Lyn2011's blog amateur digital photography,art and more

Christmas 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 1 Dec 2013 13:02:00 -0800

While it is a Christian holiday , Christmas traditions have become so popular that today it is celebrated in many countries and homes around the world . It is common for many people who are not Christians , but do not celebrate all traditions and rituals , at least get together with friends or family to share a Christmas table. Beyond the decorations and Christmas cards , gifts and the Christmas table , carols and popular religious rites or celebrations , there is a reason why the rituals and traditions are celebrated .

Obviously , as a Catholic holiday Christmas is an important celebration. The Catholic Church believes that Easter is the most important celebration of the Catholic calendar , but Christmas is a popular festival , bringing together several traditions and requires more preparation and participation, especially by the children of the family.

Childhood memories

The most beautiful Christmas memories from my childhood were the preparations. My two families , paternal and maternal , like many Argentines were of European origin. My father's family was of German and Polish - a mixture of Catholic, Protestant and Jewish converts - Swiss origin , while my mother's family were all Italian and deep Catholic belief . Therefore, we had the best of all worlds. The food and desserts delicious German and Polish and Catholic religious traditions.

A few days before Christmas to celebrate , we went to the house of my maternal grandmother who had a large collection of crib figures . As I recall, they were probably 25 to 30 pieces. Because it is so large, we installed on the floor. We put the Christmas tree in a corner of the entrance hall and my grandmother pulled a chair to accommodate the large manger.

Then the older arming a series of mountains and valleys paper - wood resembling the landscape of Bethlehem , mirrors lined with small pebbles that looked like lakes or water holes for animals to calm down their thirst , and trees and small pine - though not native place . There my sister, my cousins and we placed the figures that made up the crib, while my grandmother told us the story of the birth and as the child had come to save us all .

The whole scene was wonderfully uneven roads with sand and my aunt was getting from a nearby square . At the highest elevation , we placed the barn , a small wooden building and paper mache with a star hanging on top of the altar , illuminated with a small light bulb that my uncle installed in the back of the scene. When the light was turned on, a star lit up the scene and was reflected in the faces of the ceramic figures . It was a moment that , as a child , left me breathless.

The rites and traditions, important components of culture

I realize now that these were years in which there was no time for the family to collaborate on a joint project , that the elders had enough time to find the materials , and the patience to let kids help in the project.

The task of the biblical accounts grandmother were adapted to children's ears with great fondness and a hint of authority, the authority given to the traditions and rituals . We listened enraptured .

As a young man and has long believed that the rites and traditions were the rules of society necessary for others to live by them , the rules needed to break them or disobey them. But now that I have spent many Christmases in my life, I recall those moments.

Beyond the religious meaning , rites and traditions of Christmas , like many other times in life , are there to remind us that we are a global community, we depend on each other to recognize and know who we are . The rituals and traditions bring us together and apart , no matter what or why we celebrate , for God has many faces .

The important thing is re- meet as part of a larger human community at the time to share a table, light a candle , in the light of a star that illuminates the manger or the invocation of our ancestors. The rituals and traditions help us understand that achieving unity always involves a commitment and a sense of community and common purpose must take precedence over personal egoism .

Finally , rituals and traditions give us a time of reflection and memory , not to miss a past that no longer exists or to agitate for a future that is uncertain, but to dwell on the present and think how we can be better parents, children, spouses , neighbors, citizens of this country and this world . In short, how we can become better human beings.

Sandra Chang-Adair Erotic artwork and fantasy

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 23 Nov 2013 01:33:00 -0800

Sandra Chang-Adair

United States

Sandra Chang is a self-taught artist that is passionate about delineating the beauty of the human form. She paints both erotic artwork and fantasy. She embraces eroticism in her art after years of struggling against the taboo of sexuality. In her earlier work, she expresses her rebellion by painting powerful, domineering women, often subjugating their male counterparts. Her recent heroines are depicted as enjoying their sexuality openly with subtle humor interjected in the vignettes.

Her medium of choice is digital, drawing from scratch and employing Adobe Photoshop and Corel Painter. She also loves oils, acrylics and watercolors. Sandra established herself in the art world by working for Eros Comix, creating and drawing x-rated comics, Sheedeva, Sin Metal Sirens and contributing to Eros Anthologies. Her artwork has been published in Heavy Metal, Erotic Signature, Exotique 3, and Drakaina Masters. She is currently illustrating pin-ups for Hustler Magazine. Besides art, Sandra enjoys practicing kung fu. She has a second degree black belt in Budoshin Ju Jitsu, a black sash in Northern Eagle Claw and certificates in Kung Fu Weapons and Traditional Kung fu.

http://track.adbooth.net/aff_c?offer_id=1211&aff_id=2158

Pink Roses in Watercolour by Trevor Waugh

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 23 Nov 2013 01:08:00 -0800

How to Paint a Rose- Digital Painting

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 23 Nov 2013 01:01:00 -0800

Elena Dudina (2009-2013) Digital Art / Photomanipulation

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 16:49:00 -0800

Bertram Bahner Photography

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 10:23:00 -0700

About the Artist

Kim Anderson began his career photographing people and fashion, while also doing work in advertising.

