The pros and cons of contracting versus permanent employment

If you value your independence, contracting is for you. Permanent employment may offer a certain amount of stability and security, but contracting provides the ability to be free from the politics of the corporate environment. As a contractor you are your own boss, and it is up to you to provide what is required by the company that you are contracting to.

Permanent employment involves fitting into a corporate culture. While it may offer security, that security may prove to be illusory. Political games and struggles arise all the time. It is necessary to play these games with some skill to get the right promotions. Losing a political struggle could mean the effective ending of career growth in the business. The only choices are to move on or to accept the limitations.

Contacting provides independence. You are your own boss providing a service for a client. The service that you perform has to be done professionally. The length of the contract and future contracting opportunities could depend on that.

Variety is the spice of a contracting career. Variety leads to continuous learning. It is necessary to develop the ability to adapt to each environment that you meet.

Some of the negatives associated with contracting include the uncertainty of finding another contract when when one ends. There can be career development, but no formal promotions. When the economy is going through a downturn, the risks increase. Sometimes contracts are eneded prematurely when companies change direction.

As an outsider, a contracter is only in a position to advise, never determine the direction of the company. Coming into a project that lacks direction, can be a problem for a contractor. It is often up to the contractor to take the initiative and begin to research the environment and the possibilities that are available.

Contractors often need to be assertive. The client is sometimes only able to offer a vague idea of what they actually want the contractor to achieve. It is up to the contractor to engage with the client to find out the requirement and required outcomes of the contract.

Most of the time one contract follows another, but there may be times when there is a gap between contracts. This is the major risk of contracting. The result can be several months of unemployment. As a result the contractor may be forced to accept the first offer, even though the rate is below his or her usual rate.

Then there are contracts that are extended year after year. The contract is almost like a permanent position.

In a recessionary climate it is often the contractors that go first. With cutbacks in almost every sector, permanent employees are given preference. While permanent employees may receive severance pay, even the contractor that has been with the same employer for many years receives nothing.

Permanent employment may include such benefits as medical insurance, annual paid leave and sick leave. The contractor must cover himself for such events. A contractor has to remain healthy as he cannot afford to be sick. Contractors may opt for less leave than their permanent counterparts as leave is unpaid.

Contacting offers independence, variety, wide experience and continual learning. The contractor must learn to be professional in all encounters with the client. Contracting is higher risk with no guarantee of continuous employment. The contractor must make his own arrangements for retirement funding, holiday pay, medical insurance and sickness cover.

Permanent employment offers security and stability. The permanent employee becomes a part of the enterprise. He or she has the opportunity to climb the corporate ladder. Medical insurance, leave pay and sickness benefits are covered. Most employers arrange some sort of retirement funding.

A permanent employee must be prepared to get involved in office politics and the security may prove to be illusory. There is always a boss to answer to.

Both types of employment have pros and cons. Some prefer the stability of longer term employment while other prefer not to answer to a boss. The choice is very much that of the individual. Good skills will usually keep the contractor off the streets, but there could be periods of unemployment between contracts. Permanent employment provides a sense of belonging and a degree of security.

Some of the best photo editing software

The photo editing software packages available for PCs range from easy to use basic tools that cater for the simpler tasks to highly sophisticated programs that require many hours to become familiar with the vast functionality. The quality may vary, but the best photo editing software for PC will depend on what you need and how you intend to use it. A number of packages stand out. These include Google's free Picasa 3, the open source GIMP 2, Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X1 and Adobe Photoshop.

Picasa 3 must be one of the easiest photo editors to use. Not only is it capable of enhancing and transforming your photos, it is a powerful organising tool as well.

Picasa 3 is available as a free download from Google. Once the install has completed, Picasa will search your PC for images and organise these into albums. Large thumbnails make finding your pictures simple. Simply select any pictures that you would like to share and upload these to your own Picasa Web album. Create a slide show of your photos for use on your blog or Website.

Picasa has three editing screens for Basic fixes, Tuning and Effects.

The BASIC FIXES screen includes the most commonly used features. Click the STRAIGHTEN button and a grid appears over the picture. A simple lever allows for quick and easy correction. An I'M FEELING LUCKY button automatically corrects the colour balance, contrast and colour saturation. You may add FILL-LIGHT using a lever, and RETOUCH pictures by copying spots from one part of a photo to another.

Use the TUNING screen to add HIGHLIGHTS and SHADOWS, change the COLOUR TEMPERATURE and to automatically correct lighting problems.

