Wednesday 29 June 2011

Concepts: Cameras.


Share moments...share life. Yes, I may have borrow that from Kodak, but they certainly got it right. I cannot for the life of me imagine how living would feel like without cameras- I think I spent more time with my eye behing a lens than I do with my eye exposed to the world- like a camera eye patch, if you will.
Cameras capture beautiful moments, sad moments, happy moments, memories- things, places, and people that will never be forgotten- thanks to the pressing of a button. To me, cameras are probably the most of the most innovative creations ever made, and my life just wouldn't be the same without it.
So, here is the complication of my reasons and opinions as to why I think CAMERAS are good.

20 REASONS WHY I THINK CAMERAS ARE GOOD

1. A moment can be remembered forever with one simple click.

2. Taking photos whilst on holiday is a great conversation piece when showing friends- and can make everyone decidely jealous to boot.

3. With a good-quality camera and professional skills, a portrait can look ten times more beautiful than the model in reality.

4. There are an infinite amount of cameras available on the market- you are spoilt for choice in both terms of stockists/suppliers/brands and models and types of cameras.

5. There is a camera and format suited for every occasion- underwater disposable, Diana Mini, Fisheye, DSLR...again, spoilt for choice.

6. Family members need never be forgotten by great-great-great-great grandchildren with the simple click of a button.

7. Taking photos is fun...let's admit it. With so many possibilities of objects, places, people to photograph there are no excuses- if you can see it, you can photograph it.

8. The quality and definition of cameras these days can be so great that it can reveal details and information not usually seen by the human eye.

9. Wearing a camera around your neck will infinitely make you feel cool- trust me.

10. Many cameras are light-weight and pocket sized...great to take with you wherever you go.

11. You have the option with cameras- not just in make but also between film and digital- everyone has a favourite format, but it's fun to experiment with both.

12. With a digital camera you can see the results instantly- no waiting for developments...if you're not happy with the image, you can erase it and start again, quickly and efficently- no money wasted.

13. Cameras, though some seemingly quite expensive, can be very affordable. If you see no need to upgrade spending a few hundred pounds on a good-quality camera is a great buy, especially if you use it often.

14. Owning a camera can open up to a world of oppurtunity- where do you think all the top professional photographer started out? The Walkers, the Avedon's, the Testino's?

15. There's nothing quite like that anticipation whilst you wait for your film to be developed. What will they turn out like? Was I pulling my stupid grimace when the picture was taken? Good times.

16. Anyone and EVERYONE can learn to take a good picture- with practice, a good eye and the "moment" everyone can become a photographer for the day.

17. Photography is for everyone- whether you are young or old, the process is simple and easy- just a click of a button and you're the creator.

18. You can be really experimental and creative with your photographs- whether it be through cross processing, double exposure...the possibilities and endless.

19. With editorial sites and programmes so accesible, even if you do snap a self portrait on a particularly "off" day, with the click of the button you could be the next Claudia Schiffer.

20. Processing in a darkroom can be troublesome and time consuming- but it's definately worth it. I imagine the feeling of holding your first process image to be comparative to the first time you hold your newborn child. (Probably).

20 FACTS ABOUT CAMERAS

1. The term camera comes from the camera obscura (Latin for "dark chamber"), an early mechanism for projecting images. The modern camera evolved from the camera obscura.

2. Cameras may work with the light of the visible spectrum or with other portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

3. A camera generally consists of an enclosed hollow with an opening (aperture) at one end for light to enter, and a recording or viewing surface for capturing the light at the other end. A majority of cameras have a lens positioned in front of the camera's opening to gather the incoming light and focus all or part of the image on the recording surface.

4. The still camera takes one photo each time the user presses the shutter button. A typical movie camera continuously takes 24 film frames per second as long as the user holds down the shutter button, or until the shutter button is pressed a second time.

5. The first camera obscura that was small and portable enough for practical use was built by Johann Zahn in 1685.

6. The first permanent photograph was made in 1826 by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce using a sliding wooden box camera made by Charles and Vincent Chevalier in Paris and building on Johann Heinrich Schultz's discovery about silver and chalk mixtures darkening when exposed to light.

