Man’s build

We all want to create stunning photographs. It doesn’t matter if we’re professionals, amateurs or something in between.

We haunt the camera shops, learning about and experimenting with all the latest cameras, lenses and filters.

We buy photo books and magazines and read and study until until - bleary eyed - we drop off to sleep at night. Only to dream about - you guessed it - photography.

We spend all our disposable money on new photo supplies, gadgets and gear, yet still we don’t quite capture the stunning photos promised in all the technique books.

Why?

Surprisingly, we seldom actually know what it is we are trying to capture!

For example…

We see a placid lake with some ducks floating along. What do we do? We grab our gear and start firing away. If we’re using film, a few days or weeks later we get back our prints and - heart thumping with anxiety, we open the envelope and…disappointment.

If we’re using a digital camera, the results are the same, just a little faster.

Before shooting - always (this is important, so let’s say it again - ALWAYS) take a moment to pre-visualize what the final photograph will look like!

Too often we just fire away, hoping to capture something great. But it rarely works out that way.

Have you ever wondered why the great photographers are able to consistently get great shots, and you can’t? Even shooting the same subjects?

They create the shot in their mind FIRST. They get a clear vision of what the final print will look like - then they decide on what camera, ISO, lenses, filters, lighting and etc. they will need to fulfill that vision.

Don’t slough this off. It’s more important than you think. And, almost no one does it.

Can you imagine Renoir creating a masterpiece painting by putting a bunch of paint on the canvas and waiting to see what emerged? I think not.

I believe it was Michelangelo who, when asked how he created his stunning sculptures, said that he studied the marble until he saw the form trapped inside. Then he chipped away all the excess marble.

Approach every photograph you take with that attitude. Decide what the final version will look like and eliminate anything that doesn’t fit that vision.

Yes, I know there are times when the action is fast and furious and you don’t have any time. Or do you?

Let’s think about those situations…You are at a football game. Before the game even starts - decide what your dream shot would look like and preplan by gearing up and positioning yourself where the most exciting action is likely to take place. Then when it does - shazaam! You are not only ready but just as importantly, you will recognize the shot when you see it in your viewfinder.

Auto races? Same thing. Baseball, surfing, skiing, bungee jumping? Ditto. A few seconds of thought before you start out can and will take your photography to a new level almost overnight! Still shots and posed portraits are even easier to pre-visualize.

Getting stunning shots will soon become the norm rather than a lucky occurrence. A simple shift in our thinking will do the trick. And it’s free! No new equipment to buy.

Dan Eitreim has been a professional photographer in southern California for over 16 years. His data base exceeds 6000 past clients, and he says that selling YOUR photography is easy if you only know a couple tried and true marketing strategies. He’s created a multimedia presentation that can teach ANYONE how to sell their own photography and generate freelance income in as little as two weeks. To learn more and enroll in a FREE photo marketing course, go to: http://www.PartTimePhotography.com

Mexico is located in the northern region of the American continent between the Gulf of Mexico on the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west. It is bordered by the United States on the north and by Guatemala and Belize on the south.

Mexico’s land area extends 1,964,375 sq km, which is divided into 32 states, which are truly diverse, as each one has countless tourist destinations offering a wide array of activities.

Mexico can be divided into six tourist regions.

Northern Mexico is known for its extreme weather conditions and characterized by its deserts, nature reserves and rugged mountain ranges.

In Central Mexico, you’ll find plenty of natural surroundings, picturesque towns full of life and color, and beautiful colonial cities, some of which have been declared World Heritage sites.

Southern Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico is lined with the shores of the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. The region offers an abundance of marshes, mangrove swamps and forests, all of which are ideal for ecotourism outings and exciting outdoor adventures.

The Yucatan Peninsula is the gateway to the Mayan world. Here you can enjoy the white-sand beach resorts and the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea, where you can scuba dive along the world’s second largest coral reef. You can also swim in fresh water pools in submerged caverns, known as cenotes.

In the Pacific Coast region, you’ll find cities and towns with rich cultural and culinary traditions, as well as some of the best beaches for water sports like surfing and fishing.

The Baja California Peninsula territory has been inhabited from time immemorial, in this region you can play golf on world-class courses, discover the underwater treasures of the Sea of Cortez, and witness the amazing migration of the Gray Whale.

Probably one of Mexico’s most well-known beach resorts is Acapulco, located on the Pacific coast, 395 kilometers (245 miles) from Mexico City and 133 kilometers (83 miles) from Chilpancingo, the state capital of Guerrero. It has a warm, humid climate with temperatures ranging from 22º C (72º F) to 33º C (91º F) with sunny days throughout the year.