In the past decade, the name Kim Anderson has become synonymous with children's photography, known for an extraordinary body of work that conjures feelings of joy, innocence, tenderness, and wonder while reawakening the viewer's own memories of childhood. The romantic and endearing photography has a timeless and universal appeal. Kim Anderson resides in Bonn, Germany with his family. His seven year old daughter is often featured in his photography.

The creator of these beloved images is Bertram Bahner, who lives with his family in a mountainside village in Switzerland. Long before the Kim Anderson series appeared, Bahner was a successful European photographer. Today he is one of the most widely published photographers in the world.

Initially inspired to record his three-year-old daughter Nicola playing with her friends, Bahner discovered that he had captured moments of universal appeal. From the beginning Bahner's methods were marked by simplicity and sincerity, using few props in a session and then letting the children play while stepping back to wait for the one spontaneous yet timeless moment when , as he says, "the emotion is perfect."

Soon the Kim Anderson project took on life of its own. Photographs of his daughters and friends were augmented with images of other little girls and boys, among them Bahner's son Manuel. Family involvement also includes his wife Monika, who helps to choose the props and styles the shoots with inimitable flair. Bahner continues to hand-print each carefully selected images, and oversees the hand coloring that has become the Kim Anderson signature.

Sara Moon | Iranian Fashion painter

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 12:28:00 -0700

Bijan Djamalzadeh, Iranian painter, known for his art works signed as “Sara Moon”, was born in Teheran and left his home county to study medicine in Germany at the request of his father. He returned to his home country with his new-found skills but his love of art was not to be denied, and in 1974 he returned to Germany to paint, signing his work "Sara Moon".

Characteristics of Chinese Traditional Painting

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 11:26:00 -0700

Write a painting, read a picture
---------------------------------------
Fragment of a painting of Luo Ping (1733 - 1799), Qing Dynasty.
The Chinese usually use the brush to write. Thus, the calligrapher and painter share the same materials (brush, ink and silk or paper), make use of the same basic strokes and judge their work by the same criteria: the vitality and expressiveness of the brushwork and harmonious rhythm the composition. Therefore, ARE HEREBY Calligraphy and Painting Arts Center.

Given its intrinsic relationship with calligraphy, Chinese painting is essentially a line art. The Chinese have become simple lines in a highly developed art. The lines are used not only to draw contours, but also to express the artist's concepts and feelings. For subjects and different objectives, they use a variety of lines: straight or curved, hard or soft, thick or thin, light or dark, wet or dry. The use of lines and strokes is one of the elements giving Chinese painting its unique qualities.

Qichang Dong Work (1555-1636), Ming Dynasty.
Chinese painters, generally, have not been interested in reflecting reality and three-dimensional mass through grants as shading and perspective, but have focused on transmit, through the rhythmic movement of the brush, their perception of the essence of things.

It is surprising that a painting based on the line and the stroke rather than the nuances and gradations, can produce such a sense of volume, topography, depth and atmosphere. This is due both to the extraordinary diversity and richness of the stroke as the wise and resource utilization as full-empty. So, to give prominence to the main topic, it is lawful to completely skip the background and simply leave it blank.

Another feature of the Traditional Chinese Painting is not using the Western fashion perspective, but shows the space into a kind of progressive vision: to contemplate a painting "vertical", hanging on the wall at the height of a viewer sitting, eye level, bottom up, the degrees of distance, on the contrary, in paints "horizontal", which are as they are unwound, the sight is horizontal motion. This progressive vision brings us to a different reality which centered perspective provides a single point of view.

Four Arts in One

Often the presence, in the same table, four different arts: painting, poetry, calligraphy and seal impressions. The texts calligraphed and seal impressions help explain the painter's ideas and feelings, as well as add decorative beauty to the painting.

A good example of this is the painting "In a mountain road in spring" by Ma Yuan (act. 1190-1225) of the Southern Song Dynasty: A walk down the mountain scholar; following in their footsteps, a servant carries the ch'in of his master, a musical instrument similar to a zither. The scholar has paused to watch two orioles in windblown willow. The stanza of a poem, right, steals the show and its atmosphere:

"Kissed by his sleeves, wild flowers dancing in the wind;

Escaping from him, hidden birds interrupt their songs. "

The Form and Content
---------------------------

The high religious art, as such, is outside the Traditional Chinese Painting, there is no room for war, violence, nudity, death or martyrdom. No address any topic that is not inspiring, noble, refreshing to the spirit or at least charming. In traditional Chinese art is not an art conceived purely formal, separate from the contents: it is not enough that the form be beautiful if the content is unedifying.

