fro's blog

Introduction

The purpose of this guide is to give you some top tips for getting great pictures. Big cats have a personality all of their own and each breed is quite different. This will affect how you photograph each species of cat. For instance some are quick and move rapidly, others will sit and take a more leisurely approach. This guide is set out into sections so you can dip into the bits most relevant to you.

So what do we mean by Big Cats, lets begin with the rarest cats in the world, The Russian Amur Leopard, around 150 in captivity and only 30 in the wild, then we have the Snow Leopard, now only found in the inaccessible mountains in Pakistan. On the Tiger front you have the Sumatran Tiger, then the Amur Tiger as it now know but better known as the Siberian Tiger. Then there are Lynx, Lion, Cheetah, Serval and Puma also known as the Mountain Lion or Cougar - they are all the same cat.

First of all don’t be confused into thinking that you need a top of the range film or digital SLR camera and lenses to get great pictures. You don’t. Both compact and the intermediate bridge cameras are more than capable of capturing great images. Many photographers that have come on Big Cat Photo Experience Day have started with a compact camera and found that they can get amazing images. They have returned and some have even found that they got so much more from photography than they ever thought they could. Others just come and enjoy the close contact with such magical animals.

This guide is based upon many years as a professional photographer capturing some of the rarest cats in the world , all kept within a private collection for breeding purposes with the aim that they are returned to the wild, so long as the human race hasn’t destroyed the original habitat. For the Sumatran Tiger, that I fear is a rare hope, but with new cubs born late 2008 there is a glimmer of hope.

Compacts and Bridge Cameras

The real benefit of these cameras is their size. Being small and compact they fit through the wire of the enclosure so that’s one less thing to worry about. All you do need to do is watch what the cats are doing so they don’t take your camera off you! And trust me if they get hold of it they will win - no negotiation!

Captive animals are quite nosey so you will find they get too close. Key settings would be either close up / macro or a sports mode if you are using pre-set shooting modes. More advanced cameras have Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Full Manual. If you are more comfortable with these settings then please read the sections below Film and Digital SLRs as the same rules apply.

One main problem of these cameras is what is called “shutter lag”. This is the time the camera takes to fire the shutter and capture the image after you press the shutter button. On slow moving subjects this won’t be so much of a problem, but on fast moving or erratic moving subjects this is where this will be noticed. You aim at the head and the camera takes a picture of the tail!

ISO - Film Speed or Sensor Sensitivity

The speed of your film or sensor sensitivity as it’s really called on a DSLR will affect the camera settings in a given light. A typical sunny day will let you shoot on ISO 100 or 200, being the base setting of your camera depending upon the make of camera or film you’re using. With a DSLR you have the ability to change your ISO or sensor sensitivity as the light changes, so you can go up and down from 100 to 200 or 400 (or more) as the light changes. With film you are fixed per roll. OK you can “bump it” up or down but only if your film processor knows what they are doing, automated developing just won’t hack it and will leave you with a ruined roll of film. As a commercial photographer I shoot digital and enjoy it - when all the technology works of course!

Using a second body is an option if you can afford it as it gives you another lens to shoot from or another roll of film different from the first body. Lenses or course are interchangeable.

With speed or sensitivity comes a compromise - grain. The higher the ISO the more noise or grain there will be. But, and a big but, under exposure will create more noise than high ISO - so make sure the shot is exposed correctly. Being a commercial photographer amongst other things, I shoot using Nikon cameras and with these I have to shoot slightly over exposed to get the shot right - Nikon metering seems to be slightly on the safe side in my experience.

White Balance

This is not an easy function to explain but it comes down to the colour of light. What I hear you say, but all light looks the same to me, yes it will, the human eye and brain is very clever, it shows you a white subject as white in any light so you can’t actually see what your camera sees.

Until that is you take a picture indoors, ever had a picture on a digital or film camera come out green ? Light is measured as a temperature similar to that of heating a metal rod in a flame. The colour moves from orange to white and finally blue. Now this isn’t measured in degrees C or F but in the wider scientific range called Kelvin. Digital cameras use this Kelvin number to determine the colour of light.

For example Orange is at the lower end or 3400K the same as a household bulb with a tungsten filament, also known as incandescent- day light and studio flash is around 5200K to 5600K and fluorescent light is a real nightmare depending upon the type of tube and colour temperatures vary from 2700K up to 7200K - so pretty much the whole spectrum.
Tip - on a dull grey day use the pre set white balance of Flash - it gives a slightly warmer shot.

