tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69810650006894850642024-03-13T02:36:08.172+00:00New HorizonsNews and views from around the world and the big wide web.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-51594692379834949872014-06-04T15:37:00.003+00:002014-06-04T15:37:40.341+00:00Nasa's photo art is out of this world!<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">
If you are interested in space and all the unkown that goes with it, you could add <a data-mce-href="http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html" href="http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html">Astronomy Picture of the Day</a> to your bookmarks for a daily feast of photography that is literally out of this world. Each day NASA bring a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.</div>
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Today's stunning digital view, entitled '<strong>Sagittarius Triplet</strong>', is actually a collaborative composite recorded by 2 cameras and 2 telescopes about 2 thousand miles apart! The deep, wide image field was captured under dark Arizona skies. Both M8 and M20 were recorded in more detail from an observatory in Pennsylvania. Glowing hydrogen gas creates the dominant red color of the emission nebulae, with contrasting blue hues, most striking in the Trifid, due to dust reflected starlight. These three bright nebulae are often featured in telescopic tours of the constellation Sagittarius and the crowded starfields of the central Milky Way.</div>
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And how about this for incredible stats - all three nebulae are stellar nurseries about five thousand light-years or so distant. The expansive M8, over a hundred light-years across, is also known as the Lagoon Nebula.</div>
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NASA certainly has the technology to shoot some incredible images that reach deep into space. Their telescopes and observatories are so advanced these days that they can - excuse me, just had to get it in - <em>boldly go where no man has gone before</em>! Forget pictures of the moon, head over to APOD and see what lurks in the far reaches of our galaxy :-)</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-2432644398576851452013-09-24T09:42:00.001+00:002013-09-24T09:42:54.609+00:00Printing big canvas artSome like things neat and small, others like them BIG! Are you more restrained or do you like to super size things? When it comes to wall art, if you have the space on your wall then it's great to buy big canvas art prints as they will show you mean business with your interior designs.<br />
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At Fotoviva Art Prints we can print canvases large enough for most people thanks to our proven expertise and the professional equipment we use. By using rolls of canvas material to print on, we are only limited tot he width of the canvas, which is 1.2m or 47 inches. We can then print image artwork as long as the roll of canvas which is longer than anyone would need!<br />
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For most canvases art prints we use the popular wooden stretcher bars for framing but for bespoke canvas prints and large canvas pictures we sometimes have to build custom canvas frames to accommodate the prints. These are just as sturdy and suitable thanks to the expertise of our canvas team.<br />
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Read more about <a href="http://canvas-art-prints-uk.com/photo-art-news/go-big-with-large-canvas-prints/">large canvas wall art</a> or just head over to the Fotoviva online canvas store.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-im8N4d1yckE/UkFdyzzD9nI/AAAAAAAAAKM/nXu_L_tBhrY/s1600/seascape+wall+art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="large seascape print on canvas" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-im8N4d1yckE/UkFdyzzD9nI/AAAAAAAAAKM/nXu_L_tBhrY/s1600/seascape+wall+art.jpg" title="Seascape canvas art" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buying large canvas prints is a great way to show off fine art in your room.</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-32713889278842296342013-02-19T22:04:00.001+00:002013-02-19T22:04:23.303+00:00HDR photography basics by Fotoviva<a href="http://blog.jmleclercq.com/hdr-photography-basics/#.USP2I9fZTtQ.blogger">HDR photography basics</a>: HDR photography<br />
