A Creative Lifestyle Blog By Zoe-Lee Skelton

Zoe-Lee Skelton

3 Destinations For The Budding Travel Photographer

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Everyone thinks they can take a good photo nowadays. With the emergence of smartphones with ridiculous amounts of megapixels, a new iPhone with studio photography lighting, filters, Instagram and selfies, everyone thinks they’re David Bailey. However, there is a real art in taking a photograph. Sure, you could whip on a noir filter to give your shot a bit of a moody undertone, but if it’s a picture of your dog lying on his back in front of the fireplace in your living room, what’s the point? You need to seek out the experiences that are truly worthy of documenting through photography. This is why travelling and photography go hand in hand.

Photography started out with film. Yes, film! Tell a millennial about the humble film canister and reel, and they’ll look at you like you’ve just landed on the planet. Fast forward a hundred years and everything is digital. The skill has been ripped away from the photographer meaning that anyone and everyone can whip out a camera or phone, snap away and the image that appears on the screen will inevitably look half decent. So how does the artistry come back into photography? If you’re a big fan of travel photography, then the chances are that you may have an actual camera rather than a smartphone. The manual controls that an SLR camera can give you still allow the photographer an element of artistry. You can control the aperture, the light, the shutter speed and the exposure. Each of these elements can alter the tone and feel of a shot. Coupled with the need to structure the composition, lighting and depth of field, means that any budding photographer can still head off to far-flung destinations and capture the most incredible memories through the lens of their camera.

If you adore photography and love nothing more than hot-footing it to new, exciting and wonderful destinations to immerse yourself in different cultures and enjoy new vistas and scenery, then take a look at the ultimate destinations that every budding travel photographer should aim to visit.

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Iceland

If you’ve never considered Iceland to be a destination that you might wish to travel to because it’s simply too cold, you should think again purely for the magical and ethereal vibe of the island. This is the land of fire and ice, where Vikings eat pickled herring for breakfast and where the vast majority of the population believe in elves. Iceland is a wonderful nation full of diverse, extraterrestrial like landscapes, incredible people and weird and wonderful cuisine.

For the budding travel photographer, Iceland is a haven of geographical wonders and scenery to explore. You can practice your action shot skills with a perfectly composed image of the island’s most spectacular geyser. You’ll need to hone your white balance skills with countless images of Gullfoss waterfall, frozen in time as the temperature slips further and further away from zero. You might even wish to venture to the unique spot on the island where two tectonic plates meet. It’s possible to straddle both.

If nature photography is more your thing, why not head out on one of the many boat tours and find your sea legs. Opportunities for observing humpback and fin whales flipping mid-air and crashing back into the sea are plentiful. While a Holga filter may look pleasant on an image of a sea eagle swooping down to catch a fish, there’s no way you can blow this image up, so it is sharp enough for a large canvas. You can’t upload it to Adobe Photoshop and make some sophisticated edits to the shot so that the white balance is even and the shadows don’t detract from the subject of the image. The flexibility that a camera can give a photographer is immense and requires infinitely more skill than a smartphone.

The ultimate triumph of any Iceland trip is witnessing the Northern Lights. For this, only an SLR will do. The exposure times needed to capture the green hues flashing across the night sky are simply impossible with a smartphone. The closest you can get to the naked eye is an SLR, and this is what you need to accommodate the stunning natural phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis. Even with a digital SLR, capturing the splendour of the Northern Lights isn’t easy and requires the expert use of aperture control, knowledge of how to implement a long shutter speed, and a steady hand. If you ever make a jaunt to Iceland, be sure to have your trusty SLR with you.

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Malaysia

If you’ve never ventured to the Far East, Malaysia could be the ideal introduction to the region. With phenomenal scenery, awesome landscapes, bustling cities and exceptional cuisine, Malaysia is a hot pot of photo opportunities. Your best bet is to spend an extended period of time in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, rent a townhouse for a few weeks to save on hotel expenses and settle in for a photographic adventure.

Kuala Lumpur itself is manic. Forever busy, the capital city has the most iconic landmarks to photograph. To marvel at the scale of the Petronas Towers and capture their sheer size in a single image is no mean feat. With sunlight flooding every shot, it can be hard to strike the perfect balance between composition and lighting. You could also check out the urban landscapes from Kuala Lumpur Viewing Tower. By getting up high and taking in the cityscape in all its glory, you can get some sublime awe-inspiring shots.

