How to Live » photo

Why So Serious?:Experience Life’s Best Moments

admin — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 12:52:00 +0000

There are so many good things in life, yet we all feel miserable. If you indulge yourself 1005 in whatever you do, you will find happiness in every activity. When we do a thing for the first time, we are excited afterwards it becomes a lifeless routine. Do you remember the first time when you rode in a bicycle without your dad’s support? Or the first non-stop lap you completed at the pool when your mom was watching you? There you go, you can find such instances that made you feel that you are on top of the world.

Photo by Todd Baker << technowannabe

When we indulge in an action, we seem to enjoy thoroughly. So, don’t live two lives, don’t dream something else when you are working on a thing. When you play, play. When you work, work. That’s how happy people live. That’s why they are happy.

Here are few best moments and experiences in life you just can’t afford to miss. Obviously, the list is not complete. You can make a list of things that make you happy. The longer the list, the happier you will be.

Photo by nattu

Falling in love with someone.

Laughing so hard your face (or stomach) hurts.

A hot shower after a hard day’s work.

When you find an empty billing counter at the Supermarket.

Photo by Ciprian Ionescu

A special glance from your special girl/boy.

Getting mail from your blog reader (no, not a spammer).

Taking a drive on a scenic road with your favourite song on the radio.

Lying in bed listening to the rain outside (feeling warm in the rugs).

Photo by foundphotoslj

Hot towels out of the dryer.

Finding the sweater you want is on sale for half price.

Drinking a milk shake for breakfast.

A long distance phone call from a friend you have not spoken for years.

Photo by Viewoftheworld

A bubble bath any time, any day.

Giggling for no reason.

A good conversation with your best pal who don’t judge you based on your talks.

Photo by 708718

Hitting the beach on a bright sunny 24 degree day.

Finding a $20 bill in your coat from last winter (treating yourself with an ice cream for the find).

Midnight phone calls that last for hours (mm..sounds great, hey).

Photo by Yogi

Running through sprinklers with kids.

Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.

Having someone tell you that you’re beautiful.

Friends.

Photo by Christina Snyder

Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.

Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.

Your first kiss.

Making new friends or spending time with old ones.

Photo by wili_hybrid

Playing with your per (a cute cuddle from your puppy or a kitten).

Late night talks with your roommate

Having someone play with your hair.

Sweet dreams.

Photo by Tom@HK

Dozing off in the pool after a swim.

Hot coffee (or tea) with an extra spoonful of sugar.

Road trips with friends.

Swinging on swings.

Photo by are you my rik?

Watching a good movie cuddled up on a couch with someone you love.

Song lyrics printed inside your new CD so you can sing along without feeling stupid.

Going to a really good concert.

Photo by visualpanic

Making eye contact with a cute stranger.

Making chocolate chip cookies!

Hugging the person you love.

Photo by sizumaru

Watching the expression on someone’s face as they open a much-desired present from you.

Watching the sunrise.

Getting out of bed every morning and thanking God for another beautiful day.

The above list is just a few of the activities I found enjoyable. What is your favourite? What will you do when you want to feel happy?

Photo by jurvetson

Ask the following question to yourself. Especially whenever your life seems to get mundane and boring. ‘When was the last time you did something for the first time?’. Break the shackles, do something weird. Make your life.

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15 Super Cool USB Tools (PICS)

admin — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 07:43:00 +0000

Imagine if our common household objects were embedded with USB ports. A collection of pretty cool designs of USB connectors.

1. USB extension cord

2. USB Power point

3. USB Rubbish bin

4. USB Syringe

5. USB Plug-n-Play cable

6. USB Lock with Key

7. USB Phone Hand Receiver

8. USB Photo Frame

9. USB Belt

10. USB Kid’s Talk Phone

11. USB Wedding Rings?

12. USB Multi-threaded belt.

13. USB Stethoscope

14. USB Tie

15. USB Toolset?

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12 More tips to become Famous in Flickr: Part 2

admin — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 03:10:00 +0000

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post, Getting Famous in Flickr: Killer tips for Flickr users , which provided some tips and tricks on using flickr - the most-loved photo sharing tool on the web – and becoming popular with it. I want to provide some more tips in this second post.

