Taking a picture is as easy as pushing a button, but taking a beautiful photograph is a work of art. Nassau County Photographers know can take great photos with a simple, point-and-shoot camera or get lousy shots with the most expensive, top-of-the-line camera. It is not the camera that produces wonderful images, it is the photographer. To help you take great photographs, here are some helpful tips.

Be quick when taking your pictures! The longer you take, the higher the chance of the subject moving, running off, or the something else changing to ruin the photo. You don’t want to have a bunch of missed opportunities. You want to make sure you have a camera that doesn’t take forever to take the picture. The quicker you can take photos, the better.

If you want to take good black and white pictures, the most important thing, is to be able to understand the subtlety on how to play with light and shade. A good place to start when learning about light and shade, is a book that is specifically geared at black and white photography. After that, you will just have to practice what you read about.

Invest in a DSLR camera. The single best thing you can do to improve your photography is to purchase a great camera. A digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera allows you to use lenses specific to the type of photography you are pursuing, and offer the ability to control every setting.

A great photography tip is to stop using flash. A lot of people use flash whenever they take pictures because they don’t know any better. Flash flattens everything out, creating an undesirable and artificial photograph. Instead try to stick to more natural lighting when shooting your subjects.

Don’t be too "flash happy.” While flash has it’s time and place, you don’t need to use it for every situation. In fact, it’s recommended that you do not most of the time anyway. If you must though, try lowering its intensity so that you can get more natural shots.

When it’s time to print your photographs from a digital camera, always choose papers made specifically for photographic images. Plain papers are un-coated and diffuse the ink, while inkjet photo papers have a sturdy base and are coated with ink-absorbing surfaces. Try a matte paper for an elegant, artistic finish.

Know all of the rules of successful photography before you decide to try to break any of those rules. They are all in place to help you avoid making photographic mistakes that you can’t undo. But, once you know and understand the rules, you may find it easier to stray from them and make photographic art.

Keep images balanced. The easiest way to make all your photos look worthy of an art gallery is to keep a careful balance of all the elements in the image. Crop out distracting elements, keep the horizon level, and make sure your subject is properly framed and not in an awkward placement.

When taking pictures with your camera avoid any unnatural cropping. It looks sloppy or strange when pieces of heads, entire heads, hands or feet are cut off. Remember photos should include the subjects main features.

On your smart phone (as long as it has a camera), keep a special inspiration album within your photos. Every day you may stumble upon some amazing, inspirational idea, moment or place. Snap photos of these locales and moments, and store them in this inspiration album. Next time you are looking to try something new with your photography, look back to your inspiration folder for some great brainstorming ideas!

Manually set the white balance. Most cameras automatically choose a white balance for your photos, but for true control of your image, set this manually. Adjusting the white balance of a camera can take the yellow tint out of subjects lit by incandescent bulbs or even alter the whole mood of the shot.

Do not use the flash on a camera unless you are in a darker location. Using a flash outdoors in a location that already has a lot of light will just make your picture come out too bright. Some cameras have an automatic flash setting so that your camera knows when the flash is needed.

Do not underestimate the disposable camera as a way to take wonderful photos. The technology has improved, and you can take shots equal to, and even better than, your durable film camera. Many disposable models also offer a built in zoom feature. New disposables are not the same old junk cameras they were ten years ago.

A common beginner’s mistake is to place one’s thumb on the lens while taking a photograph. This causes a blurry spot to appear in the corner of a photograph. You should make sure your lens is clean and that you are not obstructing it with your thumb before taking a picture.

The internet is the best and cheapest way to help you improve your photographic skills. There are a million and one blogs and photography resource sites that can help you take better pictures. You can find step-by-step tutorials and lessons, technical information and a ton of inspiration — all for free.

Try different angles to make your photographs more unique. Anyone can see a scene head-on and take a photo of it. Look down at things from high up, or get down on the ground and look up at them. Try framing shots sideways or on a diagonal to make an interesting composition.

