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July 30, 2008
The Right Way to Travel, Weekly Photo Tip
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FROM BIRTH TO BURIAL: CEREMONIES AROUND THE WORLD
By Shelly Perry in Portland, OR

From birth to burial, our lives are infused with ceremony. Graduations, bar mitzvahs, weddings, burials, baptisms... ceremonies like these take many forms from culture to culture.

I've been thinking about ceremony as the opening of the Beijing Olympics is coming up next week... and there's sure to be much fanfare and ceremony surrounding the Olympics all month.

So this month, focus your camera on anything of a ceremonial nature, and contribute your best shot to this month's Photo Challenge Theme: "From Birth to Burial."

Think about:

** Coming-of-age events like a first haircut...
** Obtaining that first driver's license...
** Quince años...
** First communion...
** Weddings...
** Anniversaries...
** Military events...
** Ceremonies abroad in other cultures...
** Or other ceremonial happenings in your family or local community.

As the ceremony you photograph might be unknown to others, be sure to practice your writing skills and provide a good description when you submit your photo this month.

Submissions for August's Photo Challenge are due by 8:00 a.m. EST on Monday, August 25.  You can submit your photos by clicking on the "Enter to Win" tab on our website: www.thephotographerslife.com.

You'll find details about prizes and challenge guidelines here: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/photo_contest/guidelines

Look for a list of July winners in next week's Photo Tip.
 
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Shelly Perry from Portland, Oregon specializes in people photography, what she calls documentary or lifestyle portraits.  She is known especially for her imaging of children. Her concern for people is reflected both in her sense of purpose and the images she produces.  Her images have been seen all over the globe on music CD covers, books, magazines, catalogues, websites, ad campaigns, and even on TV. Her work has also appeared in several local exhibits and gallery shows.

Last week, Shelly was a guest speaker at the Ultimate Travel Writer's Workshop in San Francisco, where she told us how to take photos that sell with articles.  You can find her presentation, along with all of the other presentations from the workshop, here: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/trc/website .]

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The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends.

(c) 2008 American Writers & Artists Inc.
245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102
Delray Beach, FL 33483
Phone (561) 278-5557
Fax (561) 278-5929
memberservices@awaionline.com

To LEARN MORE, visit:
www.thetravelwriterslife.com
www.thephotographerslife.com

Posted by The Photographers Life at 6:30 PM | Permalink

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July 23, 2008
The Right Way to Travel
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Today, as your official Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop Spy here in San Francisco, I got to eavesdrop on some solid photo basics that are really worth re-learning.  Especially for travel writers who, like me, want to sell photos with their stories.

1. Rule of Thirds:

This is the big one.  As Shelly explained it, using the Rule of Thirds is the number one way to add interest to the composition of your photo.  To do it, you just divide your photo into thirds horizontally and vertically, with four imaginary dividing lines.  Then, you line up the subject of your photo, or the horizon, or whatever element is the focal point of your photo, on any one of those lines.

Here’s an example:

 

Notice that in the first frame, the subject is right in the middle of the photo.  After cropping it and dividing it up into thirds, the subject is right on the intersection of two “thirds lines,” increasing this photo’s interest.

2. Framing.

Another quick-and-easy way to add interest to your photo is to frame your subject with objects in the foreground.

For example, in this photo of the George Washington Masonic Temple in Alexandria, Virginia, the building is framed by the branches and leaves in the foreground:

3. Composition with lines.

Horizontal lines can add interest to your photos and add emphasis to your subject.  You can see it happening in this photo of Shelly’s, where the strong horizontal lines lead to the subject:

 

If you couldn’t be here to listen to Shelly spill her best photo-selling secrets, don’t fret... we’re getting them all on tape, along with all the other insights shared by the travel writing experts gathering here in San Francisco over this long weekend.

I’ll let you in on the highlights each day. But I know there will be way more than I can fit into these dispatches.

Luckily, with our 2008 Ultimate Workshop-At-Home, you can get an audio recording of every word uttered, every PowerPoint slide shown, and every handout distributed -- all conveniently posted online.

That means you can rewind, pause to go grab a coffee, or even burn the recordings to a CD and listen to them in the car on the way to that job of yours. Follow the step-by-step guidance our experts offer up, and you may not need that job this time next year. You could be getting paid to travel…

Right now, our full recording package -- with all the extras -- is yours at a discount until the end of the workshop. So instead of $299, you’ll pay just $149. But only through Monday.

Visit http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/trc/getstarted for details.

Sincerely,

Bonnie Caton
Your Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop Spy

P.S. Remember, this offer is valid only while the live Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop is in session in San Francisco. On Monday, July 28 at midnight, the price goes up.