1. Essential things, First
Now, flickr requires a valid yahoo account (username and password) to login to it. As a newbie, you may be disappointed by the less number of views, comments on your uploaded photos. Select 10 best (or at least near best) photos of yours and upload them to flickr. By default, flickr uses your filename as the title of your photo – like this one, ‘DSC4506′ for a photo that you shot using your Point and Shoot camera. After uploading, flickr will ask you enter a title and description for each photo. Add a catchy title and a small description to provide more information on the photo. Additionally, tags can be added to each photo describing the location where you shot this photo, objects, the way you describe the photo and the meaning (story) the photo tries to convey. Tags are the keywords with which people will find your images and so you will add more descriptive tags (no inappropriate tags, please).

2. Write testimonials
I know it is difficult to start with the first testimonial, but, once you start writing one for your close friend. Others will follow. Browse through the photos of a contact and genuinely take notice of their style and what you appreciate in their flickr photo stream (some photos, common theme or lighting style).

3.Take part in flickr community discussions
Ask genuine questions or provide answers, opinions. Get involved in the discussion. There are plenty of groups specific to your camera, subject, geography or culture.

4. Attend flickr meets – Find your local group and join them. Find out when they are having a get-together. Visit and get to know them personally, share your flickr story.

5. Browse the Latest Photos from your Contacts List – Make a habit to comment on the latest photos posted by your contacts. Do it once a week. If you have too many contacts, keep the option of showing one photo per user (in your Contacts List). If you have very little time, find good photos among them and add them as your favourite.

6. Publish your love
You can get a composite image (mosaic) of all your contacts on a single page by following flickr fun buddies page (you must be logged into flickr when you click on the link). Publish your favourite photos once in a while as a composite image. You can visit http://bighugelabs.com/flickr to get various flickr toys – but, you can get your mosaics of your favourites using this mosaic tool.

7. Use GreaseMonkey scripts
A collection of useful scripts for flickr users can save you time and bring in pleasure to your flickr experience. You can do lot in less time and these scripts installed with Firefox browser will increase your productivity.

8. License your photos
If I have to attribute one reason for my popularity (apart from my lovely flickr friends who leave beautiful comments), then it is the Creative commons licensing. Share your photos to the world – so that people can use your photos in their blogs and web pages ( of course with a link back to your photo stream).

9. Concerned about image thefts?
I always resize all my images to 800 by 600 pixels before I upload them to flickr – so, with that small size and 72 dpi, it is hardly any use for publication purposes. If people need high quality images, I can supply them.

10. Flickr swap
Swap your photos with fellow flickrites. Send a flickrmail if any of your contact would like to exchange photos with you. You can exchange postal addresses.

11. Take your flickr photos with you
With Moo cards, you could print 100 of your photos for US $24 and mailed to you. You can choose to include your address, flickr url on the back of the moo card to use them as your business cards.

12. Publish your flickr RSS feeds
With social networks, publish your photo feed. Orkut, Tumblr, Facebook and Ziki allows you to add your photo stream as RSS feeds. All you need to do is point your flickr RSS feed url that can be found on the bottom page of your flickr main page when you are logged in and it will look like this http://api.flickr.com/services/feeds/photos_public.gne?id=46458074@N00&lang=en-us&format=rss_200

Just use the RSS feed url at those services and forget it. As you upload new photos, they get updated in these places as well. Cool, huh?

Get famous in flickr with these tips. If you have got some tip, share here in the comments section.

How to get into Flickr Explore? (Revised)

Get Famous in Flickr: Killer tips for Flickr users

25 Useful scripts for Flickr users that make your more productive

How Flickr has changed since 2004:Screenshots Timeline

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How to get into Flickr Explore? (Revised)

admin — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 01:21:00 +0000

As you know, Flickr uses an algorithm to choose the best 500 photos every day and post them on Flickr Explore page. This mesmerizing collection is done auto’magic’ally by an “interestingness algorithm” which rates each photo on the basis of its ‘goodness’. It does by considering factors such as how many have viewed a photo, how many have commented on it and how many have favourited it. It is not merely the most views, most favourites or most comments.

Here’s what Flickr says: “There are lots of things that make a photo
‘interesting’ (or not) in the Flickr. Where the clickthroughs are coming from;
who comments on it and when; who marks it as a favorite; its tags and many more
things which are constantly changing. Interestingness changes over time, as more
and more fantastic photos and stories are added to Flickr.”

