Courtesy: The Glendale Public Library

testing the caption feature in WP

Photography is one of the most popular hobbies and professions in the world. There is nothing like capturing fragments of reality and preserving it on film. There are many kinds of photography, but one of the most in-demand is portrait photography.

There are lots of factors that photography enthusiasts need to know in capturing the perfect portrait.

1. Revelation of the subject’s character
For a portrait to be considered good, it must capture at least one element that shows the features and traits of the subject as well as one that captures his or her individuality. The image must reveal an important part of the subject’s character that can be identifiable by those who know them. Therefore, it is quite challenging for a portrait to show the character of his subject if they have only met for the first time.

2. The right moment to take pictures
Definitely, the photo shoot should start when the subject is comfortable and at ease with his or her appearance and surroundings. Never shoot if the subject is tense or uneasy, because it will reflect in the pictures. There is no rule that says a conversation should stop when shooting starts, it can still continue especially if it makes the subject open up more to the photographer.

Remember that the subject does not need to smile to make the portrait look good. Oftentimes, a thoughtful or a serious expression is preferred since it reveals more of the subject’s character.

3. Preparedness of the photographer
This is important since it is the photographer who takes control of a photo session. The subject must feel that the person behind the camera knows what he’s doing and is experienced enough to tell the subject how to pose. The photographer himself must be prepared and relaxed throughout the session.

4. Right kind of lighting
Probably the best light that can be used for capturing the personality of the subject is natural daylight. The variety of lighting choices brought about by outdoor conditions gives more creative leeway for the photographer. Having the subject sit near the window can also produce great effects.

The only disadvantage of natural light is that it’s not always consistent. This is the reason all photographers must utilize artificial lighting. All photographers must have studio flashes. Also, the position of the photographer in relation to the subject can also be shifted in order to maximize the light available.

5. Appropriate background
Simply put, a bad background can destroy a picture. Always pay close attention on the scenery behind the subject when framing shots. There are many creative options that be used when shooting outdoors. The subject can be made to pose beside or in front of colorful flowers or leaves, the sea or the sky. To reduce the effect of a distracting background, a photographer can make use of long lenses or an expansive aperture. For indoors, one can use black or grey cloth for the background, then adding colored transparent plastics over the flashes to modify color.

6. Usage of costumes and props
Portraits usually are a rare photograph of a subject, and good costumes can make the portrait more interesting and valuable. You don’t always need to use a full costume, sometimes a hint of it will make wonders, such as hats or scarves. Props should be used very carefully, and should not distract from the main subject of the photograph. A prop should establish the natural pose and mood of the one being photographed.

7. Framing
The kind of framing can already create the image desired by the photographer. It is recommended that photos be cropped before shooting. The image should be checked a few seconds before clicking the shutter. Images that are not needed should be excluded from the shot.

Explore India Information Session:

Tuesday, November 17th
6 - 7 pm at Livin' Art, 1130 Mission Street, South Pasadena, CA 91030
7 to 9pm at Carrow's, at the corner of Fremont & Mission, next to Livin' Art.

The trip description alone makes me giddy:

“Experience India’s Golden Triangle on this exotic nine-day all-inclusive tour. Delight in Delhi, India’s bustling capital city. Discover Old Delhi, the seventeenth-century walled city of Shahjahanabad. Enjoy the unique experience of riding a caparisoned elephant from the foothills to the ramparts of the ancient Amber Fort. Then it’s on to the city of Jaipur, which is steeped in heritage, picturesque with exquisite architecture and vibrant with heroic lore and romance. You’ll see City Palace, which is characterized by balconies, tiny windows, cupolas, courtyards and arched entryways. On your drive to Agra, you will stop en route to visit the abandoned Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri. This amazing city, a masterpiece of Muslim, Hindu and Jain architecture, was built by Akbar the Great in the sixteenth century. As you continue overland to Agra, you’ll approach the one and only Taj Mahal. magnificent monument to the memory of love, the Taj Mahal. On your return to Delhi you’ll visit the Tomb of Emperor Akbar. Here’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip at a terrific rate!”

