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Simple Steps to Taking a Better Selfies Today

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it is a fact, our era is centered on  the image . Thanks to new technologies and social networks, we are at a time when self-promotion and staging of ourselves are the order of the day, as well as the digital preservation of memories and moments of life.

According to  Le Figaro, more than a thousand selfies are taken every second in the world! A figure that makes us think about the importance of this new practice .

Currently, we take photos of all situations in life, although some better than others. We take ten, twenty, thirty selfies, we are hardly ever satisfied with the image we take. But precisely what does a good selfie look like? And how can they be done?

How to take the best selfie

The first aspect to take into account when taking a selfie is knowing yourself, knowing your characteristics, learning to know  what perspective to adopt to get the most out of yourself.

selfie , beyond being a narcissistic promotion, is also a little  learning  about oneself, to better understand your body, your face and your expressions. An exercise that, although it does not seem difficult, is actually like a tightrope performance, in which one should not fall, and is in connection with  the esteem that one has of oneself.

Of course, it is not a must, but knowing yourself greatly facilitates the task of taking good selfies . Some questions you can ask yourself are:

  • How do I position my chin to look more athletic?
  • What kind of light suits me?
  • Should I squint to look mysterious?
  • What’s the difference between my old selfie and this one?
  • Is the place where I am suitable to take the photo?
  • How can I look natural?

The selfie involves asking these types of questions, and it is not always easy to meet our own expectations . Because it is not only about putting ourselves on the scene, but about showing that  we know how to do it , that we have developed a certain confidence in ourselves, and that showing ourselves   in the eyes of the world (and our own eyes) is not a problem.

Let’s admit it, the selfie usually has social media as its final destination  Therefore, it is essential to know yourself to photograph good moments and take beautiful images, since the idea is usually to show your best day , your best profile, your best light.

With or without a tripod, with or without a self-timer, this type of self-portrait is not only the symbol of an era,  but also of  introspection  on certain levels. Thinking that you are a model while taking photos is a bit therapeutic, right?

As we have seen, all these questions are important when it comes to taking a selfie , but  the material  also influences the  success  and  quality  of this type of photo.

Best Tools for taking the selfies

The  material , be it a professional camera or a mobile phone, is  decisive  in terms of the quality and  the final result  of the selfie . In addition, it indicates the interest and importance that we give to the photo that we are going to take, to that moment that we are about to immortalize.

It seems obvious that a photo of you on vacation by the sea will be more effective and more beautiful taken with a professional camera than with a mobile full of sand. But not everyone has the opportunity or the luck to own quality material , and  everything is possible for those who put a little intention and love into it!

However, the idea is not to buy a SLR camera for the sole reason that it will make more beautiful or better photos, but rather that you have to work on the result to the maximum . Think of taking a good perspective, a good background, an automatic focus on your mobile, and the photo will already be more beautiful and  more pleasant  than a half blurred photo.

And, why don’t you help yourself  with  accessories ? The selfie stick , for example, is a tool that can help you adopt a better posture, which leaves more room for natural expressions by eliminating the hassle  of reaching out  .

In addition, we could also mention the filters and editing programs / assembly, if your camera is poor,  have the  objective to  improve  your photos, revive colors or increase the brightness of a photo. Everything you need to get better photos!

Therefore, thinking about the material, analyzing how it can help you and knowing these tools are essential criteria  for taking good selfies . Let’s not forget that this is almost a  photographic technique in itself, which might require a private teacher!

On the other hand, although with a compact camera you can probably outdo yourself, keep in mind that with a mobile we can take good quality snapshots  This is corroborated, for example, by the existence of photographic lenses for mobiles. Therefore, it is possible to give a  fisheye or portrait effect to your selfie , and thus give your photo a better effect and an  optimal finish  .

In summary, among the most relevant and useful accessories to make a good selfie , we find:

  • The famous selfie stick .
  • Filters and editing / montage programs.
  • Photographic lenses for mobiles.
  • Small pieces to place behind the mobile to keep it more stable with your fingers.
  • A small cloth to clean the lens.
  • Various applications to apply different effects on the face.
  • And many more!

As you can see, with some tricks, it  helps and if you do everything possible to have them all with you, it is possible to make a quality selfie with material that  is not so difficult to find as well as accessible.