If you have had your fill of gritty urban landscapes and shiny new architectural wonders, you might be keen to head out of the city and venture to the Batu Caves. A whole different photographic experience awaits as you attempt to alter the manual controls of your camera to take into account the low lighting. You may need to swap your kit lens for a more nuanced lens that allows in the maximum amount of light possible to account for the near darkness. Attempt to use flash, and your shots could be ruined, so it’s up to you to hone your skills with aperture and ISO.

Set into a limestone hillside, you get to venture deep underground to marvel at the 400 million-year-old formations, set foot inside an ancient temple and take some amazing shots of the golden idols that adorn the area. The photography you compile from Malaysia will range from the urban and gritty to the most colourful and scenic. This nation of contrasts will be reflected in the portfolio that you end up with on your return.

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Japan

If you want to take a trip to the Far East, but you’re not sure about which destination could really challenge your photography skills, then why not consider the Land of the Rising Sun. Japan has the sprawling metropolises of Tokyo and Osaka, but also the peace and tranquillity of ancient rural feudal towns that are still in existence today. The contrast between old and new is very much a theme in Japan. You could take some of the most incredible busy shots of downtown Asakusa in Tokyo, the Dotonbori area of Osaka and the riverside traditions of Kyoto.

At the same time, there’s nothing stopping you from having your own secluded Robinson Crusoe type moment. By heading out to the more remote island of Miyajima, you can capture wild deer, scale Mount Misen to arrive at the peak’s temple and enjoy the spectacle of a floating shrine. Because Buddhism and Shintoism are so ingrained in Japanese culture, you will have ample opportunities to explore the serene temples, shrines and halls. While you may not be able to take photographs out of respect, you will be able to observe Buddhist ceremonies, marvel at the wonder of the giant Buddhas and explore the beautiful oriental gardens are strewn across these temple complexes. Historical buildings such as castles are dotted across Japan. By touring the breadth of the country and compiling a photo journal, you’ll be able to document the old and the new, the hustle and bustle and the serene, and the religious and the secular.

Travelling and photography are the perfect marriage. While you are taking a foray overseas, your trusty camera acts as your eyes and your brain, capturing the memories that you warrant particular significance. While in the midst of travelling, you can become immersed within a culture and you can worry about holding onto every moment and remembering every experience. By taking candid shots with your camera, you can enshrine a memory into an image. Using digital technology, this can be stored and saved forever. Your travel photography will be a hugely personal documentation of your experiences but can be appreciated by all. Next time you’re planning a travel adventure, why not scratch that wanderlust itch with one of these awe-inspiring destinations.

Flat or House? Which Suits Your Lifestyle?

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When you are looking for a place to call your own, it can be the most exciting stage of your lives. Whether you have already owned a home or you’re a first time buyer, moving into a new place is exciting and gets you ready for that next chapter in your life.

The main question you might ask yourself when you first start looking at a new property is the type of property you want to buy. You might want to look for a 2 room flat for sale, but similarly you may want to hunt for a house. If you are unsure on which type of property you currently try want, there are a few different things that you will need to seriously consider.

Location

Before you even start to consider the type of property you might want to live in, you will need to think about where it is you are looking to move. Location is the biggest factor to consider when you move home because it will need to be close enough to work and if you have kids, close enough to a good school for them. When it comes to the choice between a house and flat, location can play a role in the type of property you are most likely to find. For example if you want to move into the middle of the city, you will find that flats are more readily available for you and you can likely find a great flat right in the centre of the city. However if you want to live in a more rural location, you are much more likely to find houses. And you will be able to enjoy the outdoor space you are afforded by making this choice.

The future

If you want to start thinking about how your life is going to be in the future, the type of property that you buy is going to affect what you are able to do. For example if you want to get ahead in your career and have the privacy of being alone, then a flat in the city centre is the best choice for you. Even if you are a young couple who aren’t fussed about having pets or a family. However, if you and your partner are buying a home to make your own, the thought of getting pets and having children may be something you want in the near future. Because of this a house will be a better option for you to take because it is larger and the pets and kids will have outdoor space to play in.

Property potential

Another thing you will want to think about is the potential for you and your family to make changes to the property that you live in in the future. You will want to think about what scope you have for making changes as well as think about how well you will do when you come to sell the property further down the line. It is important when you are buying a home that you see a potential for financial benefit further down the line. If you know that you can make changes which will add value to the home, then you will be safe in buying the property because you know you won’t lose out in the future.

Also remember that if you buy a flat you will not be able to extend the space as you would if you owned a house, so if you are planning to have a larger space to live in you might want to go down the house route instead.

As far as investment goes with the type of property you buy, you will find that young people are always on the lookout for a flat so if you want a quick sale down the line, you are likely to get one if you own a flat. A house can be a little trickier because every family has a different idea on what they want in their home.

