• How to Get the Best Cycling Photograph

    In the world of photography, cycling photography really sets itself apart from the rest. Due to the nature of the sport, cycling photography often encompasses a variety of techniques to catch quick-moving subjects in an aesthetically pleasing way. Continue reading if you want to learn how to utilize your camera’s settings and different techniques to best capture your subject.

    How to Get the Best Cycling Photograph

    Technique 1: Zoom in on your subject

    When watching a cycling event, you’re often going to find yourself far away from your target subject, especially at an indoor cycling track. That’s why you need a good zoom lense to be able to get up-close and personal with your subject. Set the lens to continuous focus mode, as your subject is going to be moving (well, obviously) and you won’t have time to manually focus on him/her. Nobody wants a blurry image!

    Technique 2: Demonstrate Motion

    We all know that cycling is about progression–moving forward–motion! A good cycling photographer should be able to portray this obvious attribute of cycling by utilizing a panning technique. Utilize the swiveling function of your tripod to follow the cyclist in motion. If done correctly, you should have a crisp rider with a blurry background. The blur demonstrates the motion and intensity of the cyclist.

    You will want to be in manual mode on your camera, then set the shutter speed between 1/10s – 1/60s (this ensures the blurring technique). Use a small aperture to keep the depth of field narrow, so that the cyclist remains sharp but his background blurred. When you press down on the shutter release, follow your subject as he moves (panning). You might have to try a few times to get this correct, but it creates an amazing effect!

    Technique 3: Focus in on your subject’s face

    One of the most appealing things about cycling photography is that the audience gets to experience the real struggle that the cyclist is enduring. Humans are naturally inclined to read emotion on the faces of other humans, so the best way to capture the attention of your audience is by drawing them to the subject’s face. If you are using the best camera for cycling with a proper lense, you should be able to capture every sweat drop of determination on the cyclist’s face. We want to see them struggle!

    Technique 4: Location, location, location!

    You want to make sure that you have a background that is uninterrupted when using utilizing any of the above techniques. If you want to photograph a road cyclist, make sure that the backdrop frames the cyclist well rather than causing any clashing in the background. If you want to include the background in the action, you will have to use a wide depth of field. You can achieve this with a wide-angle lens with a small aperture (f/11 to f/16). The wide-angle lense will allow you to provide an expansive view of the action, to really set the context for the cyclist.

    Technique 5: Try different perspectives

    Your audience will grow tired of seeing the same old cycling image on repeat. Try different compositions until you find one that suits you, and then try a new one! Remember that while cycling is a sport, photography is an art, and the aim is to be ingenuitive!

    Always consider the rule of thirds, the golden ratio, and symmetrical and asymmetrical balance. You can try filling your image with interesting background noise around the main subject (just make sure that it doesn’t distract from the main subject too much!)

    Technique 6: Try shooting in continuous mode

    Digital photography allows us to shoot continuously, rather than constantly having to wait for that perfect shot. In sports photography, this is especially useful, as action often happens quite quickly and if we miss the shot–that’s it! It’s gone past us and we will never get it back. Shooting in continuous mode makes for a lot more material to go through, but also guarantees that you will catch those intense moments that may have otherwise been missed!

    Here are some useful tips:

    • Cycling is a fast sport (duh) so to get sharp images you will need a fast shutter speed (unless utilizing the panning technique mentioned above)
    • Using a telephoto lens is a great way to get a sharp image but reduce the noise that comes from a fast shutter speed, especially indoors
    • Consider your desired outcome when planning for depth of field (Do you want to see the racers in the background? Or are you focusing in on one cyclist?)
    • Your best camera for cycling will depend a lot on what you are trying to achieve. We recommend using a 300mm lens (at least), so you’ll need a tripod to support the weight.
    • Good quality lenses that allow you to get down to small f-stops will allow for the sharpest cycling images


    It may take some practice; but with enough time, effort, the right techniques, and best camera for cycling, you should be producing high-quality cycling images in no time!

  • Tips On How To Keep Your Kids Hydrated

    Young children do not have a do not have a trustworthy thirst mechanism. At their age, the signs that they may indicate of being thirsty may not be how their status of hydration really is. They may also sense thirst as hunger. And, even if they do reach for something to drink, they may be looking for unhealthy water alternatives. As parents may not be around them all the time, they are at a greater risk of becoming dehydrated. There are simple ways to address this problem, however. One is to encourage your child to bring one of the best water bottles to school.