The EFFECTS tab provides a range of special effects that include B & W, SEPIA, WARMIFY, TINT and GLOW. FOCAL B & W allows you to transform a colour photograph into black and white while leaving a key feature of the picture in colour.

Picasa provides a facility to apply automatic fixes to a collection of pictures in a single step.

GIMP 2is a powerful open source graphics editing tool. It is available as a free download. GIMP 2 features a comprehensive toolbox to touch up, correct colour and light, and to transform a picture completely. A whole range of FILTERS, editing tools and LAYERS may be used to fix and transform photos and any other graphics.

Expect to spend several hours to find your way around GIMP. It is not quite as simple to use as Picasa, but the time will be well spent. Full tutorials and help screens are available for download from the GIMP site.

Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X1 is a commercially available product that retails for about $60. Paint Shop Pro was formerly Jasc software and the earlier editions were available for a free 30 day trial. Corel have not opted to continue with this tradition, so you will have to pay to use it. This latest edition of Paint Shop Pro is the simplest version to use to date and has a very powerful AUTO-FIX button that will correct most problems.

The features include a full range of editing tools that allow you full control over what you do with your pictures.

Adobe Photoshop has set the standard for photo editing software. It is also easy to use and includes tools to organise your photos. Again, there are many automatic tools for correcting single or multiple pictures. Adobe Photoshop is available for about $100.

For most purposes, Picasa 3 provides enough functionality for almost any purpose. The main drawback of Picasa is that it does not have a facility to resize photos, something that can be achieved easily using any of the other products. However, its unsurpassed ease of use and other features make Picasa a real winner.

For professional work, GIMP 2 provides everything that is needed to manage your pictures at an unbeatable price. Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo and Adobe Photoshop are both easier to use than GIMP at a cost. The functionality of both of these products is fairly comprehensive.

Many photo editing software packages are good. The one that is best for you is that one that manages what you need to do most effectively.

Tips for the beginner digital photographer

Digital photography has come of age. The use of film is on a fast and steady decline as more and more people make the transition to digital. Even the highest resolution digital camera cannot beat the resolution of film, so what is it that makes digital photography different?

The principles of film and digital photography are the same. While the quality of the lens and the features of the camera are important, the key part is played by the photographer. Outstanding photographs may be produced without the best equipment. Conversely, the best equipment is often used to produce average photographs. The multitude of pictures posted on Face book are a case in point. Most are of little interest except to those intimately involved. Yet many of these were taken with the best digital cameras.

The key to good photography lies in the ability to see and to think photographically. Use light to its best advantage and focus on composition. No matter what the camera, composition is the key to success. It is the relationships between the objects that make up the picture. Look for lines in the scene, and look for ideas that make the picture interesting. The rule of thirds teaches us that the the eye is not drawn to the centre of the picture but to the intersection of the thirds - both horizontal and vertical. Become aware of the light and the effect of dark shadows in a photograph. The multitude of special effects and extra features of many digital cameras are nice to have extras.

The main differences between a digital and a film camera include:

* memory replaces the film

* batteries are crucial in digital photography but play only a small part in a film camera

* a memory card - unlike film - can be used over and over again

* you may vary the resolution of your pictures

* you can edit or discard your pictures on the camera itself

* pictures may be printed directly from the camera and stored on a computer and on the Internet.

Perhaps the most obvious difference of your new digital camera is that instead of a viewfinder there is a screen. Some cameras have both, but most rely simply on the screen. The adjustment is simple, but it will take some practice to get a firm and steady grip on the camera. The screen is a useful addition for the photographer. It becomes simpler to frame the composition effectively and to preview how the photograph will turn out.

As in film photography, it is the quality of the optics that determine how well the camera performs. A good lens on a cheap camera can produce excellent results while a low quality lens on the most expensive camera will let you down every time!

Most cameras have a range of automatic options including automatic exposure control and automatic focus. In addition to the optical zoom, a digital zoom is available.

Before you start using your new digital camera, it is a good idea to read the manual. Experiment while you do this, and you will get a feel for the camera very quickly. With a digital camera there is no cost in experimentation.

Most digital cameras have a small amount of built-in memory. This memory will limit you (depending on size) to only a few photos - perhaps between 8 and 20. Before you are able to capture new photos you will have to copy these to a computer or print them to free up the space. The best option is to buy a memory card that will boost the amount of space for pictures quite dramatically. Buy the largest memory card you can afford. These are still fairly expensive, but remember that paying for film and developing is a thing of the past!