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Just had an article published by the great jean-Michel over at JMleclercq photography. It discussed how photographers can use the HDR technique to improve their work, bringing in a wider dynamic range than with traditional photography methods. It also includes a couple of our own HDR images which are available on the Fotoviva site printed on poster, acrylic or canvas.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-58164917875793549282011-11-25T12:20:00.001+00:002011-11-25T12:20:42.880+00:00New HDR Haybale Wall Print<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dZoGEh8hZOg/Ts-EHU9CWpI/AAAAAAAAAH4/ZT5LF_W2-7Q/s1600/DSC_5367_8_9.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dZoGEh8hZOg/Ts-EHU9CWpI/AAAAAAAAAH4/ZT5LF_W2-7Q/s320/DSC_5367_8_9.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5678902916556151442" /></a><div><br />I've been digging through my photo archive and found a haybale image which I really like, but had forgotten about! This one is an HDR image comprised of three separate photos with different exposures, blended together in the great HDR software that is <a href="http://www.hdrsoft.com/">Photomatix</a>.<div><br /></div><div>The picture has been on one of the leading royalty free stock photo sites for a while now and it's generated a fair amount of interest so I'll shortly be adding it to the Fotoviva landscape collection, available to purchase as wall art.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not keen on the overly saturated and halo-esque hdr imagery that some photographers do. Personally I just find it a great way to turn a shot into something resembling how it looked. Hdr works especially well with high contrast scenes like sunsets, where you either end up with a blown out sun or no detail in the shadows. Subtlety is the key with Hdr processing as it can turn an image into a right mess!</div><div><br /></div><div>Once the hdr image had been processed I moved the picture into Photoshop to tweak the finer detail and create what you see here. So what do you think? If you have an hdr photo gallery feel free to post your link in the comments, it's good to see other photographers work. </div><div><br /></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-65089340686306531462009-10-27T12:34:00.003+00:002013-07-25T09:06:38.539+00:00My Photography Gallery Profile PageFinally I have got around to creating individual portfolio pages for the photographers on Fotoviva Art Prints. Mine is the first to be launched so please take a look in my <a href="http://fotoviva.co.uk/jason-wickens">Photography Portfolio Gallery</a><br />
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It brings in all the images I have for sale over on Fotoviva and also includes a short biography about me and my photography. Don't laugh at the photo, it will have to do until I find one better!</div>
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All my photo collection are available to buy as canvas prints which are wrapped around a chunky wooden frame and ready to hang. Also acrylic mounts are available which are a more modern alternative to canvases. These are printed on high grade artists paper and sandwiched between two sheets of acrylic panels which gives a great finish. The print is pushed away from the wall thanks to the brushed aluminium fixings in each corner.</div>
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Have a look at my images and see if there is anything that takes your fancy.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-3572993835397079842009-06-12T15:08:00.007+00:002009-06-12T15:37:15.846+00:00karmasix Photoblog - Creative Art<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TrSsM1lai4c/SjJwNnoFTkI/AAAAAAAAAFs/h1q0KdduTSI/s1600-h/karmasix-header.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 100px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TrSsM1lai4c/SjJwNnoFTkI/AAAAAAAAAFs/h1q0KdduTSI/s400/karmasix-header.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346459086919913026" /></a><br /><div>I like to explore the web and its usages and one thing I found interesting is Wordpress. As most people who blog will know, this is a blogging software that is free and easy to use and yet very powerful once you get into it.</div><div>I have several different Wordpress blogs which are hosted on certain servers but thought I would try the free hosted wordpress.com version, hence my new <a href="http://www.karmasix.wordpress.com/">photoblog called karmasix</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>The free version is limited in its functionality and expandability but for most people it is absolutely fine. You can add various extensions and plugins to it for a small annual fee if you want to delve a bit deeper but then you may as well just use the full package and host it yourself as hosting costs hardly anything these days.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm using karmasix to present some of my photographic work that I have created recently. Some of it is not what you would call standard photography as I have discovered the joys and creativity that Photoshop and textures can add to an image, bringing it into another visual dimension.