Urban & landscape photography by Christopher Schoenbohm

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 8 Jul 2013 17:24:00 -0700

KNOWING ISRAEL

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 06:41:00 -0800

http://goo.gl/wdtiY

Dead Sea

Located near the center of the region, the Dead Sea lies at the terminus of the Jordan River, flowing in from the north, and the Wadi Araba to the south. The shallow southern basin has been separated from the main water body by declining water levels and now contains manmade evaporation ponds.

The Dead Sea is the terminal lake of the Jordan Rift Valley. It is the lowest point on the surface of the earth, and the waters have the highest density and salinity of any sea in the world. The east and west shores of the Dead Sea are bounded by towering fault escarpments that form part of the African-Syrian rift system. The valley slopes gently upward to the north along the Jordan River, and to the south along the Wadi Araba. Historically, the Dead Sea is composed of two basins: the principal northern one that is about 320 m deep (in 1997), and the shallow southern one from which the Dead Sea has retreated since 1978. The two basins are divided by the Lisan (or Lashon) Peninsula and the Lynch Straits, which has a sill elevation of about 400 m below sea level.

Water from the Dead Sea currently is pumped into large evaporation ponds constructed in the shallow southern basin for the extraction of potash, magnesium, bromine, and industrial and table salts.

The closed watershed of the Dead Sea is 40,650 km2 . Most of the water flowing to the Dead Sea comes from the relatively high rainfall areas of the Jordan River watershed to the north, and the rift valley escarpments to the east and west of the Dead Sea. To the south, the Wadi Araba watershed covers the arid regions of the Negev and South Jordan Desert. The climate in the watershed varies from snow capped Mount Hermon (Jabel El Sheik), with annual precipitation in excess of 1,200 mm, to the arid regions of the southern Negev, where annual rainfall averages less than 50 mm. Over the Dead Sea itself, average annual rainfall is about 90 mm and the annual potential evapotranspiration is about 2,000 mm. Actual evaporation ranges from about 1,300 to 1,600 mm and varies with the salinity at the surface of the Dead Sea, which is affected by the annual volume of freshwater inflow. The average temperature is about 40 °C in summer and about 15 °C in winter.
The water level of the Dead Sea has a seasonal cycle. Prior to development of water resources in the watershed, the peak water level occurred in May and the low occurred in December, as shown for the period 1935-55 in the bottom graph on the next page. Within-year variation ranges from 0.3 to 1.2 m for most of the period of record. Intensive development of freshwater in the Dead Sea watershed has altered the seasonal variation in water level, typically increasing the decline and decreasing the rise.

LONG-TERM FLUCTUATION OF DEAD SEA WATER LEVEL AND REGIONAL CLIMATE

Comparisons of the timing of seasonal rainfall, runoff, and Dead Sea water-level changes illustrate the hydrology of this region. Typically peak rainfall precedes peak runoff by one month, and peak Dead Sea water level for undeveloped conditions by four months. These time lags represent the time to satisfy the extreme moisture deficit from the dry season, storage deficits in manmade and natural impoundments, and the travel time of stream-flow and shallow groundwater from areas of excess rainfall to the Dead Sea. This seasonality and time lag also is evident in the Auja Spring that discharges from the Eastern Mountain groundwater basin.

The water level of the Dead Sea has been monitored continuously since 1930, and has declined over 21 m from 1930 to 1997. Such a large decline raises questions of whether there are precedents for this water-level change and whether they can be explained by normal vari-ances in climate. Fortunately, evidence of histori-cal Dead Sea water-level changes may be found from several independent sources.

METHOD OF RECONSTRUCTING HISTORICAL DEAD SEA WATER LEVEL

Over 1000 years of historical water-level records were reconstructed using evidence from rainfall and tree ring widths, sedimentology, history, archeology, botany, and morphology.Tree ring and rainfall evidence: Periods of wider or narrower average width of the tree rings of a Juniperus phoenica (cut and measured in 1968) were found to correlate well with periods of rising or falling average rainfall in the watershed for the period 1846-1968, when concurrent rainfall records were available. Based on this correlation, changing average ring widths for a period extending back to A.D. 1115 were evaluated and found to agree with other indicators of Dead Sea water level.
Sediment evidence: Aragonite, a calcium carbonate mineral, precipitates directly from Dead Sea waters at its surface, and leaves a crust that becomes a thick stripe where the level is steady for several years. Aragonite stripes form a definite record of historical Dead Sea water levels, and may be date-associated where they occur on archeological ruins, such as Qumran at about 330 m below sea level. At several lower elevations, the aragonite stripes are thick and composed of several layers, indicating recurring steady Dead Sea water levels. Intervals between these stripes are evidence of the steep rise or fall in water level during rainy or drought periods.
History and archeology: Periods of habitation and abandonment of many archeological sites along the western shore of the Dead Sea were dated according to concurrent history, coins, pottery, and ruins. Plotting these sites according to their chronology and elevation, various points on the historical hydrograph were confirmed. History records periods when the Dead Sea could be forded on the sill (400 m below sea level) of the Lynch Straights in the early 19th century, and in the 18th, 17th, and 14th centuries. History also records periods of extreme drought or abundant harvests.Reference: Klein, C., 1985, Fluctuations of the level of the Dead Sea and climatic fluctuations in the country during historical times: International Asso-ciation of Hydrological Sciences, Symposium, Scientific basis for water resources management, September, 1985, Jerusalem, Israel, p. 197-224.