Film comes in specific sizes - 12, 24 or 26 pictures. The number of pictures that may be captured digitally depends on a combination of the memory available and the resolution of the camera and the pictures. The higher the resolution, the fewer pictures can be stored. Some cameras allow you to reduce or increase the resolution of your pictures. Reducing the resolution effectively increases the capacity of your memory card, but reduces the extent of enlargement possible. Remember that five mega pixels provides a high enough resolution for most purposes.

If you intend travelling with your camera, it may be worth carrying an additional memory card. If one card is full, then the second will be very useful until you are able to transfer the pictures to your computer.

A digital camera is totally reliant on batteries. The best option is to purchase two sets of rechargeable batteries. Although they may last for some time, it is always a good idea to have a spare set available.

The zoom on a digital camera is often a combination of optical zoom (using the lens) and digital zoom. The digital zoom simply enlarges the picture and effectively reduces the resolution. Most cameras will indicate when you are using the digital zoom.

Digital cameras are usually supplied with some built in photo-editing software to crop the photos, correct the brightness, contrast and so on. You may also switch to black and white and use other effects offered on the camera.

Your digital camera should be supplied with a USB cable to copy or transfer your photos to a computer. The transfer is a fairly straightforward process and takes only a few minutes to complete. Some cameras allow you to transfer the pictures directly to your printer. Use the software supplied with the camera to do this or use one of the many photo editing software tools available.

The computer based photo editors have a number of powerful features that make it possible to correct a wide range of defects in a photo. The colour balance, saturation, colour temperature, brightness and contrast can all be varied. You may add more light or shadow. It is possible to correct both over and under exposure within certain limits. These photo editing programs usually have an array of special effects that may be applied.

With your photos on the computer it is quite simple to print these on an inexpensive ink-jet printer. A variety of special photo paper can be purchased for this purpose. The cost of the ink and paper is relatively expensive but is a very convenient option. Alternatively, you can order prints from the traditional photo shop or through one of the Internet based photographic printers.

The simplest way to begin with the digital camera is to use the automatic features. Familiarise yourself with these and experiment with the many other features that are available.

Digital photography offers plenty of scope to be creative, and the cost of film will never be important again.

How to master landscape photography

Driving through the countryside you encounter an awe inspiring scene that just has to be captured on your camera! Stopping the car, you shoot a few shots. But the results disappoint. The haunted house on the horizon is a mere speck in the distance and the photograph looks ordinary. The scene has somehow lost the charm that drove you to capture it. What must you do to ensure that your landscape photographs portray as stunning a scene as the one that you saw?

Composition is one of the most important aspects of landscape photography. What you capture on camera is only a portion of what you see with your eye. Review the features of the landscape that will stand out and make your picture interesting. Identify a focal point, something that will draw the eye. Decide on a focal point and examine its relationship with the rest of the scene.

The classic rule of thirds provides an excellent guideline to get you started. Divide the picture into thirds both horizontally and vertically. Some digital cameras have a grid to help achieve this. The horizon should be placed upon either the upper or lower horizontal third. An interesting feature or focal point of the landscape may be placed on one of the intersections of a vertical and horizontal third. This technique works and results in a much more interesting picture than one where the point of interest is centred in the frame.

Many people include city photography and views of the sea as landscapes. Strictly speaking, a landscape is a scene of land, of scenery that may include hills, valleys, rivers and mountains. Seascapes are scenes that feature the sea while a cityscape features an urban scene. The rules and techniques that apply to one, apply to all.

One way to provide perspective and a sense of scale is to include objects in the foreground of the composition. These may include a nearby sand dune, a tree, a building, an animal or a person. Foreground features help to give a three dimensional feel to the picture and add a sense of perspective.

One of the classic mistakes made by tourists is to attempt to combine a portrait of a loved one with a landscape. The girlfriend stands smiling to the camera in front of the Tower of London. This simply doesn't work! Each is an object of beauty, so treat them as individuals.

Put some thought into your landscape photographs. Look for lines - vertical and horizontal and diagonal. These can help to make the picture interesting. Horizontal lines help to provide a feeling of tranquility while diagonals suggest movement. A winding path or meandering stream disappearing into the distance creates a hint of mystery. Vertical lines - such as trees at the edge of a forest give strength and frame the scenes around them.

Examine the relationships between near and distant objects. Explore the scene through the viewfinder while moving around to get the best vantage point.

Photographing a scene from a cliff stands the risk of losing the feeling of height. This can be countered by ensuring that part of the cliff itself is included in the frame.

Water provides a wonderful opportunity for photography. It provides reflections of the sky and surrounds, and that shimmering effect that can really add to a scene.