With the ease of cameras today, it is very easy for a novice person to take some great pictures without a lot of knowledge. Having a high quality camera is the first step. Make sure that the camera, lens and equipment are all from a reputable company who makes quality photographic equipment.

An important tip to consider with photography is that you really only should use the automatic mode if you do not care about the quality of your images. This is important because cameras are overall pretty simple to use, and it only takes a few minute to learn how to use the advanced modes properly. This will give you much more control over your image quality.

Read the manual for your camera. It seems obvious, but most people don’t bother. Manuals are often thick and bulky. They usually get shoved in the back of a drawer or just thrown away. Instead of throwing it out, take the time to read it. It can really help you take better pictures and prevent you from making stupid mistakes.

Compose your photograph carefully. Sometimes you might have to actually move things around to get the proper contrast or light you want. If you are taking pictures of objects, turn them to get the proper angle. As you progress, you will learn how to make a scene look natural when you compose it.

Now that you have some helpful tips, you will be able to start taking more great pictures. With this knowledge and some willingness to make some easy adjustments to your shooting techniques and your camera, you can get some pretty amazing shots from any camera that you are using.

Long Island gardening can be a great way to relieve stress and spruce up your home. However, many gardeners aren’t sure where to begin when they want to start their own garden at home, and can make mistakes that kill all of their plants. Make sure this doesn’t happen to you- read on to find out how to start your garden right!

Prune shrubs in early spring. The best time of year to prune shrubs is in late winter or early spring, before any leaves or flowers grow. Pruning scars tend to heal quickly in early spring, and early pruning allows you to look at the framework of the shrub before it is covered in leaves. Remove all dead and broken branches, and weak growth. This initial pruning is all that is really necessary apart from a little shaping.

Don’t forget to protect your skin while you’re in the garden. While gardening, you can spend many hours in the sun. Burns can occur easily, without you even realizing it. Make sure to wear sunscreen. A large brim hat, long sleeved shirt, and pants can also help. In addition, these clothing items can protect you from painful prickers and thorns.

Test the pH of your soil to see whether you have soil that is more acidic or more alkaline. Different plants thrive better in different types of soil. Proper soil is essential in having success with your garden. Knowing the pH of your soil will help you make better plant choices.

Tulips can be a gorgeous outer border for your garden. These beautiful flowers are the first to bloom in the spring. There are many vibrant colors of tulips and so, they can easily add beauty to your garden. Tulips will bloom while some of your other flowers are still waiting to pop out. This means you will have a more colorful garden, for a longer period of time.

Use mulch around your plants to help retain moisture and prevent the growth of weeds. You can buy mulch, but you can create your own by using grass clippings or leaves. You can even lay down plastic sheeting and plant your plants in holes in the plastic. All these methods help the plants retain the moisture they need for growth and reduce the chances that weeds will grow.

Make sure when you are indoor gardening, you do not over water your plants. Over watering your plants can in fact kill them which are the number one reason that most houseplants die. Test the soil for moisture to see if it needs more watering. Stick you index finger into the soil and if it is damp, do not water your plant further.

For a ‘cottage’ garden plant rambling roses. Rambling roses, traditionally grown in cottage gardens, are some of the oldest varieties of roses. They are once-a-year bloomers, featuring huge clusters of small flowers in midsummer. Stems can grow to 30 feet long if not pruned, in fact, most benefit from simply being left alone. An advantage of rambling roses is that they are quite disease resistant and very hardy.

Prune climbing roses after blooming. The first year you plant a climbing rose it won’t require any pruning – simply encourage it to grow. A rambling rose or large-flowered climber probably won’t bloom until the second summer. In early spring, prune out any dead branches, and generally tidy up the plant. After blooming, remove the oldest canes that are showing no signs of new growth. Don’t leave this too late, as climbing roses produce strong new growth immediately after flowering, and you may end up pruning the new canes which are responsible for producing flowers the following year. Don’t fret…Nassau County gardeners can always go to their local store such as Agway or even Home Depot for tips.