Historical water-level records of the Dead Sea have been reconstructed for a period of over 1,000 years, including the very large rise and fall in water level around the first century B.C. (modified from C. Klein, 1985).

As shown above, there are many precedents in the historical record of larger, more rapid water-level changes than the 21 m decline over the last seven decades. Furthermore, the historical range of water-level fluctuations is about 83 m, nearly four times the 21 m decline in this century. Should further water-level declines reveal submerged trees, or should traces of historical submergence be found at elevations higher than 330 m below sea level, the historical range would increase.

Ruins of Essene community at Qumran on the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea

The largest change in water level shown on the estimated historical hydrograph occurred between about 100 B.C. and A.D. 40. Within this period, the water level of the Dead Sea rose some 70 m, from about 400 m to about 330 m below sea level (where Qumran was inundated) in about 67 years; and subsequently fell some 65 m in about 66 years. A second large rise, not shown on the graph, occurred between A.D. 900 and 1100 and crested at about 350 m below sea level. Could these extreme changes in stage be explained by climate fluctuations?

The surface area of the Dead Sea is known to have varied between about 1,440 km2 at its historical high of about 330 m below sea level, and about 670 km2 at 410 m below sea level, a greater than twofold difference. There is a corresponding difference in the volume of water lost to evaporation each year.

To address this question, investigators have made computer simulations of increased rainfall and runoff in the Dead Sea watershed, accounting for evaporation losses. These simulations indicate that rapid water-level changes on the order of 70 m over a 67-year period could occur if inflow increased by 33 to 48% over an average inflow condition. Likewise, persistent years of below average rainfall could cause rapid declines in the water level. Historical references lend weight to this conclusion. There are historical references to abundant harvests during the period of the rising Dead Sea water level prior to about 67 B.C., and there was severe drought during the period of the falling Dead Sea water level recorded by Josephus Flavius for 25-24 B.C. when Herod had to sell his treasures in order to buy corn from Egypt for the population.
The Dead Sea balances increased inflows not only by a rise in water level but also by increased evaporation losses. As the water level of the Dead Sea rises, its surface area increases causing a corresponding increase in the volume of evaporated water. The greater than twofold increase in surface area between the elevations of 410 and 330 m below sea level would increase the annual volume of evaporated water from 1,005 to 2,160 MCM, assuming a constant annual evaporation of 1,500 mm per year. Evaporation during periods of high water level is further accelerated by the dilution of saline waters near the surface, because in reality evaporation is not constant but increases as salinity decreases.

Water-level trends of the Dead Sea respond to measured rainfall trends in the watershed, except for the last three decades, when the effects of water use dominate the water-level trend.

Long-term fluctuations of the Dead Sea water level are caused by periodic fluctuations in rainfall over the watershed. The year-to-year water level is steady when the volume of water leaving the Dead Sea by evaporation is equal to the volume flowing in from perennial streams, flash floods in the wadis, and springs and seeps draining the groundwater. The water level rises following seasons of abundant rainfall and declines during drought years, as shown above in the graph of water level and rainfall from 1850 to 1997. In this graph, rainfall patterns in Jerusalem are assumed to be indicative of Mediterranean- based rainfall patterns over the Dead Sea watershed. When the annual rainfall is above average for several years, there is a cumulative effect (shown in the cumulative departure curve) leading to a rise in water level, such as occurred from about 1882 to 1895. The cumulative effect of below average rainfall periods leads to declining water levels as seen in 1930-36, and 1954-63.

