#to benefit from the better camera angles and better lighting

[frenchtwistresistance]

On tonight’s episode of Match Game Who Wore It Better, I finally get solid confirmation about this pink satin blouse I’ve long been suspicious about (and I know in my heart of hearts Fannie has worn it a few more times in the interim but can’t for the life of me find the evidence):

L-R Fannie in ‘76 842; Brett in ‘78 1133

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

When the twisted wonderland anime comes out what are the things you hope they do better then what they could do in the game?

To quickly clarify a few things (so new readers and anyone stumbling across this post doesn't get the wrong idea): firstly, we do not yet have any confirmation on what the Twisted Wonderland anime will be about. Secondly, I have previously expressed that I would prefer the TWST anime to be random slice of life rather than another main story adaptation. If we assume that the anime will be another adaptation of the main story, I don't think the anime staff has a ton of liberty in the alterations they can make to the source material. Book 2 is widely known to be the greatest example of Bad Writing in TWST, and it cannot exactly be swept under the rug since it's in the main story. I doubt anyone would be allowed to make massive rewrites to the script or to the series of events; the biggest changes we get are slightly compacted scenes in the manga and the light novel. For example:

Skipping lines that appear in the game. (Ex: in the Book of Heartslabyul, Ace does not joke about sharing a room with Yuuken.)

Combining scenes to save on time. (Ex: In the light novel, Yuuya and Deuce meet Leona for the first time not in the Botanical Garden, which is the case in the game. Instead, the mob student that broke the eggs meant for Ace's apology chestnut tart is a Savanaclaw kid that Leona shows up to reprimand.)

Adding slight details to fill in logical gaps. (Ex: Yuuya in the light novel is granted a NRC uniform by Crowley; the uniform is described to us, the readers. Yuu getting a uniform is never mentioned in the game.)

Continuing from the last point, new details can also serve to flesh out character motivations, backstories, and lore. (Ex: the Heartslabyul light novel informs us that Riddle faces social repercussions for his OB and almost got expelled from school; the Savanaclaw light novel sheds new light on Leona's motivations, and the same can be said of Riddle.)

So basically, the story (again, if the anime does end up following the plot of the main story) would be the same. What would make the anime different from the manga, game, and light novel is largely the medium in which it is presented. I have talked about this at length in a number of older posts, but here is one example of how the manga, uses visual storytelling (as it is primarily a visual medium). A manga chapter is usually limited in length due to it being physically printed and shared in a magazine alongside other manga; there is therefore a constraint on how long-winded it can be, and its limited pages must be used effectively. We need to think about the strengths and the weaknesses of each individual medium and how those strengths and weaknesses affect how it might slightly change how TWST I presented.

An anime is able to incorporate animation with sound in a 20ish minute time slot to tell a tale. It gets the same benefits of the game, but far more freedom of movement. There is, however, also a time constraint to be considered. One complaint TWST often gets is that despite half of its core gameplay (I'm not going to count reading as gameplay) being rhythm games, the music the game has is NOT memorable. While the anime most likely won't have a ton of original songs, I hope that it can at least creatively incorporate some of TWST's scores as background tracks to fun scenes and make them more enjoyable that way. The anime will also be able to... well, be animated!! We won't get just a static screen where a maximum of three characters are crammed onto the screen at once staring back at you. It's okay to have in the game to save on time and budget, but you have to admit it does get boring to look at after a while. But with an anime production, we can get exciting lighting and camera angles that result in cool animation! I hope that this will really help the TWST characters' stories come to life on the screen ^^ One scene in particular that I hope the anime will adapt well is the VDC/SDC performances of RSA and NRC. The game tells us that RSA's performance is clumsy and amateurish, but it still managed to capture people's hearts. The game also tells us that NRC was not able to perform at their maximum capacity because they were already physically worn down from dealing with OB Vil. I want to see these descriptions actually be realized on screen (the Rhythmic/Twistune alone isn't enough), as it could help us better judge and have an enhanced understanding of the situation. I know a lot of fans who, to this very day, still feel that NRC was cheated of the win and shouldn't have lost to such a lackluster performance from RSA, so I'm hoping that a fully animated version might give us more perspective.

[sinfullyrosey]

*slams hands on table in a dramatic fashion*

Tired am I of the fics featuring Reader (and or one of the other characters) being uncomfortable and disgusted by Rook’s creepy quirks, yet still being paired up with him!

Instead, I bring forth to you the concept that Rook’s partner is unbothered by his actions, not because they condone or support his stalker-ish tendencies and constant destroying of other’s boundaries!

But simply because they’re into that shit.

Voyeurism. Photography. Predator/Prey. Hunting/Chasing. Obsessive Devotion/Praise.

All of those are legit kinks some have, and out of everyone in TWST, Rook would benefit the most by finding someone who appreciates and loves those forms of affections. While yes, his actions are not appropriate towards those who clearly want him to back off and feel uneasy towards him. In fact it’s kind of illegal.

But towards a partner with these kinds of kinks?

Rook must be the jackpot they’ve been looking for!

Like, imagine his partner being into photography: While in public, they take regular pictures of whatever, whether it be nature, models, animals, food, etc. But in the privacy of their own bedroom? Suddenly, the photos become much more vulgar, risque and focuses more on intimate moments shared between the two.

I especially like the angle of his partner specifically photographing themselves as their own model, whether in a pinup sort of way or through an artistic lens that utilizes nudity and symbolic narratives. Maybe they do submit these photos to art museums or maybe it’s just something they enjoy doing in the privacy of their home and they just keep the pictures to review after each session.

Or, more salaciously, they only do photography in the bedroom because they enjoy capturing those shared moments with him so that they can easily look back on them and relive the moment again, even if he’s not around.

As for the voyeurism angle, maybe his partner likes it when Rook takes pictures of them or watches them from the shadows because it gives them a special kind of thrill. Maybe they like the attention and knowledge that Rook looks at them as a piece of art to be gazed at and appreciated. While others may find his eccentric and obsessive nature towards beauty to be annoying or too much as it were, they don’t.

In fact, they may even agree with him whole heartily and thrive off of his over-the-top appraisal towards them to be one of the sexiest aspects about him!

This can further go hand-in-hand with an artistic photographer, because maybe they understand Rook’s viewpoint better than anyone else, because they’re the exact same way. And this translates into their photography as they try to set up good lighting and camera angles during their sessions to better capture these images to visualize their personal views.

Not to mention I think Rook would also appreciate finding someone who is similar to him in this regard and is openly receptive to his advances. It’s clear he enjoys the chase (he is a hunter after all), so finding a partner who’s open to participating in predator/prey or hunter/hunted type roleplays is probably a dream come true for him.

Maybe early on in the relationship or heck, even before that, when he’s still courting them, they would “play hard to get.” They were coy with him, keeping him on his toes and keeping him guessing as to whether or not they were just as interested in him as he was with him. One minute they were accepting of his invitation for a nice walk around Pomefiore, only to turn around and reject the bouquet he was attempting to gift them and refusing to even look his way.

Only for him to catch the glint in their eye and the subtle quirk of a smirk on their lips.

This got way longer then I intended and I kind of got off topic, but like these are just my thoughts. I’ve always loved analyzing characters and trying to pinpoint the type of partner would work best for them. And Rook is one of those special cases where fandom writes him off as a creep which isn’t wrong tbf and only seems to be interested in writing him as an unhealthy partner when like, the opposite is so much more interesting. Rook just needs to find someone who’s into the sort of stuff he does and would view it as a fitting love language.

[goldenpinof]

what are your thoughts on the gaming channel lighting/camera angle? im curious now :D personally i liked the way their last video looked a lot, and the spooky week lighting was better than they had before when they were trying to dim the lights for scary stuff, but im genuinely interested in what you think

spooky week having bad lighting is the point. so, i don't take it into account :)

my opinion from a gif-maker pov. although, i'm sure it's not universal. also, it's not that serious <3

basically, if they put their camera a bit lower their faces will be lit up more evenly. right now their foreheads are brighter than their chins, and adjusting it all the time is meh. also, after adjustments their shiny foreheads (and Phil's cheekbones, hi <3) usually turn into white pixels. and i'm not a huge fan of white pixels breaking out (maybe because idk how to work with them. smoothing the white colour can only take you so far). their editing room has shitty lighting in this specific corner (dini video is shot there and has the same problem. Dan's memes video is shot from a different angle and has better lighting). so, i'd rather petition for a ?soft? lamp behind the camera. not very bright because that would also be awful. i don't think the ring light would fit there, so something smaller on the level of their faces.

another pro of putting the camera lower: Dan's face will stop disappearing entirely every time he looks down/closer. now the only thing that's missing there is "me and Phil" tattoo. so, i'd love to see the angle change as an experiment, but making the room brighter or lighting up their faces would benefit us as well, imo. but like, ultimately, who cares!

[howlingday]

My idea for a potential DEATH BATTLE! #5

2023, October 18, 19, 20, 27

Link to the fourth post: https://www.tumblr.com/donotmindme1/731349657571278848/my-idea-for-a-potential-death-battle-4-2023?source=share

Master list: https://www.tumblr.com/donotmindme1/731003687600881664/mind-what-you-do?source=share

Korra vs Delsin Rowe (Avatar vs inFamous)

They're the second legends in line!

Fighter 1: Korra, the continuing spirit of the Avatar cycle.

Fighter 2: Delsin Rowe, the accomplishing Akomish Second Son.

Wiz: Many of us aspire to live up and uphold the legacies of our predecessors.

*insert clips of Miles Morales & Peter Parker, Deku & All Might, Ruby Rose & Summer Rose, Batman & his Robins*

Boomstick: However, just because they're tough acts to follow up shouldn't discourage you from making your own path. He's Wiz and I'm Boomstick.

Wiz: And it's our job to analyze their weapons, armor, and skills to find out who would win... a Death Battle.

PREFACE: I am wasting my time writing this. I should be working on an important project. I wanted to write an idea that suits the chilly weather of autumn to serve as a nice gateway into other MUs. I played inFamous Second Son during the last three months of 2021 and I fell in love with the gameplay. Being able to scale the buildings of Seattle with Conduit powers, doing drug busts, and saving innocent people really gave me a sense of power. I am sure I am not the only one who was disappointed when Season 8 announced Korra vs Storm due to how unbalanced the powers are between the two (however, I enjoyed the episode, mainly Storm doing the Moses and Wheather the Elements). So, now that Cole made his debut on the show, we can finally let Delsin have his time in the spotlight. Besides, I think that Korra vs Delsin is a more fitting MU, and you'll see why later on. Also, I will mainly be using True Hero Delsin (Good Karma) as it is the canon ending. I'll consider Infamous Delsin (Bad Karma) separately as it does affect the fight.

WHY:

Connections:

1. Both carry on the legacy of a famous protagonist who was able to control multiple forms of matter (Aang and Cole McGrath).

2. Both are capable of manipulating at least 4 different forms of matter (Korra has Earth, Fire, Air, and Water; Delsin has Smoke, Neon, Video, and Concrete) due to a physiological trait (Korra has the spirit of the Avatar, allowing her chi to pass through all of her body better than the rest and manipulate the elements; Delsin has a Conduit gene that lets him obtain the abilities of other Conduits upon extensive contact and draining Core Relays).

3. Both started their journeys being childish and/or immature but through their actions and strife, rose above and became better people and consequently, better idols and saviors.

Personal reasons: I wanted this to be Korra's MU during Season 8, but alas, it was not to be. More than anything, I want them to react to each other's powers. Delsin would ask Korra if her conduit gene is like his but better since she doesn't need to absorb matter to change her powers and Korea asks about how the heck is he manipulating light and becoming invisible. After all, conduit powers and bending are different in their manifestation, how they manipulate the environment, and more importantly, how they interact with each other.