As I tried to crack down this interestingness puzzle, I figured out certain shortcuts by which you can get to the Flickr Explore page.

Get this basics straight. Favourites matter more than comments. Comments matter more than views. Not plain views, comments or favourites. But favourites-comments-views by active, professional Flickr users. A professional user is NOT the one who has a Flickr pro account, but who has more of his photos on Explore page, who frequently comments, favourites others photos. Got it right?

Here are those Five tips..

5. It’s all about Tag honey!

Tags are everything. Add some relevant tags to the photo. How to decide what is a relevant tag? If you have a flower photo, add ‘flower’ as one tag rather than ’serenity’ or ’spiritual’ (even if that is the mood conveyed!)

4.Choose your BEST photo for promoting

Select your best photo. The photo which you want to promote to Flickr’s Best 500. Keep that as the latest photo. That is, when visitors coem to your photo stream, they should view that in the first page. [How do you decide which one is your best photo? Go to Your photos and sort based on "Interesting" - select the first photo on that list!]Or better, post it on your profile page (like mine). [Go to All Sizes, select Medium Size, Copy the HTML code from Option 1. Now, come to your profile page, click Edit Profile and paste the code in the desired location and Save]

3.Bring the Experts to view your photo
Now, it’s time to invite expert photographers to comment on your photo. Go to Explore page. Select a photo which is similar to yours (If your photo is flower, select a flower photo which has made it to the Top 10). This is to ensure to invite the expert commentors to view your photo. How do you invite them? Simple, add them as a contact. Add photographers (professionals) who have taken some great pictures.

And, see their photo stream and favourite some of their best photos. Only by giving good remarks, you get some

2.Remove your photo from Groups
Yes, you heard me right. I am so sorry, if you are like me who used to post it in 20+ groups. According to the recent changes in the algorithm (Feb 2006), if your photo is in many groups, it will devalue the interestingness [penalty]. At most, you may keep in 5 groups, after getting enough visibility for 2 or 3 days, you may remove from them and repost it in another set of five groups. It is a trade-off between “More visibility (in many groups)” and “Making it to the Explore page”. Decide what you want.

1.Shoot a Great Picture!
Nothing beats an excellent photo. Well, you can bring experts to view your photo. What if it doesn’t live upto their expectations? So, take good pictures. Always make it a habit to visit Explore page and learn good tricks.

Additional Tip #1: Post your photo early in the day rather than closing time of the day. I don’t know how do you figure that out. But, earlier photos will get more ranks through Flickr Explore pages. [Yea, "Rich getting Richer" theory]

Additional Tip #2: Use this ‘Scout‘ tool to find if you are in Flickr 500. Sign in with your Flickr account ID and password to make the job easier.

Wish you good luck.

How to get into Flickr Explore? (Revised)

Get Famous in Flickr: Killer tips for Flickr users

25 Useful scripts for Flickr users that make your more productive

How Flickr has changed since 2004:Screenshots Timeline

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Funny:Jaguar S-Type Fully covered with Post-it Notes

admin — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 05:02:00 +0000

A colleague bought a $60,000 toy, Jaguar S-Type. So, the co-workers decide to play a prank on his car.

How? By pasting millions of post-it-notes.

Ouch, that hurts (does it).

Credits: a digg user lostcannon

Digg this story, if you like

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Cartoon:History of Blogs

admin — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 19:06:00 +0000

twitter cartoon by Hugh; Gapingvoid: “cartoons drawn on the back of business cards”

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Get Famous in Flickr: Killer tips for Flickr users

admin — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 02:34:00 +0000

Oh, yes. Everybody loves flickr - the online photo sharing web service. Actually, it is so cool that the 10% flickr users create content (upload photos) for the rest of 90% of the audience.

Flickr explore is mesmerizing and infective – every user stumbling across the page is tempted to spend their life time browsing through the beautiful, amazing images.

Well, how some flickr users get lots of favourites, comments and a huge fan following? Well, here are the hacks / tips from old skoolers of flickr .

1. Upload your best photos only: Yes, newbies tend to upload everything they click – stop it. If you want to upload them – create a separate flickr account for dumping your photos. But, have one beautiful account and upload only the best ones.