Among the port city’s many enticing qualities are: its beautiful bay, one of the best in the world; the calm waters of its beaches; the amenities offered by its well established hotel industry, which in recent years has undergone a major revamping, especially in the Punta Diamante neighborhood; and finally, the city’s unbeatable nightlife, which offers one of the hottest playgrounds among Mexican vacation destinations.

For those who have never visited Acapulco, we recommend that you visit la Isla de la Roqueta (Roqueta Island), an ideal island setting where you can either relax or enjoy some scuba diving. You’ll also want to check out the infamous La Quebrada, where fearless cliff divers plunge into the ocean below. If you’re looking for a little excitement of your own, Acapulco offers bungee jumping and parasailing, where from high above you can admire the stunning panoramic views of the bay, the hotel zone and the surrounding mountains, in their utmost splendor.

Nearby Acapulco, you can visit the beach of Pie de la Cuesta, known for its spectacular sunsets, or Puerto Marques, with it beautiful bay and calm waters. Finally, don’t miss out on Barra Vieja, where you are sure to enjoy delicious seafood dishes prepared in traditional Mexican restaurants.

The capital of Mexico is Mexico City, the oldest metropolis on the American continent. The city is perched atop a highland valley at about 2,240 meters (7,392 feet) above sea level. Towering high above the city’s southeast side are two volcanoes: Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl. The nation’s capital has some of the best weather in the world with an average temperature of 22º C (72º F).

Once known as the City of Palaces, Mexico City has two areas that were declared World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO. The first, the Centro Historico (Historic Center), has beautiful historic and religious buildings, such as the Catedral Metropolitano (Metropolitan Cathedral), one of the most important architectural structures in the Western Hemisphere.

The Palacio Nacional (National Palace) has spectacular Diego Rivera murals that chronicle Mexico’s history. And Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts), which hosts the city’s most important cultural events, is a beautiful construction that blends art nouveau and art deco styles. The other World Heritage Site, Xochimilco Ecological Park, is often called the Venice of Mexico due to its beautiful canals. Flower-painted boats offer tours of the canals and floating gardens.

If you’re interested in cultural events, Mexico City offers a wide variety of museums, such as the Museo Nacional de Antropologia (a world-class anthropology museum), the Museo Nacional de Arte (The National Art Museum) and the Museo Nacional de Historia (a history museum in Chapultepec Castle where you can see an amazing exhibit that chronicles the nation’s history and art, from the pre-Hispanic era to present day).

In north Mexico City, you can visit the Basilica de Guadalupe, one of the most visited basilicas in the world; in fact, it is second only to Saint Peter’s Basilica, in Vatican City, in the number of visitors it receives each year. This is a must-see for those who want to learn more about the city’s customs and traditions.

What’s more, Mexico City is a cosmopolitan metropolis, where new and old traditions coexist side by side. Here you can go shopping at bazaars and crafts markets in the Coyoacan and San Angel neighborhoods. Or you can go to exclusive boutiques and shopping centers in the posh communities of Santa Fe and Polanco, where you’ll be surrounded by the comfort of top-notch hotels and restaurants.

Mexico is well recognized in the world for its rich gastronomic tradition which offers a great variety of dishes and beverages prepared with innumerable ingredients. The taste, aroma and texture of these ingredients can charm even the most demanding palate and thus turn Mexico into one of the most important destinations in the sphere of international cuisines.

Mexico is becoming a more popular tourist destination, especially for wedding parties and honeymooners, touring, its world heritage sites and its gastronomy.

More information about Mexico, how to get there and where to stay can be found at http://www.travel-tastic.net

Bill Bailey is a freelance travel writer and journalist. Bill’s website http://www.travel-tastic.net contains more articles and practical tips and advice on travel.

Hey - it’s all about you; take back your ceremony! It is a ritual - time honored and sacred - but that does not mean your wedding ceremony has to be like every other…yawn. Of course, some couples choose to be extremely original and opt for exchanging vows on a roller coaster, while bungee jumping or even dressed as trekies. I say - good for them for such uninhibited displays of originality. But even if you prefer a more traditional and “scream-free” wedding ceremony, you can still add a touch of personality.

A Scenic Location

Not every wedding ceremony must take place in a house of worship. Outdoor locations and other unique ceremony sites can make for ceremonies that are both spiritual and memorable.

A Refreshing Welcome

Welcome and refresh your guests by serving lemonade, iced tea or water. It’s a nice touch, and your guests will appreciate the gesture. Depending on the season or nature of your wedding, you can use your refreshment of choice to tie in the theme or style of the day.

