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Pleasant Hill Middle School in Oregon Featuring: Oliver!

2009 is the year where we will all be witnesses to the talents and showmanship of the youth in Pleasant Hill Middle School as they feature the musical Oliver! This timeless and famous musical garnered wide acclaims from theatre goers and crtiics worldwide.

The musical is loosely based on the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. Oliver! is a British produciton and its music and lyrics are created by Lionel Bart. It was first seen in 1960 at London’s West End. The story is about a boy named Oliver who was first seen as an orphan, not knowing that his family is rich.

The theatre tells the story of how Oliver’s adventures on the streets ultimately lead him to the family he never knew existed. He managed to escaped the place after he got several beatings and ended up working as a slave to a cruel coffin maker and his equally cruel wife. He then escaped and got into a gang of pickpocketers. He was a lonely orphan before who was mistreated and half-starved by their cruel caretakers.

He met Nancy, the girlfriend of cruel Sikes and immediately kind-hearted Nancy developed a motherly affection for Oliver. They became friends together with Nancy’s sister Bet. When it was time for Oliver to practice his pickpocketing skills (he actually does not know that they are pickpocketing- he thought that they were doing handkerchief tricks), he got Mr. Browlow a wealthy old man as a victim. He got arrested but was released when found not guilty. At that time a locket was found from Oliver containing his mother’s picture (Mr. Browlow’s granddaughter) indicating that Oliver is sole heir ot the old man’s riches.

Nancy found out about the locket and set to bring Oliver to Mr. browlow but was waylaid and murdered by Sikes. The plot ended as Mr. Browlow was reunited with his long-lost grandson.

Tags: art, blogs, business, events, family, festivals, food, hobby, home, outdoors, Photographing Children, Photography, Travel Photography, women   Posted in Photography

Flea Market Finds for Decorating a Room

You can almost find anything in a flea market. From household items to clothing to garage equipments, the possibilities are endless. Flea markets are also the place where designers on Shabby Chic concept themes and budget friendly projects are to be seen. They are creative enough to scour for unique pieces and finds that could leave them to create a beautiful and fabulous space without spending for more.

Furniture pieces can have a new life by giving it a fresh layer of paint and providing embellishments that can also be seen on flea markets. Funky and chic wall paper can be wrapped on a piece of wood purchased from a flea market that should add character to a bedroom when used as a headboard. Hand painted knobs are great for dressing up an old armoire.

Create a focal point from your living room by reviving an old piece of door from a flea market. Coat it with fresh paint or wood stain. The door can be an excellent conversational piece and a good focal point when it is simply leaned on a living room wall. The natural wood color from the stain can blend well to the Asian theme youve been planning for your home. Accent with wicker furniture, lamps and other small accessories from the flea market and you can have a redecorated room with fewer expenses.

Springtime is a very good design concept for spaces nowadays. Pretty floral fabrics from flea market that had otherwise been labeled as outdated can make a charming comeback in your bed sheets. A small accent chair on the side can be an excellent addition in your already charming bedroom. Adorn your night table with fresh spring time flowers and crisp white translucent curtains for your windows. What a refreshing room to wake up with indeed!

At the Holiday Flea Market at Torns River, New Jersey, exciting finds are to be seen that can add function and flair to your home!

Tags: art, directory, events, fairs, family, festivals, flea markets, hobby, home, leisure, listings, new jersey, outdoors, Photography, Travel Photography   Posted in Photography

Moby Dick Exhibit

Moby Dick is an All-American Classic Tale. It was written in 1851 by an American novelist named Herman Melville. The story is about the battle between an angry ship captain named Ahab and a ferocious white sperm whale. Moby Dick is a story that was regarded the high value of being discussed in American schools as part of their curriculum. The tale has a curios history because it was not accepted by the mass at its release. It wasnt until 1930 when the book was republished with illustrations that it finally gained popularity.

American painter Frank Stella made several art works focusing on the concept of Moby Dick from 1985 to 1997. He created one artwork or two to each of the novels 165 chapters. The varying artworks altogether sum up to about 266 pieces of sculptures, metal relief, murals and prints. Stellas likeness and passion for the novel indeed bordered down to obsession for being able to create this massive collection. His works are currently considered as one of Americas priceless treasures.

An exhibition of the Moby Dick works by Frank Stella will happen at the Grand Rapids Art Museum, Michigan. It will not feature all of the Moby Dick artworks but some 30 pieces including his acclaimed masterpiece The Fountain. The exhibit will be opened to the public and everyone is encouraged to see it on January 23 up to May 3, 2009. The event is a great time for families to enjoy and for parents to bond with their kids.

