==>Portable Sadness in March<==

First visual is getting hit by a broken link...
Old weapons allready poor to be knock down...
Wished to be longtime ordinary just for remember...
Hand use to shared dance drop for accepted...
Head seeing skies to reach out stars upon midnight...
Agreement momentary hack for living free...

Mind still clocking to feel everything for me...
i was forward to be alone...no other laugh for now...
just feeling God for my mistaken when my footer
always being me who comforting every little second
to get involve in this machinery time...

Get well being label for my though, and this holding
scream just to be caught when im hit a new library...
Escape just for few misunderstood eyes of romance
Hope for this believing wind will blow my smile to
cry with huge sound of weaver in tomorrow wakeup...

Dodge Challenger R/T Classic: Yesteryear's Road Warrior Is Back!

Fluctuating gas prices and tight supply of the same hasn't kept America's three major automakers with going ahead with plans to reintroduce the pony car segment to consumers. Sure, the Ford Mustang has been continuously produced since 1964, but the Dodge Challenger (reintroduced in 2008) and the Chevrolet Camaro (reintroduced in 2009) are new entries, filling out the field for classic car enthusiasts.

The Dodge Challenger, like the Camaro and Mustang, hearkens to the design cues of earlier generation models, a car that effectively blends traditional road prowess with modern technology. Now, a new model, the Challenger R/T Classic has been introduced, perhaps the best example of yesteryear's style blending with today's technology.

"Our all-new 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic is more than a modern-day muscle machine, it pays homage to one of the most storied nameplates in automotive history," said Dan Knott, Vice President-Car / Minivan / SRT Product Team, Chrysler LLC. "With heritage-inspired dual-wide body-side R/T stripes, original 'Challenger' heritage badging and the newest generation of our legendary 5.7-liter HEMI(R) V-8 engine, the new 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic delivers the greatness of our pony car past with advanced fuel-efficient muscle."

The new model is based on the current Challenger R/T and offers a dual throwback A-line body-side R/T stripes, 'Challenger' fender badging in classic script, large 20-inch polished-chrome heritage wheels with all-season performance tires, classic egg-crate grille with heritage 'R/T' badge, body-color rear spoiler and chromed fuel-filler door.

"Dodge Challenger has a rich performance heritage and the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic encompasses numerous technologies that allow great on- road performance while delivering proven-quality and refinement to ensure its place in the Dodge pony car history," said Knott.

Equipped with a legendary 5.7-liter HEMI(R) V-8 engine under its long, raised performance hood with functional hood scoops to increase engine cooling, the Challenger R/T Classic Track Pak's precision-shift "pistol-grip" shifter, bright pedals, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with defeatable traction control, Hill Start Assist (HSA), four-wheel disc performance braking system and an anti-spin 3.92 differential. A performance-tuned dual exhaust optimizes engine back pressure and exhaust throatiness by replacing the standard under-floor muffler with two low- restriction bottle resonators. The result, a powerful 376 horsepower (280 kW) and 410 lb.-ft. of torque (556 N*m) that can accelerate the Dodge Challenger R/T Classic from zero to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds.

The all-new 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T Classic starts at $34,005 and is being produced on the same Brampton, Ontario assembly line as the Dodge Charger and the Chrysler 300C. chrysler LLC hasn't said how many of the limited production R/T Challenger Classic models will be built, but in typical Challenger fashion drivers can expect that they'll secure a low volume vehicle, one that should retain its value compared to other models.

Used Muscle Cars For Sale - Buy With Confidence

Looking for used muscle cars for sale can be a tricky venture, you'll either find just the car that your looking for, or you'll listen to a sales person, who's job is to sell the car no matter what, I'm going to cover some ideas to help you get what you want in a used muscle car.

First of all when looking for used muscle cars for sale, be sure to know all you can about the car that your looking for, research it on the net, buy books and learn about it from them, ask a friend who may know a lot about cars, know what your going to do with the car.