For God sake, write a title instead of the default “DSC29456″ or “flower” etc. Think something imaginative (How would you describe your photo?) and write an apt title. Post a short description on why, how, and where you shot your masterpiece.

2. Invite your friends: People with yahoo account will find it easy to signup (Flickr is Yahoo company, now!). Your friends will be your best admirers (even if you take average photos). But, as you take more photos, you will improve.

3. Post to groups: For initial days, post your photo to relevant flickr groups. If you have taken a ‘close-up shot of a flower’ then consider posting it in macro groups, flower groups, colour groups etc.

4. Fill in the profile: We personally hate the default ‘nothing much’ profiles. So, fill in who you are and give a personal touch. Post your best photo up in the profile. Show that you are serious about learning photography.

5. Comment on other’s photos: Flickr works on an unwritten principle. If you comment on photos of other people, at least they will pay a courtesy visit to your photo stream. Have some good photos for such courtesy visits.

6. Use productivity tools: Ditch Internet Explorer, use Firefox. Because, with Greasemonkey installed, you can make advantage of the plenty of productivity tools available will save you time and make you efficient with flickr.

7. Bring the horses to water: There is a saying that you can lead the horses to the water, but you can not make them drink it.

Forget it, by ”horses” – I mean – the ace photographers are always thirsty for good photos. So, add them as contact and admire their photos – favourite it, send flickr mail or invite them to comment on your photos. Sure, they will come.

8. Find who is in your neighbourhood: Take part in your neigbourhood flickr group. None exists? lucky you – create a flickr group. You can always search flickr members based on their location, city keywords or interests etc.

9. Add a Creative Commons License: Yes, dont worry about ‘image thefts’ or theives. You can choose ‘Attribution’, Commercial or Non-commercial use of your photos. Believe it, after we attached the CC license, our images got linked by external blogs and websites – showcasing your images and your photo stream link to world audience.

Always resize your photos (using an easy photo editing tool like Google Picasa) to 800 by 600 pixel and upload to flickr.

What is the best tip you can provide for starters on Flickr. Share with us.

How to get into Flickr Explore? (Revised)

Get Famous in Flickr: Killer tips for Flickr users

25 Useful scripts for Flickr users that make your more productive

How Flickr has changed since 2004:Screenshots Timeline

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Which digital camera to buy? An Easy 3 step Guide

admin — Sat, 26 May 2007 10:08:00 +0000

Step 1:
Confused about which digital camera to buy? Do not worry. First write down the features that I would want in a Camera – difficult, ask friends about some key characteristics you need to consider. Say, the resolution (in mega pixels), zoom (in X magnification), video (with sound / zoom etc) and most importantly your budget.

Step 2:
Then, visit Digital Camera Advisor – an easy web service that allows you to specify the characteristics you want and then it will suggest you those cameras fulfilling your needs. You can actually change your choices (say increasing the resolution to 6 megapixels from 4 megapixels) etc and get recommendations. You can play around each feature and it is very user-friendly.

Step 3:
Note down few cameras that you consider are good enough for you and read the product reviews from other sites such as dpreviews, CNET and livingroom. Finally, visit the nearest camera store to actually touch and feel your camera before you buy it.

Good luck!

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Send Photos to India

admin — Tue, 22 May 2007 04:13:00 +0000

This is a cool idea that I have heard after a long time. Upload your photos, merasnap will print and deliver them in India.

I have always thought about printing photos and sending them to family members. But, the cost of printing here in Australia is A$ 35 cents for each 4 by 6 print and if I would like to send 200 photos, I have to pay A$ 15 postage (normal Australia Post). The prices at merasnap are dead cheap with a 4 by 6 costing just Rs. 4.40 (A$ 13 cents) and a flat delivery charge of Rs.35 (A$ 1) to deliver your photos to any Indian City.

You can upload photos easily with your browser or bulk-upload using a third-party software with IE. And pay using Paypal or Bank transfer. Simple to work around!

Hard thing. Only for Indians. I see it as a pre-cursor for many projects – such as magazines, books, gifts etc.

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Work Friendly

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 03:01:00 +0000

When you use Work friendly to browse web, your web pages look exactly like Office Word pages. Available in Office xp themes of silver or blue.

And there is a “Boss Key” at the left-top corner when you move the cursor over, it will turn automaticall into a genuine word document.

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