Tip - don’t use Auto white balance for two reasons. While it might be fairly accurate light is not a fixed entity it changes all the time and so too will your cameras setting for White Balance when on Auto. Secondly if you then go on and edit your images you have the potential for having to manually correct each image if you’re not happy with the setting. And on a Big Cat Day guests regularly shoot 400 to 600 images - now that’s a lot of time chained to your computer.

Tip - pick a pre-set value, even if its not correct , some cameras allow fine tuning warmer or cooler. If then you want to edit the images at least you can batch process all the images in one go as the White Balance value will be the same - so too will be the adjustment. Just shoot RAW, then you can correct it, Jpeg gives you less control.

Tip - try taking a custom white balance measurement if your camera has this ability .

Tip - remember a Snow leopard is Grey and White - it should not be cream.

Film and Digital SLRs

Camera bodies vary in design and my view is that megapixels aren’t the be all and end all of quality images. As an example a 6 mega pixel camera will get a more than an acceptable image, in fact many news photographers still use a high quality, robust 4 mega pixel digital camera body. Why, because other functions are more important .

Whereas the norm for many manufacturers is now, at the time of writing this Big Cats guide, is to offer 10 - 12 mega pixel camera bodies, other key features come into play.

Autofocus - General

AF-S , AF-C or Manual, Single point, Multipoint Dynamic or Closest Subject? AF-S will give you a function that shoots only when the cat is in focus. AF-C gives you a continuous mode where by the AF systems tracks the subject adjusting focus all the time you have the shutter release pressed half way down and the focus point on the moving subject. This is good for fast / moving subjects, the shutter will however fire even if the shot is not in focus. 3D tracking found on Nikon cameras is good for some subjects as it tries to work out where the subject will be if it leaves the focus area or frame - try it and see how you get on, you may find you come back to a dynamic - movable - focus point chosen by the photographer - you!

Manual focus gives you more control but chasing a moving subject is difficult and takes time to practice.

Metering

Spot, centre weighted or matrix or average? The main difficulty with Matrix is that it takes an average setting across the whole frame so you can end up with a dark image especially if you catch some sky in the frame. This being brighter, normally, makes the camera close down the settings, leading to an under exposed subject.

For better results with cats I find centre weighted works best as the camera metres from the centre of the frame and this is normally where the subject matter will be.

Spot metering would be best used for a close head shot where the cat is stationary being sat or lying down, as you’d find with the Lions in the afternoon after they are fed.

Part two continues with more settings and equipment discussions as well as common mistakes.

Planning a wedding can be an exciting time in your engagement, but it can also be filled with frustrations as you look at the list of things that need to be taken care of. From the pictures and the ceremony to the reception and the honeymoon each aspect of your day can and should be perfect. In order to make sure that the reception runs smoothly and leaves your guests more than satisfied, there are some simple ideas to find the wedding caterer that is right for you.

So, if you are not doing your wedding in one of the wedding venues you need to spend some time on finding a good wedding caterer. Discovering a good caterer starts soon after the engagement begins. Do you know anyone who recently got married? Have you been to any catered events in the past few months? This is a great way to start your search. If you enjoyed the venue that you were involved in, find the person who planned the occasion and ask them who they used and what their personal feelings were about the caterer. Were they punctual? Did they take the event planners instructions? Was the food what was asked for and were the charges what were quoted?

With a list in hand from friends and family, the phone calls begin. I had a friend who works in a wholesale clothing business and he interviewed more than 30 caterers for his wedding - before he picked the right one. Most caterers will use their answering machines to take phone calls. This should not be a problem as long as they call you back promptly. A long delay could be a sign of someone who cannot handle more than one client. When the caterer returns your call, set up a meeting after you have spoken about price. There is no reason to meet with a caterer whose prices are above your budget.

Professional appearance and prompt attendance should be very important to the wedding caterer. They should take the time to get to know what you desire and what you are looking for before they try to show you what they offer. A good wedding catering company will send someone who is good at listening and hearing what the bride is saying. A portfolio of pictures is essential. You want to see not only what the food looks like, but also how they display the food table. Maybe use a decoration company who specializes in wedding decorations.

A good caterer will also give you a list of references. These are essential to call. While you are taking a few days to make these calls, you can ask the caterer to come up with a few menu suggestions that fit your budget. Hopefully when you get back together, you will have found out if this person is the right wedding caterer for you.