If your a purest and you plan on restoring it to factory stock specs, make sure that the one your looking at has the options that it came with from the factory, decode the vin number; decode the rpo code; and the casting number, also the transmission casing stamp, and the rear end tag.

If your just looking for a used muscle car for sale to build in to your dream car, and that doesn't include restoring it to factory stock specs, then your job isn't quite as hard, you need to look at the condition of the body on the car, the engine and transmission in the car and the rear end.

Make sure that you have a decent car to start with, this will save you all kinds of money in the long run; and everybody likes to save money when looking for used muscle cars for sale, it's always best to really know the car before you purchase it, so study up first.

I'm going to talk a little here about where to find the used muscle cars for sale, remember I didn't say used muscle cars for sale at a bargain basement price, because the truth is that you get what you pay for I have said this a lot in different articles, there is no good $3,000 muscle cars for sale.

You should plan on spending about $8,000-$10,000 to start with, unless your looking for a junk car to start with, if you start in this range your more likely to find a good car to start with, this will save you a lot of agony in the long run, you either put the money in to the car when you buy it, or as you build it.

Before you decide to buy a car from a certain place, make sure that you check out their business through the BBB, the local chamber of commerce, or other agencies that you may know, you need to know that the dealer is reputable before you buy from them.

You can buy used muscle cars for sale from a lot of different places, ebay is a good place to start, if your looking on ebay, be sure to check the feedback of the person selling the car, be sure to ask a lot of questions about him, and the car, if he doesn't seem to have the answers, don't buy the car.

If your mainly shopping on the web, look at the time that the web site has been on the web, you can google that, if the site is fairly new, you may want to look elsewhere to start with, you can check places like autabuy.com, and dreamcarstore.net, both of the companies have been a round a while.

Being in business a long time is an indicator that they do good business, and don't rip people off on cars, it a good indicator that they'll tell you the things that you need to know about the car, because they want you to buy more used muscle cars for sale from them.

Photo Retouching

To understand the history of the image and in particular, the photographic image, one has to consider the ancient civilizations. Egyptian paintings and works of art are well documented but it wasn't until the rise of the Roman Empire that the portrait flourished. Roman portraits primarily took the form of a sculpture and it was particularly fashionable to depict an unflattering representation of the subject. Our seemingly modern fascination with perfection can be traced back to France during the middle ages when the trend shifted to producing painted portraits that favoured an idealized symbol of what the person looked like.

Due to the enormous cost, commissioning a painted or sculptured portrait was an act reserved only for royalty and the very highest within society. To meet the high demand for inexpensive portraiture saw the invention of the daguerreotype during the middle of the 19th century that employed numerous physical and chemical discoveries of the era. This was essentially an early type of photograph in which the image is exposed directly onto a photosensitive plate. Further refinement of the design and processes as well as advancements in photographic glass plates reduced the cost and a large number of photographic studios in major cities around the world began to offer photographic services to the masses.

Development of the photographic film towards the end of the 19th century replaced photographic plates. Photography and the professional photographer were no longer confined to the studio. A great many advances in the technology led to the appearance of the modern 35mm and compact film cameras used today. The costs were further reduced to the point where cameras became disposable as early as the mid eighties. The inclusion of a variety of cameras in the basket of 650 goods used to calculate the Retail Price Index for almost two decades is testament to the popularity of photography. The 35mm camera was only recently removed in 2006 when it was replaced with the digital camera.

Digital cameras first became commercially available in the very early nineties and saw the replacement of film with a photon sensitive chip and rewriteable memory cards. There are many advantages when comparing digital against film. One such advantage is that the physical size of a camera can be reduced such that it can be incorporated into a mobile phone. Despite initially being very expensive, digital overtook film in developed countries in 2002 and the technology is now cheap enough to allow for disposable digital cameras. Photography as a profession, as a hobby and part of popular culture has become even more accessible thanks to the digital technology to the point that the percentage of the UK population owning a digital camera or camera phone has risen to 90% according to a recent survey.

Shipment volumes of digital cameras have been rising year on year and totalling 7.5 million units in 2007. Total digital camera sales hit 50 million in 2003, rising to 114 million in 2007 and forecasts don't predict slowdown due to market saturation any time before 2010.