THE FIGHT:

Art and animation: The animation will most likely be 2D like all Avatar fights, but the dream is to have it be a 3D battle with fluid movement and lots of different camera angles. The animation from Korra vs Storm is good for Korra, so reusing it would benefit her, but Delsin tends to fight from afar using his projectiles. While he does have dashes, his chain, Comet Drop, and some support abilities, Delsin is mainly a ranged fighter, and the 3D team works best with characters that have a wide assortment of abilities, especially ones used in midair or while running. However, to be able to get the most out of both worlds, the fight is best in 2D, and it's not like Cole was limited to ranged combat in his fight. It could really go either way and still be great regardless, and that's honestly the best part. I really want this fight to be a finale so it could be a long fight with lots of pretty stuff to gawk at, especially since Spiritbending, Neon, and Video allow for flashy maneuvers.

Possible setup:

In a metropolitan area, the Second Son is doing stencil art dedicated to his dear brother. "Man, I miss you, Reggie."

"Hey! You can't paint the walls of this city!" Delsin sighs. He misses his brother, but not his overly bureaucratic attitude. As he turns around and puts down the spray paint, he sees Korra who is looking a little stern. "Hey, there. Isn't art a form of self-expression? I'm building a masterpiece here, and it'll be my gift to the world."

"That's fair, but you're painting on public property. Unless you have a permit to do so, step away from graffiti." Korra was a little miffed. The graffiti looked cool, and it looked to be a dedication to a departed soul, but duty calls. Besides, it's just graffiti, not a murder or kidnapping. If he refuses, however, she can have her way.

"Who are you, the fun police? I'm not hurting anyone." It's like dear Reggie was still with him: being a pain and not letting him have his fun.

Korra smirked. "Fun? Oh, I'll show you fun." She got into a fighting stance. Hey, if you're having fun on the job, good for you, right? It's been a boring day of patrolling, so she's itching for entertainment.

"Oh."

FIGHT! :

1. As it turns out, she was nothing like Reggie. Korra firebends at Deals and catches him off guard. However, Delsin absorbs the smoke, unharmed. This causes Korra to look puzzled. "Wait, how did he- He barely moved." She then attempts to earthbend, summoning rising pillars, but Delsin smoke dashes away. "How did you do that?" Korra had never seen someone turn into smoke before. Maybe she should ask him how to do that.

2. "I'm a conduit. I mean, aren't you one?" Delsin starts to use Smoke Shot as he moves around, but they're easily dodged and dispersed with more earthbending. "I'm the Avatar, master of all the elements." "Is that right?" Delsin uses a smoke dash to sneak up on Korra from behind and tosses a Sulfur Bomb.

3. The Sulfur Bomb explodes, but Korra just rolls up to Delsin and engages him directly. Delsin tries to punch her and use his smoke-imbued chain, but all his attacks are evaded or blocked. Korra roughs up Delsin, punching him in the face, kneeing him in the stomach, etc. Delsin drops another Sulfur Bomb that leaves Korra coughing, and attempts to subdue her.

4. Korra bends away the ash and sulfur and launches Delsin into a building using waterbending. Delsin is able to recover and takes the high ground through a smoke vent. On the roof, he shoots a Cinder Missile. Korra is able to notice and puts out the Missile before it hits. "Wait, she didn't drain water." Come to think of it, she was able to use fire and then the cement beneath. Is her Conduit gene better than his? Korra starts to airbend projectiles and Delsins fires Smoke Shots (like Might Guy's Morning Peacock vs All Might's air punches). Korra then firebends her way to Delsin and delivers a powerful kick, sending him flying.

5. Delsin crashes onto another building, but drains the neon from the nearby signs. Noticing some injured civilians, Delsin starts to heal them, earning him Good Karma. As Korra rushes in, Delsin rushes her first due to his Neon Dash. "Wait, are you a Spiritbender!?" She's good up close, but it doesn't matter if she can't hit him. He strikes her with his chain, but Korra grabs it and uses a powerful earthbending punch on him. Delsin Neon Dashes away. "Oh, no you don't!" She knows that he has powerful ranged attacks, so she needs to be close to him. She gets on an air scooter and chases after him as she shoots air at him, chasing him to near a spirit portal.

6. Delsin is able to outrun Korra and fires a stasis bubble. Korra uses a firebending soccer kick on the bubble, punting it away. Delsin runs before he's hit with his own bubble (he doesn't seem to be affected by it in-game, however). He then rushes up to Korra who attempts to strike him, but he instead rushes past her and fires a phosphor beam, successfully hitting her and knocking her off balance, and successfully uses a stasis bubble. He attempts to obtain more powers, but he feels nothing. "What..? Then how..? You must not be a Prime Conduit." Korra gets back up in fiery fashion and Delsin employs hit-and-run tactics, firing phosphor and neon beam, but Korra is able to block with her bending. She then does Zuko's "breakdance" and catches Delsin off-guard.

7. Delsin quickly heals by absorbing video from a nearby TV. He then uses Video Torrent. Korra simply dodges and attempts to get in close, but Delsin strikes using his longsword, damaging Korra a fair amount. He then uses Bloodthirsty Blades. Korra dashes away, but is unable to avoid the blades, so she destroys one with a fireball, another by raising a stone wall, and the last one by creating an ice structure. Korra is then attacked by a... Is that a spirit!? Whatever it is, it has wings, metal plating, and is currently shooting a laser. Korra dodges and bends water and freezes the spirit, but it... Disappears into wisps of light... These are not like the spirits she knows, but she is then pushed and pinned to the ground by smaller swords. Delsin appears out of thin air. "How did you do that!?" "A friend lent me his powers, you could say." Ok, that is NOT how bending works. Using a combination of earth, wind, and fire, Korra frees herself by creating a crater underneath her, enters the Avatar State, and then bends the concrete around Delsin, encasing him in a shell, and bends him to her. He's a fire bender and a spirit bender, but he is not the Avatar.

8. Delsin absorbs the concrete before being fully encapsulated and does his boulder dash. He starts to engage Korra, but she is nimble enough to dodge. Korra then gets an idea and starts to make her way to the spirit portal. Delsin starts to climb on top of a building and does a Comet Drop, doing his pose on the Second Son cover art, and he starts to fire concrete shrapnel and a concrete barrage, but Korra instead redirects them. However, Korra gets a leg up and is able to use bending to get Delsin into the Spirit World and she enters.

9. In the Spirit World, Delsin is taken aback due to the colors and... weird animal things... He doesn't get to gawk for long as Korra makes her bombastic entrance. However, she firebends at Delsin who promptly absorbs the smoke, but he's starting to struggle and to get hurt so he smoke dashes away

10. Korra wins by overwhelming and overpowering Delsin. Since they are in the Spirit World, Korra becomes stronger, and in the Avatar State, she is in no need to wait for Delsin to exhaust himself. Even as he tries to distance himself and use his sulfur bombs and sulfur headshots, the Avatar is easily able to bend them away. She then is able to unleash a powerful bending attack that overwhelms Delsin and he blacks out, thinking of Reggie. After Korra finishes the job, she exits the Avatar State. "That was fun, but I'm sorry. I hope you find you and your departed family can reunite here". She then bows to her opponent. She's fiery and hotheaded, but she's still empathetic.

11. Delsin wins by being able to stall Korra and connect a successful attack. The fire is hurting him, but if he keeps his distance, all it serves is to fuel and heal him. He gets in a good sulfur headshot, briefly stunning Korra and leaving her coughing again. He then tosses another sulfur bomb, leaving Korra coughing more. He then does his Orbital Drop, but as he reaches the apex, Korra bends away the smoke and then launches herself, attempting one last attack. They meet halfway, and after a noticeable explosion, both are left on the ground, Delsin tired, and Korra dead. Korra, in her last moments, apologizes to her friends and family for being able to say goodbye. Delsin recollects himself, and upon returning to the Human World, finishes his graffiti of Reggie. However, we see him painting another mural, and he says "Say hi to my brother for me". He then turns to leave, and we see a mural of Korra, reading "Dedicated to the Avatar."

RESULT:

Strengths and weaknesses:

Korra:

+ Physically stronger and more durable.

+ More experienced.

+ Has superior training.

+ Easier access to her elemental manipulation.

= Firebending and Earthbending fuel Delsin, but Smoke and Concreted are easily negated.

- Energybending cannot negate the Conduit Gene.

- Energybending cannot manipulate Video or Neon.

- Is vulnerable to suffocation. When she was poisoned as she was. suffocating, the Avatar State only held off the poison and not the suffocation.

- Can be immobilized via the stasis.

Delsin Rowe:

+ Can heal from firebending and earthbending.

+ Has a healing factor.

+ Is likely faster with Neon.

+ Neon allows for fast attacks, and the stasis bubbles are immobilizing.

+ Infamous Delsin has easy access to instant kill options.

= Firebending and Earthbending fuel him, but Smoke and Concrete attacks are negated.

- Untrained in physical combat.

- Physically far weaker and faster. Is also slower without Neon or Video.

- Is not immune to fire when using smoke or to earth when using concrete.

- Cannot access all his elements at will.

- Draining a power source leaves him vulnerable.

- There's no evidence to say that he can resist being immobilized by being surrounded/encased in concrete like he did to Augustine.

- Cannot obtain bending powers as they are spiritual and not genetic. Even then, he'd need Core Relays and blast shards to be able to get any use of his newfound abilities and to be able to absorb any other element.

Ending puns:

"The Avatar's victory was elemental."

"Delsin got a concrete victory."

MUSIC:

Name: "Four Infamous Elements"

The title makes reference to both combatants' abilities to manipulate four elements or states of matter as well as the inFamous game series' name. Brandon Yates used Second Legends for his commissioned track, so I cannot use it.

Art: The art would depict Delsin's chain forming a circle imbued with Raava. One half would have Korra's elements spiraling outwards. The other half would have Delsin's elements spiraling inward, forming a Yin Yang. The center of the circle would have a gene symbol like that of the Second Son power skill tree on the side of Korra's elements and the symbol of Raava on the side of Delsin's elements.

Sound: the start of the music is that of the Second Son main theme and it plays during the initial confrontation. The music is kicked up a notch when Korra first attacks, where the sound shifts to be more Avatar-centered, but with some hip-hop elements, and even has parts and bits that sound like Second Legends as a callback, much like Final Formersr referenced Deceptive Tyrants. As the battle gets closer to its climax, the sound is that of the main theme of Avatar, but with a mix of Asian instruments and rock instrumentation.

Holy cow, I love doing this one! Especially imagining the track and its art due to the possibilities of symbolism.

THANK YOU AND I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS!

---------------------------------------------------

Ooh, another interesting match-up! Although, to be honest, I already have my doubts as to how this plays out. Great fight idea, though!

URBAN SPRAWL

Honestly, the Avatar fights have been kinda meh in Death Battle, usually because they've all been so one-sided (except for the first, Toph v Gaara).

I really like the premise of the fight and how it plays out. Unfortunately, I gotta give it to Korra here for one reason; resource. Korra can bend anything from anywhere with little limit on where. Delsin, however, has very specific sources from which he can draw his power, such as his concrete abilities can only be drawn from conduit enforcers gifted with the same powers.

Still, though, it would be a pretty neat fight.

[jace-snaps]

Life and Pictures: Entry #1

Starting as a Beginner: Exploring Photography Gear

In our first entry, we’re focusing on a crucial aspect for beginners: choosing and using the right gear. Whether you’re intrigued by the convenience of smartphones or the versatility of a DSLR, understanding your options can help you get started on the right foot. Let’s break down some popular choices and tips for getting the most out of your equipment.

1. Smartphones: Your Everyday Camera

Description:

Type: Point-and-shoot camera Characteristics: Light, convenient, user-friendly Suitable for: Casual users, beginners, and anyone who wants to capture spontaneous moments without carrying additional equipment.