</div><div><br /></div><div>Take a look at karmasix and please feel free to make a comment on the photos I upload. It's always nice to get some feedback on artwork and another eye can point out issues which I may not have noticed when creating and uploading a picture late at night when my eyes are tired!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-82514710553522973772009-05-21T11:59:00.002+00:002009-05-21T12:11:49.676+00:00UKBF - UK Business ForumsIf you run a business then there is no better place than the UKBF for learning things related to running a business, helping others and finding answers to questions you might have.<div><br /></div><div>The forum is moderated well and there is a wealth of professionals offering free advice to everyone (and a few plugging their services) but overall it is an active, lively and thoroughly helpful forum for business owners or anyone looking to setup a business in the UK.</div><div><br /></div><div>Many sub forums are available such as Legal, SEO & Marketing, Accounts and IT. This means no matter what your business related questions is, you are sure to find someone who knows an answer.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are also over 45,000 members on the UKBF and whilst a proportion of those will not be active members, the forum does seem very active with many posts appearing every day. I've tried a few forums in the past but this one is one of the more helpful ones around and doesn't seem to be spammed too badly with the usual stuff! I've even ugraded my membership to the paid level which gives you even more useful resources for running a business.</div><div><br /></div><div>Shoot over to the <a href="http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk">UKBF</a> and see how they can help you.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-42443016493510005442009-01-08T12:09:00.003+00:002013-07-25T09:07:11.700+00:00Canvas Wall Art MakeoverFotoviva has had a makeover for the new season which many say is a vast improvement on the already stunning looking design! The new colour scheme and tweaks here and there help to create a more focussed online gallery which is clearer and easier to use to buy your canvas wall art prints from.<br />
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We have gone for a clean, green look and added a dark background that helps to draw the eye into the main content better. The individual product pages have been revamped and now list the whole print finish and sizes together rather than in a dropdown. The homepage now features more images in the centre which helps to show the wide selection of art we have available.</div>
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There is more to come in the near future as <a href="http://fotoviva.co.uk/">Fotoviva Art Prints</a> expands it's range of stunning photographic art and continues to grow into the only place you need to go to buy inspiring prints as canvas wall art, acrylic mounted prints and fine-art posters.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-21388980784602478462008-12-15T16:19:00.002+00:002008-12-15T16:25:25.201+00:00LinkedIn NetworkingAfter several years of dismissing LinkedIn requests from friends and business acquaintances I finally relented and opened a LinkedIn account to begin networking with people. If you don't have a clue what it all is have a look at my <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonwickens">LinkedIn Profile</a> and have a read.<div><br /></div><div>LinkedIn is all about networking, mainly in business circles rather than the friendly Facebook side of things. There are no Pokes, apps or comments to waste time with, but with a little searching you will find many people you know already on LinkedIn.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-89831619224758559892008-10-13T09:58:00.004+00:002013-07-25T09:08:03.781+00:00Your Photos Printed on Canvas<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TrSsM1lai4c/SPMenYkPmOI/AAAAAAAAADk/4j1-bMZD9VQ/s1600-h/gallery-wrap.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256578852029700322" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TrSsM1lai4c/SPMenYkPmOI/AAAAAAAAADk/4j1-bMZD9VQ/s320/gallery-wrap.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0 10px 10px 0;" /></a><br />
With Christmas fast approaching we all get the annual "what am I going to get them this year?" thoughts and begin to trawl through Amazon and the 'real' shops in search of that special gift that stands out from the rest.<br />
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Well here's an inspirational idea for you - get a canvas printed from one of your own images! These stunning canvas prints look great on the wall and will really show off your camera skills. Fotoviva Art Prints now offer a great value for money <a href="http://www.fotoviva.co.uk/photos-on-canvas">Photos on Canvas service</a> which will enable you to put those holiday, family or pet digital photos to good use rather than sitting on your PC hardrive.</div>