The digital revolution has made the transition of getting an image from the camera lens to the computer screen a trivial exercise. Retouching encompasses everything from modest enhancement to restoration and recovery of an otherwise objectionable or unusable image. Photographic retouching is often considered to be a modern concept due to recent advances in computer performance and software capability besides the relatively recent introduction of the digital camera itself. However, this is far from the truth.

Photo manipulation is as old as photography itself. Joseph Stalin regularly made use of photo retouching techniques for propaganda purposes as early as the 1920s. Before computers, photo manipulation was achieved by retouching with ink, paint, double exposure and piecing photos or negatives together in the darkroom.

"Photoshopping" is slang for the digital editing of photographs; the term originating from Adobe Photoshop, the image editor most commonly used by professionals for this purpose. The 1980s saw the advent of digital retouching. Before digital cameras became widely obtainable, the most common way of getting a print onto a computer was via a scanner. The processing power needed to manipulate large images has up until recently been beyond the reach of most. Purchasing expensive custom hardware from leading manufactures of the time, Silicon Graphics and Apple Macintosh was unavoidable.

The number of households in the UK owning a personal computer capable of image retouching is around 65%. This combined with the extremely large portion of the population owning equipment capable of taking digital photos; one would imagine that a sizable number of individuals would be retouching their own photographs to meet their ever increasing desires for flawlessness.

Retouching software is varied in functionality and the cost of some of the less capable packages is inexpensive when compared to the price of computer and camera equipment. Becoming proficient in retouching however is not just a one off purchase. A great deal of patience and commitment to acquiring the necessary skills is required. Furthermore, an artistic flare is more often than not an advantage. The act of retouching is also a time consuming affair. A recent study has shown that lifestyles are changing. Working and commuting hours are increasing and social calendars are becoming crowded. To compensate for this, a culture of contracting out tasks that are either time consuming, requiring effort or are considered tedious is increasingly becoming the norm. For instance, it is not uncommon for tired office workers to pay to have their shirts ironed and hand car washing businesses in public car parks are thriving. A recent study showed that 48% of homes in Britain employ an average of three outside helpers at a cost of £20 billion; undertaking a range of tasks from dog walking to personal shopping.

Photographs, on a personal level, can become treasured items. In addition to documenting events and special occasions they capture moments in time of friends and loved ones. Weddings, holidays, graduations and children growing up are popular photographic opportunities that are often unrepeatable in nature. Making the most of the available photographs is favourable. Photographs also have more pragmatic uses as it makes good business sense to showcase products and services to potential customers in the most attractive way. Allowing all types of images to look their finest through retouching is both appealing and beneficial.

Advances in computer and networking technology have led to the inevitable rise and subsequent dominance of the Internet. The number of households having access to the World Wide Web via high speed broadband connections in the UK is around 55%. $259 billion of online sales including travel occurred in 2007 in the US; an 18% increase from the previous year14. It is advantageous for businesses and services such as traditional high street retailers, banks, restaurants, tourist attractions, estate agents and hotels to secure and maintain an online presence and in turn, the demand for high quality images looks set to increase.

Images are required for a wide selection of applications. Besides the recent emergence of the online paradigm as highlighted above, demand for traditional photography services remains strong such as wedding, portraiture, sports and journalism to name but a few. Meeting this demand for imagery is now easier than ever thanks to the profusion of photographic equipment. Photographs of an exceptional standard that satisfy our need for perfection however are reserved only for big business and those with deep pockets. All photographs, whether or not they were taken professionally, can benefit from some degree of retouching; a term which covers all forms of manipulation and enhancement. It is not uncommon for magazine cover photographs, despite having been taken by notable professional photographers using the very best equipment, to undergo hours of post production work to produce the perfect image.

