Capturing Winter Landscapes

Winter brings out the hardest parts in our climate, with many individuals putting away their digicam luggage ‘till early spring. But, should you do put away your camera you are lacking out on the uncooked beauty that this magical season brings.

Listed below are a couple of tips to make the trip extra enjoyable.

1. Put on the right clothes: It’s essential to wrap up warm when out taking pictures winter images. The winter season brings the toughest elements, so if you're planning to spend a few days out and about always be well prepared.

2. Watch the weather: It’s very important to know what the climate goes to be like. You don’t need to travel for a few hours after which hear a climate report that tells you that: the climate is moist for the next few days. Throughout the winter months the weather can dramatically change in a matter of hours.

It’s all the time advisable to let somebody know the place you're going and which route you’re planning to take. In case you do get injured or ever caught in a storm someone may be able to help.

3. Carry only what you need: Carry solely the essentials. You don’t need to add your digital camera bag with every piece of kit you own. If you are going to be out taking footage all day you're significantly better off going as light as possible. Carrying a lightweight load may even assist protect energy. You might be climbing icy rocks or crossing snow stuffed hills; a warm flask would serve you numerous better than a third camera.

4. Look for detail: Snow, ice and frost deliver out texture and atmosphere in most subjects. The early frosty morning is an ideal time for shut-up photography. The frosty morning additionally brings out patterns in our landscapes.

Take care where you place your digital camera: if you're taking photos early within the morning strive inserting it at oblique angles to the solar - this may give your pictures strong shadows. This may even add mood to your landscape images. Once you have discovered the perfect spot pay extra consideration to foreground curiosity as this will add depth to your image.

5. Expose fastidiously: Snow and ice are extraordinarily troublesome to expose properly. Snow usually confuses your cameras metering system or your hand-held gentle meter. When you take a light studying from snow you'll mechanically get an underexposed image. The meter will document the snow as grey.

Now could be the time to start bracketing your shots. When you bracket your shots add 1 - 2 stops of sunshine to compensate for your mild meter reading. Utilizing an 18% gray card, which I described in a earlier article, also needs to offer you a perfect light reading.

By: Miler Dudkin

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

andy warhol paintings

Andy Warhol was responsible for the introduction of a new school of thought in painting. Before Andy Warhol, painting was considered to be the something related to the depiction of the elites and the aristocrats. Warhol contradicted these pre-existing notions in his paintings. He said that paintings can draw their inspiration from the most common place things in life. The painter should just have the right mind to be able to portray it.

Warhol drew his attention from varying things. As a matter of fact, the inspiration behind his paintings has often amused the artists. Warhol used a 'soup can' image as his inspiration and made many paintings that revolved around the young people. Warhol shoe painting is yet another master-piece by the artist. In this painting he amalgamated bright colored shoes against the backdrop of a dark shade. This painting became quite popular and led Warhol's journey into the Television and media. Warhol was also hugely inspired by the journey of Marilyn Monroe. Her transition from being a common lady to being the most celebrated artist of her era was fascinating to Andy. Andy painted many paintings of Marilyn Monroe. The interesting part is that all these paintings that he made of Marilyn Monroe are an adaptation of a single picture of hers.

Andy also picked up the controversial issues of the society and portrayed the problems related with them in his paintings. He released many series that were based on the social and cultural problems of his times. His gun series of paintings is still a topic of much discussion amongst the art critics. These paintings promulgated in the public eye the disadvantages of the increasing use of guns in the American society. Andy Warhol paintings provided food for thought to many people. They still do incite people to think.

Throughout his life, Andy Warhol tried to see inspiration and motivation in things that make life of the common. Whereas he was a celebrated artist, his works speak purely of all the attraction that he held for the life of the common.

Warhol painted to promulgate issues that were considered trifle or mere or below standard in the painting era that existed before him. He carved his niche. The best part about Andy Warhol painting was that his art was affordable. The prices were not the kind that would have left you bankrupted. Hence, many art lovers, irrespective of their financial positions, were able to afford Andy Warhol original pieces. Lately, many of Andy Warhol Paintings have found place in different streams like fashions, media etc. This is because Andy's paintings have been very influential in molding the thought process of millions in the society.

An artist, trendsetter and cultural icon, Andy Warhol was as intriguing a character as the art he created. This colorful introduction to an equally colorful personality follows pivotal events in Warhol's life. Get original Andy Warhol Paintings which are signed. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shoked_Mohol

vector tutorial (with photoshop)

VECTOR TUTORIAL

The Image

Below is the image (the mini car) I will recreate to give it the vector look and feel
The quality of the image is not so much an issue in this case, as long as, theres enough detail to trace.


