Adding a Fishpond to Your Garden

Your garden will look more beautiful if you will install a fishpond beside it. Building a fishpond can greatly enhance the charm and beauty of your garden. Basically, it is easy to setup a fishpond, but there are several reminders you need to consider if you want to add a fishpond to your garden.

As you care for your garden, you must also take care of your pond. This is mainly because your garden and pond can be your family’s favorite place to spend most of your time. Your kids will surely enjoy the playing around your pond. You may also entertain your friends and guests near your backyard fishpond.

Adding a pond to your garden can be crucial, both to your plants and your fish. Neglecting the essentials in its setup may ruin what you have invested in your garden. Remember that adding a fishpond to your garden will take time and effort. Study your garden carefully before starting digging around. Choose a location that will enhance the layout of your garden.

You must remember that the spot you will dig for your pond will be permanent. Choose a central spot or the spot with the highest elevation to prevent the water from overflowing when it rains. You must also put a hedge along the edge of your pond. This way, the garden’s excess water will not go to the pond. When your pond overflows, the fishes may escape and die; the plants may also be flooded and wither.

You must also consider how big your garden is to determine the size of your pond. You must also consider which shape your pond must take. Common shapes include oval, rectangular, and bean-shape. You must also consider the type of fish that you will keep as you determine the size and shape of your pond. Also, choose a place where there is enough sunlight to keep your fishes healthy.

The work does not end with setting the fishpond. You must also maintain the beauty and functions of the pond. You will need to change water once a month to avoid pollution. Do not forget to feed your fish once or twice a day. Your family, friends and guests will enjoy staying near your pond when it is clean and beautiful.

You may not know what opportunities will come your way if you have a beautiful and clean fishpond in your garden. Business contacts may be impressed with your pond. Your children will have a better and healthier alternative to playing video and computer games. Family bonding time can be more enjoyable and fun around your fishpond.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"Invest in something worthwhile; sooner or later you will reap its fruits."

Introducing Coin Collection as a Hobby for Children

If you have a son and you want him to have a hobby that he could carry until he turns into an adult, collecting coins is a good option. Instead of giving him another toy to play with, give him a chance to experience what this type of hobby brings. You can introduce this hobby to him by giving him a nice set of 50 coins to start with. You can give it on special occasions like their birthdays or on Christmas Eve, so he will know that this present means a lot to you.

However, do not be shocked if ever he does not appear to be excited or burst out in tears of joy when he receives his gift. You can explain him the pleasure brought by coin collecting and tell him stories about these coins. Through this, he will become interested and would develop his passion for this hobby.

It does not matter what age or gender your child has, but it is better to introduce this kind of hobby to them early in their lives so that they can feel more successful they would feel about their collection when they grow up. If they begin the process of collecting at a young age, they will be able to collect different kinds of coins throughout their lives up until they reach adulthood.

Furthermore, this kind of hobby will teach them the importance of saving money. You can also teach them the virtue of being thrifty by training them to save money for themselves. In addition, coin collecting can also be a method to let your children learn about the history of your country and other countries as well. Older coins from your own country would serve as a memorabilia about the history of your country.

Moreover, letting a child learn about the stories and reasons behind a coin’s history would build their interest and let them know its importance in everyday life. It can also give you the opportunity to bond with your child and have a stronger relationship. You can do this by examining and elaborating the details present in the coin – the symbols, people, and places. Use a magnifying glass to enlarge the coin and let your child see the particulars of every coin.

However, before you do this, you must be prepared to answer questions that will likely be asked by your child. You can research about the coins included in your child’s collection through the Internet. It is a much cheaper method of gathering information rather than spending lots of money on books about this kind of hobby.

Finally, by the time that he had acquired the hobby, you must teach them the important things that come with this hobby such as the proper storage method, cleaning, scouting for discontinued coins, and collecting. This may turn out to be a life enhancing experience for your child so you must always support him.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"Teach your children something worthwhile; it will enhance their worth."

Types of Coin Collectors

According to a survey, close to ninety percent of the whole world’s population made coin collecting one of their hobbies at some point in their lives. Some of these people turned this hobby into a passion that gives them a certain kind of joy and accomplishment every time they add new pieces to their collection. The leisure pursuit known as coin collection has been a hobby throughout the course of human history. This kind of hobby, when taken seriously, would also take some of your time and effort.