Moby Dick is a literary piece that marked itself in American History. It was a popular tale and a classic favorite. One interesting fact about the story is its inclusion of a character named “Starbuck” that is the main inspiration of the famous coffee chain. Starbuck is the young mate of Captain Ahabs ship who is the sole person who contradicts Ahabs plan to fight and kill the whale. His character was of a gentle and possibly coward nature who longs to go back home to his young wife and son.

Catch a glimpse of the exhibit. Be inspired at the talent of an all-around American artist.

Tags: art, directory, events, fairs, family, festivals, hobby, home, leisure, listings, michigan, moby dick, outdoors, Photography, Travel Photography   Posted in Photography

Handmade Crafts and Their Advantages

Handmade crafts are becoming more popular as days pass because of its unusual charm and beauty. Handmade crafts are special pieces of items because they are created with care and devotion by the crafter. Hand made crafts are usually cheap because raw materials that are used for these are safe and economical. Some people say that handmade crafts are done by housewives or hands-on moms who want to earn income at home. They are simple people who were able to turn their hobbies to money making opportunities.

Transforming the hobby of crafting to business is a piece of cake especially for people born with creativity. Creativity comes naturally and well, it runs in her blood. Creativity alone however could not make a thriving business because you need to be financial literate also to make your business last. This means that creativity and great ideas alone could not make your business thrive. Try to attend seminars and financial workshops that would make you learn more about money and how it works.

There are many handmade things that can be done like handmade soaps, handmade candles, clothes, baby diaper wipes, toys, etc. Be thrifty and make your own version of baby diaper wipes by cutting small pieces of second-hand or used cotton/ flannel fabrics. Place them in a container. Mix water with a few drops of oil and alcohol, put in empty spray. Remember that water is still the best and safest to use for wiping your babys bottoms!

Handcrafted toys are also very popular buys among craft fairs because of their charming and nostalgic appeal. It can be done simply by carving through a piece of very pliable wood. Give the wood a fresh coat of paint or perhaps, create hand painted patterns on it. Top off with a nice glaze or topcoat to give it a fresh, new look.

It is time to check out your local neighborhood crafts fair listings now to get a glimpse of crafts fairs schedules.

Tags: A, art, c, crafts, d, Destinations, directory, e, events, f, fairs, family, festivals, h, hobby, home, i, k, l, leisure, listings, o, oklahoma, outdoors, p, Photography, r, t, travel & leisure, Travel Photography   Posted in Photography

Buying A Lens For Your Digital SLR

So, you have a brand new digital SLR, and might be thinking about buying some new glass to go on front. After all, being able to change out lenses is one of the best reasons to get an SLR in the first place. You will be on the hunt for new glass soon if you aren’t already.

So, you’re getting some lenses, but which ones? It really depends on a lot of different factors. What kinds of things do you want to photograph? What do you want to spend? You’ll have to be thinking about all of these things.

Let’s say you’re just an average user. Your camera probably came with a decent, versatile zoom lens. You probably want your next lens purchase to fill in a gap left by this zoom lens. Like to take wildlife or sports pictures? Then you’ll need a fast telephoto lens. Like to do landscapes? Then a wide angle zoom (or fixed) lens might be in your future.

The zoom vs. prime debate is one thing you’ll certainly come across. Primes lenses are cheaper, sharper, and faster than zoom lenses, but of course they only give you one focal length. Zooms are more versatile, so its your choice as to which you value more.

If you do a lot of low light work, like concerts, you’ll need some fast lenses. Unfortunately, fast lenses come at a huge cost premium. They are also really heavy and bulky because of all the extra glass. Still, though, they are a great item for any photographer to own.

If you’re on a budget but want the kind of image quality a mid grade consumer zoom can’t give you, check into using old manual focus prime lenses. Many modern DSLRs can take excellent manual focus lenses from as long as 45 years ago. You’d be amazed at the quality of some of these lenses.

So, you can see that there are many, many different options for getting a lens for your new DSLR. Just be sure that you figure out what you’re looking for, and you should be able to find some awesome lenses that will greatly enhance your photographic experience.

Tags: Digital Photography, dslr lenses, electronics, hobbies, hobby, lenses, Photography   Posted in Photography

Improving Your Portrait Photography – Eliminate Wrinkles!

Your job as a photographer (whether you’re an amateur or professional) is simple. You have to make your subjects look as good as they’ve EVER looked without your tricks and techniques being obvious. That’s a task easier said than done.

Unless you are a master retoucher or spend countless hours in Photoshop (or both), it’s hard to change too much in a portrait without ruining it. To get seamless retouches, You need to do most of your fixes “in camera”.

This first tip concerns acne and wrinkles.

It won’t take long in your photo career to realize that teens are plagued with acne and adults have wrinkles. They may or may not actually say anything to you about it, but both age groups want to eliminate or at least lessen their respective problems.

Let’s face it, as we get older our wrinkles become more pronounced and actually deeper. Wrinkles are the first photographic signs of our age but they’re a problem that is actually fairly easy to fix.