To place your pre-press order now and save $150, go here: http://tinyurl.com/recordings2008

Or, for lots more information about what it includes, read on here: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/trc/getstarted

************************************* 

(c) 2008 American Writers & Artists Inc.

245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102
Delray Beach, FL 33483
Phone (561) 278-5557
Fax (561) 278-5929
memberservices@awaionline.com

To LEARN MORE, visit:
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com
http://www.thephotographerslife.com

Posted by The Photographers Life at 1:17 AM | Permalink

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July 16, 2008
The Right Way to Travel, Weekly Photo Tip
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DISSECTING IMPORTANT PHOTO GUIDELINE TERMS
By Shelly Perry in Portland, OR

No matter where you're submitting your images, it's critically important to read and follow the guidelines. Any place that accepts photo submissions -- whether it's a newspaper, magazine, gallery, stock site, or contest -- will have some specific requirements and you'll get published more (and make more money for your photos) if you follow them closely.

Admittedly, though, photographer's guidelines aren't always easy to understand.  So let's dissect some of the most important terms...

For example, take a look at these photographer's guidelines taken from Grit magazine, a niche publication that focuses on rural living but also publishes food articles and photos:

"When submitting [photos] via e-mail, send low-resolution images for review. If we select your images, we will ask you for high-resolution versions, to be emailed -- one image per email -- as jpgs with at least 300 dpi resolution, and as large as possible. Include complete caption and credit information.

"Payment for photos to accompany an article (other than courtesy photos) will be $25 to $200 per published photo.

"We are also looking for great stand-alone, 3/4-page to full-page photographs of life in the country. Payment will be $75 to $150 per published photo."

Let's take a look at a few of the terms in these guidelines...

** Low-resolution images: What this typically means is 72 dpi (dots per inch), scaled down to about a 4x6 in size (that's a general range, not exact measurements). An image this size is good for web preview, but would not be sufficient...

(Continued below...)

for print production.  Once the editor decides he'd like to use your image, you'll have to send him a larger version.

TIP: In Lightroom, you can export a small, web-ready image very easily. Just go to File, Export and choose "For E-Mail" under Lightroom Presets.

** High-resolution images: Generally, high-resolution for a publication means 300 dpi, which is the best resolution for print.

TIP: In Lightroom, you can export a high-resolution jpeg by going to File, Export, and choosing "Burn Full-Sized Jpegs" under Lightroom Presets.

** Jpg: Jpg, or jpeg, is the most commonly used type of image compression. Image compression happens automatically either in-camera, if it's set to jpeg, or after processing when you save the image as a jpeg.

You do have some control over the amount of compression (i.e. loss of data and detail) and, in turn, the size of the file. A small file size means much more information has been tossed out in the compression process, so it is recommended to always use your highest, best quality jpeg settings in-camera.

Along with being a compression method, jpeg is the most widely used file type for storing and transmitting images over the web.

** 300 dpi resolution: dpi = dots per inch. Be sure your image is 300 dpi when you export it in Lightroom.  You can do this by using the export window. Just go to File - Export and the export window will pop up. 

The third area down is "File Setting" and that's where you select JPEG. Below that is "Image Settings" which is where you set the dpi. Be sure to always check the dpi to ensure you have it set to the correct number.

** As large as possible: means the editor wants the original image -- or as close to it as possible in file size. If you export in Lightroom, as described above, this will all be done automatically and you should have no worries. 

** Complete caption and credit information: Magazines and newspapers want the details. They want to know the who, what, where, when, and why of your photo, and they want it to be accurate and up-to-date. In other words, if you shoot a travel resort location, include the name of the resort, along with the town and country.  If the manager is a predominant subject in the shot, include her name as well.

The more detailed you can be, the better, but keep it specific and focused. For "credit information," the guidelines are talking about you -- how do you want the copyright credit to read? Perhaps you go by JR with your friends and family but you use your full name for photo credits.  The editors need to know this, so be sure to spell it out (even if they don't ask specifically for it).  It makes everyone feel better knowing they are using the right information.

** 3/4-page to full-page photographs: Copy space, or space for text, is typically needed in editorial. Think about magazine covers and how much writing is usually placed over the image.  Leaving some breathing room for the text to reside is always helpful if you're aiming for these larger image uses, or a cover shot.

By the way, we'll talk about this in greater detail in Shanghai, China on our next photography expedition.  Details here: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/shanghai
 
[ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Shelly Perry from Portland, Oregon, specializes in people photography, what she calls documentary or lifestyle portraits. She is known especially for her imaging of children. Shelly's concern for people is reflected both in her sense of purpose and the images she produces.  Her images have been seen all over the globe on music CD covers, books, magazines, catalogues, web sites, ad campaigns and even on TV. Her work has also appeared in several local exhibits and gallery shows.