7. The first color photograph was made by Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell, with the help of English inventor and photographer Thomas Sutton, in 1861

8. The electronic video camera tube was invented in the 1920s, starting a line of development that eventually resulted in digital cameras, which largely supplanted film cameras after the turn of the 21st century.

9. Traditional cameras capture light onto photographic film or photographic plate. Video and digital cameras use an electronic image sensor, usually a charge coupled device (CCD) or a CMOS sensor to capture images which can be transferred or stored in a memory card or other storage inside the camera for later playback or processing.

10. Camera lenses are made in a wide range of focal lengths. They range from extreme wide angle, wide angle, standard, medium telephoto and telephoto. Each lens is best suited a certain type of photography.

11. Rangefinder cameras allow the distance to objects to be measured by means of a coupled parallax unit on top of the camera, allowing the focus to be set with accuracy.

12. Single-lens reflex cameras allow the photographer to determine the focus and composition visually using the objective lens and a moving mirror to project the image onto a ground glass or plastic micro-prism screen.
 
13. The size of the aperture and the brightness of the scene controls the amount of light that enters the camera during a period of time, and the shutter controls the length of time that the light hits the recording surface.

14. Box cameras were introduced as a budget level camera and had few if any controls. The original box Brownie models had a small reflex viewfinder mounted on the top of the camera and had no aperture or focusing controls and just a simple shutter. Later models such as the Brownie 127 had larger direct view optical viewfinders together with a curved film path to reduce the impact of deficiencies in the lens.

15. Lens hoods are used on the end of a lens to block the sun or other light source in order to prevent glare and lens flare.

16. Large format cameras use special equipment which includes magnifier loupe, view finder, angle finder, focusing rail /truck.

17. A wide angle lens may be preferred for architecture because it has the capacity to capture a wide view of a building.

18. Irish scientist Robert Boyle and his assistant Robert Hooke developed a portable camera obscura in the 1660s.

19. Most 20th century cameras used photographic film as a recording surface, while the majority of new ones now use an electronic image sensor.

20. Cameras that capture many images in sequence are known as movie cameras or as ciné cameras in Europe; those designed for single images are still cameras. However these categories overlap as still cameras are often used to capture moving images in special effects work and many modern cameras can quickly switch between still and motion recording modes. A video camera is a category of movie camera that captures images electronically (either using analogue or digital technology).

20 WORDS ASSOCIATED WITH CAMERAS

1. Canon
2. France
3. 35mm
4. SLR
5. DSLR
6. Flash
7. Fisheye
8. Diana Mini
9. Disposable
10. Jessops
11. Negative
12. Memory
13. Lomography
14. Memory Card
15. Nikon
16. Samsung
17. Fujifilm
18. Kodak
19. SOOC
20. Photography

20 OPINIONS OF CAMERAS
(In response to the question 'What is your favourite camera?' Posted on Yahoo Answers)

1.  They are two different mediums in my opinion. I prefer digital because it is instant and I can do more stuff with it. 35mm shooting is fun, but it takes a good couple of hours to correctly develop all the pictures, and lots of paper for contact sheets and whatnot- Dr. Iblis, via Yahoo Answers.

2. I prefer rangefinder cameras, either digital or not- Jorge, via Yahoo Answers.

3. Well, my favorite is the Nikon D90 which is a DSLR. I like it because it is a great camera (Nikon has a reputation for making good, study and durable cameras) and it the only one I've used for almost a year! It is my favorite, hands down- Ricki006, via Yahoo Answers.

4. My favourite camera was the Hasselblad 500C. It belonged to my employer. I have retired, so I no longer have the use of it. I now work entirely digitally- John P, via Yahoo Answers.

5. Who cares? The one that has clear images after I push the button on top- Ally, via Yahoo Answers.

6. The Nikon D90 is a really nice camera, I do have to say...But I prefer Canon's Rebel series. I have a Rebel T3- elise, via Yahoo Answers.