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It's simple to create your canvas wall art. Just upload your digital file, fill in some details and your size preference and you're done in under 5 minutes! With prices starting at £35 you really can't go wrong as they make a gift that shows you have put a lot of thought into. You can pay by credit card or Paypal so all transactions are safe and secure.</div>
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The canvases themselves are printed on 100% artists cotton canvas and wrapped around a thick 38mm wooden frame that is sourced from sustainable forests. We try to do our best to protect the environment with all aspects of our printing and finishing. A low vapour emitting UV varnish is applied to protect the final canvas from dust and marks. They come ready to hang on your wall with a metal fixing that attaches to a screw on the wall.</div>
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Simple. Beautiful. Stunning.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-42945541325597229962008-08-29T11:28:00.003+00:002008-08-29T11:36:25.033+00:00Helen Steward - Worcester Florist<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TrSsM1lai4c/SLfdzKw6EtI/AAAAAAAAAC0/pwO8Rz8YAOQ/s1600-h/floral-top.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TrSsM1lai4c/SLfdzKw6EtI/AAAAAAAAAC0/pwO8Rz8YAOQ/s320/floral-top.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239900562601415378" /></a>If you are looking to buy flowers online in the Worcestershire area of the West Midlands then take a look at the website of Helen Steward Floral Services. You can buy a selection of flowers via the easy to use and safe website but Helen also offers a very personal service to suit your floral needs in Worcester.<div><br /></div><div>Helen is friendly and professional and can offer her floral services for weddings, funeral, events or just for thank-you gifts. So take a look at her business for <a href="http://www.helenflowers.co.uk">Flowers in Worcester</a> and see what beautiful arrangements she can offer.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-41781827729870810102008-07-22T10:48:00.001+00:002008-07-22T10:51:06.555+00:00Support the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="playerLoader" width="300" height="350" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab"><param name="movie" value="http://farm.sproutbuilder.com/35745/load/kAC3c4voACrcpLWp.swf" /><param name="quality" value="best" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed src="http://farm.sproutbuilder.com/35745/load/kAC3c4voACrcpLWp.swf" width="300" height="350" name="playerLoader" align="middle" wmode="transparent" play="true" loop="false" quality="best" allowScriptAccess="always" allowFullScreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed></object><img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/CIMP/bT*xJmx*PTEyMTY3MjM2NjU4NTkmcHQ9MTIxNjcyMzY5NjkwOSZwPTEyMDc*MSZkPTM1NzQ4Jm49Jmc9Mg==.jpg" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-34267008644535929912008-04-29T10:09:00.002+00:002008-04-29T10:13:25.500+00:00Squidoo Photo LensCheck out the new <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/fotoviva">Fotoviva Art Lens at Squidoo</a> for another dose of Fotoviva funkyness! If you haven't heard of Squidoo it's a website where you can build a 'lens'. A lens is one person's view on a topic that matters to them. It's an easy-to-build, single web page that can point to blogs, favorite links, RSS feeds, Flickr photos, Google maps, your eBay auctions, etc. Free advertising in effect!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-5015514680528491852008-04-25T13:36:00.003+00:002011-02-02T12:34:27.799+00:00Global Warming News BlogThe Green Republic is a news blog site that aims to highlight the growing need to promote and understand about the environmental issues we face today. It features green product reviews, climate change news stories and animal welfare topics, together with views on the main green news items that are featured. <a href="http://www.thegreenrepublic.co.uk/">The Green Republic</a> is a great place to keep up to date with all the issues we need to know about if we are to revert a global landslide and save our planet and its species.<div><br /></div><div>EDIT: This website is no longer available</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-11243488821282114262008-03-14T16:00:00.001+00:002008-03-14T16:02:36.684+00:00A Thought for Life<blockquote>"We are consuming the earth's resources 20% faster than they can be sustained."</blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-83938951019230358092008-02-07T15:26:00.000+00:002008-02-07T15:34:28.802+00:00What to do with £26m?So just imagine theoretically speaking you find yourself with £26m to spend on anything you like - what would you buy or do with such an obscenely vast amount of money? Perhaps buy an island? Maybe a nice pad in every country you like together with a chopper to get you there?