Hosting holidays

Something which you may have not considered before starting the hunt for your next property is whether or not you want to be able to host parties. If you are looking for a place where can host Christmas with your whole family, then a flat may not have enough space to accommodate for all of the people as well as the food you will prepare. A home will provide you with the perfect opportunity to host or the entire family. However if you are looking for a place you can host small dinner parties with friends and drinks, then a flat is ideal because you will have a cosy atmosphere to work with and you don’t need that extra space. Your lifestyle plays a key role in the property you want to choose so make sure that you really think about things.

Outdoor space

Many people love the thought of having a garden because it is a place you can relax and sunbathe in the summer, as well as play with the kids and your pets if you have any. You could host barbecues for the family and just generally enjoy the summer sun while it is her. However, not everyone is too bothered about having a garden, and in fact it can be a turn off for some people due to keeping plants alive and maintaining the space. Decide which of these two people you are before you start looking for a house.

Most apartment buildings will have a communal outdoor space if you want somewhere you can sit outside, so even if you don’t want your own garden you will still be able to have an outdoor space to visit during the summer. Think about your needs and whether being cooped up inside all of the time is what you really want. Some people just like the option of sitting alone in their garden to read or think, so if you do, a house may be the better choice.

Winter Thoughts and Gratitude

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Hi everyone and Happy New Year! It’s been a while since I’ve written a life update post so let’s a have a little catch up.

Firstly, I hope your 2018 has got off to a pleasant start. I feel like mine has. I feel a lot more invigorated about so many things; my job, my art, my aims and my social life.

During winter, it’s all too easy to let the cold and dark days impact upon my mood and cast doubt on many areas of my life. So I’ve been combating dark nights and mornings through reminding myself of things to be grateful for.

I know people care about me

I am lucky enough to know a handful of people who actually go out of their way to get in touch with me to see how I am and include me in their plans. Not all of my close fiends are nearby right now but knowing that they think to send me a message and ask how things are in my life really does means a lot.

I have a roof over my head

There have been far too many stories in the news recently about homeless people dying on our streets. It’s harrowing. As much as I hate hearing about it and talking about it, more needs to be done to help those who are worse off than ourselves.

These horrifying stories are also a harsh reminder that I am so, so lucky to have a roof over my head and somewhere to go should something happen in my current situation. It also means that I am in a position to help others less fortunate.

I have a job I enjoy

We might all question how much we need a job when the alarm goes off on a Monday morning but I am very, very lucky to genuinely enjoy 99% of the work I do each day. I get to be both creative and technical in equal measure which makes me really happy.

I go into my job each day to see my colleagues but also my friends and some of the funniest moments of my life have been at work.

I have things to look forward to

When a new year is stretched out ahead of you, it can seem quite daunting trying to plan in goals and fulfill New Year resolutions. Putting a strict timescale on achieving something not only sucks the fun out of things but can actually make me feel anxious at meeting self-imposed deadlines.

Instead, I plan my future around things to look forward to because if there’s nothing exciting waiting around the corner life quickly seems dull.

How has your 2018 been so far?

DIY Vintage Chair Makeover With Rust-Oleum Chalky Finish Paint

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I wanted to share with you a DIY I’ve been meaning to do for ages.

I have this chair which I got for under £5 from a second hand store which is sturdy and well made, but it had been painted in that awful wishy-washy shabby chic style. An insipid yellow and then sanded to look aged and mock-vintage.

Here’s what the chair looked like before the makeover:

I wanted to give it a new lease of life with a bolder appearance and one that would contrast with the white table it sits next to. I’ll share with you what I did to achieve the look.

What you’ll need

  • Rust-Oleum chalky finish furniture paint in: Mustard, Powder Blue, Dusky Pink, Belgrave, Sage Green (for the spindles) and
  • Rust-Oleum chalky finish furniture paint in Emerald Green for the main body of the chair
  • Brushes of a variety of sizes for large flat areas and difficult to reach areas
  • Sand paper
  • Masking tape

Set up

So with my favourite chalky Rust-Oleum paint purchased, newspaper plastered EVERYWHERE and windows screeched open, let’s begin.

Step One: Sanding

I sanded the entire chair down to remove any ridges of paint so I was working on an even surface. This also removed the majority of the gloss the previous owner had used to finish.

Step Two: Emerald Green Painting

Open the Emerald Green paint and begin painting the main chair seat, legs, sides and oval back. Be careful not to get the paint on the spindles as these are going to be painted in different colours.

