Photography as a Fun and Interesting Hobby

Author: James Hunt

Photography is a fun hobby that interests many different people across a broad range of ages. Enthusiasts of all types have found a creative recreational outlet in the hobby of photography and with the advances in technology that have occurred in recent years (especially with the advent and ubiquitous adoption of digital imaging technologies such as digital cameras, scanners, digital image editing software and photo printers).

There was a time when an individual who was interested in getting into the hobby of photography had quite an initial investment to make. To get a serious start in the craft, one would need to purchase an SLR (single lens reflex) camera ($400-$1000+), darkroom equipment ($300+) and very expensive exhaustible supplies (35mm film, developing chemicals, photo paper, etc).

With digital photography, the hobbyist has a much lower cost to pay to get into the hobby in a serious way. Once the initial purchase of a quality digital camera and professional imaging software (such as Adobe Photoshop) are made there is little to no expense required to participate. Aside from the occasional prints, there are few other necessary hidden costs to the hobby when approached from the digital side of things.

If you are interested in getting into the hobby, you should check out some of the photography communities on the web.. There are literally thousands of enthusiasts sites out there and hundreds of free tools to make the most out of the digital photography technology. From online image repositories with the ability to meta-organize digital photos like Flickr to web gallery software like Coppermine to free image editing tools like the Gimp, there are many tools and resources out there for the taking online. These free tools, together with a very active and robust online digital photography community make for an excellent hobby that can provide hours of enjoyment to those who are willing to put in the time and effort.


Author Bio:

James Hunt has spent 15 years as a professional writer and researcher covering stories that cover a whole spectrum of interest. Read more at www.fireplace-central.info


Source : www.articleandsuch.com

Underwater Restaurant

If you looking for special date with your love's one, may be you can consider this place as you ideal location. I not sure where is this place located. But if i'm not mistaken its located in Israel. Can somebody confirm?

just have a look.

US1.00 for Every Friend You Refer

TITLE: Why I Love The Traffic Tips Report

The Traffic Tips Report is a great short report by Justin Michie that boasts 247 ways to drive traffic to your sites and blogs. (It’s available for free for a limited time from here.)

So is it really necessary to have 247 different ways to generate traffic? I’d say yes.

Like a lot of online business owners, I have websites in all different types of niches. Therefore the more options I have for traffic generation, the better. Some methods may not fit for one niche, but it may be just the thing to flood another niche site with traffic.

I have read through the Traffic Tips Report several times and it seems each time I read it, I discover something I missed before. Some of these traffic generation methods are so simple, but so overlooked, it’s insane.

A very important part of this report is about where you promote your websites. A lot of times website owners will concentrate on promoting their site just on the web. I know I have been guilty of having tunnel vision when it comes to this. The report is helpful in that it goes beyond this thinking and lists quite a few ways to promote your site offline. This can give you a major advantage because your competition is probably not thinking about these kinds of traffic generation strategies.

I know that a lot of times I get into a rut and try to same old traffic generation methods day in and day out. And I realize these methods may not be the best way to get traffic to my site. But when I try to think up new ways to generate traffic, I usually come up with nothing. That is why this report comes in so handy. I save myself a ton of time by just going down the list of traffic generation methods. I choose the one I want to try and give it a go. If it doesn’t work for my niche I can make a note about it and try the next one. I now have a valuable resource at my disposal that I can refer to any time I need more traffic.

This report is very easy to read and understand. It doesn’t hold your hand, but it does contain links to the sites that you can visit to increase your exposure. After using these links, I have noticed a significant increase in traffic to my sites.

Justin Michie has put together an extremely useful resource here – putting years of research into a single report. If you are dedicated to your online business and are serious about generating more traffic, you need the Traffic Tips Report. My only regret when it comes to this report is that I wish I would have gotten it sooner. If you haven’t gotten it yet, you can pick up a copy from: http://www.lemonadehere.com/cmd.php?Clk=2586560

Malaysian Stamps : Royal Headgear (Date of Issue 16-Sep-2008)

Technical Details

Stamps

Stamp Value :Stamp Value: 50 Sen (10 designs)
Sheet Content :20 Stamps
Paper :SPM Watermarked, Phosphor Coated
Printing Process :Lithography
Printer :Percetakan Keselamatan Nasional Sdn Bhd
Stamp Designer :Prof. Dato' Raja Zahabuddin Raja Yaacob


First Day Cover

First Day Cover Value : 30 Sen


Folder

Folder Value :RM 5.50

Source : www.pos.com.my

Pos keluar setem Tengkolok Diraja 16 Sept.

