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Created by Lon Britton

Eye Catching Elements that Improve Your Photos

(Website Article Written for October Light Photography)

Eye Catching Elements That Improve Your Photos

There are elements you can incorporate in your photograph when composing your subject that will draw the viewer’s eye in and add interest to the subject. Follow these simple guidelines and the quality of your pictures will improve dramatically. Adding them can make a drab photo come alive.  When you see a picture you like, you know you like it, but may not know exactly what it is about the picture that really appeals to you at first glance. Chances are the picture incorporates one or more of these elements. Once you recognize these elements you can incorporate them in your own photos to improve them vastly.

These elements are:

1. Framing 2. Reflections 3. Leading Lines 4. Pattern 5. Shadow 6. S-curve 7. Backlighting 8. Silhouette 9. Mood evoking

There are plenty of good sources for seeing examples of photographs with these elements in them. Let’s discuss this from the angle that you are on a photo road trip. There is a twofold bonus in it for the photographer here. Your sources: the local souvenir shop of the destination you have selected, and the postcard rack in the motel lobby where you might be staying.  I say twofold bonus because these are also good sources for additional places you may not be familiar with. Of course, you did your pre-trip homework, didn’t you? You can never cover it all even with the most thorough of research. There’s nothing like being there for true exposure (pun intended).

You might even get an idea for a shot from looking at the postcards. I’m not talking about being a copycat. Yes, we all like to get the classic photo of a well-known icon, but once you have that try to be creative and come up with your own imaginative shot. Enough with the idle chatter, let’s get down to the brass tacks. 

Framing Most of us have seen the tropical beach scenic where the palm tree leaves hang over the shore often casting a shadow on the sand with the ocean in the background. This is classic photo framing. The beach is the main subject, but the palm leaves frame the subject.  In nature, trees are often found in abundance and consequently, are commonly used for framing subjects. In the absence of trees, like in the desert, shrubs and cactus can be employed to fit the bill.

See how I have incorporated tree framing in the photo of the covered bridge. Natural and manmade arches, rock formations, stairways, bridges, and statues are other objects that can be used to frame subjects just to name a few. 

Reflections Reflections add spice to a photo. Natural reflections can be found on a lake, or other body of water, and monument reflection pools are a typical example. Check out my reflection shot of Marquette Harbor Light. Note how the reflection enhances the photo. Cover the reflection with your hand and compare the before and after view to see if you don’t agree that the reflection “makes” the photo.

Look for reflections in other objects like the shiny surfaces of chrome bumpers, building windows, and mirrors. Sometimes a good rain can produce reflections in the form of puddles that are not ordinarily there.

If your subject is near an ocean environment watch for reflections that may have been produced by tides and wave action. Often if wave activity is sufficient water can collect in pockets of eroded rock formations, for instance, far from where a typical high tide might deposit some. 

Leading Lines and the S-curve Leading lines draw the viewer’s eye into the picture. Leading lines can be the main subject, but typically, they lead to the main subject. Common leading lines include fences, stairways, walkways, aisles, nature trails, highways, and piers. Note how the elevated walkway leads right up to the Marshall Point Lighthouse.

The S-curve is another type of leading line; however, it is S-shaped much like the Yellow Brick Road that Dorothy and her three cohorts took on the way to see the Wizard. The ole brick highway actually had many S-shaped curves as I recall.  The classic S-curve is usually seen on the likes of road atlas covers in the form of a highway snaking along through a scenic landscape. Find them in many of the common leading lines mentioned above including gravel roads.  

Pattern Pattern is another element that is pleasing to the eye. Natural patterns in nature include sand ripples, zebra stripes, and clouds and those are just a few examples. As you can see from the examples given pattern doesn’t have to be geometric or have order. Common man-made patterns include lines of telephone poles, fences, and farm crop rows which double as leading lines as well.