7. My personal favourite camera is Nikon D3x- Rajeev, via Yahoo Answers.

8. Nikon F4- Phi, via Yahoo Answers.

9. DLSR Nikon- ?, via Yahoo Answers.

10. The Hasseblad 500 C/M has and will always be my favorite camera. It's the most beautiful crafted camera I have ever worked with.

It's also one of best pieces of photography equipment to buy at the moment, and here's why:

1. It's more affordable than ever. You can get your hands on one, for only $600-700, which is a fraction of the original retail price.
2. Used lenses and accessories are widely available and decent priced.
3. It's completely mechanical and therefore very reliable. No batteries needed and it hardly ever fails you.
4. It's a repairman's dream. No electronic components, only simple mechanics to repair.
5. The design is very stylish, and ergonomics elegant. Feels good in your hand, and easy to handle.
6. It's customizable. Everything from lenses and backs, to focusing glass and light seal can be replaced.
7. The beautiful Zeiss lenses. Producing, sharp images and accurate color rendering. The lenses has their own special quality and character in color and bokeh.
8. Produces incredible negatives. A tremendous amount of detail and information is captured in the every frame.
9. 6x6 format, ideal for both portraits and landscapes.
10. It's a Blad'. Even the wonderful mirror sound from shutter makes it worth over any Nikon or Canon SLR, or DSLR for that matter.

And as for the Film vs. Digital, C-41 film is better than ever, cheaper than ever and easier to process than ever, so why not just shoot film?- Gazoo, via Yahoo Answers.



(In response to the previously posted question 'What is the best DLSR camera?' by F9T via Yahoo Answers)

11. The best current Nikon DSLR - D3 $4900.00 body only
The best current Canon DSLR - EOS 1DS Mark III $5999.00
body only
Point and shoot digitals cameras are mostly thought of as casual shooting cameras. They are all-in-one ready to shoot without confusing settings or accessories.

BTW: The digital SLR's work in combination with the lenses to produce those awesome pictures. Professional camera + cheap lens = mediocre images.

Professional camera + professional lens = professional looking images.
Cheap Digital camera + professional lens + professional photographer = professional looking images.

It is just about that simple.


PSS: Professional photographers don't normally struggle to afford a professional DSLR as it is their bread and butter... the way they make their money- RuthieGirl1121, via Yahoo Answers.

12. it's big different between image quality of DSLR and other regular digital cameras, One of my friend said once that pictures from DSLR are more 3d than for normal cameras. I would recommend Canon 400D as I have one and I'm very happy user- SpoonTea, via Yahoo Answers.

(In response to the previously posted question 'Can anybody tell me what's the best DSLR camera?' by Kadijah A, via Yahoo Answers)

13. They all make some good cameras and they all make some mediocre cameras. They all make some high end cameras and they all make some low end cameras.

The fact is whichever brand of dSLR you choose it will be capable of producing far better pictures than you can. The make and model of the camera is irrelevant, you can not buy a bad dSLR, they all take excellent images.


Forget the Canon and Nikon fanboys, go and hold them. Choose the one that is easily within your budget (plus lenses and accessories), the one that YOU like in YOUR hands, the one that has an easy to use menu system. The brand does not matter- Jack F, via Yahoo Answers.

14. They all make good DSLR cameras.

Canon is the market leader in DSLRs that have made cameras for ages.

Nikon is second and first in some countries.
Sony is the new player that is gaining momentum with their new cameras and already replaced Nikon for second spot in a couple of countries.

They all advantages and disadvantages to their system but I wouldn't say one is completely the best over another- John Sison, via Yahoo Answers.

15. None of them. Panasonic don't even make DSLRs any more.

Hasselblad H4D and H3D series, Hasselblad 503 with CFD backs, Mamiya/Phase One 645 AF, Pentax 645D, Leica S2 all are designed to simply blow the best Canon and Nikon offerings clean out of the water.


So realistically the Canon 1Ds3 and Nikon D3x (the current range toppers for Canon and Nikon) would be lucky to come in 5th or 6th, with everything else coming behind them.


