The Beginners guide to camera accessories, what the salesman doesnt want you to know.

Have you ever wondered if that really cheesy salesman trying to persuade you to buy that 50” TV, when all you want to buy is a camera, is really working for your best interests? He will tell you that you can connect the camera to the Television and your pictures will be enhanced and
the photographs you produce using the £600 camera will not be the same without the HD ready digital LCD 1080p 100hz television and it all sounds like such gibberish that you end up walking out before buying the camera you so badly wanted to buy. Well this is what the salesman doesn’t tell you! Ok so you probably already guessed that you definitely don’t need that extra large and over the top spec television but I thought I should just clarify just in case… you definitely don’t need that television. You may be wondering ‘how does she know so much about this?’ well let’s just say I have been that saleswomen. When the salesman/women has finished selling you the camera they will start off with the ‘essentials’ these will probably consist of batteries if it’s a Nikon coolpixs that’s takes AA alkaline, the case, the tripod, the MEMORY CARD! A lot of people don’t realise how important or how unimportant these things can be to your camera. Firstly one very important thing when buying a new camera that needs AA batteries is not get the cheap ones from somewhere like Tesco’s or Wal-Mart, I know there cheap and might be within your budget but if you want your camera to last more than 4 shots at a time then rechargeable batteries and a recharger are a must! If you prefer buying cameras with lithium rechargeable batteries in the box and you’re wondering whether you should buy a spare battery I would suggest waiting a few months while you play with your new camera, because let’s face it you’re just going to want to shoot anything. In the situation where you’re going away for a week and you don’t think you’re going to be able to charge the battery because your camping or you’re going to the Amazon rainforest then I would suggest investing in a spare battery, the worst thing that can happen is getting to the middle of your trip and your battery dies because you have become a little too trigger happy with all the excitement of your new surroundings. Spare batteries can range from around £30 - £100 depending on the camera you own so do some research online as you may just come across a bargain. Memory cardsThe memory card is probably the only thing you will need apart from the camera and lens its self. As Nikon cameras only have bout 64mb of built in memory you will need a memory card almost immediately after you purchase your camera but what the salesman doesn’t tell you is that you can find these memory cards A LOT cheaper on the internet. Now although this is cheaper way, some of you may not find this the most desirable way to buy things but it can save you a lot of money which you can spend on other things for you camera. When buying online always check that the site is secured.There are many different card types and nearly every day when I was working in the electrical store a customer would always come back after buying a camera the day before because they told the sales man they already had a memory card at home and yes they probably did but it didn’t fit their new camera. This is a common mistake so make sure you know what cards you have got and what card your new camera uses as you don’t want to be disappointed when you get home and you can only take 7 shots.Some DSLR’s take compact flash and others take SD (secured digital) These are exactly the same in almost every way apart from compact flash is a bit quicker than an SD, but Lexar now supply an SD which is 60x speed so which ever camera you own you can have a high speed card if that is what you desire. Cameras like the D40, D40X, D80 and the D60 will be compatible with SDHC (Secured digital high capacity cards) these can be more expensive but more useful and economical in the long run. They are high picture capacity cards they only come in 4GB or above and will save you having to carry 40 memory cards around with you, which will reduce the risk of you losing your cards therefore losing your photos. SDHC cards will be found cheaper on a website like Amazon and eBay but make sure you’re buying from a well known and reliable seller.As you all probably know the card is extremely important when buying a camera so always budget for a memory card as well, add around £10 - £50 for the expense of this depending on what type of camera you are buying.

London Fashion week 2009

In february this year hundreds of designers took the stage at the Natural History Museum, London for the 2009 london fashion week. The event was very successful and saw 307 well known and undiscovered fashion designers. In 1993 the British Fashion council (BFC) launched NEWGEN, a sponsorship scheme to support new fashion designers developing and train up and coming talent. Recipients of the NEWGEN recieve sponsorship each season. Now sponsored by Topshop, the schemes aims to sponsor for three consecutive seasons. Recipients of Exhibition support receive a free stand at the London Fashion Week exhibition.