Shadow

Shadow, especially the long shadows found during early morning and late evening improve a photo by adding an artistic touch. Shadows incidentally also add definition and depth to sand dunes which you won’t find in the direct overhead light of the mid-afternoon. The burned trees in this Yellowstone picture illustrate the visual effect of shadow well. Note that this photo has at least three elements: shadow, leading lines, and pattern. 

Silhouettes and Back lighting I included silhouettes and back lighting together since they are related. A silhouette is really back lighting at its extreme. Silhouettes are basically a representation of a subject as an outline where the subject is solid and usually black. It can be achieved to varying degrees by underexposing a subject with the sunlight directly behind the subject. Two stops under is a good start. Take a look the saguaro cactus photo for an example of this element.  As a reminder when dealing with silhouettes and back lighting never stare at the sun. Use your subject to shield your eyes from the direct sun. A typical back lighting shot is one whereyou see rays of sunlight streaming through trees and castingtree shadows on the forest floor. Another example is when thesun is obscured behind a cloud and the light radiates out from behind. This also leaves that silver lining look around the cloud edge. Shooting the underside of leaves with the sun behind achieves good back lighting effect and if, for instance, an insect is on the top side of a leaf you’ll note that the insect appears as a silhouette.

Colors evoke moods as well. Shades of blue give a sense of coolness like you see in snow and ice, whereas reds imply warmth or even hot temperatures, generally, but not always. The light of early morning and late evening add mood to a photo as well. For instance, the pinks, oranges, and reds of sunrise or sunset are a massive display of eye candy. See the sunset shot of a highway bridge in Baytown, Texas.

Lightning and ominous stormy clouds in a photo can also evoke moods of foreboding. Sometimes these elements may not exist in a scene at a particular time of day, but they can be found by returning at another time of day, morning or evening, before or after a rain, or even in a different season. These elements can also be combined to incorporate more than one in the same photo. Try using them the next time you go on a photo shoot for improved images that will dazzle your friends; no more boring vacation photos.  

Authored by Lon Britton © Copyright - all images property of Lon Britton

 

The First BarbequeA Flash Fiction Short Story

The First BarbequeBy Lon Britton

 The sound of my hurled stone echoed as it ricocheted through the forest barely missing the slimy scoundrel as he slithered away from the apple tree. The crackle could hardly be heard above the cacophony of the other forest dwelling creatures rousted by the snake’s presence. As I strolled through the once again blissful garden on my way home, I couldn’t help but notice how vividly green the fig leaves were this year.  I arrived home to be greeted by my lovely wife. I asked her how her day had been as I plopped down on our Zebra skin covered couch and propped my feet on an ivory stool. She cheerily replied that she had been slaving away all day in the kitchen as she brought me a fresh squeezed fruit drink. I sipped the refreshing beverage and noticed it had a taste foreign to me, but continued with our conversation without query as to the contents of my drink. I told her my day was pretty routine, but I had run across that nasty reptile again.  She continued to enlighten me on how her day had progressed and proceeded to describe her cooking experience that day. She really didn’t mind all the effort necessary to prepare our meals over a scorching hot fire pit. She told me tonight’s cuisine would be a real surprise. I began salivating before even hearing what was on the menu. She announced we were having something she had coined the word “barbeque” which was made using a chest cavity meat slathered in a spicy brownish crimson sauce.  I waited eagerly as she brought out the main course. Instantly, I recognized the familiar anatomical source of our dinner. She placed the platter before me and said, “Why, spare ribs of course, Adam and for dessert, we are having apple pie.”  I responded with, “The devil you say, Eve. You shouldn’t have!” I knew that drink reeked of Red Delicious!  

“What is the Prime Directive of SEO,” Captain Kirk? Or The Importance of SEO

(Article Written as Intended for a Website)

In a Captain Kirk-like tone, I hear you ask, “What is the Prime Directive of SEO?”