Selfie tip: think about the purpose of the photo

The material is, therefore, very important, and  the image we have of ourselves as  well. However, without knowing why you took the photo, for what purpose you decided to take that selfie , things get a little more complicated.

So taking a selfie implies, of course,  a goal. This same objective may be different depending on the person:

  • Post it on social media.
  • Send it to a friend or family.
  • Keep it for yourself as a souvenir.
  • Change your profile photo on Facebook.
  • Print it to remember life moments in a concrete way.
  • See if you are well groomed or made up (yes, yes!).
  • And many other reasons!

As you can see, the selfie is more than just an image ; it is a  life tool  , sometimes even an ally, when it comes to  promoting yourself  to others, but also to yourself.

It is also important to opt for  natural light and make a perfect focus, to take beautiful photos, where the sharpness , even with the mobile, would almost be confused with the work of a professional photographer.

Taking photos of oneself implies an irreproachable framing , knowing how to  capture the moment , a perfect source of light, a photographic equipment that avoids picking up a reflex camera with an outstretched arm … In short, everything that indicates that we know how to  use our resources as you would an influencer .

Do you want to use your selfie on social networks and publish it, for example, on your Instagram account ? Do not hesitate to use the  filters  of the application or those that exist in an attached way. Also remember to accompany it with a nice, funny and witty caption, to make it even more fun.  It’s the most common use we make of selfies , so make it fun!

But how? In reality, many selfies are not successful for the simple reason that the face does not transmit, the face is off-center , not tilted enough to make it look good. Take a  lively and fun stance  , and you’ll win over your audience.

The same happens with the gestures, the attitude, the  intention  that is given to the photo. A photo taken  with a smile is more attractive than one where the protagonist makes faces. A serious face is instinctively more unpleasant than a happy, smiling face.

The Perfect Selfie: Influencer Tips

In these lines we have learned that there are three basic aspects that we have to know to get a good selfie : know yourself, have the right material and know how to use it, and think about the purpose of the photo. Here is a list of tips to improve, and get a selfie of 10/10!

The lighting

Lighting is a key aspect of photography. For all types of photos, lighting is an aspect that the person taking the photo always takes into account. Who hasn’t screwed up a photo with a beautiful background because it was backlit ? Sometimes an annoying shadow slips into the photo. Others, half of the face is very light and the other too dark. Not to mention the hideous red eyes .

In short, we may have already gotten up with the best face, have the top camera on the market and a location of heart attack that if we do not have adequate lighting, the photo will be a real failure.

The natural light is usually a good ally. Sunlight favors our expression and gives an incomparable warmth to our photos. When taking a selfie , take a few minutes to analyze how natural light reflects off your face.

In the first place, the optimal thing is that the sun hits you head-on. Position your face so that the light is focused on your eyes. For this you also have to find the balance between lighting and angle . Do not bend over excessively so that light hits your eyes if this is why you are going to form a double chin.

Although after taking a  selfie you edit the lighting , the cameras already regulate the light at the moment you take the photo, try to play with this function! Touch your finger on the screen to indicate the point on the face where you want the light to focus, increase or decrease the light. Also, if your camera or mobile has portrait mode  or beauty mode,  do not hesitate to take advantage of it. There are a thousand different ways to get a good selfie !

On the other hand, you have surely seen in instagram posts how influencers take advantage of the famous golden hour to take photos. The golden hour  or magic hour is the time of day when there is the best light to take photos. At this time of day the photos are left with a special brightness that will make your selfie have a magical touch. But, you’ll have to hurry! This moment only lasts a few minutes.

However, if you do not have natural light, you cannot find the time to go out to take photos or you are not available during the golden hour; you can always opt for artificial light . Unlike natural light, the great thing about artificial light is that you can control and modify it. Try taking selfies in all the rooms of the house to compare the light that each of the bulbs has and thus find the place with the best lighting . We also recommend you get an LED lamp  since you can take it to any room in your house, place it where you want and it will always emit an optimal light to take the photos.

The angle

The place where we place the lens is key to getting a good selfie . If you look at the posts on social media, you will see that most of the selfies  are always taken from the same angle . The key is to place the camera a little above our heads. That is, when we stretch our arm to take a selfie  we should not position the arm perpendicular to our body, so that the screen is right in front of our face ; otherwise we have to raise the arm a little bit, so that the screen is a little higher.