Did you know that almost 4 million persons are bitten by dogs every year? I never thought that it was that serious but I can definitely tell you it is!
Well while these bites often are small, a number of these can leave serious injuries or death.

Do you own a dog? If so and when your dog bites someone, you may well be in trouble like behind bars!
So what can you do to avoid any bad result? Sell the dog or give away?

Thankfully there are some things you will do to make certain your dog does not bite you or anyone else.

What you definitely need is a dog training biting while they are still young. When they get older, it will be very hard or almost impossible to get them to follow your commands.

One of the most important things you need to do is never appeal strange dogs. Even the dog might be behind a fence or even tied up, is able to see you as being a threat. Try to keep your dog away from other strange dogs.

You should also avoid petting your dog without allowing them sniff your hand first so they know exactly who you are. Under no circumstances should you run from a dog. Dogs are natural predators, and are going to chase you unless they are trained.

Each time a dog is eating, sleeping, or caring for its young, it is netter not to disturb him. They may possibly bite you. It may be required to neuter your dog if it is going to be going around and also fighting with other dogs. Furthermore you could take your dog around others so that it learns not to be nervous when there are people around. They also have to be trained not to chase anyone. This is very important since it is one of the most common things which usually lead to a dog biting a person. You should give your dog rabies vaccinations as well, and under no circumstances allow it to go places without your supervision.

PEX tubing has many advantages over copper, lead, PVC plastic, and iron pipes. It is quickly starting to replace other piping in plumbing applications. If you are installing radiant heat flooring, building or remodeling your home, or upgrading your current plumbing, you will probably see this type of tubing used.

It is made from a high-density polymer. This makes it very flexible. This flexibility means that it can be bent around corners without crushing it, and without the need for for a right angle connection. Its ability to bend without needing connectors is what makes it a top choice for radiant heat flooring.

There are other advantages to its flexible nature. Because it can be make in a continuous roll, it costs less to produce, store and ship. The installation job itself also will cost less because there are few connections. This means less labor and less time to get it installed.

PEX tubing is also better for the environment than traditional options. Rigid plumbing requires acidic materials or lead solder to make necessary connections. This introduces dangerous chemicals into the soil and water. PEX pipe requires no chemicals to create connections. Another advantage is that there is reduced heat loss with this type of tubing. Reduced heat loss translates into less energy consumption.

PEX plumbing is also a money-saving option. Every time you introduce a connection into a plumbing system, it creates the chances of a leak. Fewer connections means lower risk of leaks later on. This will save you repair costs to the plumbing and also costs to repair any secondary damaged caused by those leaks.

If you are considering radiant heat flooring there is something to note. You will need a special kind of PEX that has an oxygen barrier property. Some materials in flooring can corrode with exposure to oxygen, so a variation of tubing was created to eliminate this problem. Be sure your contractor is using an oxygen-barrier PEX for any walkway or floor applications.

So make sure to check on the possibility of using PEX tubing for your next project. It will most likely be less expensive in the short term. It will definitely less expensive in the long run!

Hi8 Camcorder Obtain the More desirable Camcorder Technology Economically

Although you are seeking for a high quality camcorder for yourself, the Hi8 camcorder technology inserted by Sony could be an excellent option. The Hi8 camcorder will be better manner of the analog tape camcorder, and features a much bigger video recording bandwidth than its predecessor. It can also provide a a lot enhanced video playback resolutionand idea quality. Then again, a Hi8 camcorder utilises tape since the recording medium, so it may well do the job in your case if you are looking digital storing portable media for your camcorder.

Though, its a reality that sometimes in these days a number of camcorder consumers are even more secure in working with tape camcorders. Sony has got an pretty much infallible repute in the specific by pioneering the Handycam, and has on going to outsmart its challengers by fixing the camcorder with new technological enhancements and particular includes. For this reason you are able to rely on Sony Hi8 camcorder products to offer you a similar quality these are known for around the world.

What genuinely sets a Hi8 digital camcorder apart is a reality that not only it offers you better high quality of online video media, and an learned screen res, and is equivalent towards the digital resolution of 560 x 480 pixels, even though getting an extremely cost-effective and cheaper selection for camcorder visitors. This factor has contributed towards the popularity of Hi8 camcorder products over the years, and they are amongst Sonys most successful contributions.

If you are searching for a Sony Hi8 camcorder, it is possible to without difficulty locate them within the best shape as well as the most reasonable prices on the web. There are different common and specialized online retailers featuring Hi8 digital camcorders availableon the market, and if you appear hard enough, you will possibly be capable of using get them on vouchers.