Shelly will be with us at our upcoming photo expedition this October in Shanghai, China: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/shanghai .]


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The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends.

This newsletter is coming to you because you are either a member of The Ultimate Travel Writer's Program or Turn Your Pictures into Cash, or you have opted to receive information about getting paid to travel from the AWAI Travel Division.

(c) 2008 American Writers & Artists Inc.
245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102
Delray Beach, FL 33483
Phone (561) 278-5557
Fax (561) 278-5929
memberservices@awaionline.com

To LEARN MORE, visit:
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com
http://www.thephotographerslife.com

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Posted by The Photographers Life at 12:26 PM | Permalink

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The Right Way to Travel, Weekly Photo Tip
July 12, 2008
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EXTREME PHOTO PROCESSING
By Shelly Perry in Portland, OR

Yesterday Lori shared with you a few Lightroom techniques I used to artistically post-process a photo she took in Shanghai.  If you missed it, you'll find it here: http://tinyurl.com/shanghaiphoto.

Today, I want to show you one way to get a pretty cool and very popular effect using another one of Lori's Shanghai photos.  Here it is, before processing:

The lighting in Shanghai must have been tricky that day because, like yesterday's photo, this one is pretty dark.

Lori and her camera did the best they could, given the extremes of the situation, by exposing the shot for the bright, white clouds outside.  But the colors under the eaves are very dark... even black... and many details are missing.

I knew when I processed this photo that I couldn't recover any details in the darkest parts... the black under the eves will remain black.  But I wanted to add some drama to it, so I processed it to the extreme.

The steps that I took would not be good for stock photography (I'll show you why at the end of this e-letter) but they are good for art... for fun... and they allow you to create some pretty cool-looking images from your pictures.

Here's how:

To get started, I cranked the exposure way up and pushed the tone sliders as far right as they go:

Then I pushed the Clarity to 100, Vibrance to +40, and pulled the Saturation down to -55.  Without a major drop in saturation, the colors are just way too neon with these other changes.

To get the dramatic results I was going for, I then jumped down to the color sliders and, under Saturation, knocked some colors way up:

Here's what I got:

Pretty fun-looking image, I think.

Now, as I mentioned, this final image is too modified to use for stock.  Here's why:

Take a look at the image at 100%:

What you see here is called "artifacting."

And if you look at where the dark areas of the photo meet the light areas, you get...

"Purple fringing" and other signs of excessive processing.

These are a couple of reasons why processing this shot or any other shot to this extreme, while very cool and even appropriate for some uses, is not acceptable for stock.

This shot could, however, be printed out as an 8x10 or maybe even an 11x14 and look quite beautiful on a wall somewhere. 

[ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Shelly Perry from Portland, Oregon, specializes in people photography, what she calls documentary or lifestyle portraits. She is known especially for her imaging of children. Shelly's concern for people is reflected both in her sense of purpose and the images she produces.  Her images have been seen all over the globe on music CD covers, books, magazines, catalogues, web sites, ad campaigns and even on TV. Her work has also appeared in several local exhibits and gallery shows.

Shelly will be with us at our upcoming photo expedition this October in Shanghai, China: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/shanghai .]

*******************************

(c) 2008 American Writers & Artists Inc.
245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102

Delray Beach, FL 33483
Phone (561) 278-5557
Fax (561) 278-5929

memberservices@awaionline.com

To LEARN MORE, visit:
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com
http://www.thephotographerslife.com

Posted by The Photographers Life at 9:36 AM | Permalink

Shelly wrote…

Lori, you did the right thing and exposed for the brightest part of the photograph – the white buildings in the background.  However, look at this version when I open it up just a little more in Lightroom and adjust the tones...

All I did was run it through a basic processing on the image (Editor’s Note: you’ll find step-by-step instructions for that here: http://tinyurl.com/58lpvz) and then kicked up the color saturation.

I also used Split Toning.

Here you can see I used the sliders in the Split Toning feature in Lightroom to affect the hue of the shadow area, which gives it that cooler blue tone, while leaving the warm glowing yellows out on the water.  I do this to give just a bit more depth and distinction to the shot.

Now, if you want to sell this photo as stock, it would be considerably over-processed at this point.  But it’d be a very striking piece to print and hang on a wall (or sell in a market). 

And sometimes it’s just fun to play and be creative.

If you want to get even more creative, you can try something like this…

First, make a virtual copy of the image.