EFFECTS OF DEVELOPMENT OF WATER RESOURCES ON DEAD SEA WATER LEVEL

During the last four decades, water resources in the Dead Sea watershed have been intensively developed to meet growing demands for this precious resource. Increasing amounts of water were diverted from surface and groundwater sources in the watershed to meet domestic, agricultural, and industrial needs. Since 1964, only a fraction of the flow from the water-rich areas of the upper Jordan River leave Lake Tiberias to move toward the Dead Sea. Most of this water and water from the Yarmouk and Zarqa Rivers is diverted for uses inside and outside the watershed. Under current conditions on an average annual basis, the combined inflow from all sources to the Dead Sea has been estimated as only one-half to one-fourth that of the inflow prior to development. Water also is pumped from the Dead Sea itself into evaporation ponds constructed in the shallow southern basin.The influence of rainfall and water-resources development on Dead Sea water levels is illustrated in the graph above. Until around 1970, Dead Sea water levels and rainfall showed a correlation. For example, a falling trend in Dead Sea water levels during 1954-63 corresponds to a period of below-normal rainfall. This downward trend was interrupted by above-normal rainfall that produced a rise in water levels during 1964-69. Since about 1970, however, the historical correlation between rainfall and Dead Sea water levels appears to deviate. Although rainfall generally increased during this period, water levels declined steeply, corresponding to decreased inflows from the Jordan River. Although the effects of rainy years in 1980, and especially 1992, are still evident, their influence on Dead Sea water levels is moderated. Development of water resources will result in a more pronounced impact of droughts on Dead Sea water levels. Thus, Dead Sea water levels continue to offer a record of the integrated effects of historical climate and water-resources development in this watershed.

Table of Contents
Back	Next
Hebrew	Arabic
PDF Version, p41
PDF Version, p42
PDF Version, p43
PDF Version, p44

Water Data Banks Project,
Multilateral Working Group on Water Resources,
Middle East Peace Process
Overview of Middle East Water Resources
Information about this document.

Best Christmas themed 3D Animation Short Films and Greeting cards

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 08:14:00 -0800

VODAFONE Christmas Movie - 3D Animated TV Commercial

Christmas Gnome Television Bumpers - 3D Animation

AT&T Christmas In-Store - 3D Animation

Christmas 3D Animated Television commercials

Happy Christmas from The Neighbourhood

Snowball Animated Christmas Card

DIGITALmotion - Animated Christmas Card

Inspirational pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 07:00:00 -0800

Surely ever happened to you that you suffer a little "creative crisis" and do not know how to deal to advance in your photos. Sometimes, in this photography, we need a break. Drop the camera a few days and see good pictures can help us regain the sensors with more enthusiasm and fresh ideas.

Today I propose a break and I leave a gallery that will surely serve as an inspiration for the bridge that is upon us. Some are undoubtedly impressive, others simply original, but all powerful or sympathetic, draw attention
Do not fail to haoove a lk:

By Hermin Abramovitch.

Dreaming Peter Przybille.jpg

the_journey_by_zemotion-d3eih18502_502.jpg

The watcher

Clean up ahmed Shirham

Photography by Singape Zorhang aJingn

by Arseny Semyonov

el_gato_negro_by_gilad_benari600_430.jpg

just_the_two_of_us_by_gilad_benari600_401.jpg

lost_in_translation_by_gilad_benari600_414

Optical illusions part 2 - Hypnotise yourself !

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 4 Aug 2012 08:45:00 -0700

OPTICAL ILLUSIONS PART 1

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 4 Aug 2012 08:42:00 -0700

NEW MOVIES IN HQ .: THE BEST MOVIES 2011-2012

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 2 Aug 2012 05:11:00 -0700

NEW MOVIES IN HQ .: THE BEST MOVIES 2011-2012: Watch live video from masterflixx52 on www.justin.tv

Lightroom 4 Beta – First Impressions

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 10 May 2012 23:16:00 -0700

Adobe just released a new version of Lightroom in the market and it has created quite a buzz in the photography community.You can download it from the Adobe Labs site and use it for free till the 31st of March 2012. What’s great is that you do not need a previous Lightroom version for this, all you need is to create a free account with Adobe.

This version comes loaded with a variety of new features, although the interface still looks the same (Thank God for this!)

Here are the additions over Lightroom3:

Two new modules: Map and Book

Book Module

This module is a whole new step towards simplifying photo-book creation. And once you are done creating your book, you can export it as a PDF. Another cool feature is the ability to publish the book directly to Blurb.

Map module

This module is an excellent example of Adobe’s continuous innovation. It can find and group images by location, by reading data from GPS enabled cameras. But if you don’t own a GPS enabled camera (like most of us!), then you can also assign locations to your images by simple drag and drop.

New local adjustment features

Now you can use the Local adjustment brush to adjust white balance, control noise and remove moiré.

New tonal adjustment controls

Shadows and Highlights have been introduced to the basic panel, replacing the old Recovery and Fill Light. These are far more powerful and cover the entire dynamic range.

Soft Proofing

We all have had experiences when we have our “perfect” images printed and they do not look so perfect anymore. Soft proofing can be used to work around this problem.

It allows you to work on a ‘proof copy’ and tweak images specific to the printer’s RGB profile.