The Process

First, right-click and choose either:
A) 'Copy', then inside Photoshop go 'Edit/Paste'. (Photoshop will create a document preset size based on the dimensions of the clipboard image). With this method, Photoshop keeps the default locked 'Background' Layer and pastes the image in a new 'Layer 1' directly above the Background Layer. Double click on the word 'Layer 1' to select the text and give the layer a friendly name - in this case 'theimage'.

Or

B)'Save Picture As' to your hard-drive (Desktop is a convenient location). Then in Photoshop, choose 'File/Open', and browse to that image location (Desktop, for example) to open it. Notice in the 'Layers Palette', the image thumbnail indicates its an 'Index' image (in this case a quick way to tell that this image is a .gif file.) You'll also, notice, its locked. To correct this, simply go to 'Image/Mode/RGB Color' to revert the locked layer to a 'Background' Layer. Optionally, double click the 'Background' Layer in the Layers Palette to convert it into an edit able layer. (Change the default 'Layer 0' to a friendly name - in my case I called it 'theimage'.)

Next, lets duplicate the original 'theimage' layer and if your using Photoshop 7, create a new 'Layer Set' to store all the individual objects(multiple layers). Do so by clicking on the Folder icon at the bottom of the 'Layers Palette', double click on the 'Set 1' default text header and change to what I have (Elements).

The Mighty Pen Tool

Lets start by creating a solid outline of the whole car.
Set the foreground color by choosing the 'Eyedropper Tool (I)' to sample the darkest area of the image. In this case it's close to black.

Next select the 'Pen Tool' from the toolbar. And up on the 'Options Toolbar', make sure the 'Shape Layers' option is selected as I have captured (in orange outline).

Then just start adding 'Anchor Points' at areas where you think they will require some adjustments.

TIP: Ctrl + (Plus Sign Key) to zoom in and Ctrl + (Minus Sign Key to zoom out on areas that need special detail. I do this a lot to achieve greater detail.

NOTE: By having the 'theimage copy' layer on top, the path outlines show through without disrupting the view of my next anchor point. Throughout this tutorial, I will be toggling visibility of this layer a lot.

Connect The Anchor Points

After making your way around the mini car, connect to the first Anchor Point to create a solid shape. Then hide the 'theimage copy' layer to see what it looks like. (As I have captured.) Then lets start manipulating those anchor points to wrap/fit the mini car properly.

This is what the 'Layers Palette' now looks like, with the new Vector Shape Layer highlighted in blue. Also, if you click on the 'Paths' tab of the layers palette you can see the 'Paths' version of that layer.

Convert Anchor Points

Now turn visibility mode of the 'theimage copy' layer back on.
Select the 'Convert Anchor Point' tool and begin wrapping those areas that need curvature to the image.

Make sure the 'Shape 2' layer is selected, in the 'Layers Palette'.

With the 'Convert Anchor Point' tool, I started on the foreground wheel, click the 'Anchor Point', and drag in the direction of my (black) arrow unto it starts fitting the underlying layer.

TIP: 'Convert Anchor Point' creates two bezier handler points, for further curvature control.

Begin to get comfortable with the 'Convert Anchor Point' tool and work your way around the shape path, trying to get a close a wrap as possible.

TIP: After converting some anchor points, you'll realize that some of the original anchor points were not necessary at all. In fact the fewer the anchor points the smoother the curvature! Use the 'Delete Anchor Point' tool to eliminate unwanted anchors.

Here's my final shape after applying as much of the 'Convert Anchor Point' tool as possible.
We'll use this for the base (darkest under layer).

Next I duplicated the 'Shape 2' layer (to get 'Shape 2 copy') and manipulated its anchor points to wrap the dominant color of the image, primarily the blue (body) of the car. Click on the Thumbnail Preview of that layer to get the 'Color Picker', and change the black to blue #3672BD.

Now this is what the body of the car looks like.

Next lets work on the windows.
Toggle the 'theimage copy' (black one) back on and hide 'Shape 2 copy' layer (the blue one).

Select the 'Pen Tool (P)' again, and up on the 'Options Bar' make sure 'Subtract from area shape(-)' is turned on.(I have outlined in orange)

Hide 'Shape 2 copy' layer in the 'Layers Palette'.
Select 'Shape 2' layer in the 'Layers Palette'.
Then start tracing in the areas of the window that are on the opposite side of the car.

Toggle the 'theimage copy' visibility mode to off, to see whats happening.
Your subtracting from the same shape layer, giving the illusion of transparency.

To apply the same affect on the other two windows without adding a new layer, simply hold Ctrl + Alt, then click and drag that subtraction path to duplicate. (Do this twice.) Then place the duplicate shapes into place.
Use the 'Convert Anchor Point' tool again to define the corners to wrap in the right positions.

