Monday, July 20, 2009

Tips for taking great travel photos


From the Seattle Times......

SHOOT STEADY. A lack of sharpness due to camera shake or blur is a common mistake, says Schaub. "Avoid holding the camera out. It's probably the least steady posture for taking a picture."
LEARN TO LOOK AT LIGHT. Daylight is best during the first and last hours, says Holmes. "Get up early and stay out late. There's no secret to great landscapes, you just have to be in the right place at the right time. Make sure you know what time that is."
ANTICIPATE THE SHOT. With point-and-shoot cameras, it's easy to miss the picture because of shutter lag, the "delay between when you think you're taking a picture and when the camera actually takes the picture," Schaub says. Engage the shutter halfway and allow the camera to focus, then press the rest of the way slightly early.
DON'T TURN THE SUBJECT INTO SCENERY. We've all taken the picture of a loved one — 30 feet away — standing in front of some monument or cathedral. What's the point if you can't make out the person's face? Fill a third of your frame (left side or right) with the person standing 3 to 5 feet away, then fill the remaining two-thirds with your scenery. Shoot from a lower angle if necessary.
GET CLOSER. Most photographs can be improved if the photographer moves closer to the subject.
OUTFLANK YOUR SUBJECT. Instead of shooting buildings head-on from the front, move to one side or the other (depending on the light) and shoot across the front. You get more of the building without a wider lens and the picture shows depth.
KEEP IT SIMPLE. "Don't get hung up on equipment," says Holmes. "Learning to see is the important part of photography, not the amount of equipment you have."
ALWAYS BE AWARE OF WHAT'S IN YOUR FRAME. You are responsible for everything that appears in the final photograph. Learn to see like the camera and you won't get nasty surprises.
LOOK CAREFULLY FOR GESTURES. When taking pictures of people, a simple hand gesture can make or break a shot. Be preoccupied with detail.
EXPLORE THE SCENE MODES. "Introduce yourself to image effects," says Schaub. "You should understand what those things do so you can translate it when you get a little more savvy."
SIT A SPELL. People make better subjects when they're comfortable, so spend a little time and get the shot when they relax.
LOOK TO THE SKIES. Stormy weather combined with dawn light is a winning combination for landscape, says Holmes.
SHOOT A LOT. Digital-camera memory is cheap, much cheaper than film ever was. Shoot intelligently, but don't be afraid to keep shooting until you have the shot you feel expresses what you want to say.
About preparation, back up your files as soon as possible, and carry spares of everything essential to shooting, including batteries, cables and even a spare camera. Probably the most important tip may be the easiest: Just have fun.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

What to do when you lose your passport, credit cards and money while traveling

From Fodor's Travel, by Doug Stallings

1. Make copies of everything. When traveling, make color copies of your passport, all credit cards and ATM card (both front and back), and driver's license. Print out a copy to take with you and email a copy to yourself and someone else. If you lose any of your cards or passport, it's much easier to get them replaced if you have a good copy.
2. Know your bank's policies. Can your bank mail you a replacement credit or ATM card immediately? Does it have branches or offices in the country where you'll be traveling? How about a local contact number? If not, how do you reach them? Always do a little research before you leave, either on your bank's web site or by asking when you alert the bank that you'll be traveling abroad. If you bank at a small credit union, you may have more difficulties getting a replacement card abroad than if you bank with Citibank or HSBC, which actually have many branch offices throughout the world. But all banks will allow you to call collect from abroad and will provide a replacement card for you if yours is lost or stolen, though this may take 2 or 3 days. Some banks will require you to file a police report if your card is stolen; ask about that when you call about the theft. And if your bank has a branch in the city you're in, you might be able to walk in and get a replacement ATM card on the spot, or at least some cash if you know your account number.
3. Know the number and location of the nearest U.S. consulate. If you are traveling abroad, you should always have the telephone number and location of the nearest U.S. consulate, which you will have to visit in person to get an temporary replacement passport in the event that yours is lost or stolen. There will usually be an emergency number that is answered after hours, even on weekends and holidays; write that down too. Otherwise, you can call during business hours and make an appointment. Replacing a stolen passport is generally considered an emergency, especially if your departure from the country is imminent. However, you must apply for a passport in person, and some countries have only one U.S. consulate that can process emergency passport applications. You'll need a copy of your passport or some other kind of identification, but if you have nothing, you can also have someone vouch for you. It's usually possible to get an emergency passport within 24 hours.
4. Know about the American Citizens Services. The ACS is the part of the U.S. Department of State that helps U.S. citizens traveling abroad. Every consulate has an ACS department, which can do much more than replace a lost or stolen passport. The ACS can help you reach someone back home in an emergency and even act as a conduit so you can have money wired to you by someone back home if you lose all your cash. People back home can also use the ACS to help contact you by calling the agency at 202/647-5225.
5. Know that Western Union is almost everywhere. You can have a friend or relative at home send you money by Western Union in about an hour to virtually any destination on earth. All they need is a credit or debit card, and they can do the transaction online or over the phone. This is a reliable service and, while somewhat expensive (it's considered a cash advance by some credit cards, so there's a higher fee and interest beyond that charged by Western Union), it can be a godsend in a genuine emergency.
6. Get travel insurance. Travel Guard offers a 24-hour live help line for any client who buys their insurance. They can help you with an emergency cash transfer or can find the nearest consulate or an English-speaking doctor; the company will even help you rebook flights if you miss a connection. Other travel insurance companies and some credit cards offer similar services.
7.Have a secret stash always on hand. When traveling, always keep a $100 bill or $100 traveler's check hidden in your carry-on bag separate from other money just in case of an emergency. I've never had to use it, but having some emergency money set aside helps me sleep better at night.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Merecedes Benz showcase event





PRESS RELEASE

July 9, 2009

Post Haste Travel was invited to attend the unveiling of 2 new Mercedes Benz
automobiles at a Mercedes Benz of Fort Lauderdale extravaganza event,
from 6-9 PM, on June 25th, 2009.

Along with Saks Fifth Avenue, The Ritz Carlton, Fort Lauderdale, Harley-Davidson,
Merrill Lynch and other local upscale businesses, Post Haste Travel was given
display space to offer services to the more than 750 attendees at the gala event.
As part of our Africa travel themed presentation, Sylvia Berman, President, Grace DeVita, marketing manager, Arlene Feen, consultant, Regent Seven Seas Cruises local business development representative Phil Devillier, Mark Conroy, Regent President, (offering Regents African cruises), and James Currie, from &Beyond, (showcasing safari camps and expedition services), were all at our table.

The event was a huge success both for vendors and Mercedes Benz. All attending vendors supplied gifts for a raffle, and we received a mailing list of attendees that registered for the raffle. After running the list through the Virtuoso database, Post Haste Travel will be able to market to this very elite list of prospective clients.

Mercedes Benz general manager Tony Giordano sent his thanks:
“On behalf of myself and our Team, we would like to thank you for being a part of a very exiting evening at Mercedes-Benz of Fort Lauderdale. We could not have been able to pull this off without the attentiveness of your staff that allowed us the opportunity to provide our Customers with "A World Class Experience".

We look forward to a continued partnership with Mercedes Benz of Fort Lauderdale, which started in October 2008 when Post Haste Travel hosted an Africa themed event at the dealership. Plans are in the works for another presentation from Post Haste Travel to the clients of Mercedes Benz.