Take eight dinner guests. Add one festive occasion. Toss with picture-perfect smiles. Mix together.
Black’s Photography and Canadian Living magazine have recently introduced Making Memories – Food, Family, Friends and Photographs, a hardcover cookbook featuring recipes, entertaining and photography tips to help people turn special moments into lasting memories.
“Whether you are planning a festive holiday dinner, a child’s birthday party or simply a get together with friends, there is something for every occasion in this book,” said Daphna Rabinovitch, associate food editor at Canadian Living.
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As well, $1.50 from every book sold will be donated to Breakfast For Learning, Canadian Living Foundation, a national nonprofit organization that works on nourishing children.
Making Memories – Food, Family, Friends and Photographs is available at Black’s Photography stores and sells for $9.99.
Do your photographs always end up out of focus or overexposed? Does everyone have red eyes? Here some of the tips offered for taking perfect “pics.”
- Taking indoor flash photos:
The instruction manual from your camera will provide you with a flash distance range. Depending on the speed of the film, the range usually falls from one to four metres. This means if your subject is closer, your flash will wash them out.
Move back a step or two to ensure that you are within the camera’s proper flash range. The camera’s instruction manual provides proper distances for various film speeds. Move the subject closer to a wall.
Use the correct film speed for the situation, and ask the film retailer if you have questions.
- Reducing the red-eye effect:
Reddening occurs because the direct flash enters the pupils and bounces off the back of the eyes. Turn on all the lights in the room. Bright lights will shrink the pupils of the subject’s eyes.
Use a flash that can be angled, then bounce the flash off a ceiling. This will reduce the red-eye effect, soften the subject and eliminate unwanted reflections off the subject’s face.
Use the red-eye reduction feature if your camera has it.
- Photographing the changing seasons:
As the seasons change, so does the nature of light. You need to compensate for these changes when taking photographs.
Spring – The sunlight is weaker in the spring because it is not reinforced by snow reflections. But, it’s great light for taking pictures of people and other subjects not flattered by strong contrast between shadow and light areas.
Summer – This intense light is almost too strong for picture taking. Pay careful attention to the time of day and angles to take exciting, summertime photos.
Fall – Clear and strong without overpowering, this is the perfect light for landscape shots and lovely shade-lighted portraits.
Winter – The weaker sunlight is reflected off snow and ice. All that whiteness may fool your camera’s light meter into recommending underexposure. For snow scenes, increase your exposure one stop over the meter reading.
- Organizing and storing your photos:
Don’t let those cherished photos hide in a shoebox. Organize your photos and negatives as you get them. Store them using archival quality or acid-free material. Always use care when handling negatives to avoid fingerprints, scratches, dust and sunlight damage.
Store negatives at room temperature with about 40 to 50 percent humidity. Store your negatives and photos separately in case of fire.
For further information, contact: Marnie Campbell, APEX Public Relations, 416-924-4442, e-mail: mcampbell@apexpr.com.
Protect credit cards
Here are some tips to prevent problems with credit cards this Christmas season.
- Never leave your cards unattended at work or in your vehicle.
- Protect your PIN number or security code.
- Always check your card when returned to you after making a purchase.
- When traveling, carry your cards with you or make sure they are in a secure location.
- Report lost or stolen cards immediately.
- Sign a new card as soon as you receive it.
- Make a list of your cards and the numbers.
- Always check your monthly statement.
- Never give your card number over the telephone unless you are dealing with a reputable company.
Source: Canadian Bankers Association.
