When doing portrait photography it is always important to keep in mind “the rule of thirds.” This rule, which closely relates to the golden ratio and the famed “Fibonacci Sequence,” separates rectangular photography into a 9 section grid. The points at which the grid lines intersect are the optimal spots to place key compositional elements. As you can see in the photograph above, the subject’s eyes are parallel to the top most horizontal grid line. This technique guarantees that your focus will be drawn to the eyes and nothing else.
Alexandre Farto (aka Vhils) started with the idea of turning photos into stencils. Instead of using spray paint though, he scratched portraits into walls around Moscow.
Portraits Scratched into Walls
via Booooom
Natsumi Hayashi has a unique way of self-portraiture. Equipped with her Canon EOS 5D MkII, she takes photographs of herself while levitating around Tokyo. Her jump shots are not among the conventional shots, since it is achieved by not merely trying to be jumping to look like your are floating in mid-air. More importantly, controlled facial expression and lack of movement is observed as you are frozen in time while defying gravity.
(Source: yowayowacamera.com)
Whoa. Put this one in the dictionary next to the word “determination”. A french street artist who goes by the name of “Invader” makes pictures out of Rubik’s Cubes. Check out the completed version of this one plus a bunch more in his gallery, RubikCubism.
Soooo many cubes… I bet he can’t solve any of those cubes, so he turned it into a piece of art that only he knows the pattern.
Alexandria’s Genesis, a.k.a violet eyes (an urban myth of violet eyes).
When someone is born with Alexandria’s Genesis, their eyes are blue or gray at birth. After six months, the eyes begin to change from their original color to purple, and this process lasts six months. During puberty, the color deepens to dark purple, a deep purple, a royal purple, or a violet-blue color and remains that way. It does not affect the person’s eyesight.
Those who have this mutation will never grow any facial, body, pubic, or anal hair (not including hair on their head, on their ears, noses, eyebrows and eyelashes) Women also do not menstruate, but are fertile.Sadly, this mutation (while violet eyes are just extremely rare) is classified as an urban myth. Still, the beauty of the explanation never ceases to fascinate all.
We are all attracted to Myths…
Plug in your birthday and see what this chart says about you.
Hearts live through emotions and relationships. These are the children of the deck, often maintaining a youthful exuberance even into later years. The positive Heart is friendly and affectionate; the negative Heart is self-indulgent or flirtatious. Hearts excel in people-oriented careers. They make good nurses, teachers and counselors, as well as artists and musicians.
Clubs are creative and experience life through talking and learning. As the students of the deck, Clubs are curious, always thinking, and love to talk, read and teach. The positive Club is brilliant and well-informed; the negative Club can be a dishonest know-it-all. Great careers for Clubs include teaching, writing, law and journalism.
Diamonds are on the planet to clarify values. Diamonds like to spend money and like nice things. As the adults of the deck, Diamonds can’t stand being told what to do. Diamonds on a positive path are generous and philanthropic. The negative-minded Diamond can be greedy or miserly. Careers for the diamond person include banking, investing, politics, retail or merchandising, producing and big-business.
Spades are confident, strong-willed and wise. Even when they are young, Spades will often act more mature than their age. These are the workers of the deck. Spades are more interested in doing their jobs well than talking about them or becoming too emotionally involved with others. Spades can be stubborn and don’t like it when others try to control them. Spades find satisfaction in careers in construction (building), broadcasting and health care. And, as the symbol of “transformation,” Spades can also be successful in industries that deal with death or dying, and mysticism.
The numbers
The “odd” (active) numbers represent a person who is restless, on the go, and thrives on change.
The “even” (receptive) numbers are balanced and logical, attracting things and people to them.
Ace (One) is ambitious, active and driven. You are a self-starter who is excited to experience all that life has to offer. As a “One,” you may sometimes appear self-centered.
Two is sensitive, logical and comfortable in partnerships because you enjoy having someone to talk to, or bounce ideas off of. Avoid being insincere or becoming too dependent on the opinions of others.
Three is curious, restless and enjoys trying new things. You are extremely creative, so channel your gifts in a positive way to avoid worry and indecision.
Four is fortunate, organized and efficient. You are a hard-worker and good at bringing people and plans together. Avoid stubbornness or being small-minded.