Why Start with a Smartphone?

Always With You: Smartphones are incredibly convenient, making it easy to capture moments on the go. User-Friendly: Modern smartphones come with automatic settings that adjust for lighting and focus, making them perfect for beginners. Built-In Editing Tools: Many smartphones have robust editing features and apps, allowing you to tweak your photos directly on your device.

Tips for Smartphone Photography:

Use Grid Lines: Enable grid lines on your camera app to help you apply the rule of thirds, enhancing the composition of your shots. Tap to Focus: Tap the screen to focus on your subject. You can also adjust the exposure by sliding your finger up or down. Explore Apps: Play around with different photography apps to enhance your photos. Apps like Snapseed, VSCO, or Adobe Lightroom Mobile offer powerful editing tools.

Smartphones are equipped with built-in cameras that are perfect for everyday use. They are designed to be simple and intuitive, making them ideal for capturing quick and spontaneous shots. With the added benefit of editing apps, you can enhance your photos directly on your device.

Beginner Guide to Smartphone Photography:

2. Compact Cameras: Simple and Versatile

Description:

Type: Point-and-shoot camera Characteristics: Light, versatile, higher image quality than smartphones, better zoom capabilities Suitable for: Beginners and enthusiasts who want better image quality and more control over settings without the bulk of larger cameras.

Why Choose a Compact Camera?

Better Quality: Higher resolution and image quality than most smartphones. Zoom Capabilities: Optical zoom allows for better quality images than digital zoom. Manual Controls: More control over settings like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

Getting Started with Compact Cameras:

Learn the Basics: Familiarize yourself with aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Use Auto Mode: Start with auto mode and gradually experiment with manual settings. Keep It Simple: Begin with the built-in lens; as you gain experience, you can explore more advanced settings.

Compact cameras, also known as point-and-shoot cameras, are lightweight and easy to carry. They offer better image quality than smartphones and come with manual control options, making them a great choice for those looking to improve their photography skills.

Beginner Guide to Compact Camera Photography:

3. DSLR Cameras: A Step Up in Quality

Description:

Type: Professional camera Characteristics: Larger, heavier, interchangeable lenses, superior image quality, advanced features Suitable for: Serious enthusiasts and professional photographers who require high performance, versatility, and superior image quality.

Why Choose a DSLR?

Exceptional Image Quality: DSLRs feature larger sensors, resulting in superior image quality, especially in low light. Interchangeable Lenses: The ability to switch lenses allows you to tailor your gear to your specific needs, from wide-angle shots to macro photography. Advanced Features: DSLRs offer advanced features like fast autofocus, multiple focus points, and high burst rates, making them ideal for capturing fast-moving subjects.

Tips for DSLR Beginners:

Learn Your Camera: Take time to understand the different settings and how they affect your photos. Manuals and online tutorials can be incredibly helpful. Practice with Different Lenses: Start with the standard kit lens, but explore other lenses as you become more comfortable. A prime lens can be a great way to experiment with depth of field. Join a Photography Community: Engaging with other photographers can provide valuable insights and feedback. Consider joining local clubs or online forums to share your work and learn from others.

DSLR cameras are known for their excellent image quality and flexibility due to their interchangeable lenses. They offer a wide range of manual controls and advanced features, making them suitable for various types of photography, from portraits to landscapes.

Beginner Guide to DSLR Camera Photography:

4. Mirrorless Cameras: The Modern Alternative

Description:

Type: Professional camera Characteristics: Light, compact, interchangeable lenses, electronic viewfinder, silent shooting Suitable for: Enthusiasts and professionals who want high performance and quality in a more portable package compared to DSLRs.

Why Go for a Mirrorless Camera?

Compact and Lightweight: Mirrorless cameras are smaller and lighter than DSLRs, making them more portable without sacrificing performance. High-Quality Images: They offer similar image quality to DSLRs, thanks to their large sensors and advanced technology. Electronic Viewfinder: Many mirrorless cameras feature an electronic viewfinder that displays your settings in real time, helping you visualize the final image.

Tips for Using Mirrorless Cameras:

Explore the Features: Mirrorless cameras often come with innovative features like 4K video recording and high-speed continuous shooting. Take time to explore these functions. Invest in Good Lenses: The quality of your lenses significantly impacts your photos. Start with a versatile zoom lens and consider adding prime lenses as you progress. Stay Updated: The technology in mirrorless cameras is continually evolving. Keep an eye on new models and firmware updates to make the most of your gear.

Mirrorless cameras combine the image quality and flexibility of DSLRs with a more compact and lightweight design. They use electronic viewfinders, allowing you to see exposure adjustments in real-time, and are known for their silent shooting capabilities.

Beginner Guide to Mirrorless Camera Photography:

5. Vintage Film Cameras: The Nostalgic Touch

Description:

Type: Professional camera (vintage/analog) Characteristics: Heavy, manual settings, unique aesthetic, requires film Suitable for: Enthusiasts and professionals who appreciate the classic film photography process and aesthetic, and those who want to learn the fundamentals of photography.

Why Try a Vintage Film Camera?

Unique Aesthetic: Film cameras offer a distinct look and feel, with a unique color rendition and grain structure that digital cameras often lack. Learning Experience: Shooting with film encourages a deeper understanding of exposure and composition, as you have fewer chances to correct mistakes. Tactile Experience: The process of loading film, taking pictures, and developing prints adds a tactile, hands-on dimension to photography.

Tips for Shooting with Film Cameras:

Choose the Right Film: Different films have different characteristics. Start with a versatile ISO 400 film, and explore different types as you gain experience. Develop Your Own Film: If you’re up for a challenge, try developing your own film at home. It’s a rewarding process that enhances your connection to the art. Embrace the Learning Curve: Film photography has a steeper learning curve, but the rewards are worth it. Take your time and enjoy the process of discovering what works best for you.

Vintage film cameras offer a nostalgic feel and a unique aesthetic that digital cameras can’t replicate. They require manual settings and film, which teaches discipline and a deeper understanding of photography basics. These cameras are appreciated by those who enjoy the tactile process and classic look of film photography.

Beginner Guide to Using Vintage Film Cameras:

Starting with photography gear can be both exciting and daunting, but remember, the best camera is the one you have with you. Whether you begin with a smartphone, compact digital camera, DSLR camera, mirrorless camera, or vintage film camera, the key is to explore, experiment, and find what inspires you.

Happy shooting, and may your journey through the world of photography be as fulfilling and creative as possible!

[definitely-a-cryptid]

A random discourse on rear projected faces

Rear projected faces are all over the disney parks. There's Elsa and Anna at Epcot, Buzz Lightyear and the seven dwarves in Magic Kingdom, and all of the characters on Mickey's Runaway Railway in Hollywood Studios, and just A LOT.

Now if you're like me and took the time to read several really long research papers from Disney research teams, you already know that Disney actually thought rear projection illumination was a good idea. And it is! Firstly the idea to put a projector behind the animatronics face is a stroke of genius. I can still remember seeing Buzz for the first time when I was eight. I was looking all over the place for a projector. I thought there must be a projector above him somewhere. In retrospect an external projector would not work great even if the animatronic had very limited movements. Anyway. The benefit of projected faces is you can achieve a lot of expression not currently achievable with robotics. (Though it gets better every day) Disney uses a multi-camera and projector system. The projection is diffused and uses a subsurface scattering compensation scheme (they utilize a material that light can enter and potentially come out at different places). This means the same animation should be viewed from different angles like viewing an actual face.

Even though the technology and research papers all point towards rear projection being a great idea, they haven't really gained a fan base. Lots of folks outright hate them. (including me!!!) Do I know anything about engineering and robotics? Absolutely not. However I have opinions and nothing to back them with. My personal feelings about why rear projected faces get so much hate is that first, the faces are completely smooth. More successful projected faces, like the dwarves on Seven Dwarves Mine Train, still have a physical nose. Meanwhile Elsa and Anna are just pure uncanny valley vibes and as you move around them you just see a perfectly smooth side profile like one of the mannequin heads at target. Just. Bleh. Gross. No like. AND THE ANIMATIONS AREN'T GOOD??? I'm sure there's a reason why, but for an animated face based off of an animated film, created by the exact same company, none of the projected faces look like the characters they're supposed to portray. My guess is that in order to make the face viewable from all angles they have to sacrifice quality. It is mildly entertaining that it looks like the princesses don't know how to match their foundation because the projection and the animatronics "skin" don't match though.

Anyway PROJECTED FACES ARE A LAZY COP-OUT. there. Got it out of my system. I can be more understanding over existing animatronics utilizing projectors, but from now on I'll be very annoyed/frustrated/murderous if anymore come out. Disney has proven they can make amazing animatronic faces that are expressive without it. Anyway I cried happy tears when the first peeks of the animatronics for Tiana's Bayou Adventure came out. That's all. No actual information of value. If you read this far yay I love you have a heart <3

[donotmindme1]

My idea for a potential DEATH BATTLE! #5

2023, October 18, 19, 20, 27

FOURTH POST

MASTER LIST

Korra vs Delsin Rowe (Avatar vs inFamous)

They're the second legends in line!

Fighter 1: Korra, the continuing spirit of the Avatar cycle.

Fighter 2: Delsin Rowe, the accomplishing Akomish Second Son.

Wiz: Many of us aspire to live up and uphold the legacies of our predecessors.

*insert clips of Miles Morales & Peter Parker, Deku & All Might, Ruby Rose & Summer Rose, Batman & his Robins*

Boomstick: However, just because they're tough acts to follow up shouldn't discourage you from making your own path. He's Wiz and I'm Boomstick.

Wiz: And it's our job to analyze their weapons, armor, and skills to find out who would win... a Death Battle.

PREFACE: I am wasting my time writing this. I should be working on an important project. I wanted to write an idea that suits the chilly weather of autumn to serve as a nice gateway into other MUs. I played inFamous Second Son during the last three months of 2021 and I fell in love with the gameplay. Being able to scale the buildings of Seattle with Conduit powers, doing drug busts, and saving innocent people really gave me a sense of power. I am sure I am not the only one who was disappointed when Season 8 announced Korra vs Storm due to how unbalanced the powers are between the two (however, I enjoyed the episode, mainly Storm doing the Moses and Wheather the Elements). So, now that Cole made his debut on the show, we can finally let Delsin have his time in the spotlight. Besides, I think that Korra vs Delsin is a more fitting MU, and you'll see why later on. Also, I will mainly be using True Hero Delsin (Good Karma) as it is the canon ending. I'll consider Infamous Delsin (Bad Karma) separately as it does affect the fight.

WHY:

Connections:

1. Both carry on the legacy of a famous protagonist who was able to control multiple forms of matter (Aang and Cole McGrath).

2. Both are capable of manipulating at least 4 different forms of matter (Korra has Earth, Fire, Air, and Water; Delsin has Smoke, Neon, Video, and Concrete) due to a physiological trait (Korra has the spirit of the Avatar, allowing her chi to pass through all of her body better than the rest and manipulate the elements; Delsin has a Conduit gene that lets him obtain the abilities of other Conduits upon extensive contact and draining Core Relays).

3. Both started their journeys being childish and/or immature but through their actions and strife, rose above and became better people and consequently, better idols and saviors.

Personal reasons: I wanted this to be Korra's MU during Season 8, but alas, it was not to be. More than anything, I want them to react to each other's powers. Delsin would ask Korra if her conduit gene is like his but better since she doesn't need to absorb matter to change her powers and Korea asks about how the heck is he manipulating light and becoming invisible. After all, conduit powers and bending are different in their manifestation, how they manipulate the environment, and more importantly, how they interact with each other.