<br /><br />Or maybe you would donate £20m to various charities around the world to help starving children, animals or whatever. You know, do the right thing. Still keep £6m for yourself? Not too bad.<br /><br />Just think how you could change so many peoples/animals lives with that money, what good you could do for humanity!<br /><br />Or you could do what some selfish idiot has done and spend it on a <a href="http://canvas-art-prints-uk.com/photography-news/triptych-1974-77/">Francis bacon Triptych painting</a> to hang on the wall. Words cannot describe how crazy this is. I don't care if the new owner has spent £200m on charity - it still doesn't make it right to blow 26 BIG BIG ones on a painting.<br /><br />Rant over...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-11733300573839918232008-02-01T15:35:00.000+00:002008-02-01T15:39:25.037+00:00Art Prints Going GreenAs can be seen in more detail on the <a href="http://canvas-art-prints-uk.com/blogroll/eco-friendly-canvas-prints/">Fotoviva Photo Blog</a>, we are now a more eco-friendly art company as our canvas prints are going green! It's a step in the right direction which we all need to do to help save our planet, but if you have any other suggestions on how to reduce our carbon footprint then please do let us know :-)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-29705748564030219042008-01-22T10:28:00.000+00:002013-07-25T09:05:49.191+00:00Fotoviva get Nikon approvalFinally got some complementary calenders in the post this morning to confirm my own wildlife photograph entitled 'Rising Swan' has been used in the official Nikon calender for 2008. They had already paid me for it but until I saw it in the flesh I never really believed it! This picture has received heaps of praise since I took it in 2006 and it is my greatest photographic achievement so far!<br />
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You can see the image by clicking on this <a href="http://www.fotoviva.co.uk/wildlife-wall-art/Rising-Swan">Swan Wall Art</a> link which will take you through to the main site and a direct link to the award winning wildlife photo itself. You can buy the print online there as a poster or canvas art for your walls.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-22210630669691059092008-01-05T18:08:00.000+00:002013-07-25T09:10:16.887+00:00New Photographic GalleryI have a new showcase for my photographic work at <a href="http://www.jasonwickensphotography.co.uk/">jasonwickensphotography</a> which is a Clikpic based online photo gallery. This is another website to sell my own art prints from, along with <a href="http://www.fotoviva.co.uk/">Fotoviva Wall Art</a> and my <a href="http://www.fotoviva.imagekind.com/MemberProfile.aspx?MID=a55fbcd9-48bc-4804-bee1-7b3dc6cd19ea">ImageKind Photo Print</a> Pages. Clikpic is useful for photographers who want their own online photo portfolio website to showcase their work from.<br />
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Have a look around, it's still work in progress at this stage but does include images not found on Fotoviva. Contact me through that site if you would like to purchase one of my prints.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-71209209514601347152007-12-05T10:36:00.000+00:002008-11-07T04:26:38.372+00:00Imagekind Gallery Art<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TrSsM1lai4c/R1aBKU7xFLI/AAAAAAAAAB8/VcNvA5BRoDE/s1600-h/blue-bridge700.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TrSsM1lai4c/R1aBKU7xFLI/AAAAAAAAAB8/VcNvA5BRoDE/s320/blue-bridge700.jpg" border="0" alt="canvas art" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140438039108064434" /></a><div><br />I have just opened a gallery at Imagekind to sell some of my work to customers in the USA. You can see the available art prints at my <a href="http://fotoviva.imagekind.com/">Imagekind Art Gallery</a> where you can purchase prints as canvases or framed posters. Currently at <a href="http://www.fotoviva.co.uk/">Fotoviva Art Prints</a> we do not offer framed prints so this is a bonus to buyers, especially from the USA.<div><br /></div><div>I'm just testing this online gallery out first to see how sales go so for now there is only one gallery with the allowed images uploaded.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-79400086520357580662007-03-18T15:51:00.000+00:002007-10-11T13:00:26.168+00:00New Blog Site!We have been busy working on a new <a href="http://www.canvas-art-prints-uk.com" title="new fotoviva blog link"><b>photoblog</b></a> which has just launched so please amend your bookmarks and head on over to the new site from now on. Sadly this will therefore be the last post on this site but it all continues at the new location so fear not ;-)<br /><br />See you on the other side folks...