While gardening can be a touchy subject, all you need is the proper education on how to make it turn out right. If you want to start a garden in your home, you need only to follow the tips in this article, and soon you’ll have a lovely arrangement of plants growing in your yard!

Nassau County Property taxes are decided collectively by school boards, town boards, legislators, and councils. The tax rate is set by collating the amount of funds an area needs. This is then divided that by the “total taxable” assessed value of the area. The Nassau County property tax an individual pays is computed by multiplying the tax rate by the assessed value of your property and then deducting any applicable exceptions. Property taxes are at an all time high. Studies indicate that they have increased more than 35% in five years.

Property is assessed by determining property costs in any given area. Property is valued by studying: the current sale price of properties in the area, costs to be incurred to replace the property, potential realization of property if it is rented, sold, or gifted, and the historical value of a property.

There are a few ways in which you could save on taxes:

1.    Check if the state you reside in is offering any rebates.  For example, a money back rebate, energy rebate, capping of taxes, or home owners rebate where under certain conditions you may be eligible to claim a rebate.

2.    Ensure that the property is assessed right. This will ensure that you do not have to pay excess taxes. Assert your right to check you assessment report ensure that there are no miscalculations, mistakes, or assumptions. If in any doubt, do put in an appeal. According to statistics almost 50% of the cases win some relief.

3.    Check all exemptions allowed according to the law.

4.    Buy property jointly with a partner or family member. This way both owners become eligible for tax rebates.

5.    Check if your assessment is in according to other properties in your neighborhood. Check with the assessment office or with your neighbors themselves. It helps to know applicable laws. Use the help of a real estate professional to put together a file of properties similar to yours that have a lower assessment. Or, use the bank’s appraisal to support your case. Be sure that the case you gather together is water tight.

6.    Use a property consultant to help you save taxes. Some charge a flat fee while others just a percentage of what you save. A professional will check how assessment is done and also if there are any loop holes you can use.

7.    There is strength in numbers. Get together with other owners who are also checking or fighting assessments. Check on the National Taxpayers Union Web site http://www.ntu.org   for your rights.

8.    Ask you home loan provider whether you are eligible for refund of property taxes paid. Some agreements have a provision for this. Many mortgages have automatic escrow of taxes.

9.    Even before you buy a home find out what the property taxes are in the area and what have been the increases in tax rates.

10.    Be sure to read through assessment and tax manuals published by your local authorities. These will give a clear idea of what are the parameters used and what you must do to reduce or pay the correct property taxes.

In order to be money smart you need to get the help of an efficient and dedicated accountant, plan your tax liabilities well, known thoroughly all aspects of Nassau County Property Tax. If you are prudent, you can benefit by using ways and means to cut your tax burden and liabilities.

One of the best investments for your home and family is a fire escape ladder.  It can save your life, and should therefore be an integral part of your residential safety.  A fire at can completely engulf your home in no time at all, normally in less than a minute.  Even though you may have smoke alarms and fire extinguishers there, the fire can get out of control fast and surround you with smoke, making it impossible for you to get out.  To protect yourself and your entire family, you should always a fire escape ladder at your home at all times.

You don’t need to pay a lot of money for an expensive fire escape ladder; all you need is one that is durable and sturdy.  Fixed structure residential fire escape ladders are the best to get, simply because you don’t need to assemble then.  With a fixed structure ladder, all you need to do is climb down to safety.  They are permanently attached to your home – so they will always be there when you need them.

When you look for a residential fire escape ladder, you’ll find that there are several different styles to choose from.  There are chain and rung fire escape ladders that are designed for multiple stories, to those that reach even higher.  You can also get permanent interior ladders, exterior permanent ladders, collapsible fire escape ladders, and even retractable fire escape ladders.  Fire escape ladders are a great thing to have as a method of fire safety.