Increased Video Capability

With Lightroom 3, Adobe just hinted at adding video editing features. What you could do at most was import and tag video clips, but for anything more we needed to use an external application. With the new version, Adobe has taken a deep plunge into video-editing! Now you can play the video, trim, extract frames, change its exposure and play with colour effects. And there is more; you can also share the video directly to Flickr and Facebook.

Email

Lightroom now allows you to configure your Gmail, AOL and other email accounts, which you can then use to directly email images.

So overall, it is a well-rounded update of the software. This version did surprise me on few aspects, but till now they have been all pleasant surprises!

http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom.html

http://www.photoble.com/software/lightroom-4-beta-first-impressions

EILAT FOR YOU

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 21:39:00 -0700

Over the years, the city of Eilat has become the ultimate resort city with hotels and beaches packed with thousands of Israeli vacationers and tourists from around the world, who come to relax in the country’s southernmost spot.

In the winter it mainly attracts tourists from Europe who prefer vacations in a warmer and more pleasant climate while Israelis flock to the city in the summer. The secret of this little city’s charm is its special location in the northern end of the Bay of Eilat.
The combination of a hot climate, a tropical sea and a breathtaking background of wild, bare granite mountains has turned it into a tourist gem all the year round.

about eilat
Eilat’s location made it strategically significant during the many historical periods in which it served as a port – starting in the days of King Solomon (who built a large fleet of ships which he sent to Ophir), through the Nabataeans, the Romans, the Arabs, and the Crusaders, all of whom ruled the Land of Israel.

WeSell רשת שותפים

Photoshop CS6 to feature Content-Aware Age Tool

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:48:00 -0700

Photoshop CS6 will feature a new Content-Aware Age Tool that can instantly make people in photos look younger or older, according to leaked images discovered by our friends at Practical Photoshop.

Photoshop CS6, which is currently a beta version available to the public, made headlines months ago when one of Adobe’s ‘sneak peeks’ at the software revealed a new Content-Aware Move Tool that allows users to shift elements of a photo around the frame.

It is believed the newly discovered Content-Aware Age Tool will let users dramatically increase or decrease the age of a person captured in a photograph.

Leaked screen grabs of the Content-Aware age tool in use show a sliding scale ranging from baby up to elderly. It is not known if the Photoshop CS6 age tool will only age skin, as seen in the screen grab above, or if it will also, for instance, remove age-related body features such as facial hair and breasts as you drag the slider down to the ‘baby’ end of the scale.

“I would think Adobe will have to address this issue before the full release of CS6,” said Practical Photoshop Editor Ben Brain.

Ben added he cannot reveal how he came across the screen grab of the as-yet unannounced Content-Aware age tool, but hinted there could be further surprises in store from Adobe.

“I’ve not seen it, but I hear Adobe is already developing what they call a Clooning Stamp for Photoshop CS7,” he said. “Simply click the Clooning stamp over a person’s face, drag the Smugness Opacity slider to your desired level and it will make the person look more like George Clooney.”

It is believed Adobe is developing a female version of the Clooning Stamp called the Helen Brush Tool, based off a circa-1970s Helen Mirren.

source:

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com

Canon EOS 60Da blasts off for night photographers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 21:40:00 -0700

Canon has expanded its range of EOS cameras with the launch of the EOS 60Da, a high-resolution DSLR built for advanced night photography.

The Canon EOS 60Da is based on the specifications of the Canon 60D and succeeds the EOS 20Da in the Canon lineup.

The Canon EOS 60Da is designed for astrophotography and can capture rich red colours produced by emission nebulae, with a modified low pass filter that makes it more sensitive to hydrogen-alpha (Há) wavelengths of light, Canon says.

In a standard DSLR, an infrared (IR) filter limits the amount of Há light that passes through to the camera sensor, reducing the transmission of red signals to prevent unwanted colour artefacts in the final image.

However the EOS 60Da features a new modified filter that offers three times more transparency for Há light than the EOS 60D, combined with an 18-megapixel CMOS sensor, DIGIC 4 processing and a high ISO range to capture crisp, clear images of red-coloured emission nebulae.

The EOS 60Da provides astrophotographers and night photography enthusiasts with high ISO speeds up to ISO 6,400 (expandable to ISO 12,800) and a curved body features with an improved button layout that has more frequently used controls grouped together for easy access.

Controls can be adjusted and reassigned to suit each user’s individual requirements, and a top LCD screen with backlight illumination lets night photographers adjust image parameters mid-shoot.

