Thursday, May 4, 2017
Youth Movement in Newspaper Readership
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Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Photographer Spotlight: Allison Vitsky Sallmon
In this series of articles, we’ll shine a spotlight on some of the world’s best underwater photographers. Today we highlight Allison Vitsky Sallmon.
Sallmon: I’ve been diving since 1992. My initial training took place in Gainesville, Florida. Like most divers in that area, I dabbled in cave diving, but I never really developed a passion for it. I became fascinated with cold-water diving while I was living in Boston in the early 2000s. I found my true home when I first dived a California kelp forest in 2007. All kinds of underwater photography are appealing, but I am probably best known for wide-angle imagery of California’s reefs. I currently live in San Diego.
[See image gallery at scubadiverlife.com]How long have you been an underwater photographer?
I first started shooting in 2006. I began with a small compact camera, and by the end of 2007, I had graduated (succumbed?) to a DSLR behemoth.
What got you interested in underwater photography?
I just took snapshots at first, but in the summer of 2006, I traveled to the Solomon Islands on board the Bilikiki. This was my first trip to the Indo-Pacific, and it blew my mind. There were two amazing shooters on the boat, Julie Edwards and Cor Bosman. I loved how their images showed the subjects we viewed on our dives in an idealized, fantastical way. I’d see an interesting shrimp on a dive, and then later that day, I’d see an image one of them took of the same shrimp, colors popping, with a beautiful, clean background. That was the beginning of the end for me. I had a strobe on my camera before the end of the trip, and I never looked back.
What’s your favorite style of underwater photography?
I shoot lots of wide-angle, including close-focus wide-angle and wide-angle macro. Since my husband and I do quite a bit of editorial work, that’s often what we’re expected to deliver. I also love macro, however, and am a closet nudibranch-lover.
Any favorite subjects?
I enjoy the challenge of shooting temperate reefscapes, showcasing them in a way that mimics compositions commonly applied to warm-water reefs. For marine creatures, though, I must go with pinnipeds — baby sea lions, all the way.
Any favorite destinations?
I’m lucky to be able to travel quite a bit, but in my opinion, nothing beats a gorgeous California kelp forest. There’s no place like home.
What’s your underwater setup?
Canon 5D Mark IV and a Canon 7D Mark II in Aquatica or Sea and Sea housings, with Sea and Sea YS250 (for wide-angle) or Sea and Sea YS-D2 (for macro) strobes.
Do you have any tips you can share with new underwater photographers?
Practice makes perfect. Exotic subjects are great, but the best way to improve your skills is to get to know your local dive sites and subjects. View your own work pragmatically, and embrace constructive criticism when available. The day you think you don’t have anything left to learn is the day you should consider quitting.
Whether the source is a hard-hitting pro or an amateur photographer, there is always something to learn. For those who wish to pursue professional underwater photography, the best advice I can give is to maintain a solid work ethic. The dive industry might look like a big vacation, but it is work, pure and simple. Deliver only the very best if you have a project. Beat your deadlines. Exceed your quotas. Treat it like you would any other job — give everything your full effort and attention. I also recommend that people pursue a day job. This will allow them the financial freedom to pursue diving and photography projects by choice.
By guest author Allison Vitsky Sallmon
Allison Vitsky Sallmon’s photographic work has appeared in numerous international underwater photography competitions. It has graced the walls of museums, and been published in books and magazines on diving, marine life, and nature photography. She is also an avid writer and commonly contributes articles on diving, travel, and marine conservation issues to North American dive media. Vitsky Sallmon is also founder and CEO of Dive into the Pink, a nonprofit organization that mobilizes the dive community to raise money for breast cancer research and survivor support.
The post Photographer Spotlight: Allison Vitsky Sallmon appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.
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Prensa mundial exige a las autoridades mexicanas a atender la crisis de seguridad que amenaza a los periodistas
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Tuesday, May 2, 2017
3 Things to Consider When Installing Window Treatments
A wide variety of window coverings can improve lighting, privacy and efficiency in your home while enhancing or changing the design of an entire room. Here are 3 things to consider when installing window treatments.
Image Source: Flickr
Number & Size of Windows
Clearly the number of windows that need treatments installed affects the price of installation. However, like most home improvement jobs, there are some cost savings associated with increased volume because the workers and their tools are already on site. Therefore, while the installation of a single custom window covering costs on average $60-$70, the price to install two is less than double that, around $80. The price for three or more is similarly discounted, ranging from about $100 for three to about $120 for five window treatment installations. Source: HomeAdvisor
Material and Quality
Whether you’re looking to add some serious designer cred to the look of your home, or you’re dead set about stopping pesky sunlight from bothering you on a weekend morning, the kind of material you choose can significantly affect your price.
For instance, window blinds, shades, and shutters can be made from plastic, vinyl, metal, hardwood, faux wood, bamboo, and even fabric. Hardwood is among the most expensive material while vinyl is among the least. Lower-end materials can cost as little as $20 per panel while high-end materials can be a little more.