    You can also offer them water and other hydrating foods as well as beverages throughout the day, particularly during the hot season when the body needs more fluid replacement to stay healthy and mentally and physically alert.

    Don’t wait until your child is thirsty. By that time they may already be at least 2-3 percent dehydrated. Note that the body continuously uses water to provide oxygen for the brain and the lungs, act as a lubricant to the joints, help the body in releasing wastes through perspiration, urination, and defecation, and to do all other body functions. That is the reason why everyone, especially those who are constantly engaging in an intense activity or have special health conditions, to drink water regularly throughout the day. This ensures that you remain properly hydrated and be at your best any time.

    Water, water, water everywhere

    Water is literally in every part of the body. Every child who has been to school or watches the television are exposed to info materials that explain how the body uses water. Most children understands that a huge part of the body (about 60% or more in the case of younger children) is made of water. The organs, even the bones, veins, and the blood are made of water. Without water, the body won’t function as it is made to. It will be impossible for one to breathe, to think, even move. Without water, it will be impossible for the body to transport fluids and nutrients throughout the other parts of the body. Cognitive functions as well as maintaining a healthy body will likewise be impossible.

    How much does a child need to drink?

    How much does a child need to drink?

    The British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) recommends drinking mostly water as it the only liquid that anyone can consume without calories. As for the amount of water that your child may drink, The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) sets a new requirement for every child in different age categories as specified below:

    • Boys and girls aged 4 to 8 years are required to drink about 1.1-1.3 liters of fluid every day;
    • Girls aged 9 to 13 years are required to drink about 3-1.5 liters of fluid every day;
    • Boys 9 to 13 years are required to drink about 5-1.7 liters of fluid every day.

    It is equally important that kids who are always active to replenish lost body fluids regularly.

    Hydration should start even before your child starts the day at school. Make sure that your child takes a healthy breakfast before he or she goes to school as this will provide supplemental hydration for the child. You may also need to teach your child to drink every 20 minutes, to ensure that your child gets enough fill of water continuously throughout the day.

    It will also be best to encourage your child to drink more water than other unhealthy water alternatives. Explain to them how sweetened sodas, iced tea, as well as other fruit-flavored packed drinks can do to the body. Tell them that sugar-coated and caffeinated drinks will make them more dehydrated instead of otherwise. These drinks add will increase the risk of gaining weight and acquiring health conditions like heart disease, gout, and type 2 diabetes. They will need to learn to drink even before they get thirsty. This will ensure that they are properly hydrated.

    As it can be a bit difficult to tell whether the child just needs water to top up or if he or she is already dehydrated. Some symptoms of dehydration that should not be neglected are irritability, headache, dark urine, increased thirst, sunken eyes, less perspiration, and less elastic skin.

    Here are some ways that you can do to get your child the recommended intake of fluids and stay hydrated throughout the day.

    1. Include fruits and vegetables that are high in water content in your child’s meals and snacks. Offer watermelon, broccoli, celery, cucumbers, strawberries, and other watery fruits and vegetables for snacks and even in the main meals. This will ensure that your child will get additional hydration from other nutritious water-based food sources.
    2. Make drinking fun. Let your kids choose their own reusable water bottles, drinking cups, or mugs in their favorite colors or designed with their favorite characters. You may also include a set of interestingly-designed straws and ice cube trays as these will make sipping more fun and engaging for the young child.
    3. Give water some flavor and color. Use frozen berries or cranberries as ice cubes. You may also squeeze into your child’s water bottle with fresh fruit, herbs or vegetables. Use lemon, mint, watermelon, orange, etc.
    4. Make fruit popsicles for a fluid-rich treat. Use puree from fruits or no-sugar-added fruit juice to make popsicles. Your kids will enjoy them as much as you would.
    5. Make it easy for the little ones to access water. Set up an easy-to-use water dispenser for your little kids. Have cups ready and easily accessible as well.
    6. Invest in high-quality reusable water bottles and keep them filled in the fridge. They will come handy when your child will need to go out to ride the bike outside. Make sure that you find the best water bottles for school that will provide all the features that will encourage your child to drink more water while in school.
    7. Set a timer to remind your kids its time to take a sip. This will ensure that your kids will get to top up at regular intervals and not only when they think or feel that they are thirsty. Soon enough they will get to drink on their own even without the reminder.