The Canon EOS 60Da is available from June 2012, priced at £1,174.99/€1,399.00 RRP incl. VAT

Canon EOS 60Da key specs

Enhanced sensitivity to IR light
18 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
Vari-angle 7.7cm (3.0”) 3:2 Clear View LCD screen
ISO 100-6,400 (expandable to ISO 12,800)
Time-lapse shooting with EOS Utility or optional Timer Remote Controller TC-80N3

SOURCE: http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/04/03/canon-eos-60da-blasts-off-for-night-photographers/

Beautiful Selective Color Photographs

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 3 Apr 2012 05:58:00 -0700

Selective color is a post-processing technique where most of a photo is converted to black and white, but some parts are left in color. This is usually achieved by using layers and masks in photo editing software (Photoshop, SilverFast, Adobe Fireworks or The GIMP for example).
A common application for selective color is portraiture, to keep the eyes and sometimes the lips in color, against an otherwise black-and-white photograph. Small regions of color in an otherwise monochrome image immediately draw the viewer's eye.
Landscape photography is another common application for this technique. Colorful leaves in an otherwise drab scene can breathe life into a photo. Of course the technique can be applied to any genre, but portraits and landscapes are the usual beneficiaries.
Films such as Schindler's List and Sin City have made use of the technique.

:: The Apple ::
by ~onixa

Pink_Champaign_Concept_II_by_mojorison.jpg

i_still_see_you_by_Melancholera.jpg

rainy_pink_by_cunya

leaf in the wind
by ~WinterSnaps

Benches
by ~thisPhenomenon

autumn wishes
by ~Bleeding-Souls

Romance_by_0mda

The Narrows
by ~Plasmastorm

Just Take My Soul

Night photography

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 10:37:00 -0700

Night photography

Night photography has an attraction all its own. There's something about scintillating lights from office windows hanging in the dark of the night -- a modern version of the starry skies -- that appeal to us. Whether it's a city skyline, lamp posts on a dark and deserted street, or the front of your house all decked out with holiday lights, the challenge of capturing the mood of a night scene depends on whether your digital camera is capable of night photography and on a couple of simple techniques.

Run away (2) by Arnaud Montagard
http://500px.com/photo/3816120

Karl Bang

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 08:53:00 -0700

Karl Bang Art Gallery

The incredible detail of Karl Bang's work is only a small part of the story. His remarkable sense of colour, the perfect poise and beauty of his subjects and the fascination that is the final work all play their part in the whole.

Karl Bang's collection of art masterpieces es could easily be called Goddess Central. Karl was born as Bong Ka in Shanghai in 1935. He was formally trained by the master artists of Chinese painting and he also formally trained in the European painting tradition in France and Belgium. These multiple styles led to Karl Bang's multi-cultural blending of the traditional Chinese artistic discipline with the more personally expressive European style, and later also included traditions from around the entire globe. This cross-cultural fusion of styles has earned him the title of "Master of Contemporary Eclecticism". His art is currently represented by Richardson Gallery of Fine Art, and the exclusive originating source of all prints and original paintings by Karl Bang is Chantelle Publishing Company. Art representatives who earn an online MBA or art history degree often work with international artists like Karl Bang.

During Mao Tse-tung's Cultural Revolution in China, Karl was obligated to paint only the propaganda images the government demanded him to paint. However, in 1984 he was allowed to emigrate to the United States, where Karl was free to paint his one heart's passion - beautiful women, goddesses, and the feminine archetype - from various races and cultures. This central theme to all of Karl Bang's work is exquisitely developed and refined in each of his images. For Karl, painting women goes much deeper than their outer beauty. He sees women as epitomizing the gentler instincts of humankind - nurturing, gentility, truth, and inner strength. Now the only strategic PR he espouses is the strategy of beauty.

Autumn Mistress

Felines

Hunters

Queen Ransom

Rithual

Underthemoon

DISCOVER INDONESIA

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:26:00 -0700

The Republic of Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world comprising 17,504 large and small tropical islands fringed with white sandy beaches, many still uninhabited and a number even still unnamed. Straddling the equator, situated between the continents of Asia and Australia and between the Pacific and the Indian Oceans, it is as wide as the United States from San Francisco to New York, equaling the distance between London and Moscow. Indonesia has a total population of more than 215 million people from more than 200 ethnic groups. The national language is Bahasa Indonesia.

Among the most well known islands are Sumatra, Java, Bali, Kalimantan (formerly Borneo), Sulawesi (formerly Celebes), the Maluku Islands (or better known as Moluccas, the original Spice Islands) and Papua. Then, there is Bali “the world’s best island resort” with its enchanting culture, beaches, dynamic dances and music. But Indonesia still has many unexplored islands with grand mountain views, green rainforests to trek through, rolling waves to surf and deep blue pristine seas to dive in where one can swim with dugongs, dolphins and large mantarays.

Because of her location, and geology, Indonesia is blessed with the most diverse landscape, from fertile ricelands on Java and Bali to the luxuriant rainforests of Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi, to the savannah grasslands of the Nusatenggara islands to snow-capped peaks of West Papua.