NEWGEN has helped launch the careers of some of Britain's top designers, including Alexander McQueen, Clements Ribeiro, Matthew Williamson, Julien Macdonald and Sophia Kokosalaki.

Here are the winners from 2009 London Fashon Week

Ready to wear on the catwalk:

DANIELLE SCUTT

LOUISE GOLDIN

PETER PILOTTO

HOUSE OF HOLLAND

MARK FAST

MARY KATRANTZOU

MEADHAM KICHHOTT

NASIR MAZHAR

Ready to wear at the Exhibition:

COOPERATIVE DESIGNS

CRAIG LAWRENCE

DAVID DAVID

EMILIO D LA MORENO

FELDER.FELDER

HANNAH MARSHALL

HOUSE OF HOLLAND

KOKON TO ZAI (KTZ)

KRYSTOF STROZYNA

LOUISE GRAY

MARK FAST

MEADHAM KIRCHOFF

PETER PILOTTO

MARY KATANTZOU

Accessories at the Exhibition:

ANNA VINCE

BORBA MARGO

FRED BUTLER

NICHOLAS KIRKWOOD

Here ar some Highlights from TopShop Mens wear collection

Orangespine previously Watch this Space formed in November 2005. Watch this space started as a three peice band, rehearsing in the local hall. Now a five piece they are on there way to performing on the main stage at Lounge on the Farm this year!
The first and original members of Watch this Space have been persevering for nearly four years, the trio are Jacob Searle, Josh Page, and Tom Taylor. The three started rehearsing in the community hall in Rough common and Jacobs garage and are now performing in numerous venues across Kent.
Their first gig was performed in Rough Common Hall supporting a band called Vincent Filth.
The three then become four in the beginning of 2008 when Toby Holden joined them as their new lead singer. In 2008 Watch this Space started hitting the loacl music scene in Kent first performing in the Down Town Dinner in Ashford, they become popular and starting gaining more gigs in and around Canterbury. Watch this Space then became a 5 membered band when Mike Malyon joined as their lead guitarist. Watch this Space became Orangespine just a few months ago and deffinatly havnt lost their fan base with the change. The guys are currently pursuing there ambition of performing at the Canterbury music festival Lounge on the farm's main stage. Now gigging around Kent, the current members of Orangespine are Max Saunders, Lead Vocals, Jacob Searle, Rhythum Guitar, Josh Page, Bass Guitar Mike Malyon, lead Guitarist and Tom Taylor, Drums.

Josh, Orangespines Bass guitarist agreed to be interviewed.
Carolyn - Do you have nicknames for eachother?
Josh - we often call tom Mr.Grumpy from Mr.Men cos he has a t-shirt of that character that he wears a lot and is often very grumpy, for the rest of us not really no
C - Why change the bands name? Weren't you afraid this would lose you the network you had spent so long building?
J - Watch this space was never a name that we planned to keep forever, it was more a name we landed on cos we needed a name, as time wore on it occurred to us that this name was very unprofessional and we felt we needed a name was unique.
C - Who are the bands main influences?
J - The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Radiohead, Incubus,Smashing Pumpkins, Paramore and Athlete.
C - Where do you see the band in 5 years time?
J - I think if we really work hard we could possibly be at least playing Reading and will have at least 2-3 full length albums out, that might be a little ambitious but something that has always been very high in this band is our self belief, something that we have got from each other, ourselves and our friends and family.

C - Thank you Josh.
J - Thank very much

Orangespine's dream of performing on the Main stage at Lounge on the Farm can't happen without your votes! So VOTE for them now @ LOTF - Orangespine

Is this art?