This technique will force us to raise our eyes and deepen our gaze , and thus the eyes will be more showy.

The Expression

The expression on our face conveys a lot. In a full-body photo or one that is not necessarily from the front, the face may take a back seat. The landscape that surrounds us, how we are dressed, the people in the photo … are elements that distract the attention of who sees the photo. Thus, in these photos showing our face is not the main thing, nor is it the objective of the photo.

However, in a selfie photo, the face is everything. Our face is the center of the photo. The expression that we put will transmit one or another sensation to the people who see it. Therefore, to know what expression to adopt, it is essential to know the objective of the photograph .

The WhatsApp profile photo, a photo to post on the networks, a photo to pass to your friends … All of them can be selfies that you take in the same place and with the same light, but the expression you put will change it. that you transmit.

All in all, there are some general tips that can be applied to most selfies:

Do not smile excessively if the laughter is not provoked naturally, as it will be very forced and the lines of expression will be too marked.

Look directly at the lens of the camera , to give depth to your gaze and avoid a photo with lost gaze.

Turn your head slightly to the side , the famous good side!

Find your own tricks and get the most out of it!

What are the best software’s for selfies?

Once we have put into practice all the techniques and tips to take a good selfie  and we have a gallery full of photos, there is one last step to improve the photo and get that incredible selfie : editing.

There are endless applications and ways to edit photos; but in this case there is no universal trick. It is about trying the different filters, settings, balances , until we find what to improve suits our face and what we like the most.

Today most mobile cameras already come with the integrated editing option. Without the need for any application, our mobile offers a series of editing parameters that can already considerably improve the quality of our photo.

We can also choose the edition that can be done from a social network, such as Instagram, which has a wide range of editing parameters. The easiest thing is to apply one of the filters you have. Some give more warmth, more lighting, you can modify the color of the photo . If we prefer, Instagram also gives the option to do the editing manually , that is, we can adjust each of the parameters manually. The parameters that are presented to be able to edit are: brightness, contrast, texture, warmth, saturation, color, lights and shadows, sharpness.

Although both the mobile edition and the Instagram edition can help us to considerably improve the photos, there are applications specialized in photo editing that allow us to achieve an optimal result. Although there are a large number of applications to edit photos, we have selected the most popular ones that cover most of the parameters necessary to get a selfie of 10:

  • VSCO: has a large number of filters. In addition, these filters are adjustable and customizable. Many of them give a beautiful analog look. It is one of the most used applications among social network users due to its ease of use and good finish.
  • Adobe Photoshop: for more professional environments. It is less intuitive than other applications and requires more training to use, but it allows you to adjust more parameters, modify the images more to your liking and even create much more personalized content.
  • Adobe Lightroom: to get a professional look quickly. A favorite among influencers for its professional finish and fast handling.
  • PicsArt: in addition to filters, effects and parameter adjustment, with this application you can work with different layers. It allows you to draw on the image, superimpose different photos and give your selfies a fun touch .
  • Visage: specially created for editing selfies . Its name, visage , means face in French, and allows you to touch up any aspect of your face. You can from removing pimples, dark circles to modifying the size and shape of the eyes.

Definitely, the selfie seems like it will be more than a trend, a real practice , so it would almost be worth going to photography classes.

Smile , they are taking a picture of you!

 

 

 

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How to Conclude Your Virtual Meeting in an Engaging Way

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Virtual Meeting

Virtual meetings can be fun and engaging but can become unproductive if you don’t follow some simple best practices.

One way to avoid this is to ensure the meeting ends on time and in an engaging manner. Here are a few tips to help you do that:

Have a Closing Remark

Creating engaging virtual meetings requires intense planning and strategic outreach. This involves defining your session’s purpose, developing engagement strategies, and identifying a robust platform for your collaboration needs.

One of the best ways to conclude your virtual meeting engagingly is to make a closing remark that sums up what was covered and clarifies any action items. This remark can be light-hearted, a witty visual, or just a simple one that captures your presentation’s essence.