Her wildlife ranges from the prehistoric giant Komodo lizard to the Orang Utan and the Java rhino, to the Sulawesi anoa dwarf buffalos, to birds with exquisite plumage like the cockatoo and the bird of paradise. This is also the habitat of the Rafflesia the world’s largest flower, wild orchids, an amazing variety of spices, and aromatic hardwood and a large variety of fruit trees. Underwater, scientists have found in North Sulawesi the prehistoric coelacanth fish, a “living fossil” fish, predating the dinosaurs living some 400 million years ago, while whales migrate yearly through these waters from the South Pole. Here are hundreds of species of colourful coral and tropical fish to admire.

Culturally, Indonesia fascinates with her rich diversity of ancient temples, music, ranging from the traditional to modern pop, dances, rituals and ways of life, changing from island to island, from region to region. Yet everywhere the visitor feels welcomed with that warm, gracious innate friendliness of the Indonesian people that is not easily forgotten.

Facilities-wise Indonesia’s hotels are second to none. In fact, many of our luxurious and unique hotels have constantly been listed as some of the best in the world, located on white sandy beaches, overlooking green river valleys, or situated in the heart of busy capital Jakarta. While Indonesia’s cities like Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, or Makassar are a hive of activities for business and leisure and a paradise for shoppers, offering upscale boutiques selling top brand names, to local goods at road-side stalls. Here gourmets can treat themselves to the many regions’ delectable spicy cuisine or dine sumptuously at international restaurants. And for sheer relaxation, Indonesia Spas are second to none to reinvigorate both body and mind.

Convention centers are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, as many top international conferences and exhibitions are held in Jakarta, Bali to Manado, ranging from the Global Climate Change Conference in Bali to the World Ocean Conference in Manado , to trade and investment exhibitions and tourism trade shows in many provincial capital cities.

Jakarta, Bali, Medan, Padang, Bandung, Solo, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Makassar are connected by direct international flights, and many regular and low cost carriers fly passengers to Indonesia’s towns or remote locations.

Balinese By tropicaLiving

tropicaLiving - Jessy Eykendorp

Bali - Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Water Temple By TOONMAN_blchin

Bakkara and Lake Toba By ï£¿ DocBudie

Almost Reach the Top

Mount Sibayak Sunrise ~ North Sumatra By ï£¿ DocBudi

Warung Singgah

Tele Hill - North Sumatra DocBudie

belajar mendalang (puppet learning )

Before Melasti by Andre Arment

Story Of Family Farmer by A.madestra. W

Morning at Lokbaintan by Yudhi Fardian

Oops! by Hardijanto Budiman

Zoomed from Mars by Reinheart Damanik

Abangan, Ubud - Barong Performance by Abangan boys

Singapore Zoo - Hamadryas Baboon

Bali - Night Market

A bird

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 06:14:00 -0700

A bird by Stefano Ronchi

Best Underwater Digital Cameras and Accessories

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:54:00 -0800

Extreme photography and underwater photos are great ... as long as your digital camera is useable underwater. If you aren't sure whether your camera is rated as waterproof, read the user manual or visit the manufacturer's Web site. Ignoring the user manual and testing the digital camera in a full bathtub to determine whether it is waterproof is not recommended.

If you'd like to take these types of photos, you'll either need an underwater digital camera, as specified by the manufacturer, or you'll need to purchase an underwater housing for your digital camera. Here are some of the best underwater digital cameras and accessories.

Canon

Canon offers many underwater housing units designed for its specific models and brands of digital cameras. In addition to being able to purchase the underwater housing units at the Canon Web site, you'll also find advice for using your model safely underwater.

When photographing underwater, there are three shooting techniques you will find particularly useful as they enable you to produce remarkable and appealing pictures without elaborate set-ups.

Macro Shots

For small underwater subjects, choose the Macro Mode. Move to within minimum focusing distance of your subject and depress the shutter button halfway. Then using the LCD monitor, move the camera to sharpen your image. Finally, press the shutter button all the way to take the picture. Utilize the flash diffusion plate on the case to ensure even underwater flash lightin

Wide Angle Shots

The first thing to master with wide-angle shots is keeping the water color blue. To keep water looking blue, first set the White Balance*: choose "Daylight" in shallow water and "Cloudy" for greater depths. Then, get below your subject. Aim upward towards the sky to create dramatic silhouettes.

*If your PowerShot digital camera has Underwater Scene Mode, select it for the best results when shooting underwater

Panorame Shots

First, select the Stitch Assist Mode on your PowerShot digital camera. Shoot a series of overlapping images. Then use the PhotoStitch Software, supplied with your camera, to automatically combine images into a breath-taking panorama on your computer

On Land

You can also use your Canon Waterproof Case on land — in environments where snow, sand, excess humidity or dust could lead to damage. Ideal for skiing and many other activities, a Canon Waterproof or All-weather Case provide an added measure of safety for your PowerShot camera on land.

Preparation and care

View demo

http://www.usa.canon.com/app/html/d_camera/uw-demo.html