Here’s what the price includes:

• International Airfare from Los Angeles
• Twin room accommodation inclusive of tax and service charge as applicable
• Daily Breakfast
• Transfers inclusive of baggage handling and baggage handling
• Sightseeing tours as listed with a Licensed English speaking guide
• Entrance fee to the monuments
• Elephant Ride at Amber Fort
• Sunset visit to Taj Mahal
• Assistance by knowledgeable Representative at airports and hotels
• Transport services by private air-conditioned Coach
• Bottles water during transfers, tours and drives

For detailed information, please visit www.southpasadena.net. I’ll see you at the informational meeting!

Here’s the scoop from the Heritage Square Musuem:

Saturday, October 24

(12 – 4 pm)

Guests are invited to bring a picnic, blankets, chairs, and candy while enjoying classic scary movies at Heritage Square… if they dare. The scheduled features include The Unknown, a silent horror movie made in 1927 starring Lon Chaney and Joan Crawford, and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, a comedy directed by Charles Barton, starring Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi and Glenn Strange. Guests are encouraged to wear warm clothing. Beverages and popcorn will be available for purchase. Admission to the Sixth Annual Halloween and Mourning Movie Night is free for Museum members and $10.00 for the general public. The gates will open at 7 p.m. for picnics with the show starting at dusk.

Sunday, October 25

(12 – 4 pm)

The Halloween and Mourning Tours program is more family friendly. Children ages 2 to 12 may come play period games, make 19^th century harvest crafts, choose a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch (while supplies last), and listen to spooky stories in the Ford House by the San Gabriel Valley Storytellers. Admission prices are $10.00 for Adults, $8.00 for Seniors over 65, $5.00 for Children 6 to 12 years, and free for children under 6 and Museum members Halloween and Mourning Movie Night

About Heritage Square Museum

A living history museum reflecting the settlement and development of Southern California from the Civil War to the early 20th Century, Heritage Square Museum offers visitors a look into the everyday lives of Southern Californians at the close of the 19th Century. The eight historic structures located at the museum, constructed during the Victorian Era, were saved from demolition and serve as a perfect background to educate the public about Southern California's early development. From the simplicity of the Octagon House to the opulence of the Perry Mansion, the Museum provides a unique look at the lifestyles of the people who contributed so much to the development of modern Los Angeles.

Heritage Square Museum is located at 3800 Homer Street, Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.heritagesquare.org

Photo Courtesy of Heritage Square Museum

Many, many artists will be performing at “We Are One!” including America’s Best Dance Crew champions. The Quest Crew website has even more info:

America’s Best Dance Crew champions QUESTCREW (Season 3) and WE ARE HEROES (newly crowned champions of Season 4) will be on hand as well as Tony Award winning singer and actress LEA SALONGA, to perform a couple of songs.

“So many artists contacted me when typhoon Ondoy hit asking if they could be a part of a benefit to raise monies for disaster relief,” said producer/director Ted Benito, “that the response from our Filipino and Filipino-American talent has been overwhelming. Thank goodness there have been and will continue to be many benefits and fundraisers for our talent to participate. Everyone has been so giving of their time and talent and Lea Salonga was so kind and gracious to take time from her current tour to be with us that evening.”

Tickets will be available at the ALEX THEATRE BOX OFFICE on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16 by calling 818-243-2539 , by visiting their website at WWW.ALEXTHEATRE.ORG or by visiting the Alex Theatre Box Office (Wednesdays through Sundays at 216 North Brand Boulevard, Glendale, California 91203). Mastercard, Visa and AmEx cards welcome. Additional tickets and information as well as reservations are available by calling the “We Are One!” ticket hotline at 818-433-6711.

For more details, click here.

Photo Courtesy of Quest Crew

“Control and profit are at the heart of the issue,” said Sam Saghatelian, curator of the exhibition and himself an artist, in a recent press release. “No thinking person today would argue against efforts to discourage harmful behaviors such as tobacco and alcohol addiction. Yet what’s glaringly lacking in political discourse is a serious examination of who stands to gain, in terms of power and profit, from various regulatory measures or prohibitions and why.”