To achieve faultless images, a number of companies and individuals currently offer specialist retouching services to the big industry players, often on a contract basis. It is also becoming commonplace for photographers to invest in the tools required to manipulate images and become proficient in their use in order to meet the increasing demands of the client. Such services are expensive and are not aimed at the mass market. The only real solution available to the general public is to purchase a suitable computer and acquire the knowledge to create masterpieces of their own images using relatively costly retouching software. A number of companies now offer online retouching services and make the whole process easy and affordable for individuals and businesses alike. One such company is London based Retouch Genie Ltd - Online photo retouching and restoration experts.

The yearning to look flawless and conform to contemporary ideals is not a new concept. For hundreds of years Chinese women bound their feet to stunt growth and in Elizabethan times wore corsets which caused broken ribs all for a desirable curvy silhouette. In recent years however, celebrity obsession, glossy magazines, television makeover shows, fashion, pharmaceuticals, weight-loss and advertising industries, rightly or wrongly, have intensified the quest for perfection. In the UK, the number of cosmetic surgical procedures carried out has increased by a third between 2004 and 2006.

From a number of business applications, selling items in online auctions, social networking profiles, online dating, leisure, tourism and travel, the perfect image has many diverse and varied applications and the photographic retouching industry is likely to grow as a result.

Professional Portraits - What Not to Wear When Getting Your Portrait Taken

Portraiture is a very delicate artistic process. Knowing what to wear and more importantly, what not to wear when having your portrait taken is very important. In this article, we'll cover several things to avoid during your session and helpful tips while preparing for your portrait. By the end of this article, you'll understand how to dress so that you have an amazing portrait in the end.

Keep it Simple

A portrait is a timeless piece of art. It is important to avoid wearing clothing that dictates the time. Trends go in and out of style. Stick to wearing clothing that is classic and simple. Clothing that will be fashionable no matter when the portrait is viewed.

Avoid Distracting Colors and Patterns

Avoid heavy stripes or patterns, as they will distract from portraying the character of the person in the portrait. Also, think carefully about your color choices. Some colors can be distracting. Your photographer can help to guide you in selecting colors that will best enhance your appearance.

Plan Your Clothes

Talk with your photographer to see what kind of backgrounds will be used the day your portrait is taken. If you are taking your photo as a family, it is best to be harmonious in style and color. It's not necessary to all match, but a touch of harmony can add a lot to your portrait. Dark clothing tends to take the focus off the body size, while light clothing tends to do the opposite. Long sleeves tend to look better on adults and older children.

Iron Your Clothes!

Although photos can be retouched afterwards, clothing can't be ironed after a photo is taken! In fact, photography seems to increase the creases on clothing that hasn't been ironed. Iron both your shirt and your pants prior to having your photo taken.

Be Your True Self

Your portrait is a celebration of you. Make sure you don't obscure your true self from coming through by over-applying makeup. Avoid heavy eyeliner in particular. Your makeup should complement the style of the portrait and clothing you're wearing. Jewelery as well, should complement your outfit.

Avoid getting your hair cut only days before having your portrait taken. A fresh haircut can show up on camera. Wait at least 4-5 days for men, 1-2 weeks for women.

Congratulations! You now know how to dress for an amazing portrait session. Remember to talk to your photographer and get his/her professional input before your session to ensure the best portrait possible.

Differences Between Candid Photography and Professional Photographic Portraits

When discussing types of pictures that can be taken by a professional photographer, there are two main types. Candid photography lends a more personal feel to each photo, and captures life as it is happening.

Professional photographic portraits on the other hand, are more about chronicling an event, and preserving it on film in a staged manner. Each method has its own place and time in which it is most appropriate, and the information below will provide you with the main differences between the two styles.

Positioning and Appearance

One of the main differences between candid photography and photographic portraits is in the way they are positioned, and in the way that they appear. Candid photographs are taken on the go when life is happening, and present pictures of an event as it was. Professional photographic portraits however, are staged using sets, props, and a predetermined position. These photographs capture an image and preserve it in the way that it was positioned to look.

The appearance of these two types of photography are quite different, in fact, candid photography can often look like it was not done by a professional at all. It can sweep you away, and remind you of a past event with it easy appearance and candid positioning.