Veato - ok granted most people wouldn't want to lug a medium format up a mountain, but Ansel Adams shot large format cameras from some rather inconvenient places. Point is if you want a no compromise quality then you do need the fitness to get the gear to that place- ChioChao, via Yahoo Answers.

16. There's no league table for DSLR's so it's not a question of 'which comes first'.

Lumix is a Panasonic brand and it's NOT a DSLR.


All of the major manufacturers - Olympus, Sony, Canon, Nikon & Pentax make reasonable DSLR's. Canon & Nikon tend to be market leaders, because they've been in the game longest.


Which one is best for YOU depends on a lot of factors - the easiest way to decide is to try them all out- deep blue2, via Yahoo Answers.

17. Nikon
-Canon
-Sony
-Pentax
-Lumix- KB, via Yahoo Answers.

18. Canon all the way! From their entry level XS to the pro camera like the Marks. Best brand by far. Great lenses as well- eagles08, via Yahoo Answers.

19. Canon or NIkon
both are really good
but I use canon because I'm used to canon camera- Teresa, via Yahoo Answers.

20. Canon- Cheryl Blake, via Yahoo Answers.

A 35mm lomography camera- which takes four different images at different points of shooting. A toy camera with fun, playful effects. 

http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/lomography-diana-mini-camera_1.jpg
Diana Mini 35mm camera- taking vintage-effect images.

Lomography Fisheye 35mm in white. Providing vitange-effect fisheye images, with a cool three-dimensional stretch-effect. Great for street photography.

Too cute! This cat-styled holga camera comes in a kitty tin and meows when you press the shutter button. Bless.

The traditional box brownie camera. Perhaps the earliest example of the affordable family/amateur camera for the home.
Cheap and cheerful- the wonderful world of the disposable camera.

The Canon AE-1, the most commonly and popularly-sold 35mm camera of all time. User friendly, brilliant picture quality and sleek design- this camera is a total babe. Oh yeah, and I have one.

The Leica- a classic and long-established company.
Rob Ryan's fisheye design for Urban Outfitters.
Ilford 35mm film roll.

The Canon 450D DSLR camera- one of the many great DSLR cameras available on the market today.

A Nikon D7000 DSLR. Nikon and Canon are often regarded as the DSLR company leaders, being two of the longest-established brands.

A standard point-and-shoot digital camera.

A Pentax 35mm SLR- another great-quality brand.


Fixed studio lighting- often used to enhance the lighting and atmosphere in images.


Free-standing umbrella shades- softening harsh studio lighting.
Free-standing studio lighting, for portable use.

The latest re-invention of the classic polaroid camera- a digital camera with the polaroid-printing facility. Fast, easy prints.

Examples of polaroids- and the "vintage" aesthetic they can achieve. Usually cross-processed, or with a vigenette border.

The classic polaroid camera- loved by a generation, afforded by few!

Tuesday 28 June 2011

Concepts: Lipstick/Lip balm.


As Jedward sang in the year's Eurovision song contest "I got ma lipstick on, na na na na na na"...wise words from wise men. I jest, of course. Lipstick, however, in my life, is a necessity- sure, maybe when you're bumming it round the house you can go au naturel, but whenever I go out, putting lipstick on makes me feel...well...complete. A finished portrait. Lipstick gives confidence, boosts a dull complexion, and makes you feel far "dressier" than before. All in all, it makes the finished package.
So, here is the complication of my reasons and opinions as to why I think LIPSTICK/LIP BALM is good.

20 REASONS WHY LIPSTICK/LIP BALM IS GOOD

1. If you've ever had chapped lips, you'll understand that you only need one answer to this question...I'm just writing twenty to make a point.

2. Wearing a bright lipstick gives a feeling of confidence.

3. Lipstick can add a splash of colour to even the beigest of outfits.

4. Wearing a bright lipstick can brighten a dull complexion.

5. If, like me, you're not a fan of heavy eye make up (damn you hooded brows) then lipstick is a more than brilliant comprimise.

6. There are so many colours and brands to choose from, you could literally wear a different colour lipstick every day of the year (oh...if I had the money).