Saghatelian said that “When Smoking Was Cool” also broaches the moral ambivalence and hypocrisy of punishing a particular segment of society – e.g., users of tobacco and alcohol products – in the name of public health. He explained: “Shouldn’t we tax golf courses? After all, their maintenance takes up an enormous amount of electricity and water, contributing to the depletion of natural resources and global warming, which in turn impact the health of the public. Or how about taxing the beef industry, whose practices are a top contributor to climate change, not to mention obesity and heart disease? But nobody would dare suggest taxing the powerful beef industry – yet. As for taxing golf courses, the idea would just be dismissed as laughable”.

“Instead, local governments and Washington alike can and do raise taxes on tobacco almost at will, since smokers as a demographic have been so thoroughly vilified that they themselves wouldn’t think of protesting disproportionate taxation. The point is that governments and corporate interests often single out targets for the legislation of social behavior because it’s politically and financially expedient to do so, and not necessarily for the wellbeing of the public as they claim. ‘When Smoking Was Cool’ sheds light on these issues to its hearts’ content, with a lot of humor and irony.”

For more information on this exhibit, visit www.blackmariagallery.com

Image Courtesy of Black Maria Gallery

Harry Chandler’s

The rules:

We are looking for the next generation of California Dreamers who have made a difference. Submit your nomination here by writing a short description (no more than 120 words). You can also include a photo, if you wish.

Be creative in your choice of dreamers – they can be friends, relatives, neighborhood figures, celebrities – anyone you like, as long as they have played some part in the life of Los Angeles.  Tell us why these people are so special.  What were their dreams?  How have those dreams affected you, your family, your neighborhood, or Southern California.

The top three “Dreamers who have made a Difference” will be determined by a panel made up of Autry National Center representatives and the winners will be announced on January 1, 2010.

• First Prize: $100 gift certificate to The Grove
• Second Prize: $50 gift certificate to The Grove
• Third Prize: $50 gift certificate to The Grove.

Click here for the contest entry form.

About the Autry

The Autry National Center celebrates the American West through three important institutions: the Museum of the American West, the Southwest Museum of the American Indian, and the Institute for the Study of the American West. The Autry was established in 2003 following the merger of the Southwest Museum, the Women of the West Museum , and the Museum of the American West (formerly the Autry Museum of Western Heritage). Through innovative exhibitions, a broad range of programs and extensive collection of art and artifacts, the Autry National Center explores the distinct stories and interactions of cultures and peoples, and their impact on the complex, evolving history of the American West.

To learn more about the Autry, visit www.autrynationalcenter.org. And don’t forget to nominate your favorite L.A. dreamer!

Photo Courtesy of the Autry National Center

A flash flood warning may be issued for areas impacted by the recent fires. Residents in these areas should stay tuned to the latest weather forecasts as the storm moves closer to the area, and be prepared to evacuate immediately if requested to do so.

More information from a recent press release:

In response to the severe storm warning issued by the National Weather Service, the City of Glendale has stepped up preparations to mitigate flooding and property damage in the burn areas. Residents in these areas are urged to visit the City’s website at www.ci.glendale.ca.us for information on how they can best protect their own property. Empty sandbags are available for Glendale residents at all Glendale Fire Stations and at the following locations:

• Residents in the Station Fire Burn area: Sandbags may be picked up at Dunsmore Park, 4700 Dunsmore Ave.
• Residents in the East Glenoaks Canyon area: Sandbags may be picked up at the corner of Glen Ivy and Waltonia.

A flash flood warning may be issued in the burn areas. Residents in these locations should stay tuned to weather forecasts as the storm approaches. Should an emergency be declared, information on evacuation routes and shelters will become available on the City’s website, www.ci.glendale.ca.us, the City’s government access channel GTV6, or by calling the City’s Hotline at (818) 548-6464. The City’s Emergency Information Center (EIC), (818) 548-3301, will also be manned during an emergency declaration.

Photo Courtesy of Glendale Parks and Recreation

Starmometer reports:

Even with the sterling success of the film, Governor Santos and the stars were thinking of the victims of Typhoon Ondoy that devastated the Philippines. She asked for donations from the moviegoers to help her province of Batangas in its rehabilitation and clean-up efforts. ABS-CBN International’s Starry Starry Store donated a dollar each for every premiere ticket sold in San Francisco and New Jersey. Governor Santos also sought donations during the premiere of In My Life in Canada.

