Fitness - Spot-Shaping Plus, fitness trainning, personal and group, school fitness, around waist

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Fitness - Spot-Shaping Plus
Personal Training:
Aerobics are the only exercise that can burn fat, while sensible eating prevents fat from accumulating on your muscles. However some people have specific problem spots-arms, thighs, love-handles at the waist, etc. which stubbornly droop even after having lost fat. This is where weight training - let's call it spot-shaping - comes in.
While your layer of fat above a muscle is being steadily burned off, these spot-shapers firm up specific areas so that they shrink and take up less space. That means, for example, you will lose the treacherous inches that form those unseemly love handles. On the other hand, if you want to gain inches at some other spot, you just have to increase the weights you work out with.
Spot-shaping is much like painting a full-length portrait of yourself. Obviously, you want to look better and with a few strokes of the brush make your hips appear more streamlined. So it is with spot-shaping, Suddenly, one day, you look in the mirror and marvel, "Is that really me?" That special feeling of looking good goes beyond mere cosmetic changes. There are other positive off-shoots. Things become clearer somehow. Circumstances which had previously appeared to be mountainous, magically assume the proportions of a mole-hill. You don t shrink from situations like you did earlier. With the there-is-nothing-to-be-nervous about feeling coursing through you, you become more calm, more relaxed. You can view situations with a clear mind.
All these bonuses come to you little by little. Both physically and mentally you are stronger, swifter and more flexible. You will understand what me mean when you hear about Raksha, an executive in a multinational firm. As long as she was obese, she was always fatigued at the end of the day. One day, she took to aerobics and sensible eating. It took her three years to burn off all that fat. Then, she decided to go in for weight-training. Seeing those tiny dumb bells in her apartment several friends exclaimed "You Use these? Aren't you worried about muscling-up? But Raksha was enjoying her new feeling of well-being too much to pay attention to such misconceptions. She persevered. She barely realised it but she was enjoying her job more, reveling in meeting and co-ordinating with suppliers. "I didn't know that I was communicating positive vibrations " she says. Until, one hassled colleague told her wistfully, I wish I could be as relaxed and at ease as you are. You never look fussed up or tired." That was when it dawned on Raksha how her fitness lifestyle had paid off. She was to receive yet another compliment from a youngster called Amita who had recently joined the organisation.
One day, Amita walked up to her hesitantly and said, "I hope you don't mind me saying this. But you have such a terrific poise are so slim that I cannot believe you were ever overweight as the others say. Were you really?" It lit a warm glow of achievement within Raksha. For Amita was a petite four feet ten inches who couldn't have weighed more than-forty kg. "A remark coming from such a fragile-looking person made me feel on top of the world!" laughs Raksha.
If you are not overly fat, spot-shaping will give you that sleek contoured look within a month or so. If you are overweight, you don't show as dramatically since the fat is still present. But your skin will look firmer and tauter. And as you continue to lose fat, you will see those sudden swoops and curves that you never knew had existed below all that blubber! With your flesh toning up, you will also see your stretch marks fading.
Understanding spot-shaping
Spot-shaping is essentially strengthening a muscle or a group of muscles in a specific area, To achieve this, you have to move that muscle through the maximum range of motion of the joint to which it is strung to. To illustrate: you might have watched a body-builder in action. He wants to develop his-biceps-muscle. He holds a dumbbell in his hand and extends his arm downward by straightening his elbow. Then, he brings it upwards, bending his elbow. What he is doing is extending his elbow joint both ways as far as it can go. This exercise works on his biceps by expanding and contracting that, muscle while simultaneously making his elbow joint more I, flexible. Try it once without a dumbbell. You will immediately understand i, the principle underlying it. The dumbbell is there to add just that amount of overload required. The bone and muscle are adaptable.
They adapt to this added resistance and grow stronger and sleeker. One such complete motion - of extending the arm down and up as mentioned above - is called a rep (abbreviation of repetition) in fitness lingo. And a given number of reps is called a set. If you bend your arm down and up eight times, it means you are doing one set of eight reps. Like in tennis six games (like reps). Make one set.
Your muscle responds best if you do a minimum of eight to twelve reps per set. You need to rest for a second between each set for an efficient muscle workout.For spot-shaping, you have to do several reps with light weights. This shrinks the specific bulging area and gives you the firm, sleek look you desire. To avoid risk of injury, do each rep smoothly and slowly.
From all that you have read until now, you would have understood that it is not important how much you lift but how many reps you can do. To avoid muscle soreness, follow this pattern:
First week: one set of 5 reps of each exercise.
Second to third week: one set of 10 reps of each exercise.
Fourth week: Two sets of 8 reps of each exercise.
Fifth week: Three sets of 8 to 10 reps of each exercise.
You needn't stick to this pattern. Increase your reps only when you find them becoming too easy. Always inhale as you lift, exhale as you return to the starting position.
Do your spot-shapers with weights after your aerobic workout. This way, your muscles are already warmed up and will not get injured. If you don't have an uninterrupted time - span to do both, warm up before your spot, shapers with eight minutes of inch stepping. And wear anything that is comfortable and allows you free movement.
The good news you will enjoy hearing is that you need to do spot-shaping only three times a week! However, if you find that too much for your stamina, even twice a week gives you fairly satisfying results, But it's important to keep a gap of 48 hours between sessions, That is how long it takes for your muscles to recover. In fact, you should not weight-train every day.
What you need for spot-shaping
For women: two 5-pound dumbbells
two 5-pound ankle weights.
For men: two 10-pound dumbbells.
Of course, these are weights recommended for the average man or woman. but you could buy lighter weights if you think these are too heavy for you. If you wish to give yourself a trial period initially, you could be/five or ten pounds of raw rice or pulses into two cloth bags and get them double-stitched firmly on all four sides. Strap them around your wrists or ankle and exercise. Once you get the feel of it you can go in for dumbbells and ankle weights.
We have given you an entire range of spot-shapers. Choose the ones you require depending on which area you want to firm up.