The American Numismatic Association has organized a convention known as The World’s Fair of Money, which is one of the best places to learn and see the world’s best numismatists, most recent discoveries, rarities, and every aspect related to this particular hobby.

There are no particular rules or guidelines when it comes to this type of hobby. Some prefer collecting coins from their own country only. On the other hand, others like to collect different coins from around the world – old, new, commemorative, historical, or just the present currency in a particular country. Some people also like to add coins that have errors in it because they are considered as rare collectibles.

There are several types of coin collectors - the casual type, the passionate hobbyist type, the historical type, and the advanced coin collectors. The casual type of collector is the type that collects random coins regardless of the coin’s value and where it came from, while a passionate hobbyist collector goes beyond the casual type of collecting and makes a conscious effort to improve his collection.

Some even buy coins from dealers to add them up to their coin sets. The advanced coin collectors on the other hand are different from the two kinds of collectors earlier stated. These collectors have in them an impressive line of collections such as medals owned by an emperor from the Egypt that are several centuries old and very rare coins from earlier civilizations. Historical coin collectors are those who are more into error coins and historically relevant coins.

In conclusion, whatever type of coin collector you would be in the future, this hobby requires dedication, patience, dedication, effort, time, and at some point, money. You will feel a sense of fulfillment every time you add another piece in your collection. You may never know, it could also be an inspiring hobby for your friends or relatives to try this kind of hobby too.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“We have different approaches to the same thing; respect others’ preferences.”

The Rule of Thirds

Many camera owners nowadays use their cameras to simply point on a subject and click on the capture button without even studying how the image would look like. However, a basic technique known as the Rule of Thirds would surely help those who want to incorporate substance and depth to photographs. You could use any kind of camera that you want. It would not matter if it is a Digital SLR or the disposable ones.

The concept behind the Rule of Thirds is the position of a particular subject. The positioning of a subject in a particular photograph is very important. The common thing done by casual photographers is to place the subject in the center of the picture, which would make it quite mediocre. That is why you must make use of techniques such as the Rule of Thirds to enhance the quality of your pictures.

The first tip is to use a visual aid in order to envision the Rule of Thirds in your mind. To create the idea in your mind, you can use an index card and any kind of pen. Place the card in front of you in a horizontal position. Draw two vertical lines in the card that will divide the page in three equal parts.

Afterward, draw another two lines, horizontal ones this time. You will notice that you have nine rectangles in the card, and the center rectangle serves as your ‘magic box.’ This particular box is the one that you need to focus on when you look into the viewfinder of the camera. It is advisable to avoid placing your subject inside the magic box, but place it along its corners or boarders instead.

Take this situation for example. Imagine a scenario where in you are taking a photo of someone from a medium distance. If you place the face or head of the subject inside the ‘magic box,’ it would leave a considerable amount of empty space above the subject’s head, which would not look good in a photo. Therefore, it is better to set the subject’s head on the top boarder of the magic box that will fill the photo with the subject’s image. This will bring forth a better photo.

Finally, there are other examples of using the Rule of Thirds. Placing the subject on the upper right or left side would create interest not only on the subject but on the background as well. Think of the endless ideas you could create with the use of this technique. Experiment with this rule and you will discover the photographer in you.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"Where do you stand? Stand still and give your best."

What to Look for in a Digital Camera

Would not it be nice to have a camera to capture those precious moments with family and friends? However, you still need to have the appropriate digital camera to do so. You do not just go to a store and buy a camera; you have to know what qualities a camera possesses to make sure that the features of a camera is worth your money. Here are some of the features that you need to consider before purchasing your own digital camera.

Megapixels – The number of megapixels a camera has effects on the outcome of a photograph. The higher the megapixel rate of a camera has, the photos taken with it will come more detailed and much clearer. Different cameras offer various ranges of megapixels; some has 2 megapixels up to 8 megapixels. If you are the ‘point and click’ type of user and is planning on posting the photos on the Web, a 2 or 3 megapixel camera might be the best choice for you. However, if you are planning to print the photos that you are going to take, a 5 megapixels camera is more advisable. Moreover, 7 to 8 megapixel cameras are the best buys for professional photographers who want more detailed and clear photos.