“These sold-out premieres clearly demonstrate that the Filipinos in the U.S. have fully embraced the return of the best of Philippine cinema to the big screen,” said Kerwin Du, ABS-CBN North America’s head of theatricals. “They relish the experience of watching quality films where they belong – the movie theater. They are enthusiastic about seeing their favorite stars in person. For us in ABS-CBN, we are gratified to be able to give our kapamilya what they want wherever they are: the best in Philippine entertainment.”

To read the full review, click here.

In My Life is now on its regular theatrical run in the following cities:

SAN DIEGO (October 2-15)
UA Horton Plaza
475 Horton Plaza
San Diego, CA 92101

JERSEY CITY (October 9-15)
AMC Loews Newport Center
30 Mall Drive West
Jersey City, NJ 07310

LOS ANGELES-CERRITOS (October 9-15)
Cerritos Stadium Cinema
12761 Towne Center Drive
Cerritos, CA 90701

For information on the abovementioned theaters, please call 800.227.9676.

NEW YORK (October 20-22)
The ImaginAsian Theater
239 E 59th St
New York, NY 10022
212.417.0419

CHICAGO (October 23-29)
The Pickwick Theatre 1
17 South Prospect Avenue
Park Ridge, IL 60068
708.316.8780/847.863.2212
www.palabaspinoy.com

For more information, please visit www.abs-cbnglobalmovies.com.

Photo Courtesy of Alex Theatre

Free In-N-Out Burger for Kids

From October 10 – Nov 21, Altadena Libraries are offering a Food For Thought program. Children ages 4-12 must check out and read five books from the library, and in return will receive a certificate for a free hamburger or cheeseburger from In-N-Out! Click here for more info.

Exchange Gently Worn Boots for a 10% Discount

Shoppers who donate a pair of gently worn boots to Bakers shoe stores will receive a 10% discount off a new pair of boots.The promotion is good from Oct. 4 through Oct. 13. All 222 Bakers stores will donate boots collected from customers to shoe charity Soles4Souls.

"Forgotten shoes just sitting in closets all over the United States are someone else’s dream come true," said Peter Edison, chief executive of Bakers Footwear Group. Thanks to California Consumer for the info.

Give a Day. Get a Disney Day.

On September 29th, Disney announced their newest program where guests can obtain a free one-day park ticket to Walt Disney World or Disneyland by performing volunteer service.  With this program, Disney is hoping to inspire individuals and families to volunteer in their community, and they are giving a free one-day admission ticket to one million people who perform volunteer service with a participating organization.  The volunteer opportunities are coordinated by HandsOn Network, and includes more than 70,000 nonprofit, school and community-based organizations.  Many of the activities provide opportunities for families to volunteer together.

In order to take advantage of this offer you need to pre-register and sign up for an eligible volunteer opportunity at disneyparks.com.  Next, complete the volunteer activity selected, and have the day of service verified by HandsOn Network.  Once verified, you will receive an e-mail from Disney Parks with instructions for how to print a one-day one-park ticket voucher to redeem it at the Disneyland Resort in California or the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.  If you cannot use your ticket voucher by December 15, the ticket can be donated to a charity designated by Disney. Click here for more info.

Free Night of Theater – October 15

Last fall, 650 theatre companies, in 120 cities from coast to coast, opened their doors to over 65,000 new theatergoers. This year, our participating theatre companies will offer even more tickets for free. Join thousands of audience members - from Portland to Charleston, and from Houston to Minneapolis - and explore all the wonderful entertainment your local theatre community has to offer! Click here to read more.

Where The Wild Things Are Sweepstakes

Click here to enter the sweepstakes. The grand prize winner will take home Where The Wild Things Are limited edition children’s UGG boots and video game, plus two tickets to experience the movie at an IMAX theater.. Other prizes include pajamas, t-shirts, sketch pad, colored pencils, synthetic fur hat, messenger bag, Carol mask on a stick, paper crowns, and kites.

Photo Courtesy of In-N-Out