Best Digital Cameras: Top 10 Digital Camera Reviews and Ratings

We rounded up the ten best digital cameras and some great digital camera reviews. Check out our selections from top digital camera manufacturers like Canon, Nikon, Leica, Fujifilm and more.
Looking for a sweet digicam or stylish DSLR camera for the holidays? Look no further– We’ve listed an assortment of cameras in a range of styles, prices and uses. Here’s our top ten favorite digital camera with their reviews.

Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR
    Resolution  12 megapixels fuji-finepix-f00
    Optical Zoom  5x
    Effective Sensor Resolution 12,000,000 pixels
    Digital Zoom 4.4 x
    Shooting Modes Frame movie mode
    Max Shutter Speed 1/1500 sec
    Min Shutter Speed  8 sec

Kodak EasyShare M1033
    Resolution: 10 megapixels kodak-easyshare-m1033
    Optical zoom: 3 x
    Resolution 10 megapixels
    Color Support Color
    Optical Sensor Type CCD
    Total Pixels 10,300,000 pixels
    Effective Sensor Resolution 10,000,000 pixels
    Digital Zoom 5 x
    Special Effects Sepia , Neutral , Low color , High color , Black & White
    Max Shutter Speed 1/1448 sec
    Min Shutter Speed 8 sec
    Exposure Compensation ±2 EV range, in 1/3 EV steps
    Supported Flash Memory MultiMediaCard ,  SD Memory Card
    Integrated Memory 32 MB

Pentax OTPIO W80
    Optical zoom 5X
    Focal length (equiv.)5-25mm (28-140mm)
    Digital zoom 6.25X
    Combined zoom 31.3Xpentax-w80
    12.1 Megapixels
    5X Internal Optical Zoom
    Wide angle 28mm lens
    2.5 inch LCD screen