All you need to do is go to the menu bar and hit photo -- create virtual copy.  An exact copy will appear in your library (Ctrl+’ is the keyboard shortcut). The benefit of this is you can try a variety of processes on an image until you feel you have the best one for that particular image. And remember, with Lightroom, each copy is just a different “recipe card,” which doesn’t affect your original image or take up much space on your hard drive.

After basic processing, go back to the color sliders, below, and adjust the Saturation downward:

Move from Saturation mode to Hue and slightly adjust a few of the sliders, removing some of the orange, yellow, and green in the image.

Here is what I got -- a very warm version of the file:

You can also convert it to black and white…

You COULD go up to the very top and hit the grayscale button.  But you’ll have more control over the way your image looks if you leave it as a color image and use your sliders to change it.

Here’s how I did it:

In the Saturation mode, I dropped all the colors all the way down to nothing, or -100.

But as you can see, I ended up with a strong blue hue from that blue shadow tone I put in earlier – which can actually be a creative option to work with if you like.

Personally, I don’t like it in this shot so I just dropped down to the Split Tone slider, where I had put that blue tone in previously, and slid the Balance to 100 and the Saturation down to 0.

The result is a true black and white image with all the same basic exposure adjustments that we did at the start.

It’s important to remember that this is not an exact formula, but an example of how you can use Hue, Saturation, and Split Toning to dramatically change the look and feel of your image.

If you’re at the point where you feel comfortable and confident with your basic processing in Lightroom, then I encourage you to play with these adjustment tools and sliders to see what colors and tones you like.  The combinations are virtually endless.

[ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Shelly Perry from Portland, Oregon, specializes in people photography, what she calls documentary or lifestyle portraits. She is known especially for her imaging of children. Shelly’s concern for people is reflected both in her sense of purpose and the images she produces.  Her images have been seen all over the globe on music CD covers, books, magazines, catalogues, web sites, ad campaigns and even on TV. Her work has also appeared in several local exhibits and gallery shows.

Shelly will be with us at our upcoming photo expedition this October in Shanghai, China: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/shanghai .]

*******************************

The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends.

(c) 2008 American Writers & Artists Inc.

245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102

Delray Beach, FL 33483

Phone (561) 278-5557

Fax (561) 278-5929

memberservices@awaionline.com

To LEARN MORE, visit:

http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com

http://www.thephotographerslife.com

Posted by The Photographers Life at 5:02 PM | Permalink

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July 9, 2008
The Right Way to Travel, Weekly Photo Tip
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LAUGHABLE PHOTOGRAPHABLE -- WINNING ENTRIES
By Shelly Perry in Portland, OR

 “Laughable photographable” was last month’s photo challenge theme and it brought out some very funny shots from our contributors.  You can see June’s winners on our site, here: LINK

Here are the winners:

**First Place goes to Lyn for “Shakedown”

**Second Place goes to photosue for “Erica”

**Third Place goes to Randy for “Dang Britches”

Last month’s winner, Cornelius, had this to say about his winning pick of “Shakedown” by Lyn…

FIRST PLACE – SHAKEDOWN

“I chose Shakedown as the winner because it’s a great action shot, in focus, and the way the light catches the hair of the dog on the right hand side adds a nice dimension to the image. The simple background is good, and the image makes you both laugh and sigh at the same time. The way the dog's eyes are shut makes it look like he/she is really enjoying the moment, too!”

SECOND PLACE – ERICA

I love this shot! From the slanted goggles, or “snoggles” as she apparently calls them, to her arms overly crossed and that expression – it’s all priceless. This was shot with a nice even light and a good shallow depth of field which lets us see the pool water behind her without it being too defined or distracting.  It’s just enough to provide the setting.

This is one of those shots that should go down as a family classic, and hopefully Erica will maintain that personality as she grows up and enjoy this shot as much as I do. It’s also a shot I could potentially see used commercially (depending on technical quality at 100%).  However, I would edit out the chair legs on the top right of the frame before trying to sell this shot.

THIRD PLACE – DANG BRITCHES

What a catch.  I’m not even sure how the little girl in this photo is able to turn her body like that. This shot also has a nice quality of diffused light.  It also has good overall composition, with the kids lined up to the left of the frame looking into the picture and in the general direction of the main subject. The depth of field here helps to keep the background soft and subtle.  It doesn’t distract as it would if it were shot with an infinite depth of field.

Thanks for all the entries.  I smiled and laughed my way along as I reviewed all the images submitted.

ENTER TO WIN!