THE FIGHT:

Art and animation: The animation will most likely be 2D like all Avatar fights, but the dream is to have it be a 3D battle with fluid movement and lots of different camera angles. The animation from Korra vs Storm is good for Korra, so reusing it would benefit her, but Delsin tends to fight from afar using his projectiles. While he does have dashes, his chain, Comet Drop, and some support abilities, Delsin is mainly a ranged fighter, and the 3D team works best with characters that have a wide assortment of abilities, especially ones used in midair or while running. However, to be able to get the most out of both worlds, the fight is best in 2D, and it's not like Cole was limited to ranged combat in his fight. It could really go either way and still be great regardless, and that's honestly the best part. I really want this fight to be a finale so it could be a long fight with lots of pretty stuff to gawk at, especially since Spiritbending, Neon, and Video allow for flashy maneuvers.

Possible setup:

In a metropolitan area, the Second Son is doing stencil art dedicated to his dear brother. "Man, I miss you, Reggie."

"Hey! You can't paint the walls of this city!" Delsin sighs. He misses his brother, but not his overly bureaucratic attitude. As he turns around and puts down the spray paint, he sees Korra who is looking a little stern. "Hey, there. Isn't art a form of self-expression? I'm building a masterpiece here, and it'll be my gift to the world."

"That's fair, but you're painting on public property. Unless you have a permit to do so, step away from graffiti." Korra was a little miffed. The graffiti looked cool, and it looked to be a dedication to a departed soul, but duty calls. Besides, it's just graffiti, not a murder or kidnapping. If he refuses, however, she can have her way.

"Who are you, the fun police? I'm not hurting anyone." It's like dear Reggie was still with him: being a pain and not letting him have his fun.

Korra smirked. "Fun? Oh, I'll show you fun." She got into a fighting stance. Hey, if you're having fun on the job, good for you, right? It's been a boring day of patrolling, so she's itching for entertainment.

"Oh."

FIGHT! :

1. As it turns out, she was nothing like Reggie. Korra firebends at Deals and catches him off guard. However, Delsin absorbs the smoke, unharmed. This causes Korra to look puzzled. "Wait, how did he- He barely moved." She then attempts to earthbend, summoning rising pillars, but Delsin smoke dashes away. "How did you do that?" Korra had never seen someone turn into smoke before. Maybe she should ask him how to do that.

2. "I'm a conduit. I mean, aren't you one?" Delsin starts to use Smoke Shot as he moves around, but they're easily dodged and dispersed with more earthbending. "I'm the Avatar, master of all the elements." "Is that right?" Delsin uses a smoke dash to sneak up on Korra from behind and tosses a Sulfur Bomb.

3. The Sulfur Bomb explodes, but Korra just rolls up to Delsin and engages him directly. Delsin tries to punch her and use his smoke-imbued chain, but all his attacks are evaded or blocked. Korra roughs up Delsin, punching him in the face, kneeing him in the stomach, etc. Delsin drops another Sulfur Bomb that leaves Korra coughing, and attempts to subdue her.

4. Korra bends away the ash and sulfur and launches Delsin into a building using waterbending. Delsin is able to recover and takes the high ground through a smoke vent. On the roof, he shoots a Cinder Missile. Korra is able to notice and puts out the Missile before it hits. "Wait, she didn't drain water." Come to think of it, she was able to use fire and then the cement beneath. Is her Conduit gene better than his? Korra starts to airbend projectiles and Delsins fires Smoke Shots (like Might Guy's Morning Peacock vs All Might's air punches). Korra then firebends her way to Delsin and delivers a powerful kick, sending him flying.

5. Delsin crashes onto another building, but drains the neon from the nearby signs. Noticing some injured civilians, Delsin starts to heal them, earning him Good Karma. As Korra rushes in, Delsin rushes her first due to his Neon Dash. "Wait, are you a Spiritbender!?" She's good up close, but it doesn't matter if she can't hit him. He strikes her with his chain, but Korra grabs it and uses a powerful earthbending punch on him. Delsin Neon Dashes away. "Oh, no you don't!" She knows that he has powerful ranged attacks, so she needs to be close to him. She gets on an air scooter and chases after him as she shoots air at him, chasing him to near a spirit portal.

6. Delsin is able to outrun Korra and fires a stasis bubble. Korra uses a firebending soccer kick on the bubble, punting it away. Delsin runs before he's hit with his own bubble (he doesn't seem to be affected by it in-game, however). He then rushes up to Korra who attempts to strike him, but he instead rushes past her and fires a phosphor beam, successfully hitting her and knocking her off balance, and successfully uses a stasis bubble. He attempts to obtain more powers, but he feels nothing. "What..? Then how..? You must not be a Prime Conduit." Korra gets back up in fiery fashion and Delsin employs hit-and-run tactics, firing phosphor and neon beam, but Korra is able to block with her bending. She then does Zuko's "breakdance" and catches Delsin off-guard.

7. Delsin quickly heals by absorbing video from a nearby TV. He then uses Video Torrent. Korra simply dodges and attempts to get in close, but Delsin strikes using his longsword, damaging Korra a fair amount. He then uses Bloodthirsty Blades. Korra dashes away, but is unable to avoid the blades, so she destroys one with a fireball, another by raising a stone wall, and the last one by creating an ice structure. Korra is then attacked by a... Is that a spirit!? Whatever it is, it has wings, metal plating, and is currently shooting a laser. Korra dodges and bends water and freezes the spirit, but it... Disappears into wisps of light... These are not like the spirits she knows, but she is then pushed and pinned to the ground by smaller swords. Delsin appears out of thin air. "How did you do that!?" "A friend lent me his powers, you could say." Ok, that is NOT how bending works. Using a combination of earth, wind, and fire, Korra frees herself by creating a crater underneath her, enters the Avatar State, and then bends the concrete around Delsin, encasing him in a shell, and bends him to her. He's a fire bender and a spirit bender, but he is not the Avatar.

8. Delsin absorbs the concrete before being fully encapsulated and does his boulder dash. He starts to engage Korra, but she is nimble enough to dodge. Korra then gets an idea and starts to make her way to the spirit portal. Delsin starts to climb on top of a building and does a Comet Drop, doing his pose on the Second Son cover art, and he starts to fire concrete shrapnel and a concrete barrage, but Korra instead redirects them. However, Korra gets a leg up and is able to use bending to get Delsin into the Spirit World and she enters.

9. In the Spirit World, Delsin is taken aback due to the colors and... weird animal things... He doesn't get to gawk for long as Korra makes her bombastic entrance. However, she firebends at Delsin who promptly absorbs the smoke, but he's starting to struggle and to get hurt so he smoke dashes away

10. Korra wins by overwhelming and overpowering Delsin. Since they are in the Spirit World, Korra becomes stronger, and in the Avatar State, she is in no need to wait for Delsin to exhaust himself. Even as he tries to distance himself and use his sulfur bombs and sulfur headshots, the Avatar is easily able to bend them away. She then is able to unleash a powerful bending attack that overwhelms Delsin and he blacks out, thinking of Reggie. After Korra finishes the job, she exits the Avatar State. "That was fun, but I'm sorry. I hope you find you and your departed family can reunite here". She then bows to her opponent. She's fiery and hotheaded, but she's still empathetic.

11. Delsin wins by being able to stall Korra and connect a successful attack. The fire is hurting him, but if he keeps his distance, all it serves is to fuel and heal him. He gets in a good sulfur headshot, briefly stunning Korra and leaving her coughing again. He then tosses another sulfur bomb, leaving Korra coughing more. He then does his Orbital Drop, but as he reaches the apex, Korra bends away the smoke and then launches herself, attempting one last attack. They meet halfway, and after a noticeable explosion, both are left on the ground, Delsin tired, and Korra dead. Korra, in her last moments, apologizes to her friends and family for being able to say goodbye. Delsin recollects himself, and upon returning to the Human World, finishes his graffiti of Reggie. However, we see him painting another mural, and he says "Say hi to my brother for me". He then turns to leave, and we see a mural of Korra, reading "Dedicated to the Avatar."

RESULT:

Strengths and weaknesses:

Korra:

+ Physically stronger and more durable.

+ More experienced.

+ Has superior training.

+ Easier access to her elemental manipulation.

= Firebending and Earthbending fuel Delsin, but Smoke and Concreted are easily negated.

- Energybending cannot negate the Conduit Gene.

- Energybending cannot manipulate Video or Neon.

- Is vulnerable to suffocation. When she was poisoned as she was. suffocating, the Avatar State only held off the poison and not the suffocation.

- Can be immobilized via the stasis.

Delsin Rowe:

+ Can heal from firebending and earthbending.

+ Has a healing factor.

+ Is likely faster with Neon.

+ Neon allows for fast attacks, and the stasis bubbles are immobilizing.

+ Infamous Delsin has easy access to instant kill options.

= Firebending and Earthbending fuel him, but Smoke and Concrete attacks are negated.

- Untrained in physical combat.

- Physically far weaker and faster. Is also slower without Neon or Video.

- Is not immune to fire when using smoke or to earth when using concrete.

- Cannot access all his elements at will.

- Draining a power source leaves him vulnerable.

- There's no evidence to say that he can resist being immobilized by being surrounded/encased in concrete like he did to Augustine.

- Cannot obtain bending powers as they are spiritual and not genetic. Even then, he'd need Core Relays and blast shards to be able to get any use of his newfound abilities and to be able to absorb any other element.

Ending puns:

"The Avatar's victory was elemental."

"Delsin got a concrete victory."

MUSIC:

Name: "Four Infamous Elements"

The title makes reference to both combatants' abilities to manipulate four elements or states of matter as well as the inFamous game series' name. Brandon Yates used Second Legends for his commissioned track, so I cannot use it.

Art: The art would depict Delsin's chain forming a circle imbued with Raava. One half would have Korra's elements spiraling outwards. The other half would have Delsin's elements spiraling inward, forming a Yin Yang. The center of the circle would have a gene symbol like that of the Second Son power skill tree on the side of Korra's elements and the symbol of Raava on the side of Delsin's elements.

Sound: the start of the music is that of the Second Son main theme and it plays during the initial confrontation. The music is kicked up a notch when Korra first attacks, where the sound shifts to be more Avatar-centered, but with some hip-hop elements, and even has parts and bits that sound like Second Legends as a callback, much like Final Formersr referenced Deceptive Tyrants. As the battle gets closer to its climax, the sound is that of the main theme of Avatar, but with a mix of Asian instruments and rock instrumentation.

Holy cow, I love doing this one! Especially imagining the track and its art due to the possibilities of symbolism.

THANK YOU AND I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS!

[regarding-stories]

The Quintessential Quintuplets (Character detail and maybe symbolism)

If you don't want to be spoilered, don't read on. I'd just recommend you to give the show a chance, it's very enjoyable. I watched the anime series 2 1/2 times by now... in the same week. Tonight I'll watch the movie conclusion in the cinema - I must know how it ends!!

The Quintessential Quintuplets is a romantic show about teenage love, big feelings, small dramas, family, and friendship. It manages to win over the hearts of the viewers with its extremely likable cast of characters and how it approaches the territory of teenage crushes. Before you know you will cry and laugh with these characters as they navigate, still in a light-hearted way, the possibility of love and heart-break.

The basic premise is that there is a group of five sisters, the eponymous quintuplets, who transfer to a new high school. They also suck at studying and all have failing grades, so their stepfather decides they need a tutor, and somehow our main protagonist, Futaro Uesugi, ends up with the job - and he really, really needs it. Of course by then his brash personality already got him off to a bad start, and his lack of perceptiveness leads him to miss the fact that the reason he gets paid five times the usual fare is that he's to tutor five girls at once.

The first phase of the show is then dedicated to him winning their cooperation with him as tutor, one by one. This quickly starts to cement a friendship between them to differing degrees. In the second phase he needs to help them pass the year 2 finals to keep his job, but this is already intermixed with the girls dragging them into the social sphere he so far avoided and the first crushes to develop. In the third phase the competition between the girls for Futaro's heart escalates and leads to drama and dramatic revelations.

