Travel: Taking a moment in the Midi-Pyrénées - Summit County Citizens Voice

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Taking Time Away Is Good For Everyone

ByColin McDonald

Part of being an adult is handling responsibilities. So how do you keep the spark when you are up to your elbows in work, dirty dishes and runny noses? Taking a weekend away to re-connect with each other will benefit your relationship, and as a result, improve life for the whole family.

There are several options for taking a weekend away; in fact, you could go just about anywhere you want to. The key is to spend some time alone. Simply spending the weekend at a romantic hotel is a great option. Having no household chores, no work and no children to wake you up at five in the morning will do wonders for your stress level. Being in a relaxed environment will allow you to have fun with your spouse and remember the things you loved about them in the first place!

If you like the outdoors, camping can be a fun weekend away. There is rarely a chance to enjoy a quiet moment in most every day. Camping out just the two of you can be very romantic. Sharing a quiet evening sitting together by the camp fire is very relaxing, and provides an opportunity to talk and re-connect on a deeper level. And it just doesn't get much better than sleeping together under the stars.

You also might choose to stay at a leisure resort, where you will be provided for in every way, from food to entertainment. Your only job will be to relax and enjoy. This type of getaway is great for parents, who are used to being the ones providing the leisure resort experience by feeding, cleaning up after and entertaining their children.

There are many great options for parents who want to spend the weekend away as a couple. Where you go really isn't important. Couples often talk about how great it would be to get away, then years go by without actually taking the trip. Things come up, and parents might feel guilty for leaving their children. But parents should put aside this guilt and place a weekend away high on their priority list. If you arrange for proper care for your children while you are way, there is nothing to feel bad for.

When parents take the time to improve their relationship and de-stress, it is good for the whole family. When parents are more relaxed and have had time away, they are often able to do a better job at home and at work, and enjoy life more. Further, it is good for children to see their parents in a happy relationship. Taking time away might seem selfish, but really it is just the opposite.

Colin McDonald writes on behalf of Potters Holiday - weekend breaks

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10 Quick Tips For Taking Better Travel Photos

ByPek Wan Wong

Whether you are have a point and shoot or a DSLR camera, you'd want to take some 'wow' photos home from a trip. You'd also want the photos to remind you of how glad you went where you went in the first place.

In the past, I had moments when I thought, "...why didn't I see and cut out that awful lamp post at the side?" And so I grew a little wiser as I took more photos.

Here are 10 tips for grabbing your shots on the road:

For photography newbies, learn to ditch 'auto' or 'P' mode on your camera, and use selected aperture and shutter speed settings for more control if you can.
Clear out the clutter and focus on a main subject. You don't need to include everything in the frame. Do you want that tree or post-box in the frame? What are you trying to tell with your picture?
Step up and shoot closer whenever able to. A lot of people tend to stay too far back when taking vacation shots.
Use a self-timer to trip the shutter to minimise blur and camera shake in low light conditions or if using a slow shutter speed (say, of 1/15 and slower) when handholding camera. Most times, your tripod may not be with you, you'll need to improvise.
Vary your camera angle, level and framing on your shots. Shoot low, from high up, from the ground up, up the dog's nose. Take filled frames but also frame with background detail for scale and setting on some shots.
Use a pre-focus - choose an aperture around F8. That way, if you grab the camera and point at an object, say, 5 feet away, you'd get sharpness on things lying within 3 feet to 10 feet in the frame. You can focus on a spot where you anticipate the action will happen using this method. This helps the camera locks focus faster and works great for quick, candid shots, particularly when you don't want to tip your subjects off that they are being photographed.
Shoot multiple shots on a subject you like. Take one shot, move two steps forward, take another. Don't forget to take a vertical shot too. Most people tend to frame shots horizontally, but a vertical shot often allows you to fill a frame, looks different and uses space more effectively.
Take landmarks, interesting signage, neon lights, colourful things, etc. Observe light direction, and shadow or texture of objects, buildings and landscape. They all add character to your photo.
Take care of your camera, and keep it free of dirt and dust when travelling. Buy a good camera bag, a blower brush and soft, microfiber cloth, and memory cards. Take a backup camera with you if have one.
Be sensitive to cultural differences. Ask permission to take a shot of that nice native for example, or the farmer. Don't try to take photos of things when it is illegal or impolite to do so.

The last word is, remember, you're on holiday, so make sure you don't see everything only through your lens. You don't need to photograph everything. If you want to capture everything, you want to strap a videocam to your head, not use a camera. Relax and enjoy the trip.

Pek W is a business analyst and part-time blogger with a zany side and an even quirkier personality, who takes travelling, photography and technology seriously. She tells tales and shares travel ideas on http://escapetripster.blogspot.com

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