Have a Question and Answer Session

A Q&A session at the end of a virtual meeting or a presentation can engage attendees correctly. There are a few things to consider when planning a Q&A session, and here are some tips for hosting an effective one:

Before the meeting, ensure everyone knows the agenda and how to prepare for it. Add the plan to the meeting invitation and email it to all attendees, so they know what to expect.

During the meeting, use participant muting or hand-raising functions to facilitate turns so that each question is answered as quickly and efficiently as possible.

After the close of the meeting, ask if any questions were raised and what the feedback was. You can also ask if anyone has suggestions or ideas to share with you and your team. This is an excellent way to boost employee engagement and allow the audience to feel heard.

Have a Group Activity

Group activities can make virtual meetings more positive and boost employee engagement. These team-building games are easy to set up and run over a Zoom call, so you can play with your entire team no matter where they are!

ELI5: Explain like you’re five is a simple game where you ask your employees to describe a concept they know or are passionate about in a way that even 5-year-olds can understand. This is a great icebreaker that requires communication, teamwork, and reasoning!

Culture Connection: Have employees describe the company culture in one word. This is an excellent icebreaker for your remote team and can help you track any cultural shifts.

Challenge your team’s quick judgments with this activity. Ask them to list three items they would want on a desert island and provide their reasons for each. Everyone will be able to see your team’s broad spectrum of perspectives and learn new things from their peers.

Have a Discussion

Discussing a virtual meeting can be tricky. You must balance the need for focus with a desire to engage your team members.

Whether you’re having a problem-solving meeting or an idea-sharing session, it’s essential to ensure that everyone feels like they’re part of the discussion. To do this, use various attractive features in your meeting to make your attendees feel more active and engaged.

Start with an agenda of questions to get people thinking about what they want from the meeting. This will keep people on the right track and help them feel more engaged.

It’s also a good idea to create meeting norms that clarify what kind of attention is expected from participants. This can include eye movement, typing sounds, and expressions. If anyone needs to follow your instructions, feel free to point them out. You’ll be surprised at how much more you can connect with your audience when they’re on the same page as you.

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What is an Airblast Room and How Does it Work?

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Airblast Room

An airblast room is a safe and controlled environment where unfinished products are blasted to remove paint, mold, rust, or other contaminants. It is an ideal solution for a wide variety of industrial applications.

The blasting process is performed manually or with mechanical abrasive rigs on tracks. The abrasive is accelerated through a hose and nozzle specific to the project type. The abrasive debris falls into a collection or recovery system through the floor grate.

What is an Airblast Room?

The massive, closed cabinets known as blast rooms by Airblast AFC are made to contain dangerous materials. Operators inside blast the components with reusable media, such as steel shot or grit, while wearing protective gear.

The best blast rooms have a dust collecting system to catch flying debris before contaminating your workspace to safeguard the environment. An appropriately sized system can increase your productivity and lower your operating costs while helping to keep your employees safe from dust-borne illnesses.

Blasting rooms come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from containerized blast booths to converted shipping containers to modular units with various floor configurations. 

Blasting Process

The blasting process involves using abrasive materials to remove unwanted elements, rust, and cosmetic damage from metal or other materials. It can be a simple treatment of a single pole, a large build, or a more extensive stripping and preparation for further coating applications.

A high-quality abrasive is expelled against the material’s surface at a high rate, which can help peel back layers of paint and other coatings. It can help prepare the metal or other object for subsequent treatment, reducing the time and effort required for further work.

Typically, the abrasive is applied by a turbine system or in a dedicated blast cabinet. It allows the team to control the spray rate, reducing the risk of contamination or spillage and ensuring the safe application of the material.

Abrasive Recovery

Abrasive recovery is removing spent abrasive and dust from an air blast room’s floor after blasting. These waste materials can be collected with sweepers, moving walls, air jets, or other methods to be reprocessed in a recycling system.

The most common method of abrasive recovery is a vacuum recovery system, but other options are available such as mechanical and pneumatic systems. Each option will provide different benefits for your blast room.

Pneumatic abrasive recovery systems operate by sweeping or shoveling media into a floor hopper to be cleaned and recycled using a cyclone separator. These are an economical alternative to whole floor recovery systems that work best with lighter abrasives such as glass bead, aluminum oxide, and garnet.