If you’ve ever lived in an apartment building or seen the outside of one, you’ve probably noticed their fire escape.  Fire escapes, depending on how many stories the building may be, will vary from simple ladders to steps.  The fire escape is very important, especially with tall buildings.  Those who live on the higher floors of apartment buildings absolutely must have a fire escape so they too can exit the building in the event of a fire.

For your home, you can also purchase a fire escape kit that includes a heavy duty escape ladder that can be assembled up to 40 feet in length.  These kits also include smoke hoods as well, in order to help keep the smoke out of your face.  Most come with chemical sticks and a horn as well, so you can let rescuers know where you are in the home when they arrive.

As you can tell, a fire escape ladder is very important to have with your home.  Homes that are 2 stories or more simply must have an escape ladder.  Fire escape ladders are perfect for safety, and may one day save your life.  Even though they may cost you a bit of money and time to install, they are one investment that you’ll never go wrong with.

Want a pretty Nassau County Garden with lush flowers and a green lawn?  Check out these tips:

Flowering landscape trees are the crown jewels of the yard.
Perhaps no other plants, individually, can have as great an
impact on how a yard looks in spring. Browse the articles to
which I’ve linked below for information on particular varieties
of flowering landscape trees. Pictures are included.

Crape Myrtles: Landscape Trees of the South

A popular choice in flowering landscape trees for Southerners,
crape myrtles have a long blooming period (mid-summer to
fall). The blooming clusters of these flowering landscape trees
come in pink, white, red and lavender. The clusters appear on
the tips of new wood. Northerners can sometimes get away
with treating these flowering landscape trees as perennials
that die back in winter but come back in spring.

Trees

Not all specimens with a weeping habit are flowering
landscape trees, but this article looks at several weeping
varieties that do bloom, headed by four types of cherry.
Saucer Magnolias

The size and shape of the blooms are what suggested the
common name for these flowering landscape trees. Want a
specimen with a brilliant bloom as big as a saucer? Access
information on these beauties here.

Rose of Sharon

Although some people think of it as a landscape “tree”
(because it gets tall and can be pruned so as to have a single
trunk), rose of sharon is, in fact, a flowering shrub. The fact
that it blooms relatively late — and for a long time — makes it
a valuable plant for those looking to distribute their yard’s
color display throughout the growing season.
Top 10 List of Flowering Landscape Trees and Shrubs for
Spring |

This article features information on ten flowering landscape
trees and shrubs that brighten our spring seasons. Included
are redbud, callery pear and crabapple.
Hawthorn: Late-Blooming Landscape Trees

This article offers information on Washington hawthorn trees,
which are perhaps most valued for the time at which they
bloom (late spring to early summer). Many of the popular
flowering specimens bloom earlier in the spring, and while
their blossoms are pleasant sights for eyes sore from winter’s
barrenness, they desert us too quickly!

With all the viruses, trojans and spyware out there, Nassau County Computer Repair Specialists offer several ways to help improve the speed of your computer without spending money on hardware.

One of the easiest is to uninstall any programs, games or utilities that you do not use.  Often thre are old games or applications that stay on your machine and take up space as well as use memory.  Users would be surprised what services load up when you turn on your computer.  By uninstalling these programs that are not used, it can also free up memory as well as disc space according to Nassau County Computer Repair Specialist Gary Pancamo Jr.

Next, install some sort of spyware blocker.  There are some that are paid and some that are free.  Spybot is one we use and is free just remember to keep it up to date as every day new threats come through the Internet trying to clog user’s machines.

Another one where you must have a program is Anti-Virus.  Most of these are paid and for good reason.  Threats come in so often that a company must have dedicated people in order to find ways to clean these viruses and trojans.  Companies like Eset, Norton and Kaspersky are top notch.  Remember to do at least a once a week scan of all your devices such as hard drives, memory sticks or removeable drives.  You never know where a problem could be.