Can a simple photograph of a simple tree be art? I asked 20 people if they thought this was an art form. The results were interesting. Out of 20 people 40% believed that this was not art, higher than I had expected. Josh Page from Canterbury said "I just think there is nothing arty about it, it's a photo anyone could take it" Josh himself is an artist of music, so I asked him, being an artist yourself... through your music, do you not think that with enough practice anyone could do what you do? He replied, "Yes I do think with enough practice anyone could do what I do, but no artist will ever be the same, every person will have different ideas, influences, methods etc, and its very much a life of luck as well as talent, there is a difference between being able to play a musical instrument and a real artist, that's really what defines it at the end of the day" Josh Page plays Bass guitar for Orangespine.
60% of the people I asked said that the photograph was art, James harding said "It's an artistic representation of a tree, not just an image of a tree captured against its literal background. it doesn't confer just the mundane form of a tree, but rather the viewer can infer from the image a sense of beauty. In this way, the photographer has personified the tree - that's what art is all about."
Art is interpreted differently by every individual, this simple photograph of a tree is deffiantly art to me because wes4130 the photographer used a lot of camera and editing skills to get the exact image they were looking for, this photograph is art to the artist I guess it doesnt matter if no one else sees the art in it. What do you think?

Marlowe Dreams become reality

2011 will see the beginning of a new and exciting theatre experience in Canterbury. The Plans for the new look theatre were started about 4 years ago and finally the work has begun. The Theatre closed down just after the christamas pantomime Snow White and the seven dwarfs that saw actors such as Emma Barton who played Honey in Eastenders.

Built on its existing but extended site in the heart of Canterbury, the New Marlowe Theatre will give Kent the world-class theatre that it deserves, bringing audiences state-of-the-art facilities housed in a stunning contemporary riverside building.

The larger theatre will seat 1,200 people in the main auditorium; the new building will also have a second auditorium, which will host community projects and educational workshops helping support new talent across the region. The theatre will also be a venue for children’s daytime theatre events.


Please visit the new Marlowe theatre website for more information!
http://www.newmarlowetheatre.org.uk/

Blast is a BBC network for artistic and creative teenagers to showcase their art, fashion, music, games, writing, film and dance. Blast also offer free workshops all over the country for young budding artists. The gallery hosts a number of different art forms including film and music here is a look at some of the young artists work.

Cosmos by cubesquared


Blue prom dress by Khara

The Blast website also features many 'How to' videos, including 'how to create comedy'.

Please visit the BBC Blast website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blast/ and get creative.

Meppol

Mary from Bologna, Italy has been a member of Deviant art since December 17 2007 and already she has become a very popular member! Known as Meppol on the popular art website she produces photography of a very conceptual nature, at the speed of light! Meppol was probed and she spilled the answers to my questions!

Boys love chicks

How long have you been practicing photography?
3 years

Are there any photographers/artists that have influenced you?
No, I am totally self-taught. I read a lot of tutorials, magazines, see a lot of photos and try to learn by everything I see.

My favourite pieces of your work are I need a recharge, Xmas Twilight, Love sucks and gelato di nuvola . What photographs are you most proud of?
The ones with my children.

How do you get your children to model so well? Bribes? Hehe

They think it is normal to pose, poor little children, because they always did it since they were born, I'm joking, they are great models but I try to make it a play and don't annoy them.

How old are both your children?
5 the girl, 3 the boy

Which piece took you the longest amount of time to produce?
A spring gift, the daisy wasn't really collaborative. And also "catch me if you can": really A LOT of attempts.

You have been a member of deviant art for a little over a year and you are already very popular with over 170,000 page views. How do you find the time to produce 126 photographs along with looking after two small children in such a small space of time?
During the week end, I also work, you know? I'm ophthalmologist and this is what I do to live. I take photos only as a hobby.



Do you work certain hours each day or only when you are inspired to work?
Only when I am inspired

Where do you do your work?
Mostly at home, with everyday things.

Why is your work so conceptual?
Because I am a working mum without spare time and no possibility to get models or to travel so I have to work with the things that I find around me.

Does any of your work have a deeper meaning?
My style is intentionally light and positive because this is what I search and need when I take photos.

Just a few more light hearted questions –
Favourite colour? white
Favourite Music? punk rock!
Favourite actor/actress? Robert De Niro

Thank again Mary!

It's a pleasure and sorry for the really bad english.
Mary

Please visit

Meppol @ Deviant Art

for a full look at her amazing gallery!