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-4378608963912379182007-03-16T15:11:00.000+00:002007-03-16T15:48:17.715+00:00New Photo blog comingIf you're a regular visitor here and are wondering why it has been a little quiet lately, that's because we are working on a lot of 'stuff' behind the scenes. There are big expansion plans for the main <a href="http://www.fotoviva.co.uk">Fotoviva Photography</a> site but also we have been busy applying the final touches to a new blog which will be finished next week.<br /><br />We will post the new blog link here when it's done and hopefully we'll have a big announcement when the new blog goes live.<br /><br />Until then, keep shooting and please visit the site!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-88553851691942445602007-03-01T09:28:00.000+00:002013-07-25T09:09:08.995+00:00Free Desktop Wallpaper!On Fotoviva we now have a monthly wallpaper you can download for free to pimp your computer screen! Different pictures will be made available every month so you can choose as you like and bring a bit of beauty to that dull old PC!<br />
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Come and have a look at this month's free wallpaper and check out our new photo uploads while you're there. We have some nice snow pictures and a wonderfully atmospheric straw hay bale image in our <a href="http://www.fotoviva.co.uk/landscape-wall-art">landscape photography</a> section.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-90216208838662348512007-01-27T15:14:00.000+00:002013-07-25T09:10:48.023+00:00New Picture Upload<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TrSsM1lai4c/RbtseE9_4iI/AAAAAAAAABs/VIkOQSzt6sA/s1600-h/gold-balcony.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024729073247576610" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TrSsM1lai4c/RbtseE9_4iI/AAAAAAAAABs/VIkOQSzt6sA/s320/gold-balcony.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />
Here's a new photo you can buy on fotoviva in the Architecture series of images.<br />
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This has been enhanced using Photoshop to really show off the gold colours against the gritty walls. It was taken in the quaint town of Lagos in the Algarve which is a really nice ancient maritime town to visit if you go to Portugal. The old town has some fine examples of old school architecture which looks so much better than the bland structures that go up these days. I guess it's all down to money in this day and age where it's cheaper to build plain buildings than make them look individual and with character. I know what kind of building I would like to look at though!<br />
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For more information on Lagos go to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagos%2C_Portugal">the wikipedia page</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6981065000689485064.post-47229194216852540572007-01-27T14:47:00.000+00:002008-11-07T04:26:39.566+00:00Create a soft focus effectHere's an easy way to create the effect of a soft focus filter on your camera using Adobe Photoshop. You may have to adjust the settings to suit your photograph and the resolution but it gives you the general idea.<br /><br />1. Open your photo in Photoshop.<br />2. Duplicate the layer by going to the LAYER menu and selecting DUPLICATE LAYER.<br />3. From the FILTER menu go to BLUR>GAUSSIAN BLUR and apply a setting of 15-25. This is based on a 6MP image. Use a little less for smaller images or more for 8-10MP pictures. This will apply the blur to the duplicated top layer.<br />4. From the layer pallete, reduce the opacity of the top blurred layer to around 10-40%. Play with the opacity until you are happy with the result. This allows the sharpness of the original layer to show through whilst creating the soft focus effect on the top layer.<br />5. Go to LAYER>FLATTEN IMAGE to make the photo just one layer and save. <br /><br />You can play with the layer effects in the layer pallete before flattening to create some special effects. From the blurred layer select OVERLAY or SOFT LIGHT and see how it effects the image. You can create some really interesting effects by choosing how the top layer blends with the original. Play with the opacity again if you choose another blend mode.<br /><br />Here's an example of the soft focus effect as seen on one of my dogs...click for larger photograph<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TrSsM1lai4c/RbtrzU9_4hI/AAAAAAAAABc/za08IcekXI4/s1600-h/Belle-in-meadow.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TrSsM1lai4c/RbtrzU9_4hI/AAAAAAAAABc/za08IcekXI4/s320/Belle-in-meadow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5024728338808168978" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0