The last resort if your machine is so slow is to reinstall Windows.  Many PC manufacturers offer a reinstall disc to bring your machine back to the original statebut with this you will lose all programs and files so be sure to backup or burn to CD/DVD anything you want.  Make sure also you have the programs original discs to reinstall any thing you want as this will wipe out your computer.

Added a new article about how you can better organize your office from the things that you most need at your fingertips to the ways to reduce clutter.  Everyone should have a clean, efficient place to work.  Share your tips now.

The article can be  found here – http://nassaucountybusinessdirectory.com/articleid-11/nassau-county-advertisers-help-organizing-your-office.html

Anyone living on long island knows the gas prices are much higher here than other areas mostly due to extra taxes on gas.  But from a high of $4.37 a gallon on average in July, 2008, gas seems to be on the decline with an average cost of $3.89 per gallon.  While not earth shaking, it will help many save a few dollars per fill up.  Why give more profits to these big oil companies who are reporting record windfalls of billions of dollars each quarter.

There are many ways to save on gas to keep the money in your pocket.  The first and most obvious is to slow down on the road.  Typically gas consumption  is increased 10% if you go from 60 to 70 mph.  Another helper is to keep your tires properly filled with air.  When tires are under or overinflated, this creates less miles per gallon efficiency.

Avoid slamming on the brakes or gas will help as well.  By hitting the gas at say a traffic light, the gas consumption is greatly increased as it takes such power to move a car from standing to moving.  Give your car a chance and accelerate slowly.  The people honking behind you will move over!

Using extras like air conditioning use more fuel but even alternatives like opening a window which creates drag lower economy so what are you to do?  Just try to reduce the use of control the speed of the a/c output.

A program discussed by the Nassau County Bar Association could help out residents by having lawyers in the area offer free help to people facing foreclosure. Most times, people facing foreclosures do not have the funds to hire a lawyer so they lose out on the best help available which could force them on the street. Some lawyers are trying to change this to bring free help to those who need it most.

Martha Krisel, an attorney from the Nassau County Attorney’s Office is behind this program and sees the need for this now in 2008 but also a much bigger need in 2009 and beyond. Krisel has already hosted training sessions for lawyers in the area. A requirement for lawyers practicing in Nassau is to have continuing education as a part of their career and is mandatory. Officials are trying to get it so that the free help these lawyers give to help foreclosure people will count towards those credits.

The foreclosure program has not been officially announced nor released but those interested can call the Nassau County Homeownership Office at (516) 571-HOME for more information.

With gas prices sky high, auto restorations on Long Island continue to roll in for Paul’s Restos in Deer Park. Contracted orders for classic car restorations are rising to transform those old cars to mint shape and the news could not be better even as gas hits almost $5 per gallon for these machines.

Many car buffs have reduced appearances at the big Long Island and New york car events due to the higher cost of gas. Many of the older vehicles especially muscle cars such as Mustangs, Chevelles, and Mopars require the driver to use a higher octane of fuel with many engines needing 93 octane or more. Several local car clubs are rethinking their cruises to more of a local hot rod spot as opposed to hitting major locations which could be many miles away.

Gas is not just affecting the cars themselves but suppliers of these high quality restoration parts that are being shipped to shops. “All products and supplies have increased just like gas has and is affecting the costs of our jobs.” said Paul DiMauro, an auto restorations of Long Island specialist and owner of Paul’s Rods and Restos in Deer Park, New York.

No matter what price gas or car washes hit, there will always be people who want to have their automobile brought back to original luster and shine. Many hold memories from their youth and younger years related to their cars and the good times with them. Even changes in the economy will have no effect on those looking to restore a part of their youth.

About Paul’s Rods & Restos
Paul DiMauro has been restoring classic cars and hot rods on Long Island for over 26 years specializing in original restorations as well as resto-mods to bring back cars to a solid and eye-pleasing appearance. Check out his work at PaulsRestos.com or contact him at 631-665-RODS.