 In a nutshell, the purpose and importance of SEO is to gain visibility on the internet for a website. If it is a business website, visibility opens potential for more customers which ultimately leads to increased sales that translate into piles and piles of those green paper bills called Benjamins. Benjamins, Captain Kirk, are the prime directive!  Let’s proceed to explain the importance of SEO, but at a pace considerably slower than warp speed. Let’s consider a leisurely saunter like Dorothy and her cohorts used as they traversed the Yellow Brick Road on their journey to see the Wizard.

Definition of SEO  

I thought it prudent to define SEO before we get too far into addressing the importance of SEO. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a methodology of strategies, techniques and tactics used to increase the amount of visitors to a website by obtaining a high-ranking placement in the search results page of a search engine (SERP) — including Google, Bing, Yahoo and other search engines. Reference the webopedia link: http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/S/SEO.html  

 

Importance of SEO 

SEO is basically an internet marketing tool designed to help search engine robots to understand what a particular website is about. The robot can then rank the website among other sites and pages on the internet pertaining to the same or similar subject matter based on the content within. It is therefore, important that website content incorporates SEO language to try to maximize ranking placement in the search engine results page (SERP).  The use of keywords relevant to your website’s content is a valuable SEO tool. When an internet user performs a search by entering a keyword(s) into a search engine the more relevant web pages pertaining to that keyword(s) will be returned in the results. Choosing the “right” (optimum) keywords when producing content for a website will improve your website’s SERP ranking. Generally, if your website or some subject matter from your site is listed within the first three pages of an internet search that is considered a high-ranking result. Naturally, it is preferable to have a high-rank which is conducive to gaining more visitors (hits) to your site. Having your site show up as the first entry on page 1 of search results will practically make your toes curl. There are search engine ranking checkers that check your search engine position ranking for any keyword in the major search engines.

There are multiple keyword research tools, some free, and some for a fee, that assist in finding the optimum keyword or keyword phrase to maximize your probability of a higher-ranking in search engine results. I’ll discuss this subject briefly later in this article. It is a topic of its own, deserving greater depth, but it is pertinent to SEO. Remember, Captain Kirk, we have dedicated this piece to the prime directive, the importance of SEO.

Benefits of SEO: Increased website visibility Increased site traffic Improved credibility through higher-ranking Improved conversion rates* from more relevant traffic Expanded markets Improved competiveness Maximized Benjamins

 * The conversion rate is the percentage of users who take a desired action. The typical example of conversion rate is the percentage of website visitors who buy something on the site.

 

Statistics Supporting the Importance of SEO  The internet has been in existence long enough so that credible statistics have been compiled, which illustrate the importance of SEO and why you should incorporate SEO techniques into your website to increase traffic, be competitive in the marketplace, and to increase revenue. There are many statistics citing the importance of SEO, but please reference the following website with a subtitle of “10 MIND-BLOWING SEO, Social & Web Statistics” at http://zerogravitymarketing.com/seo-statistics/ for a few examples.  

 A Brief Discussion on Keyword Research Tools

 As promised earlier in my article, I want to discuss keyword research tools, although slightly off topic. I thought since I was writing an article on the importance of SEO that I should naturally incorporate SEO in my article, duh!

As an example to illustrate how I went about deciding on what keyword to use, in this case keyword phrase, to help optimize the odds of my article ranking higher placement in SERP, I used one of the free keyword research tools. I recommend for a potentially flourishing business, if you are a solo entrepreneur, that you tighten your belt a bit, forgo a couple of designer coffees a week, and find a decent and affordable keyword research tool pay site.   

 

These sites can give you regional as well as global information on how well certain keywords rate. They will give you an idea of search volume, competitiveness for specific words and phrases, and more. For example, a simple check using one of these tools prior to writing this article found that for higher-ranking, it was better to use the phrase “importance of SEO” versus “SEO importance” and to use the acronym “SEO” as opposed to spelling out “search engine optimization.”