Photographic portraits preserve things in their perfect condition. They allow you to look your best, or capture something or someone in an ideal way.

Often, when somebody goes to a professional photography studio or hires a professional photographer, they will opt to have both forms of photography used. That is because while different, these two styles both have their own merits and value.

Equipment That is Used

Another major difference between candid and photographic photography is the equipment that is used for each. Candid photography is usually done with much lighter weight equipment. There is often no need for a tripod, lights, and certainly not backgrounds or props. It is often done outside with natural backdrops, and usually on the go.

Professional photographic photography is quite different on the other hand. It requires the use of heavy equipment, large tripods, elaborate lighting, props and backgrounds, and often other items as well. The idea behind photographic photography is to make an object or person look their very best, and a variety of measures and tools are used to achieve this.

When They Are Used

When looking for differences between candid and photographic photography is important to explore the difference between when they are both used. For instance, photographic photography is better suited for taking still photos that you wish to look professional and staged. These might be wedding photos, children's photos, family photos, or even pictures for cards or invitations.

Candid photography however, is generally used to capture the action of an event. That is why candid photography is often used to capture wildlife, sporting events, wedding receptions, or even news events.

While each of these photography styles has various times and places that they can be used. It is also possible for them to be used in the same situation at roughly the same time. In the example of a wedding, before hand you may wish to have photographic pictures of the wedding party taken. However, during and after the wedding you may wish for a photographer to use candid photography to capture the action in every moment of the day.

Both candid and professional photographic photography have their benefits and appropriate times to be used. While there are differences in these two styles of photography, they both require the skill of a professional photographer in order to present a beautiful finished product. When you know the differences between these two styles of photography, you can make the choice of which one is best for you.

Olympus SP-565UZ 10MP Digital Camera Review

Olympus has given the SP-570 UZ - the world's most powerful ultra zoom digital camera - an extreme makeover by creating the new SP-565 Ultra Zoom, a smaller and lighter version with the same amazing precision-crafted 20x wide-angle telephoto zoom lens (26-520mm equivalent), but the ease-of-use of a point-and-shoot camera.

Photographers searching for an even more portable and approachable ultra zoom to take anywhere will rejoice in the camera's new form factor, and with 10 million pixels and Dual Image Stabilization delivering superior, virtually blur-free images, the SP-565 UZ is proof that good things do come in small packages.

The camera's enhanced Face Detection can now track up to 16 faces within the frame and optimize exposure even when subjects are moving, ensuring that family reunion group portraits will come out well-focused. In addition, the SP-565 UZ ensures sharp, brilliant images with a host of other features:

Dual Image Stabilization combines the benefits of Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization and Digital Image Stabilization to compensate for both camera shake and moving subjects, helping to create beautiful, virtually blur-free images in any situation;

Shadow Adjustment Technology enables users to preview and capture images as the human eye sees them, compensating for difficult lighting situations and maintaining detail in highlights while improving detail in the shadows to produce more balanced photos; and Perfect Shot Preview takes the guesswork out of great photography by allowing users to preview and select various photographic effects live on the LCD screen, before snapping the shot.

SP-565UZ Highlights

Lightening the Lens Load

Lugging a bag full of lenses can slow traveling photographers down, so the SP-565 UZ comes fully equipped with the equivalent of three lenses in one complete camera. The bright, f2.8-4.5 lens provides the equivalent of 26-520mm focal length with 100x total seamless zoom (5x digital zoom). By using the toggle lever with one finger, users can get close to the action with the versatile yet compact 20x super telephoto zoom, while the wide-angle (26mm) lens captures more of the subject in each frame. Its super-macro capabilities capture the subtlest details from as close as one centimeter. The compact lens construction combines aspherical and extra-dispersion (ED) lens elements to deliver edge-to-edge sharpness and clarity. Whether you're hiking through the mountains or shooting a tennis match, this sturdy compact body with wide-angle and telephoto lenses provide the versatility to get the job done.