What makes the show special is that the characters are well-drawn in terms of personality, quirks, what their drives are and how they approach life. Futaro also manages the balance between a truly good guy with some personality flaws without the typical horndog personality of so many anime male characters.

What the show could do a bit less with is how it outwardly portrays the girls. Of course they are beautiful, but in keeping with themes I've seen in other anime shows "bigger is better" when it comes bust size. The show also likes to take some questionable camera angles which amount to up-skirt shots or entirely alien angles that showcase a butt over half the screen. While this is only done at times and quite common with anime, the show would be even better without resorting to this fetishism. On the other hand, the show benefits from a respectful and restrained protagonist and hence overall passes the test.

But let's jump into these characters and the detail with which they are presented!

Futaro

Futaro squares the circle. On the one hand he's an arrogant absolute top-grade student, disinterested in girls and not very observant. He lacks social skills and grace, and he seems to care about nothing but studying and helping his family survive financially. And yet he has it where it counts. He will help out people when he feels they could be hurt, loves his little sister, and his overall goal in life - though he goes about it in a roundabout way - is to be a person who can help those who need it. A goal he set for himself when he ended up alone in a school trip to Kyoto 5 years before the series starts. Because he secretly developed a crush on the girl (Yotsuba) that just singled him out for helping him when he needed it. Supposedly that made him the overachiever he is when we meet him.

His characterization starts with laying out the ends he goes to to get a somewhat nourishing meal out of the school cafeteria while paying the smallest amount. He then runs into new student Itsuki, an unlikely encounter for a nerdy loner like him, and immediately antagonizes her. This guarantees he starts the whole enterprise he gets dragged into on the wrong foot and has to scramble to get into everybody's good graces.

Our dear Uesugi-kun, however, soon displays the other qualities he has. He wants to make his little sister happy who doesn't have a mom. (There are only hints about how he felt when he lost his mom and went through a rebellious phase.) He is responsible, willing to work hard, and dedicated. Seeing his laid-back dad we know nobody is making Futaro behave as he does - it's his choice.

Futaro is often portrayed as cold as ice to the outside whereas inside he fumbles with how to deal with the situations he ends up in. His arc in the show is to become more observant and display more of the qualities that make the girls eventually fall for him - but initially only for sake of money and the job. It takes him a while to realize that he cares about these girls as friends, and eventually he tutors them for free.

Being what the story needs is a typical trait for him. He will be wise and observant. He will drop his awkward outward personality in one-on-one situations. He's engaged when he can make others happy or prevent them from suffering, but being a male tsundere he will often say harsh things that run counter to his genuinely kind actions.

Getting him out of his monomanic tendencies ("I need to study!", "I need this job!") is actually the first part of his character development. As he admits later on, when challenged by an outsider, is that he wouldn't have considered himself to be a real, full person before this new situation made him develop the other parts lying dormant in his personality.

Fundamentally his reserved, icy tsundere personality is needed to keep the story going. Futaro refuses to engage this part of this personality and yet he's not immune to it. His lack of response to the various hijinks around him keeps the situation unresolved and the pot boiling.

As TV Tropes puts it: "Male love interests with tsundere-like traits are more likely to have mutual Belligerent Sexual Tension with a girl equally as tsundere as he is, or act aloof and detached as more of a Kuudere type character." (See here.) Futaro to a tee! Nobody shall know how deeply likable he is. The show thrives on the face that he can't fool us (as he's not supposed to).

Beyond that, he's another example of "boys can be dense" so often hinted at in anime and manga. (The thing most often said about Sword Art Online's Kirito is that he's "dense.") Also, while Futaro can be arrogant about his own scholastic nature, all the female attention he gets never goes to his head. He barely sees them "this way" and often gets annoyed with the attention he gets or treats it as absolutely normal. He more than often calls the girls a bunch of "idiots" but somehow, as the show progresses, it is clear that they're his bunch of idiots. As I said, his main quality is that he cares.

Futaro will go to a winter camp and be social and all engaged even when he's so sick he has to be hospitalized after. He will do it for others and secretly for himself. And he will write a list of experiences to share with his kid sister. As our wooden boy turns into a real person he becomes irresistible to those who know him. But ironically most of what can be said about Futaro needs to be said when seeing him in the five-facetted mirror that the girls reflect him in.

Which means - we need to look at the girls!

Ichika

Did you ever notice it? When we see the names of the girls on phone screens as calls arrive, the symbols are the Japanese kanji for numbers 1-5. This is reflected in their names. "Ichika" has the word "ichi" in her name, marking her as the first quintuplet to be born. She remarks on herself as "Big Sis" as if she was an older sister.

Ichika projects laid-back, easy-going, and popular. She wears her hair short in a way that suggests she's uncomplicated but somehow also confident. Tight denim jeans and tops show off her curves and she turns heads wherever she goes - or as Futaro puts it, she "attracts attention" (something he dislikes when it comes to himself). Ichika's desire is to be an actress, something she does feel self-conscious about since she's unsure she can cut it.

There's a hint in the story (her scores in the year 2 finals) that she's more intelligent and capable when it comes to studies than people, including her sisters, might expect. She just didn't care before or was constantly overtired due to her work commitments. Interestingly, she's also the only one who's messy. Her room looks like it had been searched by the rudest squad of police in the history of television.

Ichika keeps a tab on the feelings of her sisters and always tries to create harmony. Nino calls her a "schemer" and that sums her up to a tee. From the moment Futaro talks to Itsuki she tries to ship them. then Miku and Futaro when she notices Miku's feelings. This culminates when she becomes interested in Futaro herself and starts to scheme because she is not truly confident and bold enough to just let him know head-on. Ichika puts on an act, and Futaro calls her on it early on.

To go with the traits she displays, she calls Futaro "Futaro-kun" practically off the bat, using the first name immediately and adding the endearing suffix. Ichika's friendly and outwardly social, so she skips the whole dance of Japanese social rules altogether.

Initially Ichika acts as Futaro's helper and "woman on the inside" when most of the quintuplets reject him, mending upsets and mediating between him and the tsundere duo, Nino and Itsuki. This changes once she wants Futaro for himself which puts her actual lack of confidence on full display.

Ichika's outer accessory is her short, pink hair.

Nino

Keeping with the pattern, "ni" being the way you count to two, the second-born quintuplet is Nino. Is Nino a tsundere? You bet she is. If she hates you, she's mean. The first thing she does upon Futaro being revealed as the tutor is that she drugs him. Nino is honest and extremely forthright, though to her "technically true" is good enough. ("I didn't poison [the cookies]." Yep. It was the water instead.) So when her dad asks her if she speaks the truth, she is believed.

Nino talks about trust a lot - "Can I trust you?" is practically her catch phrase. This speaks to her insecurity. Nino's brash personality apparently roots in the fact that she doesn't want to be hurt first. She would just not admit that. But when caught "one-on-one", Futaro notices she can be surprisingly easy to talk to. Nino is not as aloof as she would have you think though she plays it cool all the time, followed around by her two fan-girl like friends.

Her relationship with Futaro presents a side of her that we will see on display eventually - all-in or all-out. She first just calls him "Uesugi," and without a honorific that makes it sound like a "stranger you do not pay respect to." Though this can also be the name used between classmates. However, as soon as she changes her mind about him, she decided to give him a pet name (though Miku has to think it up): "Fu-kun." This is basically the most familar (and hence "dere") way of showing affection. Nino's affection isn't won easily, but once you have it, you've won.

Keeping with her traits, she's the only one that manages to outright tell Futaro that she's in love with him in two seasons of anime. She's the only one who has the guts to do so - because, once she's in, she's all in.

Nino's worries about loss and dislikes outsiders. She's also a talented cook. Her trademark accessories are little scarves she weaves into her hair - reminiscent of butterfly wings. Which hints at her soft side. Nino likes cute things - her phone has a bunny ears protector, and the first kimono we see her wear has bunny patterns. When we see her room, it shows displays of nature scenes with animals in them.

What's unconvincing about Nino is that for someone who cares about being truthful she's awfully casual about Futaro posing as Kintaro (who she had a crush on). While the whole idea of Futaro posing a bad boy (which she's hot for) is laughable to begin with, it actually is a bit of truth in fiction piercing the usual anime/manga art style conventions. Hair style and clothing of students are tightly regulated, something completely handwaved for heroines. However, with Futaro it's played straight. He seemed like a bad boy as his younger self, having both pierced his ear (which she's afraid of) and being blonde. Many Japanese schools enforce dark or black as the "natural hair color" students have to have, and hair has to be straight. People with natural curls or not-typically-Japanese hair colors can even be singled out by teachers, even after presenting a medical note proving that's their natural hair. So we're getting a hint at how actual Japanese school life might be (and that teachers probably cut Futaro some slack because his mom died).

Nino's most awesome moments are when she goes into intimidation mode - that's just outright funny. I personally would not vote her as my best girl, but she is instrumental for keeping the show going. First when she delays Futaro's acceptance, then when her confession forces all the others into action.

Miku

Miku is the middle one, and her name derives of from "mittsu", a word regarding the quantity of three. Probably because it made a better name. (Typically you would count with "san.") Miku is the shy one, constantly hiding herself. She's most likely to hide from others (like in an igloo at camp) or shut the world out (her accessory are big headphones, though you never see her wear them much on her ears after the series gets going). While Miku will wear a short skirt she will also wear black tights like a protective screen. Her style of clothing seems to deliberately tone down her bust whereas the others either do not care or dress to attract attention. Miku would wear long sleeve cardigans instead. She speaks quietly and is often called "bland" by Nino.

Miku bonds with Futaro over her passion for old, bearded Japanese warlords which she knows all about. She loses respect for him when he knows less "warlord trivia" than her, but when he studies up to be her peer, she relents. It's beautifully played: She walks into the library and verifies his claims that he checked out all the books. Once Futaro proved that he was going an extra mile to actually gain access to her world (which she so carefully hides) she accepts him as friend immediately, calling him "Futaro" - like you would a friend.

Seeing Miku with her sisters it's hard to grasp how shy she really is. She constantly leads an inner dialogue and rarely lets it escape. She seems to be especially rewarding and easy to write for for the original author, seeing how long the story arcs are that focus on her. (Or maybe that's what the animation studios chose to highlight.)

This is because it takes a long time for her to set anything into action. She tries daring herself by defining thresholds she needs to cross instead of instead doing something straightforward. Miku also compares herself a lot. One of the sad things about her is that she thinks she needs to be a certain way to be liked, whereas Futaro just naturally would care for her. So her whole attempt to get a better cook can be seen as endearing but also as a problem. She's the only one of the five that considers changing herself to be more "appealing." She also takes the list of traits Futaro looks for in a girl as is.

To me, Miku is always wonderful to watch, I root for her constantly.

One of her odd properties is that she apparently is maybe the best at imitating the others. Seeing her imitate Ichika is downright spooky - when she turns her frown "upside down."

Miku is the first to know that she's in love with Futaro, she just has the hardest time lining up her actions with it.

Go, Miku!

Yotsuba

Number 4 is our "genki girl", Yotsuba, whose name is a reference to "yon," an alternative version of "shi" which is considered unlucky because it means "death" as well. "Genki" means healthy, but also describes a lively personality, constantly positive, endless energy.

Yotsuba characterizes even herself as most child-like, she's naive and trusting, and people get in the habit of abusing her willing-to-help personality. She's the only one to never question the whole tutoring thing, and she never stops calling Futaro "Uesugi-san", which is the most formal way to do it and could be sometimes considered to be the equivalent of "Mr Uesugi." Adding "-san" shows respect, and as their tutor she gives it to him.

Yotsuba is the reason why the girls changed school because she's the only one who couldn't remedy her failing score in a second exam. She has a correspondingly low opinion of herself. While she is indeed a scatterbrain she also has a good mind for English, a subject that requires some intuition and feel for language.