Personalized Pew/Row Decorations

Who says your ceremony decorations must be floral? How about draping framed photographs of the bride and groom tied with ribbon over the ends of each row?

Customized Programs

Summer brides - how about ceremony programs in the shape of a fan? Beach brides - use a shell or small piece of drift wood as a weight, and place programs on each guests’ chair before arrival. You get the idea…Or keep the shape and style traditional, and include a personal letter or poem to add some interest to this often overlooked detail.

The Grand Entrance

There are other ways to make your entrance beyond the traditional march with your father. Ride in on a horse…. Or be escorted by both parents, a close uncle, brother, friend-even a pet!

Monogrammed Aisle Runner

You will know this is your ceremony while walking down the isle on a runner personalized with your monogram or logo.

Beyond “Here Comes the Bride”

If walking down the isle to the same song as thousands of brides before you doesn’t sound appealing, let your favorite tune can’t make a memorable substitute!

Gender Bend the Bridal Party

Who says your maid of honor must be a “maid?” If your best pal happens to be a guy, have a “man of honor.” Same goes for the best man; there’s no reason why there can’t be a “best woman.”

Write your own Wedding Vows, Readings, Poems etc.

Nothing puts that special personalized stamp on a ceremony quite like vows and readings prepared by the bride and groom themselves. These spoken words expose your mind and your heart to each other and to your audience. Get started with a guide to writing your wedding vows.

Learn more about how a wedding planner can save you money

Cori Russell is editor for Elegala.com and Gala Weddings Magazine. Elegala.com is a comprehensive wedding planning resource with a national directory of wedding venues and services, along with articles, expert advice, checklists and photo galleries to lead brides through every step of the planning process.

Perhaps best known for Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, Orlando has much more to offer than just theme parks, and many of its attractions are free for visitors to enjoy. Here are just six things you can do on vacation which won’t cost you a penny.

1 Take a stroll along Disney’s Boardwalk

The 45-acre waterfront district that fronts Disney’s Boardwalk Resort is a recreation of a 1930’s-style Atlantic coastal village. Visitors can enjoy a stroll while taking in the entertainment provided by the many street performers, musicians and magicians.

You can access the Boardwalk by walking along the International Gateway from Epcot, or via the hotel itself.

2 Admire the old-fashioned appeal of Celebration

Located just off the 192, the town of Celebration is packed full of historic-themed architecture fused with modern technology. This picture-perfect town was conceived by Disney and is the perfect place to go if you want to kick back and relax. There’s a farmers’ market on a Sunday morning and Reading Trout books offers many free events, including author readings and book signings. They also have an excellent selection of Disney themed books.

3 Check out the Downtown Disney Marketplace

The Marketplace is open to all visitors; you don’t need a Walt Disney World ticket to enjoy the wide array of themed shops and entertainment. There are boutiques and eateries to suit all budgets. The kids will love exploring the massive World of Disney store, or playing with Lego at the Lego Imagination Center.

4 Experience a vintage car parade

Old Town, a unique shopping and entertainment area, sits on the 192 just south of Walt Disney World. Take a leisurely stroll along the main street browsing the stores, or for a more eventful visit check out the drag racing, go karting track or reverse bungee jumping. Every Saturday night Old Town comes to life as 300 cars, polished and gleaming, drive up and down the main street. The parade is followed up with live entertainment featuring ’50s and ’60s rock ‘n’ roll music.

Admission to Old Town is free, including the car shows and concerts, but tickets are required for the amusement rides.

5 Picnic among the orchids

A World of Orchids is a 22,500 square-foot conservatory featuring orchids as well as other exotic flowers. The natural exhibits feature flowers and plants from Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Australia, Central and South America.

Take a stroll along the boardwalk, marvel at the Senator, one of America’s oldest bald cypress trees or just enjoy a picnic at one of the many picnic tables.

A World of Orchids is located in Kissimmee and is open Monday through Saturday.

6 End the day with a bang

You don’t need a ticket to enjoy Walt Disney World’s fantastic firework spectacular Wishes. Resort guests can enjoy the show from the Transportation and Ticket Center, or catch the free ferry or monorail over to the Magic Kingdom park entrance for an up-close view.

For more Disney tips and vacation planning advice visit A Pocketful of Pixie Dust.

For more information about traveling to Walt Disney World visit A pocketful of pixie dust at http://www.clareswindlehurst.com/disneyworld

Situated between Zambezi and Limpopo rivers, Zimbabwe is a popular South African country that is full of natural beauty. It is a country made up of plateaus and full of fabulous views and scenery. Zimbabwe has a diverse range of landscapes with many mountainous terrains and grasslands. The highest point of Zimbabwe is Mount Inyangani and the country is home to many superb estates and wild life parks. The combination of botanical gardens, sanctuaries and wild safaris make Zimbabwe a tourist’s paradise.