Dual Image Stabilization

Dual Image Stabilization enables users to take crisp, clear pictures in virtually any shooting situation - adjusting for camera shake and a moving subject. Olympus' mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization keeps images sharp by adjusting the CCD to compensate for camera shake, which often occurs when zooming in on your subject and in low-light conditions when shutter speeds are slower. Digital Image Stabilization freezes the action with high ISO sensitivity and fast shutter speeds that help to prevent blur caused by a moving subject.

Face Detection

Face Detection tracks up to 16 faces within the frame and automatically focuses (Face Detection AF) and optimizes exposure (Face Detection AE) quickly for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures. Now, your subject's face is in focus whether it is in the center of the target area or not.

Manual Controls

The Manual, Aperture Priority and Shutter Speed Priority modes give users versatility and control for optimal performance in any situation. Users can express their creative vision - adjusting the f-stop for detailed portraits with softened backgrounds, or slowing the exposure speed to create the blurred effect of motion, or just sit back and let the camera do the thinking through the use of the automatic settings.

High-Speed Sequential Shooting and Pre-Capture

The SP-565 UZ is capable of capturing images at an incredible 13.5 frames per second (with a reduced image size of 3 megapixels). The inclusion of Pre-Capture technology, which works in conjunction with High-Speed Sequential Shooting, enables users to capture the action before and after fully pressing the shutter button. Pre-Capture begins working as soon as the focus is locked, automatically archiving 10 frames in the camera's buffer memory prior to the shutter release - virtually guaranteeing that none of the action will be missed even if the user's reaction time is slow. Perfect for situations where timing is essential, such as photographing a tennis player serving, children playing or a whale breaching.

Shadow Adjustment Technology

Shooting outdoors in bright daylight can be tricky because of the extreme contrast between dark shadowed areas and bright sunlight areas. While the human eye is capable of detecting the nuances between dark and light and all the details in between, image sensors traditionally have not been quite as sensitive. The SP-565 UZ addresses this challenge head-on with a new Shadow Adjustment Technology, which compensates for extreme contrast where the shadow areas are underexposed and lack visible detail. With the new technology, users can preview and capture images that have the same contrast as seen with the naked eye.

Perfect Shot Preview

The SP-565 UZ features a Perfect Shot Preview mode that enables users to preview and select various photographic effects (such as zoom, exposure compensation, white balance and metering) on a live, multi-window screen before snapping the shot. Perfect Shot Preview enables users to see precisely what the image will look like when adjustments are made, ensuring users are capturing the exact image they want. It is an ideal way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques.

Perfect Fix In-Camera Editing

Olympus' Perfect Fix feature offers quick solutions for unanticipated image quality issues, which may be caused by several adverse conditions. Lighting Fix can be used to adjust any underexposed areas and Red-Eye Fix can be used to reduce the effects of red-eye sometimes caused by a direct flash. Additional in-camera editing functions can be quickly accessed right in the camera by the touch of a button; features available include resizing, trimming, black and white, and sepia.

TruePic III Image Processor

Olympus' enhanced TruePic III Image Processor produces crystal clear photos using all the pixel information for each image to deliver superior picture quality with more accurate colors, true-to-life flesh tones and faster processing speeds. TruePic III also captures sharp images at high ISO settings, which are traditionally associated with increasing image noise or producing grainy photos.

33 Shooting Modes Including Multi-Fireworks

The SP-565 UZ makes it easy to take great photos in a variety of scenarios and lighting situations with 33 shooting modes, including a Multi-Fireworks mode. To capture the most stunning fireworks displays, this multi-exposure feature overlays the fireworks to create the memory of a lifetime. To activate any of the camera's pre-set modes, simply select the desired mode for portraits, landscapes, night scenes, fast-action and more.

Versatile Memory

All Olympus digital point-and-shoot cameras accept xD-Picture Card media. The SP-565 UZ will also come equipped with an adapter, which will enable microSD memory cards to be used when capturing images. The microSD cards are emerging in consumer electronic devices, including mobile phones and PDAs. Users can also easily display photos on their HDTVs.