But quality of window treatments doesn’t just have to do with the material itself. The quality is also affected by who has designed and manufactured the treatments. A set of custom-made blinds made from hardwood, specifically intended to be eco-friendly and hand-crafted by a leading designer will cost you much more than a mass-produced vinyl blind. Whether or not these differences in price — which can be hundreds, if not thousands of dollars — are worth it to you depend on how you plan on using the treatments, the ease or difficulty of fitting blinds to your unique windows, and how much value you put in design and decor. Source: SomfySystems
Types
- Curtains or Drapes: You have several choices in what you can use to cover your windows. Drapes and curtains come in a variety of shades, designs, lengths and textures. It would be very easy to find drapes and curtains that went well with your room’s motif. Some curtains also have unique features that block the sun. Curtains can be as transparent as you wish. For the “greenest” option, blackout curtains are available. These curtains completely block out the sun’s heat and light from your room, saving on unnecessary cooling costs. To get best results with blackout curtains, have a professional measure the area to be covered. Many people opt for another window treatment such as blinds or a shade underneath the curtains.
- Blinds: Blinds are another option you may choose. They may come with horizontal slats or vertical slats. Most of them have a pull cord that opens the slats when twisted and opens the entire blind when pulled. When you are considering which blinds to buy, remember, ones that are of lower quality usually don’t hold up as well as custom blinds. Flimsy blind slats will twist, tear off and stain. Many companies sell blinds of a much higher quality that look great for years. A home improvement professional will measure your window and install blinds that fit perfectly for your unique window. Try window blinds that are made of wood for a dramatic effect.
- Shades: Other types of blinds are often referred to as shades. The roll-up shade rolls up to close similar to a scroll. The Roman shade has become more popular lately. This shade folds up onto itself to close. It is possible to hire a professional to make and install your fabric shades. When choosing your fabric for the Roman shade, remember that it is okay for window treatments to be your accent color rather than the dominant colors of the room. Source: ImproveNet
Professional window covering installation can ensure your window treatments are installed properly and without damage to the walls and trim of your home. For more information, contact us now!
Contact:
Universal Blinds
601 – 1550 W. 10th Ave
Vancouver, V6J 1Z9
Canada
Phone: (604) 559-1988
The post 3 Things to Consider When Installing Window Treatments appeared first on Universal Blinds, Shades & Shutters.
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What I’m reading: Vol. 81.
As I mentioned in my last little note, Mr. DitL and I are moving to a new house basically right now, so I’m going to take a few days to focus on getting those ducks are in a row.
Packing is the WORST thing, but sharing some of it with you all through Instagram stories has made it more entertaining. Thanks for all the DMs! You light up my life.
I’ll be back next week!
Continue reading What I’m reading: Vol. 81. at Diamonds in the Library.
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Greenpeace Protests Coca-Cola
Greenpeace dumped a 2.75-ton ocean plastic sculpture outside Coca-Cola’s headquarters in London during April 2017. The sculpture, made from sand and waste Coca-Cola bottles, is meant to protest Coca Cola’s role in ocean plastic pollution.
Jason deCaires Taylor created the sculpture, called “Plasticide,” which depicts seabirds regurgitating plastic during a family beach picnic. The sculpture blocked the entrance to Coca-Cola’s headquarters in London on April 10, 2017. This forced employees to step over piles of sand before entering a side entrance. Activists also protested outside the headquarters, and covered the sculpture with tons of sand and waste Coca-Cola bottles.
We use 330 million tons of plastic each year globally, half of which is single-use plastics. Up to 14 million tons of waste plastic ends up in the ocean each year. Plastic bottles and tops are a major source of this marine plastic. Greenpeace thinks companies such as Coca-Cola are not taking enough action to rectify this.
Photo by Greenpeace
Protesting Coca-Cola
The senior oceans campaigner at Greenpeace U.K., Louise Edge, confirmed that Coca-Cola produces over 100 billion single-use plastic bottles every year. Many of these end up on beaches, in the ocean, and in landfills each year. The bottles are, however, 100-percent recyclable.
“But rather than dramatically reducing its plastic footprint, Coke is actually increasing its use of throwaway plastic bottles, which is polluting our oceans and being ingested by everything from seabirds to turtles,” says Edge.
“Coca-Cola is trying to ignore the impact its plastic is having on our environment, so we’ve installed a monument to their role in ocean plastic pollution on their doorstep, to force them to confront the issue. This artwork weighs 2.75 tons, but every minute plastic weighing 10 times that is pouring into the sea. Our oceans simply can’t stomach any more of Coca-Cola’s plastic.”
Is Coca-Cola doing enough?
A Greenpeace report concerning Coca-Cola came out on the same day as the protest. It confirmed that the company is failing to meet its own sustainability targets. Coca-Cola is also restricting access to packaging information. The report confirmed that the company makes as few as 7 percent of its bottles from recycled plastic and 60 percent of the company’s packaging is single-use plastic bottles. The company is failing to meet its target of recycling 75 percent of bottles and cans sold in developed countries by 2020.
In contrast, companies such as Ribena and PepsiCo’s 7Up are already using 100 percent recycled material in all their bottles.
A Coca-Cola spokesperson commented that the company is one of few consumer goods companies whose packaging is 100 percent recyclable. Coca-Cola also says it has reduced the amount of plastic it uses in Great Britain by 15 percent since 2007. The company further stated that it will continue to increase its use of recycled plastic when possible, and that they recognize marine litter as a global problem that needs action and collaboration.
The post Greenpeace Protests Coca-Cola appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.
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Media, Our Best Hope On World Press Freedom Day
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