Zoom – There are two types of zoom; the Optical and Digital Zoom. Optical zoom is the kind that utilizes the physical capabilities of the camera’s lens to zoom in or out of a subject (the person, object, or landscape’s image being captured). Digital zoom, on the other hand, makes use of a microchip integrated inside the camera to zoom in or out of a subject in a digital manner. When you compare the two, a digitally zoomed photograph would not look as good as an optically zoomed one. Therefore, you must determine the zoom range that you need.

Memory – You must determine the size and efficiency of the memory card or stick that you need. If you are planning to take high-resolution photographs, it is recommended to have a bigger (4 GB to 8 GB) and faster memory card.

Ease of Connectivity – Before you purchase a camera, you must first verify if it is compatible to different brands of computers and printers. Moreover, you must also remember to check if the camera has a cable that you can use to connect it to a computer or a printer.

Exposure Settings – It is best to know if a camera has many shutter speed and aperture options. However, some cameras also have presets that you can use in order to achieve the results that you want. Nevertheless, manual settings for exposure are more preferred by professional photographers because it gives them the freedom to further enhance the quality of a photograph.

Size and Usage – Nobody would want to use a heavy, bulky, and complicated camera. If you are a casual photographer and would only want to take pictures to capture moments and memories, it is advisable to buy a user-friendly and does not weigh that much.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"Be responsible to the consequences of every decision you make out of your options."

Lighting Techniques

If you are at the first stages of your dream to take stunning and remarkable photographs by yourself, a factor known as Lighting has a big influence to the outcome of any picture. The beauty of a photograph does not only rely on the subject and the surroundings alone, the lighting must always be perfect.

Aside from the fact that it makes the subject and surroundings visible, light also gives you the liberty to evoke mood or emotions. Try these tips and it will surely boost your skills to another level.

You must learn about the right layout of light sources. According to professional photographers, light should come from three sources; this method is called Triangulation.

In triangulation, the first light source must be placed behind the person taking the photograph (you); the second one must be placed behind the subject. The third one are called fill lights, the light source that can be placed anywhere, depending on the photographer’s choice. Fill lights are used to provide the needed lighting onto the subject, depending upon the situation. These lights are said to decrease shadowing, create depth, and perspective on the subject of the photograph.

Moreover, the settings used when you take pictures in a room (controlled lighting environment) are different from shooting outdoor. In a situation where you are shooting in direct sunlight, fill lights will serve as key light. However, if the surroundings are a little bit gloomy, you could use the sun as your fill lighting source. In addition, shooting indoors at night would require a deeper knowledge on how to make use of the light sources; how to manipulate them and make them work together.

You must learn to manage the light and shadow that you would need in order to produce a much better image. It is recommended that you set the key light as the brightest one of the three because you can manipulate make the necessary adjustments on the other two light sources much easier.

Fill lights and back lights must be dimmer than your key lights to get that sense of balance of lighting needed to produce high quality images. The flash, a common technique used in professional and amateur photography, is also very important. Some shots can appear much better when the flash is used as a fill light. However, always provide the proper lighting on the subject to reduce the occurrence of red eyes.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"In life and in photography, nothing will come out of darkness."

Exposure Settings

If you own a camera, you would definitely want to capture the best photos and preserve great memories, locations, and people that you meet. However, many neglect the lack of understanding about some of the essential elements that make a photo impressive. Many people just point at a subject or a person and just click.

On the other hand, some people make the necessary adjustments and settings to bring out the best in an image. If you are one of those who want to learn more and maximize the potential of your camera, listed below are some of the neglected but essential functions of a camera that you can use.

Exposure is very important in capturing the overall mood of the photo. This factor determines the image’s darkness or brightness of a photo. There are three components involved in determining the exposure of an image – shutter speed, aperture settings, and ISO settings. They may seem to be complicated and tedious settings in a camera, but it will surely help you in getting the results that you want.

Shutter Speed – The shutter is the part of a camera that allows light to pass and expose the light sensitive sensor inside a camera, which is responsible for producing the image. Shutter speed is the method of setting the duration of exposure the sensor is exposed to light. Moreover, shutter speed is measured in fractions of a second. For example, when you set the shutter speed of a camera to a speed of 1/30, it means that the camera’s shutter will only stay open for 30th of a second and will close afterward.

Aperture Settings – Aperture is an opening that determines the amount of light that will reach the sensor. The size of the opening depends upon the settings that the user wants. These settings are measured with ‘f stops.’ A setting of f16 or f11 will set the aperture with a small opening. On the other hand, f2.8 or f4 makes a large opening that will allow more light to reach the sensor inside the camera.