KUALA LUMPUR 12 Sept. – Pos Malaysia Berhad akan mengeluarkan koleksi setem, sampul surat hari pertama dan fail yang bertemakan Tengkolok Diraja pada 16 September ini.

Pemangku Pengarah Urusan Pos Malaysia Berhad, Datuk Abu Huraira Abu Yazid berkata, koleksi setem itu dikeluarkan untuk meningkatkan kesedaran dan pemahaman orang ramai tentang keunikan budaya masyarakat negara ini.

‘‘Setem-setem ini memaparkan imej Tengkolok Diraja yang dipakai oleh semua sultan di negara ini.

‘‘Kita mahu orang ramai tahu tentang keunikan, fungsi serta perbezaan tengkolok yang dipakai sultan pada majlis dan suasana tertentu,” katanya semasa sesi penerangan kepada media tentang koleksi setem baru, sampul surat hari pertama dan fail itu di Pejabat Pos Besar di sini hari ini.

Setem yang mempunyai sembilan reka bentuk tengkolok itu dijual dengan harga 50 sen sekeping.

Sampul surat hari pertama (SSHP) pula boleh didapati dalam denominasi 30 sen dan 50 sen, SSHP dengan setem pula dijual dengan harga RM5.30 manakala fail dengan harga RM5.50.

Para pengumpul setem yang mahu membeli set lengkap itu juga boleh mendapatkannya dengan harga RM20.80.

Tambah Abu Huraira, pencipta rekaan setem itu, Datuk Raja Zahabuddin akan turut berada di Pejabat Pos Besar Kuala Lumpur pada hari pelancaran untuk sesi tandatangan bersama penggemar setem.

Selain itu, jelasnya, penggemar setem juga dinasihatkan agar mendaftar sebagai ahli SODA, (Standing Order Deposit Account) untuk mendapatkan setem-setem dan produk lain tanpa perlu beratur di pejabat pos semasa hari keluaran.

‘‘Orang ramai yang berminat boleh mendaftar secara dalam talian di www.posonline.com.my untuk membuka akaun SODA, menambah baki serta mengemaskinikan butir peribadi mereka,” ujarnya.

Sumber : Utusan Online 13/09/2008

What Your Zodiac Tell You

VIRGO - The Perfectionist
Dominant in relationships.. Conservative. Always wants the last word. Argumentative. Worries. Very smart. Dislikes noise and chaos. Eager. Hardworking. Loyal. Beautiful. Easy to talk to. Hard to please. Ha rsh. Practical and very fussy. Often shy. Pessimistic.


SCORPIO - The Intense One
Very energetic. Intelligent. Can be jealous and/or possessive. Hardworking. Great kisser. Can become obsessive or secretive. Holds grudges. Attractive. Determined. Loves being in long relationships. Talkative. Romantic. Can be self-centered at times. Passionate and Emotional.


LIBRA - The Harmonizer
Nice to everyone they meet. Can't make up their mind. Have own unique appeal. Creative, energetic, and very social. Hates to be alone. Peaceful, generous. Very loving and beautiful. Flirtatious. Give in too easily. Procrastinators. Very gullible.


ARIES - The Daredevil
Energetic. Adventurous and spontaneous. Confident and enthusiastic. Fun. Loves a challenge... EXTREMELY impatient. Sometimes selfish. Short fuse. (Easily angered.) Lively, passionate, and sharp wit. Outgoing. Lose interest quickly - easily bored. Egotistical. Courageous and assertive. Tends to be physical and athletic.


AQUARIUS - The Sweetheart
Optimistic and honest. Sweet personality. Very independent. Inventive and intelligent. Friendly and loyal. Can seem unemotional. Can be a bit rebellious. Very stubborn, but original and unique Attractive on the inside and out. Eccentric personality.