Mix some cement and position it within the base tube. Set up an anchor into the cement mixture before it dries. Repeat the same process towards base holes. Connect your posts to bases and make sure that they’re each of the very same degree. Connect the joists on the wooden posts and see if there’re the exact same height at every single action. Area two by ten joists and examine again if almost everything could be the same height. For any even larger an individual, a additional difficult framing patio gazebos procedure is essential. For any smaller one, just one brace are going to be essential for supplemental help concerning the primary joists. For your ground decking, remember that you just need to depart spaces in in between the ground boards to stop any H2O accumulation. Put the columns at all base factors. If there is no installation stage above the column, area a wood to better keep the boards and joists from the roofing.

With the frame on the roof, use the pole. Divide the joists to the essential length and attach it towards the top on the column and major obstruct. Supplemental hands along with a pair of ladders may help you place 3 joists towards the principal obstruct and supports. You can use a number of braces to strengthen the frame in the roof. Railings generally come in different sizes and attributes. You are able to make canopy gazebo railings yourself but pre-constructed railings may help you conserve time. The materials that you have to have for the roof are wooden, roofing paper and asphalt shingles. Make convinced that you just obtain the appropriate measurement just before beginning the construction in the roof. Angles is usually extremely challenging in particular when you happen to be cutting wooden and roofing paper. Secure everything with nails.

A number of the advantages of performing a reverse cell cell phone call would be to gather any information about numerous folks at as soon as or just the amounts themselves, you’ll be able to obtain the final results and the of this lookup if carried out on the net in just several minutes, you are able to get essential data such as the name and addresses in the people for you to might be in search of, and using the guide in the Internet your free phone number reverse lookups research could be done inside privacy of your personal house with no one particular else realizing that it was completed. When it arrives to selecting a assistance company for your reverse cell mobile phone lookup, make convinced that you just are utilizing a assistance that updates their services often to stay clear of obtaining any incorrect results. You might be also gonna want to generate certain that the assistance issuer has an extensive listing of amounts so get as many volumes to check out as probable.

Within this page I hope to provide you a bit more hope and exuberance in your new wheat free life-style. Now it’s both simpler and more fun to adapt to a Celiac life.

As a matter of fact, it seems that every last passing year reveals more clear and helpful tagging in the grocery store. Sometimes manufaturers supply this improved tagging and once in a while the food market chains are contributing to improved tagging in their markets. Either way, it’s becoming easier year in and year out.

If you learn that you need to conform to a gluten-free diet you will need to change your lifestyle, not just your diet. Luckily, much more info is obtainable regarding how to live gluten-free. You’ll likewise find many new gluten intolerance friendly groceries and more accommodating labeling from grocery stores.

For starters all people with celiac symptoms must get informed about particular gluten-free staples to keep on hand. These are ingredients that might be exchanged for the standard gluten-containing flours to create more adequate gluten-free formulas for you and your loved ones.

Gluten creates the certain texture in baked goods because it traps pockets of air. Gluten gives dough its elasticity and helps keep baked goods from collapsing and breaking apart. It is also utilized to quickly thicken various sauces.

Substituting gluten-free flours alone won’t replace these lost attributes. When using a gluten-free flour mix a gluten alternative ought to be added to the blend to mimic the qualities of authentic gluten. Two common gluten replacements are guar gum and xanthum gum. These can generally be found on the internet or in a gourmet or natural grocery store.

It’s also wise to maintain a good flour blend and gluten substitute on hand. A gluten-free flour mixture comprises of a mix of gluten-free flours. You may desire to attempt a few to acquire the gluten-free flour mix you like the most. Then when you are ready to cook just supply a gluten substitute to the blend and you are ready to bake.

My Disclaimer: I wish my writing my little tale assists individuals visiting this blog, but please note that I’m not a medical professional so you must consult with a medical doctor prior to accepting any medical suggestions from the World Wide Web.

The majority of decent forex specialists offer 2 (or more) account forms - ones for corporate clients and ones for private customers. However why do they provide a varying system when the aim is similar, to trade currencies? Well, every entity that trades currencies is doing so for their own purposes. For example, you as a retail account holder may be interested in guessing on currency changes by using a spread betting account. On the other hand, you could be a corporation that wants to settle payment on foreign goods. Both must access the foreign exchange market yet might employ distinguished strategies.

