and country and rock favorites.

From today’s hottest artists and music legends to progressive lounge and jazz, Belisi Radio is all about timeless classics. Whether you’re shopping online, browsing for news and information, or hard at work, Belisi Radio will keep you company. Tune in and experience music the Belisi way.

Braised Beef with Garlic

1.1 kg (2 1/2 lb) beef, shin and chuck steak, trimmed
60 ml (4 tbsp) groundnut or corn oil
225 g (8 oz) cloves garlic, peeled
45 ml (3 tbsp) Shaohsing wine or medium dry sherry
1.25 ml (1/4 tsp) salt
5 ml (1 tsp) sugar
30 ml (2 tbsp) thick soy sauce
15 ml (1 tbsp) thin soy sauce
600 ml (1 pint) clear stock
2.5-5 ml (1/2-1 tsp) potato flour, dissolved in 15 ml (1 tbsp) water
8 spring onions, cut into 2.5 com (1 in) sections

Cut the beef into cubes of about 4cm (1 1/2 inches).

Heat a wok over a high heat until smoke rises. Add the oil and swirl it around. Add the garlic, turn and toss until it takes on color. Add the beef, turn and flip with a wok scoop or metal spatula to brown it with the garlic for 2-3 minutes. Splash in the wine or sherry around the side of the wok, stirring continuously as it sizzles and reduces to about half. Remove from heat.

Transfer the wok contents to a large, heavy saucepan or flameproof casserole, scraping all the juices from the wok as well. Season with the salt, sugar and soy sauces, and pour in the stock. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat to maintain a moderate simmer and continue to cook, covered, for 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 hours or until the beef is tender and most of the garlic has been assimilated into the sauce. Check the water level from time to time and replenish whenever necessary; also stir thoroughly a few times to make sure that the beef has not stuck to the bottom. When ready, there should be more than 300 ml (1/2 pint) sauce.

Just before serving, bring to the boil, then add the well-stirred, dissolved potato flour to thicken the sauce slightly. Add the spring onions, replace the lid and cook for a few seconds more. Remove to a warm serving dish and serve. Serves 6 as a main course.

Pasta Primavera with Asparagus

16 thin stalks fresh asparagus
8 ounces dried long fusilli or ziti pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons bottled minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
1/4 cup dry white wine
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 small red, orange, and/or yellow tomatoes, seeded and cut up
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1/4 cup shredded fresh basil

Snap off and discard woody bases of fresh asparagus. Rinse. Cut or snap off the tips; set aside. Bias-slice asparagus stalks into 1- to 1-1/2-inch pieces; set aside.

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and pepper; cook and stir for 30 seconds.

Add asparagus stalk pieces, wine, and salt to skillet. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cook, uncovered, for 3 minutes or until asparagus is crisp-tender, stirring occasionally. Add tomatoes and asparagus tips; cook, uncovered, for 1 minute more or until the tomatoes are heated through. Remove from heat; stir in butter.

Drain pasta; add pasta and basil to vegetables in skillet. Toss gently to combine. Makes 4 servings.

(from eDining.ca)

Funny eCards

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eGreetings has a wide range of funny, risque, animated eCards that are available, including funny birthday eCards, Valentine eCards and other occasions. So what are you waiting for? Show your loved ones how much you care and send them an eCard now.

Cocktail: Aloa Vera

40 ml lemon infused vodka (Absolut Citron)
30 ml melon liqueur (Bols Melon or Midori)
40 ml Sweet & Sour mix
20 ml Rose's Lime
Soda to fill

Stir everyting but the soda with ice.
Strain into a highball glass with a couple of ice cubes and fill up with Sprite, 7Up or some other sweet soda.

From Drinkalizer.com