Light and colour can make or break a landscape. As the day progresses from morning through to might, the light changes. Viewed through the naked eye, the scene appears the same. Captured through a camera the difference is immense. The light at daybreak throws a golden hue across the world that changes the colours all around. The midday sun produces short shadows and a rather harsh light. The quality of light changes through the seasons as do the colours of the landscape. Light varies from one country to another. The harsh light of Africa may be contrasted against the more hazy and gentle light of Europe.

While contemplating your landscape consider what aspect of the landscape you want to portray.

The photographic equipment is often considered to be of prime importance in landscape photography. Indeed, a camera that is capable of capturing pictures at a high resolution can make a big difference. A good lens is important to ensure that detail is captured well. But great landscapes can be captured using even a simple camera.

A tripod can be very useful, especially when light conditions dictate either a slow shutter speed or a wide open aperture. The aperture should be as small as possible to maximise the depth of field captured, but a different effect can be created with a larger aperture to blur the foreground.

Many people automatically select a wide angle lens to shoot landscapes. While this will help to provide a panoramic view, there is no reason why a standard or telephoto lens should not be used to capture a specific scene to achieve a different effect.

Experimentation in photography is the name of the game. Bracket your photos to ensure you get the optimal exposure. Try photographing from close to the ground or from a high point. Experiment with different exposures to produce different effects. Impressionistic landscape photographers may use extreme underexposure to produce a silhouette, while abstract photographers look at the relationships between the shapes captured.

Great equipment will help. If you are planning a series of landscapes to use as publicity posters for an advertising campaign, you will need some serious equipment! In most cases, it is the photographer rather than the camera that produces great photographs.

On the road

Photography: tips for natural looking portraits

Portrait photography is an art that requires a number of skills. The photographer has to pay attention to the lighting and must be able to put the subject at ease. Portrait photography often takes place in the controlled environment of a studio. Yet some of the greatest and most natural looking portraits are achieved when the subject is photographed in a more natural setting.

Capturing a world leader addressing an audience, an actor playing a role or a pianist at the keyboard provide some of the most powerful and natural looking portraits.

A studio generally gives the photographer a choice of backgrounds and lighting options. Many photographers do not have access to this luxury and have to make do with more natural settings for their portrait photography. Selecting an appropriate background or setting may be the first step towards giving the portrait a natural look and feel. Photographing an artist in a art studio defines the artist in the resulting portrait. Capturing the picture while the artist is at work will produce the most telling results.

Professional models are usually quite comfortable posing in front of the camera, but other subjects do not feel the same way. They tend to feel and look quite self conscious when posing for a picture. It is up to the photographer to engage the subject in conversation in a way that will make her feel relaxed and at home. Young children make excellent subjects for portrait photography. They respond to objects such as balloons and to rewards of sweets at the end of the shoot. A photographer that has a little of the comedian inside may be able to break the ice more easily, but taking an interest in the subject and listening to what they have to say could produce the right atmosphere.

A good portrait can be achieved either outdoors or indoors. Outdoor photography means relinquishing some control of the lighting, but natural lighting and shade can be very effective in producing good results. Using a medium telephoto lens and blurring the background by using a wide aperture is very effective way to create an effective portrait. Couple this with a little back lighting produces a soft effect.

Children can be photographed under almost any lighting conditions. For adults, softer lighting options are more flattering. A diffuser should be used to break up the light. Alternatively, bounce the flash against a white ceiling or screen to produce produce a soft and balanced effect.

The effective use of light is one of the keys to produce natural looking results. A light or flash should never be pointed directly into the subject's face. A diffused light slightly to the one side is effective, but it may be necessary to provide additional fill-in light and possibly even some back lighting. Good use of lighting will help to avoid flat portraits with dark shadows on the face. Harsh shadows from a flash or a direct light are always to be avoided.

Using a medium telephoto lens is generally my preferred option. It allows for a close-up without over-emphasising the features. It is also simpler for a subject to feel relaxed and at home when the photographer is at a greater distance.

When the photographer devotes some time to engage with the subject can help to achieve a more relaxed and natural looking portrait. This coupled with the right lighting should produce good results.

Photography: how to take beautiful maternity portraits

The glowing beauty of a pregnant woman is a rare and wonderful sight. Most doctors confirm that the most wonderful part of their work is delivering a new baby, and an expectant mother has that air of expectancy and serenity surrounding her.

A typical woman experiences a pregnancy only a few times in her life, and it is usually during the first pregnancy that the opportunities for taking beautiful maternity portraits abound. When there are already other children, the opportunities somehow diminish! Seize the moment and capture this wonderful event while it is taking place. Taking maternity portraits is a great pleasure for the photographer and the portraits will be treasured forever.