Note: After the above process, revert the modifier options to its normal state. (Create New Shape Layer)

Apply the same technique to the 'Shape 2 copy' layer, except trace along the foreground windows to get a final image as I have captured.(All the while, have 'Shape 2' visibility off.)

Now that we have the crust of the vector shape in place, the rest is simply adding new shapes, lines, and some textures. We'll fill in those windows later! Giving it depth

Next apply the same techniques as we did creating the base shape layer to the (white) roof of the car. Using the 'Pen Tool (P)' to add Anchor Points, then 'Convert Anchor Point Tool' to create curvature.

Next, with the 'Ellipse Tool (U)' on the toolbar, draw the back hub cap, then hold the 'Shift' key and draw in a second ellipse(the foreground hub cap).

To position accurately, Ctrl + click on the new ellipse, then right click on a single ellipse and choose 'Free Transform Path'. Right click again, and choose 'Distort'. Tweak the corner bounding points until in the position as the hubs in the image. Repeat for the other hub.

I also started on the headlights (on a new layer) using the same technique. (Ellipse Tool ~ Free Transform ~ Distort ~ tweak into position)

Since new layers are being added and they could pile up, its sensible to name them appropriately. (Thought it is possible here to use as few layers as possible, as I did with the main body)

Next I started adding the bumper. Again, use the 'Pen Tool (P) to trace the area, 'Convert Anchor Point Tool' to wrap perfectly to the original image source. (It's all routine now, right!)

I then applied a layer style to the bumper to give it a somewhat chrome effect.
Right, click on the 'bumper' layer and choose 'Blending Modes' to apply the following three captures.

Next I'll begin to add some of the fine lines that comprise of the doors and other areas.
Select the 'Pen Tool (P)' again, except, this time, up on the 'Options Bar' select 'Paths', as I have captured.

Create a new layer, and call it 'Lines'. This layer should be positioned uppermost in order for them to show.
So, Toolbar - Pen Tool selected, Options Bar - Paths selected, begin clicking/adding Anchor Points in the direction that comprises of the main passenger door.

Next set the foreground color to black (hit the D key), hit the (B) key to select the 'Brush Tool (B)' from the 'Toolbar', then up on the 'Options Bar', select the 'Brush Preset Picker' and choose a small, soft edge brush, like 3. But alter the Master Diameter to 2 (try 1 also), since 3 may be too thick.

Hit the (P) key to re-select the 'Pen Tool', then mouse over the path you created in the 'Lines' layer, right-click and choose 'Stroke Path' option.

You'll be prompted to choose from a 'Tool Preset' to use to create the new stroke. Select, 'Brush' from the drop down list, then hit 'OK' command.

I then reduced the 'Opacity' of the line layer to 54% to soften it.

I then went ahead (using the same above Pen Tool/Paths/Stroke Path technique on other lines.
I also added the front grill and applied the same style as the bumper above.
Added the mirror the window wipers and the mini logo crest at the front.
HINT: For areas that are too small to be manipulated with the 'Pen Tool (P), use the 'Polygonal Lasso Tool (L)' using the same click and add anchor points as the Pen Tool, then when complete, right click on the selection and choose either 'Make Work Path' or 'Fill' options.

For textures such as the highlights, lets use the 'Polygonal Lasso Tool (L) to trace around those areas that require it, right click and 'Fill', with a soft blue color (I used #86A9D7).

After tracing as much as I can I applied a 'Filter/Blur/Gaussian Blur of 1.1 pixels' (respectively) and reduced the 'Opacity' of the layer to 30%.

On a new layer I did the same Polygon Lasso effect for the darker areas, using #2A579C. Then applied a 'Filter/Blur/Gaussian Blur of 1.1 pixels' and reduced the 'Opacity' of the layer to 30%.

Next I'll add the windows.
For this all we have to do is reuse our original 'Shape 2' for the background windows, and the 'Shape 2 copy' for the foreground windows.
First duplicate the original 'Shape 2' layer and call it 'backgroundwindows'.

Once its duplicated drag it below the original 'Shape 2' layer in the 'Layers Palette', as I have captured.

Then hit the 'A' key to select the 'Direct Select Tool' from the 'Toolbar', then hold the 'Shift' key and select the background windows individually.

Go to the 'Options Bar' and change the 'Subtract from shape area (-)' to 'Add to shape area (+) as I have encased in orange.

Those window areas will now be filled in with your foreground color, in my case black.
Next, with the 'Direct Selection Tool (A)' still active & still on 'backgroundwindows' layer, click on the outside path line as I have captured and hit the 'Delete' key on your keyboard. Now all we ahve are the windows, which is our goal here. Certainly saves a lot of time drawing them in again.