In keeping with her generally cute and puppy dog personality, her accessory is a ribbon that sticks out like two bunny ears. When Yotsuba is tired or sad, it flops. When she has an idea, it perks. Yotsuba is near-incapable of saying no, and her physical prowess makes her sought after by sports clubs in school - including the basketball club and the track team.

Yotsuba can be refreshing, but she wears herself down trying to make everybody else happy. Technically she's the first one to say "I like/love you" to Kintaro, though she says it was to prove she can convincingly lie. The moment is perfect, and in fact surprises are Yotsuba's theme. She sometimes catches on surprisingly quickly only for the others to deny her intuitions (which she believes). Count on Yotsuba to do something outlandish.

Technically Yotsuba, however, has never said she has a crush on Futaro - whereas the other four have all admitted it. She's however the girl Futaro met in Kyoto five years ago where she became his big life-changing crush. She's also one of the two hottest candidates for the spring break mystery as to which girl ran up to Futaro and kissed him under the bell just because how spontaneous she is. (All girls were wearing the same to appease their grandfather, so we as viewers can't really tell who it was. But Futaro later references this moment as the start of what leads to marrying one of them - when that one started to become "special.")

Yotsuba is wonderful for comedy because she's like a broken flight recorder. She takes in everything but then combines factoids in surprising ways.

And after two seasons of this show I can't believe Yotsuba will be "it," but they keep awfully quiet about her actual feelings, dammit.

Itsuki

Does this show need another tsundere? Why yes, it does. Number 5 (named after an alternative word for five instead of the "go" used for counting) is the best tsundere by far. Brash and awkward, inside Itsuki cares. She will cry by herself over the arguments she has with Futaro or if she excludes herself because of her stubborness.

As season 2 finally establishes, Itsuki strongly takes after the mother role. But even at the start she immediately "falls" for Futaro's little sister Raiha. She also immediately fits like a mother into the Uesugi household whenever she shows up. When she doesn't know where to go she shows up on the Uesugi doorstep, being the only one who ever visited the place. We see her in a picture with Raiha making the two of them look like mom and dad, we see them sleeping in the same room with the girl between them - she just slots in, she can almost not help it.

Her mother was a teacher, and every month Itsuki goes and burns incense to honor her late mother at her grave. Itsuki wants to become a teacher, and she also wants to ensure Futaro is suitable as an authority and teacher figure, making this her motivation to check him out more.

She also tries to discipline Nino when she crosses the threshold. It's Itsuki that notices that Futaro hand-wrote all their problem sets because he's too poor to print them and he actually cares about tutoring them properly. However, she cannot handle the ensuing situation and runs away herself, knowing she put Nino into a spot that it's really hard to walk back out of after demonstrating how wrong she is in front of the others.

Itsuki calls Futaro "Uesugi-kun", a term appropriate for a classmate while also being nice. Prim and proper and a bit compulsive are her traits. She actually studies but then messes up her exams by obsessing about some answers and then not finishing. At times when the quints mislead a teacher or go against a teacher's order she's the only one that's outright mortified.

It's clear that Itsuki wants Futaro, though she is least vocal about it and supports the others in their pursuits. She tries to showcase Yotsuba as the Kyoto girl, for example. When she shops for hot underwear she also struggles with how forward that is. We learn the least about Itsuki's feelings, though, since her other trait is awkward. It's downright funny to see the same girl calling Futaro "too forward" when he leans his head on her shoulder (he actually was near passing out) but then buying a pair of underwear that makes both her and Miku blush and sweat when they actually look at it, showing her conflicting sides in lace.

While I'm personally in Team Miku, I consider from what I know now Itsuki as the hottest candidate for Futaro's heart. From their clashing personalities to being the first he runs into at school to the ease with which she slots into his life to... everything. To her Futaro says he will be a surrogate father if her own isn't up to it. And I consider her to be one of the two likely candidates for the kiss.

Why? Even in disguise, Miku is still Miku. (Though Futaro "seeing her" even in disguise is huuuuge for her.) We see Ichika, Nino's, and Miku's moves on screen - which makes you wonder where Itsuki is in all this, especially given all I said above. She's almost hidden in comparison.

Also take note of another thing she does: She wants to evaluate Futaro. This is brought to us in an exchange with Ichika which states that he's not like their dad. Which implies that her mom chose poorly for her second marriage - Mr Nakano has the charm (and eyes) of a snake and none of the daughters actually lives with him, they just visit him like he was a divorced parent. You could think she evaluates him for the sake of her sisters (she does this after discovering Ichika's crush, and everybody knows about Miku - even Futaro notices). But we might as well assume that in Itsuki's potential self-deception she also wants to make sure he's good enough for her. She never excludes herself when she says "we" need to be wiser about choosing men, after all.

Itsuki's accessories are her red hair, her cowlick, and the stars she wears in her hair. And she seems to burn calories real quick because she's always eating.

My bet

My personal favorite is Miku, partially because the show really makes us feel her plight, but I also have a foible for the "type." After making us care and empathize this much and giving her this much felt spotlight, it would almost be mean if it was anybody else.

However, I suspect it would turn out to be Itsuki for all the reasons stated in her section. She's "meta-positioned" best.

If it was anyone but these two I would be mad. Because the other three are a stretch, even though Ichika and Yotsuba are great as well. Nino... I don't know.

It shows how strong the show is that I would be sad no matter which one "wins." They all are characters we come to care about, their problems, their little dramas, their quirks. That's what makes the whole show work. It doesn't obsess about romance. Futaro and the girls meet on a human level first. While it cannot be called a "slow burner" by any means, it definitely establishes things first properly and always builds from the characters. I guess I'll know after tonight - unless there's a twist or cop-out ending. Which I might be happy with, too. (The enormous amount of white dresses seemed excessive.) Lame as that may be. Once a show convinces you that streaks of color on a screen are people you care for, it really did its job.

The only thing I know is that the underlying manga has finished. I wanted to see the conclusion on screen, though, as voices and color play such a big role in the show and are executed so well. Sadly all good things come to an end, and I hope a satisfying one.

[aprilandsteven81]

Maryland Wedding Photography: Professional Photos to Cherish Forever

When it comes to your wedding day, capturing the perfect moments is essential. Wedding photography Maryland offers couples the opportunity to preserve those precious memories with stunning, professional images that will last a lifetime. In this article, we’ll explore why choosing a skilled wedding photographer in Maryland is crucial and how you can ensure you get the best wedding photos for your special day.

Why Choose Wedding Photography Maryland?

Wedding photography Maryland is known for its diverse settings and beautiful landscapes, offering countless opportunities for breathtaking wedding photos. From the historical charm of Baltimore to the scenic beauty of the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland provides a variety of backdrops that can make your wedding photography uniquely personal and unforgettable.

A professional photographer with experience in Maryland wedding photography knows how to take advantage of these beautiful locations. They are experts in capturing both the intimate moments of your ceremony and the larger celebrations of your reception, ensuring that every special moment is immortalized in high-quality images.

The Benefits of Professional Wedding Photography Maryland

Expert Skill and Experience A seasoned wedding photographer in Maryland has the technical know-how to create stunning photos. With years of experience, they understand how to work with lighting, composition, and timing to ensure each photo is perfect. Whether you’re looking for candid shots or posed portraits, they will know how to capture your best angles and preserve the raw emotion of the day.

Local Knowledge Wedding photography Maryland requires familiarity with the area. From the best natural light spots to the most picturesque venues, a local photographer knows where to go and what time of day to take the best photos. This local knowledge is invaluable, as it allows for photos that perfectly complement Maryland’s beauty.

Customized Packages Wedding photography Maryland often offers customized packages tailored to your specific needs. Whether you want an intimate shoot with close family and friends or a large wedding with many guests, photographers can adjust their services to ensure your day is captured in the way you envision.

What to Expect from Wedding Photography Maryland Services

When hiring a wedding photographer in Maryland, you can expect several important services that will help make your day stress-free. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect:

Pre-Wedding Consultation Many photographers offer a consultation to get to know you as a couple. This meeting allows them to understand your style, preferences, and the specific moments you want captured. It also gives you a chance to discuss any questions you may have regarding the process.

Engagement Photos Engagement photos are often included in wedding photography Maryland packages. These photos allow you to get comfortable in front of the camera before the big day and give your photographer an opportunity to understand your personalities and preferences better.

Professional Editing After the wedding day, your photographer will carefully go through the photos and select the best ones. Then, they will apply professional editing to enhance the quality, color, and mood of the images. This ensures that your final wedding photos are stunning and high-quality.

Online Gallery and Prints Many Maryland wedding photographers provide an online gallery where you can view and download your images. Additionally, they often offer prints or albums to help you preserve and display your favorite moments from the day.

Tips for Choosing the Best Wedding Photographer in Maryland

When selecting your wedding photography Maryland professional, it’s important to do your research and choose someone who understands your vision. Here are a few tips:

Check Reviews and Portfolios: Look at the photographer’s portfolio and read reviews from past couples. This will give you a sense of their style and quality of work.

Discuss Your Budget: Be clear about your budget before booking, and ensure that the photographer can offer packages that fit within it.

Meet in Person: It’s essential to meet with potential photographers to make sure you’re comfortable with their style and personality.

Conclusion

Choosing the right wedding photography Maryland professional ensures that the memories of your special day will last forever. With an experienced photographer, you can capture the magic of your wedding, from candid moments to beautiful portraits. By investing in high-quality wedding photography Maryland, you’re ensuring that your love story will be beautifully told through every picture.

[dronetour334]

Exploring the Beauty of "Drone Photography Mumbai

In recent years, drone photography has revolutionized the way we capture stunning landscapes, urban sceneries, and moments that were once inaccessible. Among the cities that stand out for their breathtaking drone photography potential, Mumbai shines bright. Known as the city that never sleeps, Mumbai is a bustling metropolis with a unique blend of modern skyscrapers, historical landmarks, and scenic coastlines. Let’s delve into the world of drone photography in Mumbai and explore why it has become a favorite among photographers and filmmakers.

Why Mumbai is Perfect for Drone Photography

Mumbai’s diverse geography offers endless opportunities for capturing captivating visuals. From the iconic Marine Drive to the architectural marvels of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and the Gateway of India, drones provide a fresh perspective that traditional photography cannot achieve. The city’s skyline, with its juxtaposition of modern high-rises and colonial-era buildings, becomes even more dramatic when viewed from above.

The beaches of Mumbai, such as Juhu Beach and Aksa Beach, are popular spots for aerial photography, especially during sunrise and sunset. The Bandra-Worli Sea Link, another iconic structure, looks mesmerizing when captured from a drone, showcasing the intricate engineering against the backdrop of the Arabian Sea.

Benefits of Drone Photography Mumbai

Unique Perspectives: Drones allow photographers to capture angles and heights that are impossible with traditional cameras. This unique perspective adds an artistic edge to every shot.

Cost-Effective Solutions: For real estate, wedding photography, or film production, drone photography is a cost-effective alternative to hiring helicopters or cranes for aerial shots.

Versatility: Drones are versatile tools that can be used for a variety of purposes, from cinematic shots to surveying landscapes.

Applications of Drone Photography in Mumbai

1. Real Estate: The booming real estate market in Mumbai has embraced drone photography to showcase properties from an aerial view. This gives potential buyers a better understanding of the surroundings and the property’s location.

2. Tourism and Advertising: Mumbai’s tourism industry heavily relies on promotional videos that highlight the city’s beauty. Drone photography plays a pivotal role in creating these impactful visuals.

3. Weddings: Aerial shots of weddings have become increasingly popular in Mumbai. Drones capture candid moments, sprawling venues, and the grandeur of Indian weddings in ways traditional cameras cannot.