Let this touch dry – which should’t take any longer than 1 – 2 hours. You might find the chair needs another coat dependent on what base you had to go over. If you’re starting from scratch, it’s likely one coat will be enough, which is the beauty of Rust-Oleum paint as it gives potent coverage after just one coat.

Step Three: Masking Tape

this is where things got tricky; i had to add masking tape around the bottom and top of each spindle. This meant that a lot of the masking tape sections were overlapping, but it’s important that the tape doesn’t go up the spindles as the start of each colour will look uneven.

Step four: Paint the Spindles Different Colours

Once you’ve applied your masking tape around the bottom and tops of each spindle, you can now start painting each one. I’ve made each spindle a different colour; you can paint them in which order you like but it’s important that you wait for each one to dry before you remove the masking tape.

You might also find that for the lighter colours like the Dusky Pink and the Mustard you’ll need another coat.

Step five: paint the gaps

Now the spindles are dry, remove the masking tape. You’ll now have some gaps underneath the tape that you’ll need to paint Emerald Green. You should now apply masking tape to where the spindles meet the seat (over the colours) at the bottom and where the spindles meat the oval of the back of the chair at the top. This is so that you can get a neat coverage of the green and don’t accidentally paint over the colours.

Step Six: You’re Done!

Let the touching up of the Emerald Green dry and then remove the masking tape and you’re all done.

Now it’s time to admire you’re handy work.

Have you used Rust-Oleum Chalky Finish paint before? I’d love to see some of your DIYs.

Filed Under: DIY

The Little Changes to Make Big Differences to your Home

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As much as you might love your home, there will be a time where you think it could do with some improvement. You might not have the time for substantial structural improvements, but that’s okay, there are plenty other little changes you can make that will change the way you see your house, and look forward to coming home after a long day.

These little changes can be completed in a day, or over a weekend, some may cost money – but not a lot – while others will be free of cost. Despite how small they are, you might just be surprised at how much of a difference this will make towards your home.

REARRANGE

Take a look at any room in your house. It has probably looked that way for so long that you just assume that there is no other way to improve it, right?

Wrong.

Rearranging furniture in your home, such as sofas, beds, or cabinets can have a massive effect on the way the room appeals to you. Moving that big sofa away from one wall and placing it in the centre has the potential to unleash an unimaginable amount of space that you had never considered before.

Furthermore, locating the centrepiece, the main event, the item of interest in each room. This is typically something you are very proud of, be it the best photograph you have ever taken, or a collection of trophies from your children’s title-winning football season. These are the things you want people to pay attention to whenever they come round.

But do they grab attention? Sometimes, sure, but often, they are placed too out of the way to really pique interest. Rearranging by merely moving them from one shelf to another can grant further action zones within the room and show off how successful you and your family are.

GET OUT OF THE LIVING ROOM

You’ll spend a lot of time in your living room, that’s cool, we all do. Why else would you have spent a small fortune on a new TV? But being in the living room – or any room you spend most of your time – for so long can quickly cause it to lose its lustre.

This is natural. It’s why it is advised to only use your bed for sleeping and not working or eating. It’s a psychological thing where your body stops associating bed with rest and instead associates it with, well, everything else. And that is bad for winding down at the end of the day.

Changing up where you spend most of your time – and not just moving from one room to another to repeat the same process – can have a massive effect on mental wellbeing. Furthermore, it will stop you relying solely on the living room – or again, any place – to be the source of relaxation. That can happen anywhere.

LET THERE BE LIGHT

You’re probably thinking ‘Yeah like I need more lights pumping up my electricity bill’, however, light and happiness are related. This is particularly true during winter months where the days are shorter and can have hinder and potential contentedness you are aching to experience.

This light can be placed strategically around the home, but it is essential to focus on those areas that are often doused in shadow. Additionally, to run the risk of contradiction, investing in less-powerful lights for those rooms of the house that you want to feel more relaxed in – such as the bedroom – can have a massive effect on helping you wind down before going to bed.

Bedside lamps can be used when reading in bed after a long day and mean you don’t have to get up when it’s time to sleep to turn the light off. This will further increase you wind-down levels and make for an easier, more peaceful sleep.

You won’t know how much of a difference ideas such as these make until you try it. While you may have gotten used to how everything looks and are perhaps reluctant to change (because it’s way too much effort to move everything back if it doesn’t work) the potential for freshening up the atmosphere of your home will invigorate and allow you to see your home as if it were new.

Little changes making big differences is the key to keeping you active in the upkeep of your home. Seeing the same thing every day for years on end can quickly lead to boredom and restlessness, so give it a go, and reap the benefits of entering a house that you know is home but still feels fresh.