This month's theme, "We the People," is underway.  You have until Monday, July 28 at 8:00 a.m. EST, to submit your photo. If you're a first-time user, you'll need to register first on the "register" link on the right side bar. Once you have a username and password, click "Enter to Win" to upload your photo. Only one photo per applicant will be considered.

[ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Shelly Perry from Portland, Oregon, specializes in people photography, what she calls documentary or lifestyle portraits. She is known especially for her imaging of children. Shelly’s concern for people is reflected both in her sense of purpose and the images she produces.  Her images have been seen all over the globe on music CD covers, books, magazines, catalogues, web sites, ad campaigns and even on TV. Her work has also appeared in several local exhibits and gallery shows.

Join Shelly and AWAI Travel Division Director Lori Allen on AWAI’s first-ever Photography Expedition to Shanghai, China, October 23 - 28, 2008... you’ll find more details on this once-in-a-lifetime photography experience here: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/shanghai ]

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The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends.

(c) 2008 American Writers & Artists Inc.
245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102
Delray Beach, FL 33483
Phone (561) 278-5557
Fax (561) 278-5929
memberservices@awaionline.com

To LEARN MORE, visit:
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com
http://www.thephotographerslife.com

Posted by The Photographers Life at 2:54 PM | Permalink

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July 5, 2008
The Right Way to Travel
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HOW TO LOOK 10 LBS THINNER IN 5 MINUTES OR LESS
TIP #3 – Use Color Illusion to Slim Your Heavier Half
by Shelly Perry in Portland, Oregon

Warm colors, like yellow, orange, and red, project forward... and cool colors, like purple, blue, and dark green, recede in photographs. 

So, the combination of a warm color and a cool color creates depth.

What does this mean?

Well, for starters, it means that if you’re trying to appear thinner, you should lean toward wearing cooler colors in your photos.

And if you're a little top- or bottom-heavy, you can use this color trick to create the illusion that you're equally proportioned. 

For example, if you’re heavier on the bottom than on top, you can wear a darker color on the bottom, and a lighter color on top, or vice-versa.

Here’s an example in which the woman is a little top-heavy, so she’s wearing a darker color up top, and it flatters her figure well.

Notice, also, that she’s wearing a V-neck shirt, which elongates the neck, and her body is positioned at an angle to the camera, which is a very slimming pose.

[ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Shelly Perry, from Portland, Oregon, specializes in people photography, what she calls documentary or lifestyle portraits.

She is known especially for her imaging of children. Shelly's concern for people is reflected both in her sense of purpose and the images she produces.  Her images have been seen all over the globe on music CD covers, books, magazines, catalogues, web sites, ad campaigns and even on TV. Her work has also appeared in several local exhibits and gallery shows.

Shelly shared with us some of her best tips on making her models look great in photos.  You can get them here: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/tenph2/website.]

*******************************

The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends.

(c) 2008 American Writers & Artists Inc.
245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102
Delray Beach, FL 33483
Phone (561) 278-5557
Fax (561) 278-5929
memberservices@awaionline.com

To LEARN MORE, visit:
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com
http://www.thephotographerslife.com

Posted by The Photographers Life at 12:26 PM | Permalink

August Attendee Emails

Attendee Hotel Quito list

Attendee Airport Transfer list 

Lori's packing list

Rich's packing list

Don't forget: If you're bringing your laptop with you to Ecuador (and we suggest you do) and you don't already have Adobe Lightroom on it, you should go to Adobe's website and download a trial version. Just go to www.adobe.com and you'll find it in their trial downloads section (it'll be good for 30 days).

You'll learn a lot of new photo processing techniques in Ecuador and it's always easier to remember what you've learned if you've done it on your own computer.

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WORKSHOP LOCATION
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The Workshop Location: El Meson de las Flores, Sucre and Garcia Moreno, Cotacachi, Ecuador.  tel: 011 593 6 291 6009. In Ecuador: 06 291 6009. Also, you can call El Meson
from a NC number that rings directly to the hotel: 1-336-792-4767.

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FOOD AND WATER
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There is filtered water at the hotels but bottled drinking water available for those who prefer it. Ecuador has an abundance of fruits (many endemic only to Ecuador), exquisite fresh juices (try them all!), fresh vegetables and excellent seafood.

Cotacachi prides itself on organic. There is an exquisite market (main day is Sunday) that was built for the village by Unesco and offers local organic produce.

Altitude: Keep in mind that Quito is at a very high altitude, near 10,000 feet (ask your doctor about high altitudes if you have high blood pressure, heart problems, etc.) and the body does not require as much food at high altitudes.

Also remember that alcohol has a double kick at high altitude.