GEMINI - The Chatterbox
Smart and witty. Outgoing, very chatty. Lively, energetic. Adaptable but needs to express themselves. Argumentative and outspoken. Likes change. Versatile. Busy, sometimes nervous and tense. Gossips. May seem superficial or inconsistent, but is only changeable. Beautiful physically and mentally.


LEO - The Boss
Very organized. Need order in their lives - like being in control. Like boundaries. Tend to take over everything. Bossy. Like to help others. Social and outgoing. Extroverted. Generous, warm-hearted. Sensitive. Creative energy. Full of themselves. Loving. D oing the right thing is important to Leos. Attractive.


CANCER - The Protector
Moody, emotional. May be shy. Very loving and caring. Pretty/handsome. Excellent partners for life. Protective. Inventive and imaginative. Cautious. Touchy-feely kind of person. Needs love from others. Easily hurt, but sympathetic.


PISCES - The Dreamer
Generous, kind, and thoughtful. Very creative and imaginative. May become secretive and vague. Sensitive. Don't like details Dreamy and unrealistic. Sympathetic and loving. Kind. Unselfish. Good kisser. Beautiful.


CAPRICORN - The Go-Getter
Patient and wise. Practical and rigid. Ambitious. Tends to be good-looking. Humorous and funny. Can be a bit shy and reserved. Often pessimists. Capricorns tend to act before they think and can be unfriendly y at times. Hold grudges. Like competition. Get what they want.


TAURUS - The Enduring One
Charming but aggressive. Can come off as boring, but they are not. Hard workers. Warm-hearted. Strong, has endurance. Solid beings who are stable and secure in their ways. Not looking for shortcuts. Take pride in their beauty. Patient and reliable. Make great friends and give good advice. Loving and kind. Loves hard - passionate. Express themselves emotionally. Prone to ferocious temper-tantrums. Determined. Indulge themselves often. Very generous.


SAGITTARIUS - The Happy-Go-Lucky One
Good-natured optimist. Doesn't want to grow up (Peter Pan Syndrome). Indulges self. Boastful. Likes luxuries and gambling. Social and outgoing. Doesn't like responsibilities. Often fantasizes. Impatient. Fun to be around. Having lots of friends. Flirtatious. Doesn't like rules. Sometimes hypocritical. Dislikes being confined - tight spaces or even tight clothes. Doesn't like being doubted. Beautiful inside and out.

Foot Note :
My zodiac? Of course AQUARIUS.

Hobi menenangkan di udara Oleh RAHANA MOHD. DAHARI

KOTA BHARU 3 Sept. - Aktiviti sukan atau riadah di udara, masih belum diceburi secara meluas oleh rakyat negara ini - mungkin kerana ia dikaitkan dengan sesuatu yang mencabar, berisiko dan menelan belanja yang besar.

Salah satu daripadanya ialah luncur udara atau paragliding yang telah diperkenalkan di negara ini lebih satu dekad lalu dengan wujudnya beberapa kelab yang lebih tertumpu di Lembah Klang.

Paragliding diterbangkan daripada tempat tinggi, melayang dan meluncur mengikut kelajuan angin; justeru ia memerlukan waktu dan lokasi yang sesuai bagi membolehkan seseorang itu melayang di udara.

Bagi merasai pengalaman yang lebih menyeronokkan, Mat Jusoh Mamat, 62, seorang peniaga menggunakan luncur udara bermotor (powered paragliding) atau dikenali sebagai paramotor kerana ia memudahkan lagi penerbangan.

Masih belum ramai yang memiliki jentera itu dan kebanyakan kelab memilih menggunakan luncur udara solo atau paragliding yang bergantung 100 peratus pada udara dan ketentuan cuaca.

"Sebaliknya paramotor pula boleh diterbangkan di mana-mana tanah rata lebih kurang 20 meter untuk dijadikan landasan sebelum terbang ke udara.

"Kenderaan ini menggunakan kuasa enjin bagi menggerakkannya, kipas jenis lembut dan payung kanopi.