Tips for Drone Photography in Mumbai

Understand Local Regulations: Mumbai, like other Indian cities, has strict drone usage policies. Make sure to follow all DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) guidelines and obtain necessary permits.

Choose the Right Time: Early mornings and late evenings offer the best lighting for drone photography.

Be Weather-Aware: Mumbai’s monsoons can be challenging for drone operations. Ensure you plan your shoots during clear weather.

A Quick Comparison: Drone photography Bangalore vs. Mumbai

While Mumbai offers its coastal charm, drone photography in Bangalore provides lush greenery, historical landmarks, and a quieter atmosphere. Bangalore’s gardens and tech parks make for stunning aerial shots, contrasting Mumbai’s urban hustle.

Conclusion

Drone photography in Mumbai is a gateway to capturing the soul of the city from a bird’s-eye view. With the right equipment, creativity, and adherence to regulations, photographers can immortalize the vibrancy and charm of this incredible city. Whether you’re a professional or an amateur, exploring Mumbai through drone photography is an experience like no other.

[alltrade]

How to Choose the Right Camera for Your Photography Needs

Finding the perfect camera can be overwhelming, especially with so many options available. Whether you’re a beginner, hobbyist, or professional, choosing the right camera involves assessing your photography needs and matching them with the right features. Here’s a guide to help you make the right decision.

1. Determine Your Photography Style

Your photography goals will greatly influence the type of camera you need. Ask yourself:

Are you shooting landscapes, portraits, sports, wildlife, or videos?

Do you need a camera for professional use or personal projects?

For instance, wildlife and sports photography require fast autofocus and high burst rates, while landscape photography benefits from high-resolution sensors and wide-angle lenses.

2. Types of Cameras to Consider

DSLRs: Known for their versatility, durability, and interchangeable lenses. Ideal for professionals and enthusiasts.

Mirrorless Cameras: Compact, lightweight, and offer advanced features. Perfect for travel or hybrid photo-video needs.

Point-and-Shoot Cameras: Affordable and user-friendly. Great for casual photographers.

Action Cameras: Rugged and portable. Best for adventure and vlogging.

Smartphone Cameras: A budget-friendly option for casual photography with advanced capabilities in newer models.

3. Essential Features to Look For

Megapixels: Higher resolution isn’t always better. A 16–24MP camera is ideal for most users.

Sensor Size: Full-frame sensors capture more detail and perform better in low light, while APS-C sensors offer good quality at a lower cost.

ISO Range: Important for low-light photography.

Autofocus System: Essential for fast-moving subjects.

Video Capabilities: If you plan to shoot videos, look for 4K resolution and stabilization features.

Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or NFC for easy file transfers.

4. Budget Considerations

Entry-level cameras (under $500): Perfect for beginners.

Mid-range cameras ($500-$1,500): Great for hobbyists and semi-pros.

High-end cameras ($1,500+): Designed for professionals needing advanced features.

Set a realistic budget and include costs for accessories like lenses, tripods, memory cards, and camera bags.

5. Test Before You Buy

Visit a local camera store to:

Hold the camera and check its ergonomics.

Test key features like the autofocus system and viewfinder.

Compare image quality between models.

6. Research and Read Reviews

Search online for camera reviews and comparisons. Check out YouTube videos, blogs, and forums where photographers share their experiences. Websites like DPReview, CameraLabs, and trusted e-commerce platforms can provide in-depth insights.

7. Invest in Lenses

If you opt for a DSLR or mirrorless camera, remember that lenses matter as much as the camera body. Prime lenses, zoom lenses, and specialty lenses like macro or telephoto can expand your creative possibilities.

Popular Searches for Choosing the Right Camera

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Top budget-friendly cameras for photography

Best cameras for vlogging and YouTube

Cameras with best low-light performance

Choosing the right camera is an investment in your creative journey. By understanding your needs, researching options, and considering your budget, you can find a camera that perfectly aligns with your photography goals.

For more expert tips on photography and gear, stay tuned to our blog and start your journey towards capturing stunning images today!

[kwikpic]

Best 10 Tips to Become a Professional Photographer

Photography is a profession that can be both fulfilling and exciting for various reasons. As a professional photographer, you can capture and freeze precious moments, emotions, and memories in pictures. Not only that, but you also have the chance to be creative and tell a story through visual art.

 A career in photography offers various opportunities, from weddings and portraits to commercial projects. Not only does it provide a means of self-expression, but it also opens the door to travel, meeting new people, and working in various sectors. 

The field of photography is constantly evolving, making it a challenging and dynamic industry. With technological advancements, there are always new techniques, editing software, and equipment to learn, keeping the profession exciting and providing growth opportunities. 

A photography career can be financially rewarding with hard work and dedication. “It’s a career path that allows you to do what you love and make a living doing it.”

Let’s explore some of the top tips for becoming a professional photographer

Here the tips to become professional photographer

Start by identifying your goals and interests

Invest in quality equipment

Try Everything to Know Your Strength

Practice, practice, practice

Develop your own style

Network

Build a strong portfolio

Learn to edit

Stay up-to-date

Be versatile

Never stop learning

Use the Best Photo-Sharing Platform to Share Your Photos

Benefits of using Kwikpic:

Conclusion

Start by identifying your goals and interests

If you combine your creative passion with a business mindset, pursuing a career in photography is a great choice. Before embarking on this path, as with any business venture, it is critical to assess your goals and interests. Consider asking yourself the following questions:

What motivates you?

Are you prepared to start small and work independently?

Are you comfortable working alone as a professional photographer?

Which niche of photography excites you the most?

What gaps in the market can you fill in your local area?

How do you plan on improving your skills?

What value can you offer to your clients?

By answering these questions, you’ll be well on your way to setting yourself up as a successful professional photographer.

Invest in quality equipment

When it comes to photography, the type of camera you use can significantly impact the quality of your images. Investing in a full-frame camera with interchangeable lenses is an excellent option for those looking to take their photography to the next level. These cameras are known for their superior image quality and low-light performance and have a wide range of focal lengths, making them versatile for various photography styles and subjects.

A professional photography career involves having the right camera and investing in quality lenses and accessories to enhance images. Lenses are a crucial aspect of a photographer’s kit and can significantly affect the final photo quality. A good set of lenses will allow you to capture a wide range of shots, from wide-angle landscapes to close-up portraits. 

Additionally, tripods and camera bags are essential for protecting your gear and achieving professional-looking photos. An external flash can also add more light to your shots and take your photography to the next level.

Try Everything to Know Your Strength

When you get your hands on a camera, you notice new possibilities all around you. Let’s look at some of the different types of photography you can try:

Event Photography

Portrait Photography

Product Photography

Fine Art Photography 

Fashion Photography 

Architectural Photography

Travel Photography

Trying every type of photography is an excellent way to discover your photography strengths. By experimenting with different genres, you can better understand what you enjoy and what you’re good at. It will also help you identify what type of photographer you are. For example, if you’re drawn to landscapes, you may have a keen eye for composition and an appreciation for the natural world. If you enjoy portrait photography, you may have a talent for connecting with your subjects and capturing their personalities.

On the other hand, street photography may reveal that you have a knack for capturing candid moments and telling stories through images. By trying different types of photography, you can discover your strengths and develop your own unique style. As a photographer, it’s important to explore different genres of photography to expand your skills and creativity. Experimenting with different types of photography, from candid moments to landscapes, can help you discover your strengths and improve your technique. This is crucial for those looking to make a career in photography.

Related Blog :- Why Kwikpic is the Best Photo Sharing App for You

Practice, practice, practice

A successful photography career requires a lot of practice. The more you practice, the better you’ll become. Experimenting with various subjects, lighting, and settings can help you discover your distinct style and what works best. Every opportunity to practice, whether with friends, family, or strangers, should be taken advantage of. You can advance your photography career by constantly honing your skills and experimenting with new techniques.

Develop your own style

Every photographer has their own unique style. At some point, you need to discover what type of photographer you are. Experiment with different techniques and approaches until you find an authentic kind. Finding your style is crucial, as it will help you stand out among other photographers.

To truly understand your strengths as a photographer, it’s essential to try various types of photography, such as portrait, landscape, action, and product photography. This will help you discover which genres you enjoy the most and where your talents lie.

You may also love to read:- places for pre-wedding shoot in India

Network

Networking and building relationships with other photographers, models, and industry professionals are essential to a successful photography career. By attending photography events, joining photography groups, and engaging with other photographers on social media.

You can learn new techniques, acquire gigs, and expand your portfolio. Building connections in the photography industry can open up new opportunities and provide valuable guidance and mentorship. So, it’s important to actively seek out and nurture relationships with other photographers and industry professionals to grow and develop your career in photography.

Build a strong portfolio

A strong portfolio is crucial for a photographer’s career and serves as a calling card, displaying your best work to potential clients and industry professionals. It’s essential to update your portfolio regularly with recent projects to keep it fresh and relevant, showcasing your current work and abilities. A strong portfolio is vital for getting gigs and building your reputation as a professional photographer.

It is the first thing that clients or recruiters will look at when considering hiring or collaborating with you. Hence, it is essential to pay attention to the visual presentation, the selection of works and their organization, and the overall quality of your portfolio. It should reflect your style and your best work, which will help you stand out from the crowd and attract new opportunities.

Hacks for Photographers :- Things Every Wedding Photographer Should Have

Learn to edit

The ability to edit your images is just as important as the ability to take them. Learn how to enhance your images using editing software such as Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. You must be proficient in some of the best photo editing software. 

Understanding editing software will assist you in producing polished and professional images. Use the best photo sharing app to ensure that the quality of your photos is not compromised.

Stay up-to-date

Photography is an ever-evolving industry, and it is vital to stay up-to-date with the industry’s latest trends, techniques, and technology. It can be done by following photographers on social media, attending workshops, and reading photography blogs to stay informed.

Be versatile

Being a professional photographer means being versatile and able to shoot a variety of subjects. Don’t limit yourself to just one type of photography; instead, be open to new opportunities and try different types of photography to find what you enjoy the most. Experimenting with different genres of photography can help you develop your skills and discover your strengths.

It can also help you find your unique style and create a diverse portfolio that showcases your abilities. By being open to new opportunities and trying different types of photography, you’ll be better equipped to take on various projects, which will help you develop your career in photography.

Keep your photography skills sharp, stay inspired by learning new techniques, and stay up-to-date with the latest trends in the industry. It will benefit your career and keep your passion for photography alive.

Never stop learning

As a professional photographer, you should always look for ways to improve your skills and knowledge. Take classes, workshops, or mentorship programs to grow as a photographer. Always strive to learn something new and never stop experimenting with new techniques, styles, and equipment.

Use the Best Photo-Sharing Platform to Share Your Photos

Sharing your photos with the world is an essential aspect of photography. With the rise of social media and photo sharing app, sharing your images with friends, family, and strangers has never been easier. However, not all photo sharing apps are created equal. Some apps may have better features, while others may offer different levels of security or privacy.  Whether you’re a professional photographer or enjoy taking photos as a hobby, using the best photo sharing app is vital for showcasing your work and getting the recognition you deserve.

The best photo sharing platform, Kwikpic, offers advanced AI technology to enhance your sharing experience. With its user-friendly interface, Kwikpic, makes it easy to share high-quality, edited photos with friends and family without compromising image resolution. Upgrade your photo sharing game with Kwikpic.

Benefits of using Kwikpic:

Share photos from your events among your clients by a share link, code or a QR code for them to conveniently find their own photos using Facial Recognition technology.

With Kwikpic’s Advanced Privacy Settings, you can create a Personal Group or a Public Group based on the event and client requirements. You can share the Full Access link with your client and Partial Access link with guests and attendees. 

From Client Analytics and Customizable Gallery Designs to Album Selection and Business Branding, take complete control of your client management and personalize your complete business experience as you see fit

Kwikpic offers Free Storage of up to 10 GB, so you’ll never have to worry about running out of space for your photos.