Overeating of protein can cause some stomach distress at these altitudes. Sometimes it is recommended to take an aspirin for any high altitude headaches. You might just notice that you can't run up steps quickly when you arrive. You might try the shamanic cure for altitude which is hot canela/panela (cinnamon) tea.

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ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT
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What you won't find in Ecuador is all the hustle, hassle and confusion of many third world countries. The airport is well organized and planes are on time.

The bad thing is that all of us have become accustomed to saying NO to everything that we are offered. This is due to years of problems and we have become doubtful, fearful and suspicious. So we really have to retrain ourselves to say YES!

People are not seeking tips or angling to get you to buy something. (Tips are appreciated however. A quarter can go a long way and a dollar is great for many things.) We suggest that you just allow the sweetness and goodness to take place.

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TAXES
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Taxes: The Ecuadorian government imposes a 22% tax on all services. This is necessary at this time to help out with the economy. These include a 10% service tip which goes directly to the employees.

Also there is a $42 exit fee that is paid at departure. Many people don't feel comfortable when countries impose this exit tax, but remember that ALL countries impose these taxes. They are usually just included in your ticket price (take a look the next time you travel to Europe!)

Small countries, however, don't have the complexities necessary to collect these through the airlines, so most of these countries tax you in cash as you depart.

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CUSTOMS & IMMIGRATION
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Customs & Immigration: First of all, bring Your Passport! On the plane over, you will be given a little form, a Visa, to fill out. Keep it with your passport. (This visa copy will be taken as you depart Ecuador.) You can check to make sure that your home country does not require a Visa, as increasingly some must have them. (All of US, Canada and Europe are exempted.)

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YOUR BAGGAGE CLAIM SLIP
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When you check in with your airlines in the U.S., you will be given your baggage claim checks...KEEP THEM HANDY!

Clearance through customs and immigration in Ecuador is smooth and easy. When you deplane in Quito, follow the signs to Immigration. Offer your passport and Visa. Immigrations will pass you on through this formality. Often you are asked how many days you will stay.

Bags come easily and quickly. Secure a cart if necessary (they are available for $1).

Walk through the Customs area with your Passport in your hand...ask anyone which way you should go. Move as the line is passing through... don't assume that you have to go to the counters where possibly there are customs agents.

In general, Americans and non-Ecuadorians do not have to do anything but just walk on through. With the new security though, you should expect to have our luggage x-rayed on the way out.

As you pass through the automatic doors, you will see several boys who are asking for BAGGAGE CLAIM TAGS. These were given to you when you checked in at your first flight and are usually stapled to your ticket folder. You MUST have these and they will check each and every bag before leaving the area.

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TIME ZONE
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Ecuador Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time.

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ELECTRICITY
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Electricity: 110 volts, same as in the U.S. (no adapter needed for U.S. plugs)

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MONEY
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Currency: The U.S. dollar.

Ecuador dollarized in 2000 and very few places accept credit cards.  Bring U.S. Dollars (small bills) and a roll of quarters to use for small items bought in the markets... or shoe shines!  Often, it is difficult to cash $100 bills and almost impossible to cash Traveler's Checks.  There are ATM machines that dispense up to $500 a day, this is usually the easiest route for getting money.

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ALTITUDE
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Ecuador is at a high altitude, some people may experience altitude sickness. If you have a heart condition, you should consult with your doctor before you travel to find out about how best to adjust to the altitude when you arrive.

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HOTEL
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Your hotel fees during the workshop are included in your workshop fee.  The only night that's not covered is your last night in Quito.  Let us know if you want us to book a hotel for you that night under our reduced-rate price ($59 + tax).  You can pay for your room when you check out.

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FLIGHT
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The airport code for Quito, Ecuador is UIO.

AS SOON AS YOU'RE TICKETED, check your airline tickets and make sure everything is in order -- correct spelling of your name, correct dates, and correct departure city. If there is an error, call your travel agent immediately.

PASSPORT: A valid U.S. passport is required to enter and depart Ecuador.  Tourists must also provide evidence of return or onward travel.  U.S. citizens traveling on regular passports do not need a visa for a stay of 90 days or less.  An airport exit tax is required when departing Ecuador ($30+ paid at departure).

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DRESS
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Temperatures are cool to cold at night in the Andes. Bring sweaters and jackets. August/September are the dry seasons but bring an umbrella just in case.  It rarely rains for more than 10-20 minutes at a time so heavy rain gear isn't necessary.

Temperatures are spring-like year round. Shorts are always inappropriate unless for the beach. For travel in the country side to the markets, etc. country clothes, khakis, safari clothes are great for the day...then layer for the cool evenings. Don't forget your bathing suits for the hot springs, pools, saunas and steam baths.