"Jenis bermotor kurang berisiko kerana ia masih boleh terbang jika enjin rosak," ujarnya ketika ditemui di rumahnya di Pasir Tumbuh, Kota Bharu baru-baru ini.

Tambahnya, luncur udara miliknya biasa diterbangkan pada ketinggian 400 hingga 500 kaki dengan kelajuan 70 kilometer meskipun ia boleh mencecah 18,000 kaki.

Dengan terbang rendah dan perlahan, baginya itulah saat paling mengasyikkan dengan pandangan yang menarik terbentang di depan mata.

Paramotor, dengan mesin yang dilekatkan di belakang juruterbangnya, ia seakan terbang bersendirian kerana kesan pendulum apabila kedudukannya tergantung di bawah payung.

Mat Jusoh, bekas tukang masak di pelantar minyak itu yang lebih mesra dengan panggilan Pak Soh tidak menjadikan usia sebagai penghalang untuk mempelajari dan terus mengendalikan penerbangan sebagai hobinya.

Menurutnya, kemahiran mengendalikan luncur udara bermotor itu dipelajari dua tahun lalu selepas hampir 10 tahun terlibat dengan hobi bermain alat kawalan jauh terutama menggunakan model kapal terbang dan helikopter.

"Saya beralih kepada hobi lebih mencabar selepas bertemu kawan di Miri, Sarawak dua tahun lalu yang memperkenalkan luncur udara bermotor walaupun ketika itu saya langsung tidak mempunyai asas dalam penerbangan," katanya yang merupakan pemilik tunggal kenderaan jenis itu di negeri ini.

Pak Soh berkata, di peringkat awal dia membeli luncur udara solo di Thailand dengan harga RM17,000 dan bersama seorang anak saudara yang berminat, dia mempelajari teknik mengendali dan menerbangkannya.

"Saya tidak menggunakan khidmat mana-mana jurulatih tetapi meniru kaedah yang sama ketika bermain alat kawalan jauh dan berlatih berulang kali menggunakan tali, seperti orang bermain layang-layang.

"Saya menerbangkan pesawat manakala anak saudara menunggu di bawah untuk mengawal dan membantu jika berlaku kemalangan.

Selepas dua minggu, saya mahir mengendalikannya dan sering mengadakan latihan di sekitar kawasan lapang di Bachok, Tok Bali atau di perkarangan pasar raya Tesco di sini," katanya.

Selepas setahun yakin dengan kemahiran dan pengalaman, Pak Soh membuka syarikat perkhidmatan yang berpengkalan di Pulau Perhentian, dengan membeli paramotor yang mempunyai dua tempat duduk dengan kos RM52,000.

"Seorang rakan warganegara Australia yang saya kenali sebagai James, salah seorang pemilik paramotor di negara ini dan mengendalikan kelab Airventure di Pulau Indah, Klang membantu saya mengimportnya dari Republik Czechoslovakia," katanya.

Syarikat Identify Flying Object (IFO), menawarkan perkhidmatan penerbangan mengelilingi pulau di kalangan pengunjung dengan kadar bayaran RM180 untuk menikmati keindahan pemandangan alam.

"Kita dapat melihat alam laut yang jernih biru berkaca, melihat keunikan karang dan ikan-ikan di dasarnya.

"Ia dikendalikan empat kakitangan di mana dua membantu ketika terbang dan mendarat serta dua lagi menggunakan bot berenjin mengawal di laut sekiranya berlaku apa-apa kejadian yang tidak diingini, '' katanya.

Tambahnya, untuk melibatkan diri dengan luncur udara bermotor, individu perlu memperoleh kelulusan Jabatan Penerbangan Awam Malaysia (DCA) dan mematuhi garis panduan penerbangan yang ditetapkan.

Bapa kepada empat orang anak itu turut didorong oleh isterinya, Engku Ramlah Che Ku Mat yang juga seorang bekas jurugambar di Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Kubang Kerian.

Selain menguruskan syarikatnya, Pak Soh turut dijemput untuk mengadakan persembahan di beberapa buah sekolah malah beliau turut mempunyai beberapa pelajar yang berminat dalam bidang luncur udara untuk belajar kemahiran berkaitan.

Sumber Berita dan Gambar : Utusan Online 04/09/2008