Olympus Master 2 Software

Olympus Master 2 software provides the ultimate in digital imaging management. An intuitive user interface makes downloading to your computer quick and simple, and images are easily organized by folders or albums and searchable by date in Calendar view. Also, with one-click editing tools, such as red-eye removal, images can be touched up before printing or e-mailing. Online support, templates, firmware upgrades and other user services are just a mouse-click away. Use the optional muvee Theater Pack to create professional quality slide shows and DVDs from your pictures using any of several built-in templates.

Collecting Stamps From All Over The Place

Believe it or not, the first stamp was issued in England on the 6th of May, in the year 1840. Since then, the issuance of stamps grew in all countries and the collection of stamps have also increased, and there is no stopping it. And because the number of stamps have grown in leaps and bounds - for the sake of convenience - collectors have limited themselves into single country collecting.

Multiple country collecting

Collecting stamps from one country compared to collecting stamps from various nations is better as there is a lot more time and effort to have access to more stamps locally than internationally.

For instance, it is a bit difficult to complete an Austrian stamp collection because of its rarity and only a few stamps are ever available. The easiest and probably the most famous stamp to collect are those that come from one's own country.

However it all depends on your own preference. For instance, stamps from Austria began to be collected through a specific motif that a particular stamp or group of stamps have. An example would be the collection of stamps as according to the pictures they have, such as flowers, dogs, trains, paintings, ships, buildings, weapons or women.

However, a beginning stamp collector or those that intend to collect on an average basis may do well to start gathering stamps from their own country.

Stamps that are issued fresh hot of the post are very affordable. Believe it or not, stamps that have just been released may be bought with no additional charge from any postal office right on the day of its issuance.

Beautiful US stamps about beautiful US

If you are willing to collect stamps about the beautiful country that is the US of A, there are a set of stamps out there which showcase such. The Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, for instance are shown in the stamp issued by the United States Postal Service. The stamp that costs a mere seventy-five cents shows the Great Smokey Mountain during sunset as photographed by David Muench from California, specifically in Santa Barbara.

The breathtaking picture view also has portions of Tennessee and North Carolina. This national park is best known for its diverse plant life as well as animal life as one will definitely see when he hikes along its eight hundred mile trail.

Another beautiful US landmark that has been immortalized in a stamp is the Yosemite National Park. The stamp costs eight-four US cents and it features a picture of the valley gates of the Yosemite as photographed by Galen Rowell of California, specifically Emervville.

If you are a nature lover, or even if you are not, collecting the stamp will most probably make you one.

Yosemite park was established as such on the first of October in the year 1890. the park boasts of a variety of natural features and geographical wonders such as meadows that stretch as far as the eye can see, lakes, waterfalls, sequoias and monoliths that are made out of granite. These granites are called half Dome and El Capitan.

Believe it or not, Yosemite has been designated as ninety five percent authentic wilderness. Another US treasure found on a sixty three cent stamp is Utah's Bryce Canyon. These stamps are all part of the Scenic Landscapes in America released by the US Postal Service.

The canyon is beautifully photographed by Tom Till from the city of Moab, Utah. Thanks to erosion, the Utah landscape developed spires now called as whimsical-looking hoodoos. Bryce Canyon was recognized nationally as a monument in 1923.

America's crops

Believe it or not, the crops grown in America are also featured in US stamps. The following crops has been featured, beans, corn, squashes, chili peppers, sunflowers.

An artist named Steve Buchanan designed five of the stamps through the slides photographed by his wife. Other crops featured were corn ears, chilies (both the red and green type), lima beans, pintos, squash, pintos, seeds and sunflowers. All in all, collecting stamps is a worthwhile activity that anyone who has the perseverance, patience and passion to pursue could. All it takes is a good eye for detail and a liking for anything and everything literally small.

Vintage travel posters - a must-have for the travel enthusiasts

The vintage travel posters are a great way to remember the time which has gone by and also to capture the moment and to preserve it forever. A vintage travel poster is like a medium through which you get to have a look at those places which you cannot visit in reality. The travel vintage posters also remind us of the places that we or any of our loved ones might have visited in the past.