What defines a wrinkle? It’s the shadows filling in the crevices. As we get older and those crevices get deeper, the shadows become darker and darker. How to get rid of wrinkles and take years off your photographic model?

Lighten the shadow! (There’s a blinding flash of the obvious.)

What creates shadows? It’s light skimming across the face from the sides or the top. The side light is not able to get into the wrinkle crevices and creates a shadow. The deeper the wrinkle, the darker the shadow. This can (and does) add a lot of visual years to our subject.

So, going in reverse, avoid hard side lighting! Pretty simple. By having the light aimed directly into the face, it will penetrate to the bottom of the wrinkles’ crevice and either lighten or totally eliminate the shadow. Obviously giving your model a younger appearance and saving you a lot of time in Photoshop.

Acne? Use the same cure. Acne scars, pimples and other facial blemishes are at least partially defined by the shadows they cast on the face. Again, light skimming the face from the side will cast longer and harder shadows thus making the acne scars more pronounced and pimples appear larger. Shine your light directly into the face and they will be minimized or disappear altogether.

Use a reflector of some sort or even your on camera flash in addition to the sun to fill in the shadows. Your smooth faced teens and wrinkle free adults will thank you.

You now know as much as most professionals! Now it’s time to make some money with YOUR camera! to see how easy this is, follow one of the links to my site…

Tags: camera, Digital Photography, freelance photography, hobby, home-business, make money, photo, photo jobs, photo marketing, photo studio, photographer, photographers, Photography, photos, professional photography   Posted in Photography

15 Ways to Make Money with Digital Photography

Beginning photographers often overestimate how difficult it can be to make money as a photographer. In reality, there are dozens of ways to make money through digital photography. Here are 15 great ways to help you kick start your photography career.

Method #1 – Selling Stock Photography: Selling stock photography is easier than you may think. Just take some of your best photos and submit them to stock photography sites. They will be reviewed and if it’s a good photo, it will hopefully be accepted. You’ll get paid about $1-2 every time someone uses your photo.

Method #2 – Screensavers: Screensavers are a big business online. You can make a whole lot of money online by taking a group of photos and making them into screensavers. You can sell them on screensaver websites or eBay.

Method #3 – eBay Sellers: Speaking of eBay, eBay can be a great source of business. eBay sellers often have very poor photos of images they sell over and over. Set up a local service photographing eBay items.

Method #4 – Wedding Photographer: Wedding photography is one of the most popular, profitable and competitive photography fields out there. To get jobs in this area, it’s important to have a very impressive portfolio.

Method #5 – Restaurant Photographer: Restaurant menus often need to have appetizing photos taken for their dishes. They also often need photos of the restaurant itself for marketing materials. Restaurants can be a great source of business for the budding photographer.

Method #6 – Real Estate Listings: Real estate agents need listing photographs of new homes they’re listing. Get yourself a few real estate agents you work with regularly and you could quickly be booked with work.

Method #7 – Insurance Photographer: One of the most tedious tasks of getting insurance is having everything in your home photographed. For highly paid professionals, they would often rather pay someone to do the work than do it themselves. Positioning yourself as an insurance photographer is a great way to get started with paying gigs.

Method #8 – Online Dating Photographer: Both men and women often want to have great photos of them taken for online dating profiles. This is a great way to make some quick cash.

Method #9 – Consignment Art: Places like Cafes and restaurants would often love to showcase your artwork. It gives them art on their walls for free. In exchange, you get exposure and potential buyers for your art.

Method #10 – Sporting Events: Local sporting events such as little league games or high school soccer games would often love to have photographers photograph their games.

Method #11 – Church Directories: A church directory is an album that contains photographs of all their members along with their contact information. Church directories are quite common among churches in higher end neighborhoods. You can easily sell your services as a photographer to help create church directories.

Method #12 – Create T Shirts: T shirts have been and will continue to be great sellers online. Taking photos, putting them on shirts and selling them on eBay or T shirt websites is a great way to make money as a photographer.

Method #13 – Craigslist: Craigslist is a great place to find paying gigs. Hundreds of photographers are using Craigslist to connect with clients. It’s the most trafficked classified website on the internet.

Method #14 – Take Portraits: Portrait photography is a highly profitable business models for photographers. There are two ways you can go about doing portraits: Setting up your own practice, or working with another studio.

Method #15 – Photo Blogging: You can build a small but loyal following simply by posting your photos online on a regular basis. Art lovers who love your style will often subscribe to your blog and keep coming back again and again.

Now you have plenty of profitable ideas you can use to start making money as a photographer. Whether you want to do it part-time for extra cash or make it your full-time work, there’s plenty to choose from.

Tags: business, hobby, home-business, Photography, photos, work at home   Posted in Photography