Leadbelly Blues Festival

Although weddings are not really about materialistic facets of life, gifts play an important role in making the couple even happier and one great way of offering something precious to the soon-to-be married pair is to capture every bit of detail of their union through the brilliance that is wedding videography.

You don’t have to be a professional videographer in order to wrap the wedding moments of a close family member or a long time friend you just have to pour your out and focus on the two individuals that are about to share the rest of their lives together. Keep one principle while you plan to make a production that will sweep watchers off their feet with. This is really to make things basic and simple.

When setting the lens of your camera on the best thing to focus at you don’t have to look further. Remember this is a wedding so just take as much shot of the bride and groom. It will also help if you got an idea of what they want so be vocal with the couple. Talk to them and ask them how they what the movie to go along. Also you have to realize that the movie will be truly remarkable if you catch all the intimate and priceless moment of the bride and groom no matter how minute the details are. You can also make the other people in the wedding and reception more involved in the production by allowing them to dish out messages of support and love to the bride and groom.

Another important aspect of the wedding film you have to consider is its accordance and cohesion with the wedding theme. You can take a shot of the things that can be associated with the wedding of the couple. The flowers, the birds in the skies, the greenery that is the trees and the grass or even an automobile or aircraft that is connected to the likes or careers of both individuals can be part of your very own wedding gift. You can also add shots of family members and friends that are in their most natural form no matter how candid it may be.

Now let’s continue and dig into the technical matters of your shoot. This is where the talk with the couple can really help because it helps to get as much information about the wedding as possible. It is a must to get really comfortable and familiar with the place of the wedding and the reception since most of the time these two events are done in different vicinities. It is significant to get the right place for your shoot and to capture each image in its appropriate angle. You also have to be well equipped with information regarding the people attending the wedding so as to know what to expect and get a proper perspective of what is to expect from these guests.

Finally and I say this with much conviction don’t forget why you are doing this. This is your gift to the bride and groom so with the little skills and knowledge you have of wedding videography persevere hard in order to add extra smiles and laughs to the heart of the unified couple.

See also The Sights And Sounds Of Wedding Videography

When you’re camping, your tent is the most important piece of equipment. Without a tent, you are nothing! You need one that will keep you dry and warm (but not too warm). There are a huge huge range ot there on the market and it can be difficult deciding what to buy but here are a few tips to help you on your way.

There are so many different tents oit there on the market that it may be difficult to know where to start. from a simple one person tent which will fit easily into your rucksack, right up to an eight berth monster, with all mod cons including spa pool and massage table ok, perhaps that’s a bit far but you get the idea!). As with everything camping related, your tent needs to fit the purpose that you’ll be using it for. If you will be carrying the tent in a rucksack, then the weight and dimensions when packed are very important. If you are camping with the family, you may want something with seperate bedroom areas for privasy. All of these details can be found within the information of the packaging or from the shop when you buy your tent.

Tents will be labelled ‘one person’, ‘two person’ etc, but you should always check the actual dimensions as classifications can differ between manufacturers. You should also pay attention to how much space there is in the living area and what the height of the tent is (ie, can you stand up). Below is a summary of the different types of tents you might choose.

Frame Tents: These have the best headroom and are useful for families, and those who plan to cook inside the tent. The disadvantage of frame tents is that they are havy and difficult to carry, so only suitable if you are travelling by car (and have a few people to hep you put it up). Frame tents are becoming less popular in favour of the more fashioable and lightweight Dome Tents.

Ridge Tent: This is a triangular shaped tent, the more tradiditonal one that you are used to seeing. You rarely see this around nowadays, and again have given way to the more modern dome tents.

Dome Tents: A dome shaped tent, very simple to erect and very lightweight. The flexible poles thread through the tent fabric criss corssing in the middle. The poles are normally made of reinforced plastic or a metal alloy. Dome tents can range from a very compact one or two man right up to a family sized tent with room to stand. They are relatively inexpensive and due to the compact size when packed they are very easy to transport. higher dome tents are more vulnerable in high winds than a frame tent so care should be taken in poor weather.

Hoop Tents: These are a cross betwen a ridge and dome tent. They are strong with room inside, they can be multiple hoop, also known as a tunnel tent, or single hoop which is lighter weight and easier to carry. Hoop tents are often favoured by mountain climbers because of their strngth in high winds and extreme conditions.