Remember what your mother used to tell you as you were jaunting cheerily off to school, “Don’t forget the importance of SEO when producing content for your website!”  Mr. Sulu, prepare to engage thrusters!  Authored by Lon Britton

Basic Factors for Seniors to Consider When Preparing to Move into a

Retirement Home(Website Article Written for Mr. Organize It, a Senior Relocation

Assistance and Organizing Service Company)  

Basic Factors for Seniors to Consider When Preparing to Move into a Retirement Home

 There are several factors for seniors to consider when making preparations to move from a residence into a retirement home. This is especially true if the residence is a house that has been lived in for a long time. The subject is broad enough that this article will concentrate more on decisions that are not directly related to picking a particular facility.  The subject of deciding on a particular facility and the things to look for will be covered in a separate article. See “Choosing an Assisted Living Facility” at www.mrorganizeit.com

Facilities The decision to move into a retirement facility can be filled with emotions. Whether you are a single person or a couple, each person’s individual needs must be assessed. There are three main types of retirement facilities where seniors can live outside of their own home. Other options involve in-home care or hospices, which are not discussed here. Knowing the types of facilities that are available is tantamount to choosing the right one for you.  Independent Living or what are often referred to as Retirement Communities – These are typically

confined to people age 55 or older and have little if any assistive services. Assisted Living - There are two levels of assisted living, Type A and Type B. Assisted Living facilities are designated Type A or B and each is licensed to accept and care for different needs (more on these to follow). Nursing Homes - Daily nursing and comprehensive support for disabled individuals. 

Independent Living Facilities Independent Living communities are for folks who are healthy and self-sufficient. The community may provide services like laundry, group meals, local transportation, and planned social activities. These communities are for folks you like the idea of spending their retirement in a community of peers and living in a smaller home that is easy to care for.  

Assisted Living Facilities As mentioned above there are two levels of assisted living.

Type A assisted living facilities may only accept and care for individuals who can evacuate the residence without assistance and who can follow directions in an emergency. Type B assisted living facilities may accept residents who don’t qualify for a Type A facility because they either need personal assistance to evacuate the building, or they cannot follow directions on their own in an emergency or both.

The senior care industry has adopted what they call Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). There are six basic categories of ADLs:  Hygiene (bathing, grooming, shaving, and oral care) Continence Dressing Eating (the ability to feed oneself) Toileting (the ability to use a restroom) Transferring (actions such as going from a seated to a standing position and getting in and out of bed) 

 

Typically, if you require help with any of these ADLs (depending on the extent of help needed) you will likely want to choose an Assisted Living facility at a minimum as opposed to an Independent Living Community. Personally, I would stay in my private home as long as possible, and as long as I could keep up the chores of the house like yard work and cleaning and if I were able to take care of my personal hygiene, feed myself and the like, without help from others. That also takes into account my ability to drive and take care of personal matters like buying groceries. Assisted Living facilities are for folks who need some help with ADLs, but wish to remain as independent as possible. They are a middle ground between independent living and nursing homes. They tend to provide more privacy, space, and dignity than many nursing homes and at a lower cost. An Assisted Living facility does not offer extensive medical care like a nursing home does. Select a few facilities to visit and have a close relative accompany you. A professional caregiver at each facility can evaluate you and determine your care needs.

A very important consideration when choosing a facility, is if an individual has a condition that will likely worsen, such as Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia, Parkinson’s disease, or some other degenerative disease. In these cases, it is prudent to select a Type B assisted living facility or a facility that has both Type A and B units on the same grounds. This makes transfer much easier, and it is less stressful in the event a patient needs to move from a Type A level facility to a Type B when a condition progresses.

 

Nursing Homes

A nursing home is set up for people who need skilled medical professionals providing them care and services daily. They will even administer prescription medication which is helpful for patients who may be forgetful. Skilled nursing staff is available 24 hours a day.

These facilities are more expensive than assisted living facilities and the rooms are generally smaller and with less privacy. When deciding on a nursing home check the ratio of nursing staff and other caregivers to patient population. This is a good indicator of the level of care they will be capable of providing each patient.

Major Considerations When Planning a Move Your New Space and Downsizing

Naturally, you will want to know what size options are available for your new living quarters. Visit some properties after you have selected some using the above criteria for the type of facility that fits your needs best.