Best digital cameras for travel, DSLR

(Travel + Leisure) -- You're out for drinks at a tango hall in Buenos Aires, with your bulky digital SLR camera back in the hotel room. As the dancers pause in a dramatic embrace, you reach for your smartphone. But it's too dim, and by the time the built-in camera focuses, the moment has passed.
Travel + Leisure: Best travel gadgets 2011
Welcome to one of today's biggest travel photography conundrums. Five-or-more-megapixel smartphones give us a false sense of being covered, photo-wise. But all too often, they fall short, and we're left with blurry, even discolored vacation photos. The truth is that dedicated digital cameras are just as important as ever.
Fortunately, the digital SLR -- with its super-fast shutter speeds, big image sensors, and interchangeable lenses -- is no longer the only option for top-notch photos. By ditching the internal reflective mirror that gives the SLR its what-you-see-is-what-you-get viewfinder, a new generation of interchangeable lens cameras provides the same versatility, image quality and performance at about two-thirds of the size and weight. You'll really appreciate the difference after a day of sightseeing.
Travel + Leisure: America's most romantic restaurants
Going on an extended vacation that combines hiking, city tours, midnight walks and wakeboarding? The mirrorless interchangeable lens camera is up to the challenge: Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3, for example, has 11 different lenses, among them, wide-angle, telephoto and zoom, that can handle any situation.
If you prefer something smaller, it's worth upgrading to the latest generation of pocket-ready point-and-shoot cameras, which offer many advantages over camera phones. New features include built-in GPS, which automatically geo-tags images with their location -- allowing you to share and map vacation routes later online via services such as Google Panoramio. The Pentax Optio WG-1's built-in GPS can even tell you which Cayman Islands coral reef you photographed, since it's waterproof up to 33 feet.
Travel + Leisure: Vote for the best new landmarks
One advantage you do get with a smartphone is the ability to instantly share your pictures online. But some cameras now offer workarounds: the Kodak Playfull has a special function that lets you tag photos for sharing, then automatically uploads them the next time you connect to your computer. Similarly, an add-on for the Olympus PEN E-PL2 will send your pictures wirelessly to your cell phone via Bluetooth, allowing you to upload on the fly. Check out the gallery above for some of the best travel camera options.
Travel + Leisure: World's scariest bridges

Best Portrait Photographers, Photography course student, hobby for life

Best Portrait Photographers, Photography course student, hobby for life
These photographers show incredible talent
I am collating a list of the leading portrait photographers around the world and will refer my clients to the best person in their area. Please contact me if you would like to be considered for inclusion.
I create unique jewelry by carving a portrait in gemstone and setting it into gold. I want to have the very best portrait photographs to use for my cameo portraits. I often ask my clients to visit the best portrait photographer in their area to have a photo shoot.
I will not automatically add a photographer to this lens. I need to be satisfied that their work is of a very high standard.
What makes a great portrait photograph
How a photo studio creates the best shots
Great Lighting, relaxed subjects and dynamic composition.
This is where a professional really earns their fee. There are two approaches; in the studio or outside.
Some photographers like to set up their shots in their own studio. Here they have total control over the lighting and backgrounds. Some very dramatic and breathtaking photos can be shot this way. Relaxing the subject is so important and takes some real skill to achieve inside a studio.
One of the best examples is the work of Linnea Lenkus in Los Angeles. These are amongst the very best images that I have ever seen and any of these pictures would make a striking Portrait Cameo Jewel.
Another approach is to move outside the studio. Here you can often create a more informal portrait, possibly with a hand-held camera.
This is done to great effect by Meredith Zinner in New York. The subject may be more relaxed out of doors or may even in their home. There is also the chance to add an interesting background for the photo shoot.

How to Take Better Portrait Photos, Photography course student, hobby for life

Portrait photos are very impressive. A good portrait can project so much emotions and feelings and captivate the viewer. Taking high quality portrait photos is an art that takes time to master. This article will give you a few guidelines that can help you achieve high quality portrait photos in a short time and without being a professional photographer.
When taking portraits photos try to follow the following guidelines:
Choose the right background: A portrait photo is all about the object's face. The most important part of the photo is the face. Choosing the right background can make sure the viewer is focused on the face. Pick a neutral background that does not attract attention. For example a soft solid color background is better than a busy street background. Avoid having people or moving objects in the background.
Blur the background: In addition to choosing a neutral background you should further blur it. This will put even more emphasis on the object instead of its surroundings. Blurring the background is best achieved by taking a photo using a shallow depth of field. This can be accomplished by using a zoom lens and shooting from a short distance or with a wide aperture manual setting. If your camera does not allow you to blur the photo by setting a shallow depth of field (for example it is hard to achieve such a depth of field with simple pocket cameras) you can always blur the background later using photo processing software on your computer.
Focus on the eyes: The center of a good portrait should be the object's eyes. Before taking the photo look at the object eyes and try to figure out what story they tell. Depending on what you would like to capture in the portrait guide the object to look straight to the camera or maybe sideways focusing on some object. Adding a smile is also recommended unless you specifically want a face that does not smile in order to send some message to the viewer.
Use natural lighting: Natural lighting is necessary in order to capture the full color range and warmth of the skin. It is best to take portrait photos outdoors during the day. When shooting outdoors position the object in a way that the sun light hits it from the side. Never take a photo with the sun behind the object - results in shading - or right in front of the object - results in over exposing the face and distorting its natural colors. If some shades appear on the face use a soft fill-in flash to get rid of them. If you have to shoot indoors and use artificial lighting always use indirect light sources such as bounce flash or lights that illuminate the room instead of directly shining on the object.
Take many photos and experiment: I can not over emphasize this. In the digital era the cost of taking another photo is zero. One of the best ways to shoot a great photo is simply by shooting many photos. In fact all professional photographers do that they keep on shooting more and more photos so don't be shy about it. Experiment with different settings - lighting, object position, white balancing settings to get different color temperatures, exposures, depth of field and more. When you are done sit down and sort the photos until you choose the one that you like the best. It is common sense that the chances of finding that one great photo are much higher if you tried 500 photos than if you just shot a few.
In conclusion if you have a good camera and the willingness to experiment portrait photo shooting you will quickly achieve the skills needed in order to shoot great portraits and impress your friends with portraits photos that look impressive and professional

