Why New Mums Prefer Contacts

New mums have plenty of adjustments to make, and for the most part it's easy to prepare for the major ones. Basically, the idea is simple: life will revolve around a new child for quite some time, and mums and dads have to adjust accordingly! However, there are some smaller adjustments that are difficult to see coming even in all of the extensive preparation of getting ready for a new child. Read More »

Win 1 of 3 copies of new DVD ‘Curious George Swings into Spring’

You know it must be springtime if a curious monkey named George is dancing on the balcony at sunrise! The Man with the Yellow Hat is sure that George has spring fever so he takes George to the park to experience all the wonders of spring… Read More »

The Colour Green | Weekly Photography Challenge

This weekly photo challenge is deigned to complement our free online photography basics classes. Each week we will set a different theme and your homework is to go out and photograph a collection of images related to that theme. Read More »

How to spend 24 hours in Disney World

Remember the famous Disney World TV advert, where children and adults stayed up all night before heading to the world famous theme park? Well, on the 24th May 2013, Disney World in Orlando is making that dream a reality by opening the resort for 24 hours straight. Marking the release of new film Monster’s University and the start of Memorial Weekend in the USA, families are promised a theme park marathon like no other. At no extra cost, the gates will be open from 6am on the 24th until 6am on the 25th May 2013. Read More »

Mumpreneur’s testimonial: how Cecilia Crossley managed to set up & run a successful social enterprise

Some people just can't help to help others from the heart. And here is the amazing testimonial of Cecilia Crossley who managed to set up and run a successful social enterprise helping vulnerable mums and babies. Read More »

Using on camera fill flash | Photography basics

Using a flash that sits on top of your camera is the easiest way to make your photos look flat and boring. When we are taking a photograph what we are actually trying to do is trick the mind into thinking we have created a three-dimensional image on a two-dimensional plain. To achieve this shadow is our best friend.     Let us use a portrait as an example. This lovely picture was taken with the light (a flash mounted on a tripod) just the right of the subject. We can see the light coming in to the face and dropping off into shadow and already there is a sense that this is a three-dimensional object.     If we look at the image below the light is mounted on top of the camera and the shadow in hidden behind the subject. It looks flat, two-dimensional and not very exciting.   This is what your pop up flash does to every picture so unless you are able to use an off camera flash use it sparingly.     There are some occasions when your pop up flash can be used creatively, in particular when you have a backlit subject. How many times have you stood in front of a beautiful view or tourist spot only for the background to become bright and washed out and for you to be eclipsed into shadow?   A simple remedy for this is to use your pop up flash as a fill light. What you are trying to achieve is the same about of light falling onto your subject as onto your subject so you will have to get close to your subject as you pop up flash will have a very limited range.     If you are using a fully automatic or portrait setting on your camera then it's likely that your flash will pop up automatically but of you are using a manual setting then you'll have to flick it up manually.   Your fill flash will also have various power setting which are worth experimenting with and it should be easy enough for you to change the power levels if needed.   Experiment time   This is a very simple set up but it does create a lovely image.   Find a nice viewpoint and wait till just before sunset. Set your camera to manual mode and take an exposure reading which will achieve a lovely landscape with the sunset nice and colourful and the sky with plenty of detail. Now position your subject with his or her back to the sun and take a shot. They should appear as a silhouette. Pop up your flash and set to its lowest setting. Take a series of images increasing your flash power with each shot. Now do one more shot with your flash on AUTO.   You might find that your auto setting is too bright on your subject but the experiment should give you an idea if how much fill flash you might want to use in the future.   Important : when doing this experiment make sure you are the same distance away from your subject for each shot. If it's not bright enough in any of your shots then move closer to your subject and do it again. Any time when using flash the inverse square law can help you. The inverse square law : double the distance = quarter the light. If you are 4 metres away from your subject and your flash is not bright enough move 2 metres forward and you will have 25% more light.   Subscribe to the Memory Gate Training newsletter   Read More »

How to help someone who is choking

One of the most frequent concerns is what to do if someone is choking. Choking is frightening, but rarely fatal. Read More »

Hello Summer

I might have slightly miscalculated when I applied the hair dye inbetween putting dinner in the oven and eating it. And I certainly hadn't counted on my other half actually getting home in time to eat with me. What a picture, plastic bag wrapped around my carefully applied home dye, muffin tops on full display (I had thoughtfully removed my top to prevent accidents). Delightful. And thus we welcome in summer. Read More »

Spring and Summer activities in blooming beautiful Chelsea

The flowers are blooming and the trees are at last in leaf. It would be a fabulous time of year to visit the King’s Road area even if it wasn’t hosting the most famous botanical fair in the world: The RHS Chelsea Flower Show (21-15 May 2013). Attracting the very best garden designers, growers and flower arrangers, plus a bevy of celebrities and the world’s press, this year is all the more special as it’s the Show’s centenary. Read More »

Win 1 of 3 Lala-Oopsies: A Sew Magical Tale – the Movie DVDs & 3 Lalaloopsy® dolls

What an amazing competition this is! In one entry you get to win one of three copies of the new DVD and one of three Lalaloopsy dolls. Don't miss your chance and enter now. Read More »