Among the must see sites in Zimbabwe, Harare is the popular attraction, since it is the capital city. This is the industrial and commercial centre of Zimbabwe. A clean and classy city, the city is full of flowering trees, contemporary architecture and vibrant parks. A visit to Harare can lead a tourist to the modern museum and art gallery, the Robert McIlwaine Recreational Park, the Lion and Cheetah Park and the Larvon Bird gardens. The pleasant climate of Harare makes it the Sunshine City.

Bulawayo is another major tourist attraction. The commercial, industrial and tourist centre is also historically famous. Bulawayo is home to the National museum and National Railways of Zimbabwe’s headquarters. The Khami ruins located near the city and Rhodes Matapos National Park famous for granite boulders are the important attractions of the city. There are also caves with exquisite rock paintings in them in this area. Dams have been constructed and they are ideal for fishing and many tourists come here just to fish.

One of the largest parks in Zimbabwe is Hwange and this National Park houses a variety of bird and animal species. It is the largest elephant sanctuary, in Africa. There are around 40,000 elephant cubs living in the National Park. Victoria Falls that flows from the Hwange National Park is the largest waterfalls in the world. The park allows the tourists to take a closer look at the animal species and learn about different species.

The principal holiday destination of the people in Zimbabwe and across the globe is the mountain ranges like Inyanga, Vumba and Chimanimani. Zimbabwe’s highest mountain is Inyangani. With deep valleys, gorges, granite peaks and steep cliffs, the scenery of the area is stunning and scintillating. The mountainous terrains house a few leopards and rare species of antelopes.

For a complete holiday, every tourist has to visit the Great Zimbabwe National Monument. The place has ruins of Africa and the main enclosure, temple, walls and stone work. The Kyle National Park is closer to the monument. The remains of the ruined city that flourished during the thirteenth and fifteenth century is alluring and the city was known to have been famous for trading gold.

Tourists can have fun in the waters of the River Zambezi. The surrounding areas of the river is a great venue for indulging in the water sports like white water rafting, bungee jumping, tiger fishing and surfing. Zimbabwe is a country that offers a unique mixture of contemporary life, comforts and at the same time, it preserves the ruins from the past. An array of safaris, allow the visitors to enjoy the natural splendour of Zimbabwe. Complete with lakes, rivers, national parks, monuments, historical sites and waterfalls. Zimbabwe is a great vacation spot for spending the hard earned vacation.

Andrew Gibson is MD of Direct Holiday Bookings. It is one of the fastest growing online travel websites for booking holiday homes. To see an example of why Direct Holiday Bookings is growing so rapidly have a look at Holiday Villas.

Direct Holiday Bookings also has a great selection of Holiday Cottages and self catering holiday apartments that can be rented as holiday homes all over the world.

Coaching holidays have become an incredibly popular way of travelling throughout Europe. We take a look at the rise of coaching holidays and examine the reasons behind this increase in popularity.

The idea of travelling by coach is certainly not new, although the quality of the experience offered certainly seems to be. Coaching holidays have always had a reputation of being cheap and cheerful, but a glance at the brochures provided by leading tour operators shows a change in emphasis.

Holidays by coach are now being marketed as luxury experiences. Indeed, these luxury escorted tours are trying to get away from their old image. Judging from the numbers of people taking these types of holidays, it seems that the marketing drive is bearing fruit.

Delving deeper, it’s clear that any suggestion that the change in reputation is purely down to clever marketing fails to recognise the large changes that have taken place in the industry.

Leading firms have sought to improve the travel experience, providing executive standard coaches that make travel far more relaxing. Realising that their continued success relies on building up a positive reputation, the major tour operators have put a lot of time, money and energy into research.

Many tours of Europe have improved dramatically as a result. The operators have realise that a long weekend in Paris or Amsterdam is not for everyone. The range of holidays on offer has increased as a result, with much of Eastern Europe being available as part of the various tour itineraries.

Similarly, the standard of hotels that are used has improved. No longer should you expect to be put up in cheap B&B accommodation.

The final factor that tour operators have looked to improve is the quality of the tour guides that accompany groups of travellers. It’s now a pleasure to be led around Europe by a guide who is fluent in English and who also has an extensive knowledge of the locations that are being visited.

The improvement in standards and approach is to be commended. It’s no surprise that coaching holidays are enjoying so much popularity.

Find out more about coaching holidays to Europe by reading Keith Barrett’s other travel articles. This article may be used by any website publisher, though this resource box must always be included in full.