The best maternity portraits can be shot with the mother either nude or wearing a light see through night dress. Pictures may be repeated at various times through the pregnancy documenting the growth of the baby and the ever changing curves of the woman's body.

Lighting is important in creating the right effect. Evening or night shots by candle-light without a flash are very effective. A single flash bounced off a white ceiling or wall or a diffused reflected light will produce the desired soft effect. Back lighting with a little fill in light to the front is very effective, highlighting the pregnant curves. Avoid harsh direct lighting as this hardens the picture.

Photographing in colour using pastel shades with some drapes as a background can be very effective. Black and white or sepia adds a very romantic feel to the pictures.

Pay some attention to the composition of the picture. Arrange furniture and other items in the background to suggest a feminine bedroom. Try to avoid her standing and facing the camera directly in the centre of the screen. Side views, or with the subject facing slightly towards your right or left are very effective. Leave more space in the frame to the front of the woman than behind her - try to follow the rule of thirds.

Make the subject feel at ease by engaging her in conversation, and complimenting her beauty. All women respond well to compliments and this will help to make her feel more comfortable. She may feel more at ease if she knows that the pictures are to remain private.

Arrange the photos with the subject in advance. She will want to look at her best and have time to prepare. Take a variety of shots from various angles using a variety of lighting conditions.
These beautiful maternity pictures will be yours and hers to treasure for many years into the future.

Highveld scene in Pretoria

A scene appealed because of the light and the cloud formations. In the background is the Ghost House featured in the previous post.

The Ghost House - Erasmus Castle, Pretoria

The Erasmus Castle is commonly known as The Ghost House or Die Spookhuis was completed in 1903. It was the inspiration of Jochemus and Johanna Erasmus. The castle - which would feel quite at home in Transylvania - was designed by Dutch architect Van Der Benn. The Italian builder, Monte Bello used mostly imported materials to complete the house.

Jochemus had made some money from the gold rush at the end of the nineteenth century, and the family lived a flambuoyant lifestyle, hosting extravagent concerts and dances. The family's fortuned changed during the Great Depression and the castle fell into disrepair. Looking eerie in its dillapidated condition, the castle was used in the 1950 film Hier's Ons Weer.
Armscor later purchased and restored the house, but the original family are said to still be in residence in rather ghostly form.

Advantages of the recession

The seventies TV series 'The Waltons' shamelessly romanticised the Great Depression. The family as depicted by the narrator John-Boy was poor but happy. It was the family, their warmth and family unity that mattered. Who wouldn't be nostalgic for these wonderful times? But the schmaltzy portrayal of hard times contained an element of truth - there are really aome advantages of a recession.

A recession provides a dose of reality and perhaps a return to basic values.

The generation of the early twenty-first century is spoilt. Its members are accustomed to getting what they want when they want. Unlimited credit has made it all possible. Parents of young children have forgotten how to say NO.

The ever deepening global recession has changed all that. Cash-strapped parents are being forced to turn down demands for the latest Play Station, Ipod or quad bike. But instead of feeling guilty, these parents can feel good. Their children will manage very well without the latest technological toys and their possesions will acquire value.

Perhaps this will herald a return to traditional outdoor children's games. The transformation of children's play into sedentary activities has been a major cause of low-muscle tone and related perceptual problems. Children thrive when there are limits. For the first time in many years parents are once again learning how to say no. Saying no builds a sense of value.

Endless credit made it possible to get almost anything we wanted. But the novelty of each new purchase soon wore off, replaced by the craving for the next, and the next ....

During the recession times are tough. Each buying decision must be weighed up with care. Our things are beginning to acquire value.

The rampant materialism that has gripped our culture has driven many to taking on a second and even a third job. These were necessary to finance all of the 'necessities' of the age. It was all done for the family. The recession has put an end to the third job, the second job and perhaps the day job. At last there is time to spend with the family.

The recession helps us to discover that not everything worthwhile requires cash! A picnic on the banks of the river with a cool breeze caressing your skin is about as good as it gets. What can be better than sharing a bottle of ice cold Sauvignon Blanc on the beach at sunset? Sometimes the best things in life are free.

Take-out fast food became one of the curses of the age. Obesity has spread like wildfire as millions became overweight. Many have forgotten the pleasure of good home cooked food. One of the greatest benefits of the recession is that we are forced to eat good, wholesome home cooked meals. There is no going back!

Someone once said that a person is rich when he is content with what he has. Perhaps the single greatest advantage of the recession is the return to real values to value what is important, the people that we love and share our lives.