ISO Settings – This is also related to the sensitivity of the camera sensor to light. Take this for example, you are going to take a picture of a subject exposed to bright sunlight, you must set your ISO to low (preferably ISO 100) to get good results (it will come out not too bright and not too dark). On the other hand, if the surroundings and the lighting is scarce or very minimal (at dusk for example), adjust the ISO settings to ISO 400 to attain a nice exposure. The higher the ISO setting is, the brighter the result will be.

In conclusion, you can mix, match, and experiment with these settings so that you can achieve varied results. This will help you in getting to know your camera even better rather than just clicking the capture button.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"It is not your course or the school that develops your skills, it is your exposure to what you want to do."

Framing and Composition Tips for Beginners

A common mistake that casual camera users commit is the fact that they do not look at the final image before pushing the capture button of the camera. It is a known fact that studying and setting the subject in the proper way (via the viewfinder) before capturing an image is much better compared to a point and shoots style of photography.

With the use of some methods to capture photographs, you would be able to bring out the best out of any subject. Use procedures known as framing and composition that helps in giving you the best possible outcome in a photo.

Determine the way that a camera must be hold before capturing the image. When taking a photo of a person or subject near your position, it is best to hold the camera in a vertical position to maximize the space available for the image. However, in a scenario where you are going to take a picture of a group of people, several subjects or landscape, the recommended position to capture it in a horizontal position. By doing this, you will be able to fill the image with the subject or subjects.

In photography, there is a rule known as the Rule of Thirds. Professional photographers and amateurs alike use this rule for the longest time. It has been proven very effective in bringing out the best in many photographs taken over the years. The rule is simple; you need to divide (in your mind) the image found in the viewfinder of your camera to nine areas (9 equally divided rectangular boxes).

Furthermore, it is recommended to place the main subject in the areas of the image where the horizontal and vertical lines meet. According to a study, when we are presented with and image, our eyes usually look in these areas (intersections where the lines meet). Try this method and you will notice that it is better than just placing the subject in the center of the frame.

An additional method to improve the pictures that you capture is with the use of leading lines. The process is by using an element present in the viewfinder (road or a bridge) that will be very helpful in guiding a person’s eyes to the main subject or to a position that you want people to focus on. This method will help you in many ways. Try to incorporate all of the tips and techniques and you will certainly see the improvement in your photos.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"Everyone needs to start somewhere."

Basic Techniques for Compact Digital Cameras

When you have a camera, it is better if you know how to make the most out of it. It is not ideal to just place the subject inside the frame and click away. Who knows, with the knowledge that you are about to acquire combined with your creativity; you might be a great photographer someday. However, you must first have a compact digital camera. With that given, here are the basic tips that would prove to be very helpful in your aspirations to be a successful photographer, either as a professional or as a hobbyist.

You need to navigate through the options and settings present in cameras. Make a conscious effort to examine and analyze each setting as possible. As you know, every adjustment that you apply will affect the outcome of the picture that you are going to capture. The simple alterations like environment settings, zoom, flash, and other settings will be very useful in different situations.

Always carry the camera anywhere. You may miss a special moment or a particular place that you like if you do not have a camera at hand. You can also consider going out; to the beach, to the woods, mountains, or outside the country. There are endless possibilities outside the confines of your home, so try exploring the great outdoors.

Having the settings in automatic will help you in getting used to using the camera. Take pictures with these settings and make the appropriate adjustments when you are very well oriented with the controls and settings. This will help you to adjust the needed settings depending on the need of a particular condition.

It is recommended to set the camera to the highest resolution available. This will give you the freedom to edit photos on a computer if ever you need to fix something. Moreover, as higher resolution pictures take up more space than the usual, it is also advisable to purchase a larger memory card so that higher resolution images can be stored in bunches.

Nowadays, red eye reduction features are included in the camera’s options. Switch in on to avoid red eyes, which usually happen whenever you use the flash when you are taking pictures of people.

Use a tripod whenever needed. Tripods would be very beneficial to minimize blurring of images due to actions made by the person holding the camera. Some camera settings are sensitive even to little movement, which would ruin the photograph that you would want to capture.

Lastly, you must always practice, practice, and practice. With the technological advancements available for everybody (such as the replacement of the traditional film to a digital storage device), it is much easier to learn and hone your skills as a photographer.