7. There are now several ranges of lipstick that are kiss-proof. So you can pucker up without looking like a six year old playing in her Mum's make-up draw.

8. There are a million and one different lip balm flavours to choose from- from chocolate to honey to cherry.

9. Both lipstick and lip balm are pocket-size, so you can always have one with you on the go.

10. There was a time in Britain where wearing lipstick was considered contreversial and "brazen"...go on, be a flirt.

11. Lipstick colours are a great and simple way to express yourself- black lipstick being a prize example.

12. Prices vary greatly with lipsticks and lip balms, from around 50p-£15, it's great for every pocket.

13. Lipstick and lip balm is sold EVERYWHERE. Well, almost everywhere.

14. Wearing lipstick is oh-so-sophisticated.

15. A brightly coloured lipstick can bring focus to your eye and hair colour, complimenting them and making the colours stand out more.

16. Marilyn Monroe was a huge fan of lipstick. Need I say more?

17. Wearing lipstick brings more focus to your mouth, and therefore, people are more inclined to look and listen to you when you speak.

18. Wearing dark lipsticks can make your teeth look whiter.

19. As lipstick is matte, it won't cause hair to stick to your mouth in a windy gale...a la THE DREADED lip gloss.

20. Don't worry chaps- it's not just for women...It's now very common for men to wear both lip balm AND lipstick. Chapped lips aren't a discriminatory problem you know.

20 FACTS ABOUT LIPSTICK/LIP BALM

1. Lip balm or lip salve is a waxy substance applied topically to the lips of the mouth to relieve chapped or dry lips, angular cheilitis, stomatitis, or cold sores.

2. Lip balm often contains beeswax or carnauba wax, camphor, cetyl alcohol, lanolin, paraffin, and petrolatum, among other ingredients. Some varieties contain dyes, flavor, fragrance, menthol, phenol, salicylic acid, and sunscreens.

3. Dry air, cold temperatures, and wind all have a drying effect on skin by drawing moisture away from the body.

4. Lips are particularly vulnerable because the skin is so thin, and thus they are often the first to present signs of dryness.

5. Lip balm was first marketed in the 1880s by the creator of ChapStick, Charles Browne Fleet, though its origins are commonly traced to earwax, which was used as lip balm prior to that.

6. There have been urban legends that substances in some lip balms promote addiction or dependency. Lip balm manufacturers sometimes state in their FAQs that there is nothing addictive in their products or that all ingredients are listed and approved by the FDA. Snopes found the claim that there's substances in Carmex that necessitate reapplication, such as ground glass, to be false.

7. Notable lip balm brands include: Bag Balm, Blistex, Burt's Bees, Carmex, ChapStick, Eco Lips Organic Lip Balm, Labello, Lip Smacker, Lypsyl, Montagne Jeunesse, Vaseline, Nivea and Avon.



8. Lipstick is a cosmetic product containing pigments, oils, waxes, and emollients that applies color, texture, and protection to the lips.

9. As with most other types of makeup, lipstick is typically, but not exclusively, worn by women.

10. Ancient Mesopotamian women were possibly the first women to invent and wear lipstick. They crushed semi precious jewels and used them to decorate their lips.

11. Cleopatra had her lipstick made from crushed carmine beetles, which gave a deep red pigment, and ants for a base.

12. Lipsticks with shimmering effects were initially made using a pearlescent substance found in fish scales.

13. Lip colouring started to gain some popularity in 16th century England. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I bright red lips and a stark white face became fashionable. By that time, lipstick was made from a blend of beeswax and red stains from plants. Only upper class women and male actors wore makeup.

14. In 1770 a British law was proposed to the Parliament that a marriage should be annulled if the woman wore cosmetics before her wedding day.

15. Throughout most of the 19th century the obvious use of cosmetics was not considered acceptable in Britain for respectable women, and it was associated with marginalized groups such as actresses and prostitutes.

16. When Queen Victoria took the throne in 1837, she banished lipstick. It was considered brazen and uncouth to wear makeup.

17. The first commercial lipstick had been invented in 1884, by perfumers in Paris, France. It was covered in silk paper and made from deer tallow, castor oil, and beeswax.