Mechanical abrasive recovery systems require a small footprint installation and are ideal for blast rooms with limited budgets or in environments where excavation is not allowed. The recovered media mix is fed into a screw conveyor system and discharged into bucket elevators.

Dust Collection

Blasting machines and equipment may release large amounts of dust as they work. A dust collection system helps contain and clean up this dust so that the workers and their environment remain safe.

The proper dust collector will depend on the type of work being done and the amount of debris produced. The size of the dust particle is also an important consideration.

A small collector can filter a single location, or an industrial dust collection system can be used for multiple sites. These systems are equipped with various accessories to help maintain a clean environment.

Dust collectors are critical air control equipment that can improve the air quality in any warehouse or factory. They remove contaminates such as gas fumes, dirt, sand, paint, and chemicals from machinery and other processes.

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What Does a Genealogist Do?

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genealogy specialists

What Genealogy Is?

Genealogy is the study of family history and lineage. It involves researching and documenting the lives of ancestors, building family trees, and uncovering connections between different generations.

The Role of a Genealogist

Genealogy specialists, also known as genealogists, play a crucial role in this field by conducting research, analyzing information, and communicating their findings to clients and other researchers. They use a variety of tools and resources to uncover the past and piece together the stories of our ancestors.

Researching Ancestry

Identifying and locating relevant records

Is a key aspect of genealogy research. Genealogy specialists use a variety of sources to gather information, including vital records (such as birth, marriage, and death certificates), census records, church records, and military records. They may also use newspapers, diaries, and letters to gain insight into the lives of their ancestors.

Analyzing and interpreting information

Analyzing and interpreting the information found in these records is another important step in the research process. Genealogy specialists must be able to read and understand old documents, decipher handwriting, and make connections between different pieces of information. They must also be able to identify and overcome any potential roadblocks, such as missing records or conflicting information.

Utilizing online resources and databases

Is increasingly important in genealogy research. Genealogy specialists use a variety of online tools, including genealogy websites, digital archives, and social media platforms to access a wealth of information and connect with other researchers.

Building Family Trees

Gathering and organizing information

Is the foundation of building a family tree. Genealogy specialists use the information they have researched to create a comprehensive and accurate representation of their client’s ancestors. They must be able to organize and keep track of a large amount of information, including names, dates, and locations.

Creating and maintaining a family tree

Is a process that requires attention to detail and the ability to think critically. Genealogy specialists use software and other tools to create visual representations of family trees, including charts, diagrams and graphs. They must also be able to update and modify the tree as new information is discovered.

Identifying and solving problems in the tree

Is an ongoing process for genealogy specialists. As they research and build a tree, they may encounter issues such as missing information, conflicting data, or duplicate ancestors. They must be able to identify these issues and use their research skills to find solutions and correct errors in the tree.

Communicating and Collaborating

Interacting with clients and other researchers

This is an important aspect of a genealogy specialist’s job. They must be able to communicate effectively with clients to understand their research goals and provide updates on their progress. They also communicate with other researchers and genealogy experts to share information and collaborate on projects.

Sharing information and collaborating on projects

Is essential to advancing genealogy research. Genealogy specialists often work with a team of researchers or join online communities to share information and ideas. They may also contribute to online databases and forums to help others in their research.

Presenting findings and creating reports

This is the final step in a genealogy specialist’s work. They must be able to present their findings in a clear and concise manner, whether it be through written reports, oral presentations, or visual aids. They should also be able to provide recommendations for further research and the next steps for the client.

Professional Development and Certification

  • Education and training opportunities:
    Genealogy specialists can continue to improve their skills by attending workshops, classes, and conferences.
  • Certifications and credentials:
    Many organizations offer certifications for genealogy specialists, which can demonstrate their expertise and professional standing in the field.
  • Staying current with industry developments:
    Genealogy research is a constantly evolving field, and genealogy specialists must stay up-to-date with new technologies, resources, and best practices.

Conclusion

Genealogy specialists are experts in researching and documenting family history, building family trees, and uncovering connections between different generations. They use various tools and resources to gather information, analyze and interpret it, and present their findings to clients and other researchers. They also participate in professional development and may seek certifications to demonstrate their expertise. Genealogy is a profession that requires skill, knowledge and patience to discover the history of one’s family.

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