LESSON IN LIFE:
"As in photography, it is how you use your resource that determines if you will enjoy life or not."

Different Kinds of Cameras and their Functions

If you are planning to buy a camera, it is much better to know what kind of camera you need and learn how it works. Understanding how a particular camera works is better than just purchasing a camera randomly. There are several types of camera and they have their particular functions. You must keep in mind that it is not a given fact than when a camera is more expensive, it captures better images. It is upon the user’s way of using it and to his or her creativity. Listed below are some of the types of cameras found in the market today.

Disposable Cameras – As the name suggests, these cameras are the type that you can use and dispose afterwards. These can also take great shots depending upon the person using it. It is a great choice of camera used for parties and gatherings. However, you would not be able to alter its settings due to its limited functionality. It uses film to save images.

Compact Cameras – These cameras can fit in your pocket. They usually come with a flash, self-timer, a wide-angle lens, and a panoramic mode. Compact in weight and size, you can carry it with you easily. It is perfect for pictures of everyday life and snapshots. There are two types of compact cameras; the analog type that uses film, and the digital one that uses memory cards to store captured images.

SLRs – Single Lens Reflex Cameras, or more popularly known as SLRs, are the choice of professional and amateur photographers. The main advantage of a SLR against other cameras is its Single Lens Reflex feature that lets the viewfinder look through the detachable lens instead of the fixed lens. This will allow users with the freedom to enhance and control the results via the interchangeable lenses. With the use of a longer lens, you can make distant subjects appear closer without sacrificing the quality.

On the other hand, shorter lenses provide wider shots. Furthermore, several settings (shutter speed, aperture settings) to alter and further enhance the result are available in SLRs, functions that are unavailable in compact and disposable cameras. However, the disadvantages about SLRs are the equipments that you have to buy (they do not come cheap) and the problem of carrying it around. They also come in analog and digital models.

Medium/Large Format SLRs – These are the type of SLRs used to give you the power to capture bigger (higher resolutions) photographs. The main problem about these is their size. It is very bulky and weighs twice as much as the common SLR. Stock photographers usually use these types of SLRs.

LESSON IN LIFE:
"Life, like cameras, has a lot to offer to achieve the same benefits; it's your choice that determines how you get the benefits."

Your Journey to Health and Fitness

The road to health and fitness is not really a bumpy one as most people think. Starting your journey will seem to be hard at first but until when you get the hang of it, your journey will be enjoyable for you. All you need is discipline and commitment to your goals.

Listed below are some tips you must remember before you hit the road to health and fitness. Read these helpful tips and take one step at a time.

1. Start small. If your doctor advice you to abstain from eating a certain food that you like so much such as a black forest chocolate cake or your favorite fast-food burger and fries; start by eating smaller amounts than your usual consumption. Take moderate steps in cutting down your consumption. Gradually reduce your food consumption by eating smaller servings then try to eat only less frequently than the usual. With this approach, you will still enjoy the foods you want and reduce your cravings for such foods.

2. Plan modestly. Your health goals must be attainable and realistic. Setting too high goals will sometimes lead to big disappointments and frustrations. Make your plans achievable with taking into account your capability of doing such plans. When you accomplish something that you aimed for, it will give you more confidence and motivation to continue with your subsequent health goals and plans.

3. Have a buddy. Your good friend will be the best person to support you on your journey to a healthy life. It will be beneficial on your part to have someone to share the muscle pains as well as the joys of accomplishment to make the process easier and more bearable. You will have someone to remind you the things you need to do, to encourage you to do your best and to strengthen your morale to achieve your health goals. This lifestyle change will not be a big burden as it seems if you have someone behind your back to support you all the way.

4. Have self-discipline. This major deciding factor will determine the success of your goals in living a healthy lifestyle. In order to push through with your plans, you need to have a constant self-discipline to keep you in the right direction during the course of the road to health and fitness. Your biggest nemesis is merely your own self. If you will be vulnerable to temptations, you will never see your plans through.

5. Do it for yourself. No one will benefit more from this lifestyle change than you. All your hardships will be rewarded with lifelong benefits that you will enjoy such as a healthy and fit body and a younger-looking appearance. If you will start to take good care of yourself, the rest of good things will follow.


LESSON IN LIFE:
“We only get back what we give to our body.”