Now lets customize the windows with a a white tint. Do this simply by clicking on the 'Layer Thumbnail' as I have captured. And change the color to white (#ffffff) in the 'Color Picker' dialogue box. Then set that layers opacity level to about 23%.

Apply the same technique to the original 'Shape 2 copy' layer.
Duplicate, drag below the original, 'Direct Select Tool' and Shift + click to select the foreground windows, 'Options Bar' and switch to 'Add to shape area', then delete the outer path so that the foreground windows remain.
Click on that 'Layer Thumbnail' and change color to white, reduce opacity to about 43%.

All that remains now are fine details, amount is up to you. Below is my final image after adding detail to the hubs, lights, other highlights. Hope you enjoyed this tutorial.

A scenic version.

Filed Under: Pen Tool Techniques

source: http://www.heathrowe.com/vector.aspx

the modern art

Modern sculpture rarely surprises us any more. The idea that modern art can only be seen in museums is mistaken. Even people who take no interest in art cannot have failed to notice examples of modern sculpture on display in public places. Strangers forms stand in gardens, and outside buildings and shops. We have got quite used to them. Some so-called modern pieces which have on display for nearly eighty years.

What's the modern art? This the answer that I will give you. Modern art is a general term used for most of the artistic work reckoned anywhere from the early 17th century until the present time. Modern art refers to the new approach to art which placed emphasis on representing emotions, themes, and various abstractions. Artists experimented with new ways of seeing, with fresh ideas about the nature of materials and functions of art, often moving further toward abstraction. We should know a lot about Modernism which is helpful when discussing with experts. If we are familiar with the art, we can avoid confusion when taking with professors.

Recently, some people-including myself-were surprised by an exhibition of modern sculpture. The fires thing I saw when I entered the art gallery was a notice which said:'Do not touch the exhibition. Some of them are dangerous!'The objects on display were pieces of moving sculpture. Oddly shaped forms that are suspended from the ceiling and move in response to a gust of wind are quite familiar to everybody. These objects, however, were different. Lined up against the wall, there were long thin wires attached to metal spheres. The spheres had been magnetized and attracted or repelled each other all the time. These peculiar forms seemed designed to shock people emotionally.

Rose has been writing articles online for nearly 1 years now. Not only does this author specialize in modern art, fitness and weight loss, you can also check out her latest website on Replica Watcheswhich reviews and lists the best replica watches. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rose_Liu

vector art (WPAP the Indonesian POP ART)

For you who have young in the era of the 1980s and 1990s whose name is certainly familiar with Lupus, Hilman Hariwijaya fictional essay, one of the leading writers of the period. At the beginning of its appearance, lupus is a short story written for the magazine Hilman Hai in 1986.

Lupus short story has received very good response among teenagers because of a funny story with unique characters. Lupus then used as the novel that made him famous to all over Indonesia, even until today.

Discussing about Lupus, it's not afdhol if you do not introduce the illustrator who has presented visually to the reader Lupus. He is Wedha Abdul Rashid, a teen magazine illustrator in Hai which is also often mentioned as the father of Illustrator Indonesia because of the contribution and his works in the field of illustration and fine arts.

Profession as an illustrator has done Wedha the poor across the print media since the 1970s. Starting 1977, when joined with Hi magazine, he made a lot of illustrations, especially the works of fiction Arswendo Atmowiloto Hilman with Lupus and its phenomenal. In the magazine's Wedha do portraits of world leaders from all backgrounds: political figures, musicians, artists, to fictional characters.

In 1990, Wedha then start a new style for the illustration of face images. This is thought due to decrease in the power of vision because of age who have reached 40 years so it is difficult to draw a face in the form of a realistic and detailed. Wedha then try to picture cubism style illustration. This style is then grown and increasingly popular as part of popart style even up to now. Illustration style is called Wedha's Pop Art portrait (WPAP), and some even call it a flow Wedhaism.

See the works Wedha. Typical form and technique, he described the faces of the figures are arranged in a mosaic of color that is broken down by facet-fasetnya. Not in the sense of cubism, but more variety of colors that harmoniously combine to form a figure depicted. Although his work does not detail, but able to represent the character's face very well.

You will be able to recognize the faces of the world, like Mick Jagger, Jimmy Hendrix, Jim Morrison, The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Sting, Bono, Queen, until politicians figure call it JFK, Bung Karno, Indira Gandhi, Benazir Buttho, Fidel Castro, Ahmadinejad.Also portrait Renda, Slank, Jakob Oetama, John Lennon to Andy Warhol. After 30 years of doing business in the world of illustration Wedha end his tenure at the Kompas Gramedia.

Sumber: dgi Indonesia, DesainStudio