Geodesic Tents: A geodesic tent is similar to a Dome tent, but with a slightly different structure which gives them greater strength in high winds. Often slightly more expensive than a standard dome tent.

Vis-a-vis: Tents with sleeping areas on either side of the main central area. These are genrally dome style noeadays but you do ocassionally see a ridge style vis-a-vis tent.

Touring Tents: Touring tents can be extended ridge tents or extended dome tents. They normally have a porch area, which is very useful for cooking, (although goking in tents should only be done if it is safe to do so, and you should consult the manufacturr if you aren’t sure). Touring tents often have windows and are the tent of choice for people who spend long periods camping.

Most tents have 2 layers. The first a breathable ‘inner’ providing warmth and keeping the insects off, while the ‘outer’ fysheet or ’skin’ is the waterproof layer that goes on the outside. Having a two layer structure also prevents moisture and condensation building up. These layers can be made from a wide range of materials, the higher end of the price range tends to be the best insulated, most breathable and best quality and would be advised for extreme weather conditions. The higher price ranges will also be home to tents with the best quality seams and zips as these are often the first things to go.

The strength of the poles is an important factor if you want your tent to last. Modern tents are extremely lightweight but you can often tell the difference between poor quality and good quality poles. As a rule, you generally get what you pay for. If you are using your tent to go to a festival and don’t tend to do much else with it, then you can pick up a 2 man tent from about £25. If you are looking for something that you can use a few times of year in all conditinos, then prices can go up to about £500 for the top quality tents.

Whatever your choice, remember to allow anough space for your stuff. A 2 man tent is often big enough for 2 people but if you both have big rucksacks or equipment, you might be better thinking about a larger tent to allow for this

by Barbara Wade

Would it surprise you to know the town named North America’s “Best Big City” (according to Money magazine) is Portland, Oregon? Luxury hotels, natural beauty, theaters and local attractions combine to create a sophisticated city that’s quickly gaining the attention of the entire nation.

Arts & Culture in Portland

Luxury hotel accommodations are not the only sign of sophistication in this northwestern town. A vibrant cultural scene has attracted worldwide attention recently, centering on the Cultural District downtown. Two primary venues offer exceptional theater, symphony, opera and other performances: Artists Repertory Theatre and Portland Center for the Performing Arts.

The Artists Repertory Theatre is located downtown, five minutes from the famed Hotel Monaco Portland luxury hotel. Portland’s oldest professional theater company presents classic performances along with new releases. The Portland Center for the Performing Arts is host to a wide range of cultural entertainment including the Oregon Ballet Theatre, Oregon Symphony, the Portland Opera, White Bird Dance Series as well as various lectures. Portland is even a stop on the Cultural Cascades tour, which takes passengers through hotbeds of culture, cuisine, art and artists.

Romance Abounds

From the grace of the Classical Chinese Garden to the delight of performances and events at Rose Quarter, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the romance of Portland, Oregon. Hotels throughout the city offer packages designed to dissolve the stress of everyday life and release the inner Cupid in all of us.

Tour a working vineyard and experience a world-class wine tasting. Dine at award-winning, nationally ranked restaurants serving quiet, candlelight dinners for two. Or take your sweetheart by the hand, stroll down Main Street at night and watch the skyline sparkle.

Food, Fun and Festivals

Year round, Portland is abuzz with festivals and special events. Pioneer Courthouse Square (Portland’s “living room”) hosts more than 300 events per year. Welcoming over nine million visitors annually, this square includes a 75-seat surround sound theater, an amphitheater with echo chamber and a stunning garden bursting with colorful blooms.

The Rose Festival offers interesting activities from parades to dragon boat races while the Platform Animation Festival delivers laughs via retrospectives, rare screenings and guest speakers. The Waterfront Blues Festival, the second largest in the country, is always popular and draws big crowds, as does the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival, the nation’s longest-running event of its kind. Attending the Bite of Oregon festival in August is also a must, with plenty of entertainment, beer or wine tastings, and plenty of delectable dishes, courtesy of the top chefs from the area.

The next time thoughts of a romantic getaway occur, think of Portland, Oregon. With riverfront views, a vibrant nightlife and gorgeous natural beauty, this is the perfect place for love.