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TRAVEL INSURANCE
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To protect your investment, we recommend you purchase travel insurance. I like http://www.travelguard.com. Or, if you prefer comparison shopping, consider http://www.insuremytrip.com -- which allows you to shop from more than 100 travel insurance plans from 16 leading companies.

Lori wrote a 3-part series on travel insurance which you'll find in our archives here:

*** Part 1 -- Travel Insurance: Should You or Shouldn't You (http://tinyurl.com/26d6nf)
*** Part 2 - Travel Insurance: You May Already Own It (http://tinyurl.com/25mgc8)
*** Part 3 -- Travel Insurance: Where to Find the Best Buy (http://tinyurl.com/2kr956)

Posted by The Photographers Life at 10:00 PM | Permalink

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July 4, 2008
The Right Way to Travel
*******************

HOW TO LOOK 10 LBS THINNER IN 5 MINUTES OR LESS
TIP #2 – The Most Universally Slimming Pose
by Shelly Perry in Portland, Oregon

This full-body pose is the quickest way to look slimmer in photos – and it works on almost everyone.  Just flip through a beauty magazine and you’ll see models and celebrities doing it on every page. 

Here’s how to do it, step by step:

** 1.) A person’s body positioned at a 45-degree angle appears 25% slimmer, so the first thing you’ll want to do is turn your shoulders slightly away from the camera and look back toward it.  Forty-five degrees isn’t the absolute best for everyone, so try a few shots to see which angle works best.

** 2.) Stand with one foot in front of the other with the toe of the front foot pointed forward.

** 3.) Place all of your weight on the back leg.

** 4.) Make sure you bend the front knee a little and that the back knee is not locked or hyper-extended back.

This pose reduces bulkiness in the hips and thighs and is a very slimming and universally flattering pose.

** Bonus tip: Don’t forget to stand up straight, shoulders back, and hold your arms away from your body slightly to reduce the appearance of arm fat.

Take a look at these two models, for example...

They’re both thin models, but the first one, standing with her arms crossed and her shoulders pointed straight at the camera, looks a little boxy.  The second one, however, looks light and airy.  She’s doing everything right, here. 

Her body is positioned at 45 degrees and her head is turned back to look at the camera.  All of her weight is resting on her back leg, with her front leg out in front of her, the knee slightly bent, and her toe pointed towards the camera.  She’s even holding her arms out from her body ever so slightly.

Again, for people pictures, it’s best to also learn how to:

** Dress your model (or yourself) in the most flattering colors…
** Position your subject correctly so you don’t throw shadows in unwanted places…
** Erase blemishes and wrinkles…
** Lighten teeth in Photoshop…
** Lighten eyes...
** Darken a man’s beard to give him a more chiseled look...

You’ll find all this and more in our new guide, here: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/tenph2/website

[ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Shelly Perry, from Portland, Oregon, specializes in people photography, what she calls documentary or lifestyle portraits.

She is known especially for her imaging of children. Shelly's concern for people is reflected both in her sense of purpose and the images she produces.  Her images have been seen all over the globe on music CD covers, books, magazines, catalogues, web sites, ad campaigns and even on TV. Her work has also appeared in several local exhibits and gallery shows.

Shelly shared with us some of her best tips on making her models look great in photos.  You can get them here: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/tenph2/website.]

*******************************

The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends.

(c) 2008 American Writers & Artists Inc.
245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102
Delray Beach, FL 33483
Phone (561) 278-5557
Fax (561) 278-5929
memberservices@awaionline.com

To LEARN MORE, visit:
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com
http://www.thephotographerslife.com

Posted by The Photographers Life at 11:25 AM | Permalink

Yesterday I told you about our new e-book: How to Look 10 Pounds Thinner and 20 Years Younger in Every Photo You Take.  And I said the tips inside are so good, I’ve pulled three of them out for this week’s newsletter to run as a special How-to-Look-Good-in-Photographs series.

Today is the first of that series.

Scroll down below to find out how to eliminate a double chin, either in yourself (if you have one) or in your model if you’re photographing someone else…

Enjoy!

-- Lori

Lori Allen
Director, AWAI Travel Division

P.S. Remember, too, that our exclusive photo tip cards are going up in price on July 7.  If you haven’t yet ordered a set under the current price, you’ll find them here till Monday: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/tip/website

Here’s today’s photo tip…

*******************
July 3, 2008
The Right Way to Travel
*******************

HOW TO LOOK 10 LBS THINNER IN 5 MINUTES OR LESS
TIP #1 -- How To Eliminate A Double Chin
by Shelly Perry in Portland, Oregon

Eliminating double chins or excess skin under the chin is simple. 