Easily upload all your photos at once using our convenient One Shot Upload feature, which uploads all the folders and subfolders of an album in one go!

Conclusion

Making a career in photography takes time, patience, and dedication, but following these tips can help you get there. Remember to practice, network, and stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends, and most importantly, never stop learning and growing as a photographer. Network with other photographers and practice your craft consistently to take your skills to the next level. With hard work and determination, you can turn your passion for photography into a successful professional career.

[axontecs]

Why Investing in High-Definition CCTV Cameras is a Smart Choice

In the current world, security is essential to all people who own property, including business people and homeowners. Since there has been an increasing number of heists and cases of theft, there has been a heightened need to install elaborate surveillance systems, of which high definition CCTV has proven to be a very useful tool in securing property and assets. In general, using HD CCTV systems for improved security has several benefits that are not characteristic of conventional analog cameras. With the help of the best CCTV installation company in Saudi Arabia, property owners can ensure top-notch security solutions with the latest HD CCTV technology. In this blog, the vast advantages of using High Definition closed-circuit television cameras, also known as HD CCTV cameras, will be discussed, along with reasons for purchasing them.

1. Superior Image Quality

A huge advantage that comes with the use of HD CCTV cameras is that they capture high picture quality images. The high-definition systems are way better than the standard analog cameras; in the sense that they very much offer a clear high resolution picture. When using HD cameras it is easy to distinguish individual faces, car registration numbers, as well as catching smaller objects and details in the best resolution possible. This improved resolution becomes very useful in cases where the suspect or the criminal needs to be identified.

2. Better Coverage

New generation High Definition CCTV cameras shooting angle is normally that of a wider angle in comparison to older analog systems. This means that for the same area, less cameras are used. For instance, instead of installing many cameras at strategic positions within an area, business persons and homeowners can install a few cameras but cover a large area, thus saving costs on the cameras. It also means more important areas like entryways, parking areas or the building perimeters and boundaries will be covered making surveillance much more effective due to reduction of blind zones.

3. Digital Zoom Capabilities

As illustrated by HD CCTV cameras, it enables you to zoom into footage and still not lose clarity of the images. The following is an outstanding feature when it comes to surveillance of large regions of the compound and observing the suspicious individuals. You can capture a subject and even if you focus on a particular subject, it is still very clear with a lot of details. Such flexibility can be used by law enforcement or security personnel to assemble important evidence in case of investigations.

4. Remote Monitoring and Control

Current HD CCTV systems are designed to be monitored remotely. The Internet enables its users to operate the system from different places, and using either a computer, a smartphone or a tablet they are able to view the live feed or recorded data. They can use it when they are on a business trip, or when the homeowner wants to monitor the house while at work. Remote monitoring increases the flexibility of use as well as the control you have over your security system incident and you are in a position to be able to respond to them immediately.

5. Improved Night Vision

The latest have features of high-definition, still, they incorporate infrared (IR) features that improve night vision. CCTV systems may prove unsuitable to work in low light areas, but that is not the case with HD cameras which work best in pitch dark conditions. This makes them perfect for round the clock guards, and this is because activities at both day and night can be well observed and documented. From surveillance of the exterior part of a building during the night or ensuring your car park is secure at night, nothing beats High Definition CCTV Cameras.

6. Cost-Effectiveness in the Long Run

Although the implementation of High Definition CCTV cameras costs much higher than analog systems, it is very advantageous to go for it in the long run. HD cameras are longer lasting and have less service charges; hence, they offer a higher value as they have longer cycles of service without needing repairs or replacements. Moreover, since the high definition systems provide better resolution, they are more compatible with different technology, eliminating the need for frequent overhauls. In the long run, the best and most VALUE for money option is the installation of high definition Closed Circuit Television systems, which perform better and last longer. Choosing the best CCTV installation company in Saudi Arabia ensures you get the most out of your investment by having your HD CCTV system professionally installed and maintained for optimal performance.

7. Better Storage Management

CCTV systems these days have high definition which makes the recording be stored and accessed easily since it has a very efficient digital storage system. A modern HD varies greatly from older analog systems that employed tapes or hard detachable disks thus offering more reliability and flexibility through the use of network video recorders/NVRs or through cloud storage. Since there are better storage technologies available now, the HD CCTV systems allow them to store huge amounts of footage information for a longer time as required in case of reviewing a particular event or investigating an occurrence. In addition, cloud storage will enable the recorded videos to be viewed from a distance, and you will never be locked out of significant security information.

8. Scalability and Integration

As security needs rise, the HD CCTV systems can effortlessly add more cameras and more areas to be monitored on the system. Contemporary systems are also fairly extensible; they can be supplemented with new options or more cameras without the requirement for replacement. In addition, the options of HD CCTV systems are compatible with other security measures, for instance an alarm system, access control system, and so on to form a systemic security system. This integration enhances easy monitoring and management as compared to when dealing with different systems.

9. Enhanced Security Features

Some systems are incorporated with advanced components like motion detection, face recognition, object tracking amongst others in most of the High Definition CCTV cameras today. These advanced capabilities add features to your surveillance system making it easy to control and operate. For instance, the feature that lets the cameras begin recording after detecting movement helps to avoid recording continuous videos, which are needless and waste storage space, not to mention the fact that useful parts of videos can easily be found if recording starts the moment there is an event to record. Likewise, facial recognition and object tracking could be used to spot certain individuals or track any suspicious activities and serve as strong reinforcements.

10. Deterrent Effect

HD CCTV cameras have the impact of just their presence to discourage any unlawful individuals from perpetrating a crime. When people observe that a certain property is under surveillance by high integrity cameras, they will probably not indulge in thievery, vandalism, or other malice. Indeed there has been evidence that clearly seen CCTV cameras deter crime as observed from the correlation between crime rates and the conspicuous positioning of CCTV cameras. Just by installing higher definition, improved cameras, you are not only increasing security but also making sure that potential vandals are aware that the building they are trying to damage is safe and that the occupants are willing to protect it.

Conclusion

If you are considering improving your security, it will be wise to opt for high-definition CCTV cameras. In addition to offering better image quality and improved coverage of an area, high-definition systems have numerous benefits over the old analog cameras, such as the ability to remotely monitor and better nighttime scenes. They have the advantage of offering clear and detailed images together with reduced blind spots and extensive scalability, and this explains why the system is cost-effective in the long run and offers good protection. For someone who owns a business or a house, it is always a wise choice to switch to high-definition CCTV cameras to ensure your place is being watched by reliable surveillance, especially when you choose the best CCTV installation company in Saudi Arabia to handle the setup and maintenance.

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Footwear Product Photographer: Capturing the Perfect Shot for Your Brand

Introduction

In the competitive world of e-commerce and online branding, footwear product photography holds immense importance. A well-shot photograph not only showcases the design and quality of the product but also drives customer trust and engagement. This blog explores the nuances of footwear photography, from essential tools to FAQs, to help you excel in this art form and boost your brand.

Why is footwear product photography important?

Footwear photography is more than just capturing pictures; it’s about telling a story. A few benefits include:

Increased Conversions: High-quality images attract more buyers.

Better Branding: Consistent and professional photos build brand trust.

Enhanced User Experience: Customers feel more confident purchasing when they see detailed, appealing images.

Essential Equipment for Footwear Photography

1. Camera

Use a DSLR or mirrorless camera with features like high resolution, interchangeable lenses, and manual settings.

2. Lighting

Good lighting highlights textures, colors, and materials. Use softboxes, LED panels, or natural light for the best results.

3. Tripod

A tripod ensures steady and consistent images, especially for macro or close-up shots.

4. Backgrounds

A clean, simple background, such as white or black, keeps the focus on the footwear.

5. Editing Tools

Software like Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom is crucial for postprocessing.

Key Techniques for Footwear Photography

1. Highlighting Details

Focus on intricate details like stitching, logos, and textures. Use macro lenses for close-ups.

2. Lighting and Shadows

Control light to avoid harsh shadows. Experiment with reflectors to illuminate darker areas.

3. Angles That Sell

Capture multiple angles, including side, top-down, and 45-degree shots to showcase the product comprehensively.

4. Lifestyle Images

Incorporate lifestyle photography where models wear the footwear, providing context and relatability for customers.

SEO Tips for Footwear Photography

Rename Files: Use descriptive names like “men-leather-shoes-brown.jpg.”

Optimize Alt Text: Include keywords while describing the image.

Compress Images: Reduce file sizes without sacrificing quality.

Use Structured Data: Add schema markup to improve search engine understanding.

Common Footwear Photography Mistakes to Avoid

Poor lighting that washes out details.

Overly cluttered backgrounds.

Ignoring post-processing to refine the image.

Inconsistent angles and presentation.

FAQs About Footwear Product Photography

Q: What camera is best for footwear photography?

A DSLR or mirrorless camera with a macro lens is ideal for capturing footwear details.

Q: How can I ensure consistency in my product images?

Use a tripod, uniform lighting, and similar angles for every product shoot.

Q: Is post-processing necessary?

Yes, it helps refine images, adjust brightness, and correct imperfections.

Conclusion

Footwear product photography is a vital aspect of e-commerce success. By investing in the right equipment, mastering techniques, and focusing on SEO, you can create images that captivate and convert. Whether you’re a brand owner or a photographer, these tips will help elevate your craft and boost your online presence.

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Why Every Couple Should Consider an Engagement Photo Session

Introduction

Engagement photo sessions have become an integral part of modern relationships. In a world where visual storytelling reigns supreme, couples are increasingly recognizing the value of documenting their love story before the big day. An engagement shoot offers a unique opportunity to capture your personalities, share your journey, and create beautiful memories that will last a lifetime. Whether you’re looking for Birmingham wedding photographers or west midlands wedding photographer options, this article delves https://www.google.com/maps/place/?cid=11358797318047951201 into why every couple should consider an engagement photo session.

Why Every Couple Should Consider an Engagement Photo Session

Engagement photo sessions provide more than just pretty pictures; they encapsulate the essence of your relationship at a specific moment in time. Here are some compelling reasons why every couple should invest in this experience:

1. Establishing Comfort with Your Photographer

One of the primary benefits of an engagement photo session is getting to know your wedding photographer. This is particularly important if you've been searching for "wedding photographers near me." Spending time together during the shoot allows you to build rapport and comfort, ensuring that you're more relaxed on your wedding day. A strong rapport can lead to more natural photos that truly represent you as a couple.

2. Creating Unique Keepsakes

The images captured during an engagement session can serve as beautiful keepsakes that commemorate this special stage in your relationship. These photographs can be framed and displayed in your home or used in announcements and invitations, adding a personal touch to your wedding plans.

3. Showcasing Your Personal Style

Every couple has their unique style and story. An engagement shoot provides the perfect platform for showcasing who you are as individuals and as a couple. From outfits to locations, everything can be tailored to reflect your personality and interests.

4. Exploring Locations Together

Choosing the right location for your shoot is crucial, as it sets the tone for the entire collection of images. You might opt for picturesque parks, urban settings, or even meaningful locations that hold sentimental value. This exploration gives you both an opportunity to bond while also allowing for creativity in your photos.

5. Building Confidence in Front of the Camera

Many couples feel awkward or shy in front of the camera, especially if they've never had professional photos taken before. An engagement session helps ease these concerns by giving you practice posing and interacting naturally while being photographed.

The Benefits of Hiring Professional Wedding Photographers

When it comes to capturing those precious moments, hiring professional Birmingham wedding photographers or West Midlands wedding photographers can make all the difference.

6. Expertise in Capturing Emotions

Professional photographers possess the skills needed to capture candid moments filled with emotion—something amateur photography often lacks. They understand lighting, angles, and framing better than most, ensuring that each image tells a story.

7. High-Quality Equipment

A professional photogr