Lana did a bungee jump to help raise money for her placement in malwai, here are some of her fantastic photos.
Places worthy of an Oscar
Locations worthy of an Oscar
By Roberta Geraci
With the Oscars just around the corner, the film awards season is coming to its climax. While actors and actresses are frequently praised for their performances, in lots of films the real star is the location. An excellent setting can be central to the storyline, provide an incredible backdrop or in some cases be an important character.
So in order to award these spectacular settings their place in the spotlight, below are a list of five of the best film locations from around the world and the films that feature them. Action!
Lattitude volunteers exploring some of the peaks in New Zealand, taken by Sam
1. New Zealand – The Lord of the Rings
While Middle Earth is an entirely fictional place the stunning landscapes seen in the Lord of the Rings trilogy are situated in various places across New Zealand. Director Peter Jackson a native New Zealander did more to boost the tourist industry in the islands than anyone else and the Lord of the Rings went on to become on of the largest grossing franchises in cinema history. With The Hobbit due on our screens again this year, New Zealand’s stunning vistas will return together with Hobbiton, which is now open in New Zealand to guided tours!
2. Hollywood, California – The Artist
What would a list about film locations be without the spiritual home of cinema, Hollywood. The Artist is the hot favourite to win best film at the Oscars this year with its 1920’s romantic view of Hollywood and the film industry from yesteryear. Hollywood is absolutely central to the story and while much of Hollywood has changed dramatically from that era, fortunately, certain Theatres remain including The Million Dollar Theater and nearby theatres like the Orpheum Theatre and The Los Angeles Theatre.
Some of our recent volunteers in the UK enjoying their orientation in London
3. London, England – Sherlock Holmes
London has been central to many great films over the years but with Sherlock Holmes in the cinema’s and the BBC’s excellent modern television adaptation, the great detective appears to be witnessing a surge in popularity. The books originally by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle always placed London at the turn of the twentieth century as a central character and the films and television series successfully capture both London’s charms and darker side. Make sure to visit 221B Baker Street and see where Holmes and Watson were said to have lived. Elementary.
Beautiful sunset on Fiji taken by volunteer Richard
4. Monuriki, Fiji – Castaway
Monuriki is an uninhabited tiny island in the Pacific Ocean belonging to a series of Islands that make up Fiji. A beautiful paradise island with white beaches and tropical flora it sounds like a great location, yet Tom Hanks in Castaway didn’t seem too happy to spend months on end alone there. Still Fiji remains a fantastic destination and an incredible setting for the film which rightly landed Tom Hanks an Oscar. But who could forget the excellent performance of Wilson the volleyball who sadly missed out on the best supporting actor Oscar that year.
Business meets tradition on the streets of Japan, taken by volunteer Dafydd
5. Tokyo, Japan – Lost in Translation
Lost in Translation was a highly acclaimed film from director Sofia Coppola and was nominated for four Oscars. Actor Bill Murray gave one of the performances of his career but the real highlight was the city of Tokyo. Tokyo’s bustling city streets, neon lights and technology obsessed inhabitants made for a stark contrast when compared to the loneliness and sadness the main character portrayed. The film used actual locations and all of the places, bars and businesses existed in Tokyo at the time of filming, giving it a heightened realism. Tokyo remains a unique location where the traditions of Japan’s ancient temples and gardens meet with the hustle of one of the largest cities on earth.
Travel Photography Tips and Techniques
More than memories! Great photos of your experiences are a fantastic keep sake, this was taken by Charlie
in Tanzania at The Irente point (world view) in Lushoto, with local man sat looking over the flat expanse of Africa
By Roberta Geraci
When away on holiday or travelling, we all want to capture the moment by taking pictures. If a picture tells a thousand words than we all want those pictures to reflect the location, experience, event and emotions we were experiencing at that time. Travel photography is particularly important as we feel we may never get to witness the same moment again and we want to be able to show all our family and friends what we have seen. No pressure to get that shot perfect then! Below are a summary of some of the main tips and techniques for what to look out for when taking pictures while travelling.
1. The right equipment
Today digital cameras are cheap and almost ubiquitous, nearly all phones sold today have a camera built in and compact cameras can be purchased for under £100. However it is important to consider that not all cameras are made equal, and there are many different types available, suiting many price ranges. If you are someone who does not know their Aperture settings from their ISO settings, then before shelling out a fortune it would be wise to do some research into which camera would best suit you. Technology website, The Verge has an excellent article about what to look out for when buying a digital camera. Once you have your camera sorted other important things to consider are;
- Tripods – great for taking night shots but not always suitable for travel.
- Case – It is important to get a good case that protects the equipment and does not stand out too much.
- Spare batteries – If your camera takes standard batteries then remember to pack spares. If going away for a long trip then purchase a spare rechargeable battery to keep you juiced up.
- Memory Cards – Make sure to check your compatibility and purchase an extra memory card if away for a long time. Usually these are cheapest on the Internet so shop around.
2. What to shoot
The equipment is less than half the story, the most important thing about taking a good picture is the subject, be it a person, a landscape, a city or an animal. Depending on where your going, your subjects will change. According to Robert Caputo from The National Geographic, the best tips to help you choose your subject are:
- Understanding the customs and traditions of the place you are visiting
- “Getting out there” and experiencing the location and customs before taking the pictures that capture those experiences
- “Getting Lost” and experiencing things off the beaten track or away from the heavily tourist areas will give you more unique pictures.
Remember when taking pictures of other people, especially children, it is important to ask for their or their parent’s permission.
3. How to Frame your shot
Framing your shot correctly is the difference between a good picture and a great one.
Traditionally when taking pictures “the rule of thirds” is a good place to start. According to Bryan F Peterson the rule of thirds is a guideline which “proposes that an image should be imagined as divided into nine equal parts by two equally-spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines, and that important compositional elements should be placed along these lines or their intersections.”
The below image demonstrates this as the position of the tree and the horizon lie along the intersections of two-thirds lines.
travel photography, hints & tips from Lattitude Global Volunteering
While the rule is a good place to start some of the best pictures are those that defy convention. Try taking multiple shots of the same subject from different angles, either up high or down low, to convey different emotions. Don’t be afraid to zoom in on certain details or take wide-angle shots to capture a bigger picture.
Remember the convenience of a digital camera means you can take as many pictures as you want, you can always delete some of the less successful ones later.
We love seeing travel pictures by our volunteers so please share them on our Facebook page and why not enter our photo competition. Happy Snapping!
Sources:
http://www.theverge.com/2012/1/2/2663464/camera-buyers-guide
http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-tips/travel-photography-tips/
Bryan F. Peterson – Learning to see creatively: design, color & composition in photography