 

Capture Special Moments and Admire for a Lifetime - photography course student, hobby for life

Capture Special Moments and Admire for a Lifetime - photography course student, hobby for life.Detlev von Kessel is a professional portrait photographer serving the Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice, Longboat Key and Siesta Key areas.  With European style and flair, Detlev brings out the best of any occasion and captures it for a lifetime of sharing and enjoyment.
Portrait Specialties:

• Wedding portrait photography – Detlev captures the magic that fills the air on this special day.
• Maternity portrait photography – A woman’s true beauty radiates while carrying a child. Remember your child’s journey to birth with portraits.
• Baby portrait photography – From birth to special religious ceremonies, photography captures the memories. Immortalize every moment with professional portraits.
• Children’s portrait photography – For not much more than the cost of school pictures, have a professional photograph your children.  You’ll treasure these photographs forever.
• Family portrait photography – Sarasota Florida’s natural beauty provides the extraordinary backdrops for family portraits. These family portraits are especially popular for Christmas mailings to friends and family.
• Prom portraits – Catch rare moments as your young adult “dresses to the nines.”
• High school senior portraits – From home coming events to graduation day, this may be the last chance to capture youth slipping away before becoming your children leave home as adults.
• Family reunion portraits – With lives changing so fast, you never know if you will have the opportunity to capture these moments in pictures again.

Portrait photography keeps memories strong. Many moments of our lives are forgotten from the lack of pictures to remind us of the special times and landmarks in our lives. Don’t let special moments slip away.  Choose Detlev von Kessel, a professional Sarasota photographer to capture your memories with his exceptional portrait photography.

Pentax K-5 In-depth Review

December 2010 | Barnaby Britton and Lars Rehm

In terms of operation and design the new K5 is all but identical to the K-7. For this reason, to gain a '360' view of the K-5's body design and operation we therefore recommend you not only read this review, but also the relevant sections in our full review of the Pentax K-7.

When the K10D was launched in September 2006 it was Pentax's first foray into the 'enthusiast' DSLR market, competing at the time with rivals such as the Canon EOS 30D and the Nikon D200. Four years later in 2010 the enthusiast sector of the market is as competitive as ever and the K-5, Pentax' latest offering to the 'serious amateur photographer', will have to fight for consumers' attention with the likes of the Canon 7D, Nikon D7000 and D300S, and the Olympus E-5. At a launch RRP of $1600 (body only) the K-5 is currently at a similar price point as its main competitors but we would expect the street price to go down sooner rather than later.

At first sight the K-5 is virtually indistinguishable from the K-7 (in some markets the K-7 will remain in the Pentax line alongside the K-5). Apart from an additional 'Fx' (which stands for 'flex') label on the customizable RAW button and a subtle redesign of the AF switch on its rear there are no readily significant differences between the K-5 and its predecessor the K-7. However, there is more novelty to be found under the hood - the K-5's most notable new component is a 16.3 megapixel CMOS sensor, which is probably closely related to the sensors inside the Nikon D7000 and Sony SLT-A55. The new sensor brings with it a higher maximum sensitivity (ISO 51200 in expanded mode, the highest on any APS-C camera to date), faster continuous shooting (7.0 fps vs the K-7's 5.2fps) and a 1080p full HD video mode (the K-7 offered a rather non-standard 1536 x 1024 pixels maximum video resolution).

Other improvements include an upgraded SAFOX IX+ AF system, inherited from the recently unveiled medium-format 645D, which features color-detection, wider coverage of the AF points and improved speed. Also new is a dual-axis electronic horizon (now with pitch as well as roll indication) and a few extra digital filters and custom image modes. Despite the changes, however, existing K-7 users will no doubt require very little adjustment time if they decide to upgrade to the new model.