The Colloid Base

The world is shrinking due to aeroplanes and the internet - and this is reflected in the huge amount of weblogs from travellers all over the world writing from the land they are currently residing in.

From reports regarding mango and sticky rice desserts in Thailand to Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival) in Japan, there doesn’t seem to be a issue that isn’t published by these hardy travellers.

Such websites- travelblogs - are read by fellow travellers and individuals who have been to the country they’re writing from. Not only that, but such blogs give an inside view of the country for the individuals considering travelling in the future, and so give them a snapshot of what to anticipate if they do decide to travel.

Nowadays it’s normal to chance upon these travelblogs, and so it’s frequently not adequate to only give your opinion on the country you’re presently residing in. Now there’s a desire for blogs that target particular niches in the nation they live in. For instance, a blog regarding photos of tuk tuks in Thailand, or perhaps a travelblog about the skiing in South Korea.

Most write these travelblogs as a hobby, and a bit of attention, however there are writers who are able to make a living from blogging. Be it earnings via adverts on their site, or for writing features for other sites and receiving money for such work as they are travelling. If you’re residing in a country that has low living costs, this can actually be sufficient to maintain all your expenses - though you ought to have a backup some savings and not soley rely on earning from your website.

Overall, it’s a good idea to write a journal of what you’re doing while you’re travelling - for looking back on and recollecting what you did, while also giving other people rare insight about corners of the world less known.

Digital photography has come a long way in producing high quality pictures, but contrary to popular belief, this cannot be achieved simply by pointing the camera at an object and clicking. Understanding certain concepts is necessary in order to achieve exceptional picture quality e.g. automatic flash, no flash, forced flash, twilight mode, natural light and red-eye reduction. The following should help in clarifying certain misconceptions.

Automatic Flash

Most digital cameras offer an automatic flash setting, which simply means that the camera will automatically gauge whether the use of flash is necessary. Once this calculation is complete the flash will go off if needed. In many cases this is the best option to choose, but there are exceptions.

Forced Flash

This feature should be used in cases where very bright light exists behind the object being photographed. This background light will cause a shadow to be cast over the subject. If your camera is set to automatic flash, this shadow will cause the flash to go off, creating an inappropriate effect. Use of the forced flash setting would, on the other hand, eliminate the shadow.

No Flash

This option is ideal in situations where the existing light is dim and the subject is too far away for the flash to have an effect, when photographing a bright object with a dark background (use of flash will erase lights in the picture), or in settings where flash photography is prohibited. The one thing to keep in mind when using this option is that the camera must be kept very steady.

Natural Light

In most cases, if used correctly, natural light is really the best option for producing vibrant pictures. If sunlight is available, snapping the picture at just the right angle is necessary to avoid glare. Squinting, although is still a common problem when using bright light. As far as natural lighting goes, cloudy days are best. Not only is shadowing not a problem but the picture itself has an additional softness to it.

Twilight mode

The twilight mode setting is best when your subject is surrounded by darkness. This option will clearly light your subject, maintaining the dark backdrop, as long as the object is within flash range.

Red-Eye Reduction

This seldom desired effect is the result of the flash reflecting off the eyes’ retina. The red-eye reduction feature instructs the camera to set off multiple flashes in order to eliminate the effect. Once again the subject must be within range of the flash as well as looking directly at the camera.

It is not to say that without the above information you will never achieve a decent picture, but committing these tips to memory will surely improve the quality of your photography as well as bring memories to life more accurately.