Random collisions with my brain

Monday, March 3, 2008

Basic photography tips - part 1

Well these are just some basic tips for setting up a photograph that I put together for a presentation I have coming up in my speech class. Any tips/suggestions would be appretiated. I would especially like it if someone had a really cool idea for an intro and/or conclusion.

Tip #1 Use odd numbers of objects

Our brain is almost magically attracted to odd numbers. Whether it be points in an essay or a photograph, our appreciates odd numbers. See how much more pleasing the pic. on the top is to the eye?

Tip #2: Use the rule of thirds

This is another almost “magical” brain trick: imagine your photo divided into three sections, now use those lines that divide the sections to place your main objects in your photograph on. Notice how in the photo on the top the silhouette and first wave coming in are both placed along lines? Now not every line needs something on it, but the major elements of your photograph should be placed along one of these lines.

Now when doing face shots like the one on the bottom, your main element is the eyes, so you want to place those along one of the lines (presumably the top one).

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Contentedness

…does not come from earthly pleasures

Ecclesiastes 4:8 there was a man all alone; he had neither son nor brother. There was no end to his toil, yet his eyes were not content with his wealth. "For whom am I toiling," he asked, "and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?" This too is meaningless—a miserable business!

It comes from delighting in the Lord; he is the desire that our hearts long for.

Psalm 37:4Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Therefore we should not try and find our joy in earthly things, not that those things are necessarily bad in themselves, but instead our contentedness comes from the Lord. He is steadfast and will always be our greatest joy.

Hebrews 13:5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Not only will he never leave us, but he will never be anything less than our greatest joy.

I think that every time we sin, we’re saying we want to find contentedness in the world and not in God. So even though we all know it, and I stand condemned as perpetrator of this, I exhort all of you to not find your contentedness in these worldly possessions, but in the Lord.