Apart form these aspects the vintage travel posters give us an insight of the lifestyle, art form, fashion and the history of the bygone era.

The vintage travel posters can be classified according to places as well. So be it about a place of your choice in France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Britain or Italy – a vintage travel poster works as a perfect memorabilia of the exquisite beauty of it.

Some essential briefs of the artistic specialties of posters made in Italy, Switzerland and France:

Some of the most popular forms of the Italian vintage travel posters are from the Art Deco and the Art Nouveau art era. The most famous artists who created the Italian vintage poster are Depro, Terzi, Seneca, Lenhart, Laskoff and many more.

A Swiss vintage travel poster highly resembles the French and German posters but the one thing which sets it apart from others is the beautiful display of natural beauty of Switzerland. The Swiss posters display a sense of humor along with some fascinating graphic designs. Some of the noted Swiss artists are namely, Tissi, Matter, Brun, Troxler and Hofmann.

A French vintage poster fills life to a dull wall with its classic masterpieces. France is considered to be the birth place of the travel vintage posters and it boasts of some of the most incredible pieces such as the Maitres de l'Affiche. France is known to produce some of the most remarkable artists who are the creators of some of the most precious masterpieces. These creators include Pal, Gruau, Cheret, Mucha, Grun, and Colin. Some of the posters have shown the map of the region, architectural landmarks or the railroad system. You can also own a piece of the travel vintage poster and virtually travel across the world.

Making That Perfect Arts And Crafts Dream Catcher

Being bothered by nightmares? Native Americans believe that bad dreams can become caught in the web of a dream catcher and destroyed in the morning light. Dream catchers are so beautiful and artistic that they have become one of the most popular mass marketed arts and crafts available. However, these lovely pieces can be made at home. In this article, we'll demonstrate how to make a dream catcher yourself.

Dream catchers were originally made out of willow, sage and deer sinew. Modern dream catchers are made with wood or metal wrapped in leather strips and artificial sinew. The decoration of the web along with the shape, size and colors used is left to the artistic tastes of the individual.

Feathers attached to the dream catcher are meant to assist the flight of good dreams. Although selecting the materials is usually a matter of preference, typically to make a dream catcher you will need about 7 feet of thin suede, glue, a 6 inch metal or wooden ring, waxed nylon string, 12-16 pony beads, 12-16 feathers, scissors and a clothes pin. The colors of the beads and feathers can be any you choose.

The most difficult thing about the arts and crafts project of making dream catchers is making the web. Once you have covered the hoop with leather or suede and the glue has dried completely, tie a long strand of sinew or another piece of suede onto the hoop with a secure knot.

Carefully work your way around the hoop making a slip stitch at about every inch, or inch and a half. Ideally, the spaces should be uniform but don't worry if they are not perfect. Once you get back to the top, slip stitch into the first loop that you made and repeat the process until you have just a small hole in the center. If you want to make your dream catcher more decorative, you can slip beads onto the web as you go. Tie a knot at the end and cut off any excess material.

To make the loop to hang your Dream Catcher, use a 12" piece of suede lacing. Fold it in half and tie a knot in the open end. At the top of the ring, attach the lacing and slip the loop end through the ring and then around the ring and over the knot. Pull the lacing tight to secure it in place.

To make the hanging sections, cut three 8" pieces of suede. Tie two 8" pieces of suede lacing about one third of the way up each side of the ring using a double knot. Slip 3 colored pony beads onto each piece of lacing and secure with a knot. Tie the last 8" piece of lacing to the top middle of the ring. Slip three pony beads onto each piece of lacing. Finally, push two feathers up inside the beads on each piece of lacing.

Arts and crafts make wonderful presents and a homemade dream catcher is an especially thoughtful present. It make take some practice to get the weaving right, but the effort is worth it.

As you get more experience with the craft of making dream catchers, you can experiment with different colors of suede and leather, beads, feathers and ring sizes. As with all of the artistic craft projects you may undertake, no two pieces need to look the same.