Avoid Bad Currency Rates offered at Airport Providers. It is no mystery that the best euro exchange rate are located online - not on the high street. However why exactly is this the case? The key reason is very simple: internet providers do not need to pay big expenses like rent. Thus they may provide much better rates of exchange. The rate you are given is rather appealing but purchasing travel money online does require from you that you plan in advance. You need to buy your travel money before you head for the airport and arrange to collect it at a high street branch or book home dispatch.

Is a Payday Loan a Great Idea for People with Bad Credit? If someone has grave debts, then payday loans may seem like an ideal answer. However is it a wise idea to request a pay day loan if you presently have significant money hardship? A few individuals might state that it is best to avoid all loan products if you are presently struggling to repay unpaid deficit. However there are alternative individuals who would say that it is great that all people could receive borrowed funds, especially in an crucial situation. For instance, you might be unable to gain regular credit yet really need cash for a doctor’s medication bill.

In the old days, browsing web pages was quite uniform, Netscape Navigator was the program of choice. Then came the so called browser war. Never heard of? To make it short - Microsoft used it’s market share in the operating system segment to push its own browser - since then Microsoft Internet Explorer dominates the browser world.

But what happened to Netscape Navigator/Netscape Communicator? The company behind Netscape(before they were bought by AOL) initiated the development of an open source internet suite based on the code of Netscape. At first they could not rival Microsoft any longer, but it turns out, that the community has created something great!

Today,

mozila firefox is the only serious competitor to Microsoft Internet Explorer. The next biggest competitors, OPera and Apple’s Safari only have fractions of the user base that Firefox or Internet Explorer have. The market share is rising continously and currently feierfox has almost 20 percent market penetration. That is pretty good for an all free open source application.

But what makes mozila fierfox so special? I think it is the great flexibility of the program suite. You can easily alter very much of the behaviour and there are plugins for almost everything you could think of. Anything that could be thought of to do with a browser is possible with firefox and it’s extensions.

In today Internet world, Firefox is a serious constant and leading the innovation. Only recently Microsoft has begun to react to the changes firefox brought, and once again microsoft is lagging behind in the development. Let’s see whether there will be a new browser war…

http://www.printablestore.us

Slot car racing is a popular indoor leisure activity in countries in the western hemisphere.  Electric toy cars such as slot cars run along slotted tracks where power transmitted by electric current moves each car placed on the track.  These slots are also where the metallic blade from the slot cars fit all the way to the slot base.  The majority of slot car hobbyists hold racing contest but there are a few persons who focus their attention to construct sceneries, modeling roads and highways, and simulating urban and rural traffic.

First-time slot car aficionados start up with commercially-offered cars that are made with regular specifications.  Commercialy-made slot cars are made for better performance on standard tracks.  Aficionados of slot cars for years often modify their collection or assemble cars from scratch and tailor them to make them more lightweight and aerodynamic.

Plenty of slot car hobbyists also get pleasure from modeling each of their cars after popular real car models such as those from Ford, Ferrari, and BMW.  Just like real cars, slot cars also have replaceable rubber tires and the modification of the framework and the motor is to make them more faster and make them more stylish.  A slot car can reach speeds of up to 1800 rpm which is faster than any formula 1 racecar. 

A single-handed controller is what a slot car “driver” use to operate his slot car and the controller’s purpose is to control the voltage of the electric motor inside the car.  Slot car evolutions has essentially been with the handheld controller and the cars themselves but the track practically remained the same ever since the 1950s.  Slot car tracks originally separate cars by the slots but new developments have made it viable for cars to share lanes throughout a race.  Slot car racers get their challenge on the curved sections where the voltage being fed to the car should be properly adjusted with the precise squeeze on the controller to avoid de-slotting or lose momentum that will cause the racer to lose.

The other closest form of hobby to slot cars are model trains.  Model train hobbyists and slot car hobbyists build the range of their tracks, build sceneries which consist of trees and small structures.  The only variance is the variation of speed between model trains and slot cars and more people can participate in slot cars compared to the essentially solo operation of model trains.

Slot cars are not just limited to cars only.  Trucks and even motorcycles are also made to be able to cruise slot car tracks.  Scale sizes such as 1:24, 1:32 and H0 are the most common scale sizes for slot cars. 

Traction magnets, which provide downforce to a slot car, are attached to prevent de-slotting particularly during high speeds on curves.  A number of enthusiasts, however, choose to do things the old way and without traction magnets.  Slot cars that doesn’t have traction magnets have a propensity to drift and de-slotting could happen more which plenty of racers prefer to have for additional amusement.