Five is adventurous, restless, and hates routine or anything that limits your freedom. As a “people person,” you are comfortable around all kinds of personalities. Learn to commit.
Six is easygoing, peaceful and fair. You prefer to avoid confrontation, but won’t hesitate to stand up for what you believe in. Avoid stubbornness or falling into a rut.
Seven is the most mystical of all numbers. You have a mental sharpness that, when combined with your intuition (hunches), will serve you well. Have faith that you are being guided. Avoid being indifferent or skeptical.
Eight is the number of power and abundance. You enjoy attention and have special talents in the area of your suit (Hearts — charm; Clubs — knowledge; Diamonds — leadership; Spades — wisdom). Avoid power struggles.
Nine is intelligent and happiest when you give in and are willing to let go. Beware of being too overbearing, stingy or bullying.
10 is ambitious, capable and confident. You like to do things in a big way and may be obsessive or take on too much responsibility.
The “faces” are natural leaders who need to be respected. Even the Jacks, who may be less mature and serious than the King and Queen, need their talents to be recognized.
Jack is clever and playful. This youngest member of the royal family is creative and charming. There may be a tendency to stretch the truth or avoid responsibility.
Queen expresses power and leadership with compassion. Just as powerful as a King, you enjoy pleasing and taking care of others. Beware of being too demanding.
King is a natural leader. Authoritative, powerful, and wise, you prefer to do things your own way. Use caution when it comes to being too pushy or dismissive of others.
Joker is the wild card! A sneaky trickster who can take on the personality of any card in the deck, but most often acts like a Jack. Dec. 31 is the only day of the year that’s linked to the Joker. People born on this day cannot be read using this system.
BSP launches redesigned bank notes
BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said the new bank notes took three years to conceptualize and print. The idea to include Mrs. Aquino in the P500 bill, however, was conceived when she passed away due to colon cancer in August 2009.
Tetangco said the BSP decided to include Mrs. Aquino in the bank note even before President Aquino announced in September that he would seek the presidency.
All six denominations — P20, P50, P100, P200, P500, and P1,000 — have new designs and security features. Below are the new designs:
P20 bill
Obverse: Manuel L. Quezon
Reverse: Banaue Rice Terraces and a palm civet from the Cordilleras, which are famous for producing the coffee alamidP50 bill
Obverse: Sergio Osmeña
Reverse: Taal Lake and the Giant Trevally (locally known as Maliputo), a delicious milky fish which thrives only in the waters of the lake.P100 bill
Obverse: Manuel A. Roxas
Reverse: Mayon Volcano and “butanding” or whale shark, the world’s largest living fish which is the main attraction of Donsol, Sorsogon
P200 bill
Obverse: Diosdado Macapagal
Reverse: Chocolate Hills and the Philippine tarsier, one of the world’s smallest primates
P500 bill
Obverse: Corazon Aquino and Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.
Reverse: Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and the blue-naped parrot, which thrives in the forests of Palawan and Mindoro
P1,000 bill
Obverse: Josefa Llanes Escoda, Vicente P. Lim, and Jose Abad Santos
Reverse: Tubbataha Reef Marine Park and the South Sea Pearl, which is produced by oysters that thrive in the South Seas which the Sulu Sea is a part of
The images of the national figures on the obverse side of the bills show them at a younger age. Fe Dela Cruz, director of the BSP’s corporate affairs office, said in an ambush interview the younger images were chosen because the public servants and heroes on the bank notes served the country during their prime.The new security features of the bank notes include embossed prints, serial numbers, security fibers, watermarks, security thread, optically variable device, optically variable ink, and a see-through mark. The features increase as the value of the note goes higher.
The see-through mark is the word “Pilipino” written in Baybayin, a pre-Spanish Philippine writing system, which is only seen in complete form when the note is viewed against the light.
A banknote’s design is first conceptualized before it is drawn by an artist into a prototype banknote. Once the prototype has been approved, printing plates will be produced.
The production of banknotes consists of litho printing; intaglio printing; sheet inspection; numbering; tenning (where numbered sheets are inspected every tenth sheet to check if there are defects); and finishing which includes cutting, counting and packaging, according to the BSP.