18. In the 19th century, lipstick was colored with carmine dye. Carmine dye was extracted from Cochineal, scale insects native to Mexico and Central America which live on cactus plants.

19. A study in 1937 survey revealed that over 50% of teenage girls fought with their parents over lipstick.
 
20. By the 1950s, movie actresses Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor helped bring back dark red lips. A 1951 survey revealed that two-thirds of teenage girls wore lipstick.

20 WORDS ASSOCIATED WITH LIPSTICK/LIP BALM

1. Vaseline
2. Chapstick
3. Petroleum Jelly
4. Pink
5. Red
6. Moisture
7. Boujois
8. Chanel
9. Make up
10. Colour
11. Health
12. Attractive
13. Sophistication
14. Women
15. Brands
16. Fashion
17. Burt's Bees
18. Nivea
19. Benetint
20. Novelty

20 OPINIONS OF LIPSTICK/LIP BALM
(In response to the previously posted question 'What is your favourite brand of lipstick?' by Rach in OZ, via Yahoo Answers)

1. I like Revlon Super Lustrous. Any others you can recommend?- Rach in OZ, via Yahoo Answers.
 
2. Well, i like maybelline, avon, and i looooove The Body Shop lipsticks!!!, i also strongly reccomand you The Body Shop lip butter! it's great (shine, moisturize...everything)!- Taste the Rainbow, via Yahoo Answers.

3. Cover girl it won't come off when you drink or kiss- ladyoh, via Yahoo Answers.

4. I prefer gloss to lipstick. And I love Bed Head!- boredgal, via Yahoo Answers.

5. Revlon is nice but i like any color looks good on me and long as it not cheap matrial but lipsticks are getting expensive:(....alomost 8$ for a piece- ?, via Yahoo Answers.

6. Mary Kay - MK Signature Creme Lipstick- juicy, via Yahoo Answers.

7. Definetely, Revlon. It stays on all day and comes in a great variety of colors- peaceful light, via Yahoo Answers.

8. Revlon super lustrous is good...
also maybelline liquid diamond shine is rocking...- coffeeandu, via Yahoo Answers.

9. Mary Kay or Avon- ajw, via Yahoo Answers.
 
10. MAC and mark products from Avon- Tizzy, via Yahoo Answers.

11. Clinique- putali, via Yahoo Answers.

12. Stila & Mac- jmp, via Yahoo Answers.

13. I am in love with my Arissa lipgloss, goes on great and not super sticky! (Bought mine at Walgreens on clearance, but it's usually only about 4 bucks)- ?, via Yahoo Answers.

14. Maybelline diamond shine- tammy g, via Yahoo Answers.

(In response to the previously posted question 'What is your favourite lipstick?' by Isabella, via Yahoo Answers)
15. I have a few but I love the Dior Addict High Shines and Ultra Shine lipsticks and I love MAC slimshine lipsticks. My fave lipbalm ever is La Mer- Isabella, via Yahoo Answers.

16. For sure Charming by Smashbox
The perfect nude with a little bit of pink its perfect for anyone I love it! Goes great with a smoky eye :-)- Shawnnie, via Yahoo Answers.

17. I like Lancome- Robert C, via Yahoo Answers.

18. I like clinique the best. :]- Lonelystrawberry, via Yahoo Answers.

19. I love MAC Slimshines too :}
But my all time favourite is the Mac Viva Glam lipstick- breathenatalie, via Yahoo Answers.

20. Mac slimshine are really good- Suzie, via Yahoo Answers.

20 IMAGES OF LIPSTICK/LIP BALM





I used to LOVE this stuff. Aww, what the heck...I still do. Yum, yum.

Haha! Love this idea- great branding and packaging.

Lovely vintage- style packaging. Starting to collect pots like these.

The best lip balm I have ever used, no doubt. I would eat the pink grapefruit version out of the tin if it were more socially acceptable.




I like the idea of showcasing all the different colours together- if I were to go on to develop this theme as a project, I could easily create pantone swatches of different lipsticks. Could be a fun idea to work with...