The staff should be able to let you tour and view living spaces available. Plan and begin shopping well in advance of your move because in some cases they may have a waiting list.

Ask for room dimensions, floor plans, and brochures for each facility. You will need this information to help you decide which property will accommodate your space needs. Your choice of new home will most likely be considerably smaller than your existing home. This will require downsizing of your personal property.

There are experts who can help you with the transition of finding a place, downsizing and preparing for a move (check the internet for relocation assistance or your telephone book under Move Managers) if you don’t have friends or relatives who can help. Also, check out Mr. Organize It at www.mrorganizeit.com for professionals who will make your transition a smooth and thorough relocation experience. You will want to preserve some memories in the process of downsizing. A few keepsakes and decorations will make your new home cozier, but you will have to keep them to a minimum.

The floor plan will help you decide what furniture and other items to keep and what to get rid of. Consider offering and giving away some of your items to your children, relatives, or close friends, or if budget is tight sell them the items at a bargain price.

Also consider an estate sale as an option over a garage sale. You may be able to get more money for your sold items.

Estate sales are especially good if you have a large home and a lot of high-ticket items and antiques. Estate sale agents will be harder to come by for small houses, and if you do find one their profit margin will likely be much higher than for a larger estate. However, even with their high profit margin hiring one can often prove to be a significant advantage over conducting your own garage sale.

Medicaid

Keeping your existing home after a move into a new facility has its pros and cons. Your decision to move should be a firm and permanent one. There are situations where you may want to hold onto your “old” home, however. Naturally, upkeep in your absence will be a big consideration and possible source of headache. Renting to a tenant is one idea for a way to keep the house, but being a landlord is no picnic, so think hard on that one.

You may want to sell your existing home after moving into your new abode. If you plan to use Medicaid to assist you financially with your new living arrangements be mindful that there are certain eligibility requirements. Medicaid has limitations on income and other assets as a part of their qualification program. The rental idea stated above will also be an issue with respect to assets if you go this route.

You will want to take these rules into consideration when deciding to sell your home or not. In addition, you don’t want to jeopardize your situation or be in violation due to misuse of a government program. There are penalties that can be assessed, and which could cause your eviction from your new retirement home!

It would be wise to check with a Medicaid office or your lawyer for current regulations should you decide to consider Medicaid for housing assistance.

I hope these tips help minimize preparation problems for a retirement home transition.

Authored by Lon Britton

A Meck of a Hess (A Poem Written for Organizing Section

of Mr. Organize It Website)

A Meck of a Hess By Lon Britton

 My house is truly a mess, it is not something I wish to confess. Clutter, clutter everywhere, why there is even clutter in my hair. Everything is in such disarray, I get down on my knees and cry mayday, mayday. You know you seriously need to organize, when you remove the couch cushions and find uneaten pies. This terrible mess I so despise, and soon hope to see sunnier skies. I enlisted the help of some friends, and their thoughts and hands they did lend. One began to utter, that all the clutter, made the house seem a gutter. The other began to sob, and commented I was such a slob, but he would help with the job. We had the place looking spiffy, in quite a jiffy. With things back in order, I feel less like a hoarder. Now my window lets in light, since my junk was previously well above that height. Finally, I truly can say, I now have brighter days.

Photographic Achievements

Photography Exhibit By Lon Britton

Outdoor, Wildlife, and Nature Images

 Cullen Center Gallery, 500 Jefferson, Houston, Texas,

June 9 – July 11, 2003

Longmont Council for the Arts 

Muse GalleryPhoto Exhibit

By Lon BrittonMarch 9 - April 21, 2012

1999 KID CARE Charity Calendar Picture Contest Winner

Lon Britton First Place Winner in the 1999 Kid Care Charity Calendar

Picture Contest with four photographs selected

representing the months of January, September, November, and December. There were over 600 contestants. (Winning photographs follow) 

Photography Samples