When you’re the photographer, all you have to do is raise the camera – get up higher so you see less of your subject’s neck.

When you’re the model, you have two options:

1) Tilt your chin upward and lean forward.  This will stretch the skin under the chin.
2) Position yourself (or your model) with one shoulder away from the camera, while turning the head to look back at the camera.  This will slim down body mass.  It’ll also flex muscles in the neck, making it appear more slim and youthful.

In this first image, the model’s shoulders are turned slightly away, but you can still see excess skin under the chin:

Whereas in this image, the model’s body is turned to a full profile while he looks back at the camera, eliminating the double chin altogether:

You should experiment by shooting from different sides, above and below, with the model’s body turned slightly away or at a full profile.  That way, you can get a feel for your model’s best angles and focus on those throughout the shoot.

This is just one of the secrets in our new book, How to Look 10 Pounds Thinner and 20 Years Younger in Every Photo You Take. 

For great portraits, you should also know:

** How to use angles and turns like this to make your whole body look slimmer…
** How to eliminate flabby arms…
** How to erase blemishes and wrinkles in Photoshop...
** How to give your photo a professional quality in Lightroom…
** How to lighten your subject’s teeth in Photoshop
** What to wear – certain colors and certain cuts of clothes are more flattering than others.

You’ll find all this and more in How to Look 10 Pounds Thinner and 20 Years Younger in Every Photo You Take.

It’s free here for the next SEVEN days when you agree to give our photo program, Turn Your Pictures into Cash, a try: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/tenph2/website

[ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Shelly Perry, from Portland, Oregon, specializes in people photography, what she calls documentary or lifestyle portraits. 

She is known especially for her imaging of children. Shelly's concern for people is reflected both in her sense of purpose and the images she produces.  Her images have been seen all over the globe on music CD covers, books, magazines, catalogues, web sites, ad campaigns and even on TV. Her work has also appeared in several local exhibits and gallery shows.

Again, you’ll find Shelly’s tips on making her models look great in photos here: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/tenph2/website.]

*******************************

The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends.

(c) 2008 American Writers & Artists Inc.
245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102
Delray Beach, FL 33483
Phone (561) 278-5557
Fax (561) 278-5929
memberservices@awaionline.com

To LEARN MORE, visit:
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com
http://www.thephotographerslife.com

Posted by The Photographers Life at 11:06 AM | Permalink

*******************************
July 2, 2008
The Right Way to Travel, Weekly Photo Tip
*******************************

JULY PHOTO CHALLENGE THEME: WE, THE PEOPLE
by Shelly Perry in Portland, OR

"We, the People," of the United States of America, are gathering around picnic tables from coast to coast, dishing up potato salad and stoking up the grill.

It's our time to celebrate our independence.

But "We, the People" isn't just about independence as Americans.  It's about unity as a people.

And for this month's Photo Challenge theme, it's about all people, everywhere... kids and grandmas, brothers and sisters, spouses and friends.  Even the people in line with you at the grocery store, on the bus, and next to you at the baseball game.

"We the People" can include pictures of people being patriotic, or simply people being themselves in everyday life here in America or across the globe.

The only requirement for photos entered in this month's theme is people.  Whether you take a portrait photo in a home studio or a candid shot on the street, the subject of your photo must be a person.

Photos will be judged based on composition, exposure, and creativity. 

If you plan to take pictures this coming weekend of people outside... or the fireworks on Friday... and you don't yet own our Summer Photo Guide, you'll find it here: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/sum/website.

Stay tuned for tomorrow, when we'll tell you what else we have in store for taking great people shots.

Submissions for July's Photo Challenge are due by 8:00 a.m. EST on Monday, July 28.  You can submit your photos by clicking on the "Enter to Win" tab on our website: http://www.thephotographerslife.com .
 
Look for a list of June winners in next week's Photo Tip.
 
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Shelly Perry from Portland, Oregon, specializes in people photography, what she calls documentary or lifestyle portraits.  She is known especially for her imaging of children. Her concern for people is reflected both in her sense of purpose and the images she produces.  Her images have been seen all over the globe on music CD covers, books, magazines, catalogues, websites, ad campaigns and even on TV. Her work has also appeared in several local exhibits and gallery shows.]

**************************

The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends.

(c) 2008 American Writers & Artists Inc.
245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102
Delray Beach, FL 33483
Phone (561) 278-5557
Fax (561) 278-5929
memberservices@awaionline.com

To LEARN MORE, visit:
www.thetravelwriterslife.com
www.thephotographerslife.com

Posted by The Photographers Life at 9:48 AM | Permalink