    These are simple steps that you can do to ensure that your children get enough water every day. Make sure your children stay hydrated so they can be at their

  • Pregnancy-safe hair color alternatives for the stylish mom

    Pregnancy glow. Ahh, what a pleasure to experience that when you are expecting. Unfortunately, not every pregnant woman is gifted with such a glow. Many complain about unpleasant skin, hair, and nail changes that they have to conceal or manage to lessen the negative feelings that they may have in response to other pregnancy-related symptoms that they experience.

    In general, women would rather have a drastic change in their hair when they are filled with a lot of emotions that they can’t seem to handle. You might have even observed yourself doing that. And one of the things that even pregnant women would like to do is to have a change of color on their heads. However, as you may all be aware of the susceptibility of the child in the womb to anything that gets into the mother’s blood, questions about safe hair dye for pregnancy will always be asked.

    So, is hair dye safe for pregnancy?

    Generally speaking, hair dye is safe for expectant moms to use. However, those who are a bit of a worrier may still contend that there are several dangerous chemicals that may expose the mother as well as the unborn child to certain cancers. If you would go through a few related studies on this claim, you will note that there is some truth in this. However, there are also studies that prove otherwise. Moreover, there are healthier options that any pregnant woman can use if she would really like to have a new hair color to flaunt.

    First of all, there is a limited study on this subject. Even health experts can’t agree on what side to take with regards to the use of hair dyes. The American Cancer Society expressed that most of the studies linking hair dyes to cancer, particularly breast cancer, have not established any significant connection, however. Many hair dyes also contain thousands of chemicals that make it difficult to establish a consistency in the testing procedures as well as in the results.

    In addition to this, constant hair color formulas are constantly changing, thus making it difficult to create a generalized assumption on the matter.

    Even with the limited amount of information on this, there is a general opinion expressing acceptance of the use of hair dyes during pregnancy. Even expert opinions like those coming from the Mayo Clinic indicated that the chemicals found in hair colors “aren’t generally thought to pose any adverse effect to a developing baby.

    Just to stay safe, you may take side with those (including many health experts) who recommend having any hair treatment, including hair dyes, on the latter part of the pregnancy instead. If you still would rather have it at any time during your pregnancy, then it’s best that you consider our recommendations.

    Here are better options that you may consider when planning to have your hair dyed even while you are pregnant:

    1. Go natural. Fortunately, a stylish mom like you has more options than the regular hair dyes that you may see in the market. Here are some of your better choices:
    • If you want a darker shade, opt for a concentrated tea extract. For lighter hue, however, your better choice is a chamomile tea decoction.
    • If you prefer a brownish to reddish shade on your mane, you can opt for henna. This is the same dye used to do tattoos.
    • For a deeper black hue, another option will be a combination of henna dye and Indigo. This dark blue dye has been used for ages to dye hair as well as textiles. When used with the reddish henna, your black hair will look even darker.
    • Black tea or coffee. If you’ve got a medium hair shade and want to have a darker shade or give your hair some depth, you can use this as an option for your regular hair dye.
    • Lemon juice. For some interesting highlights, applying some freshly squeezed lemon juice on a few strands of your hair or parts of your hair where you want some lighter shade to show will do the trick.
    1. Always do a patch test before having your hair dyed. Just to make sure that your skin will not show any irritation or allergic reaction, do a patch test.
    2. Do a strand test. There are times that hormonal changes in your body may affect the way your hair responds to the substance that you will apply on your hair and the resulting hue may not be what you are expecting to have. To prevent ending up with an unintended shade, do a strand test first.
    3. Always have your hair colored in a well-ventilated room.
    4. Wear a pair of gloves any time you are having your hair colors done yourself.
    5. Make sure to follow the directions indicated in the box. Do not leave any color longer than it should on your hair.
    6. Go ombre or have highlights instead. Streaks of color on your hair tips or on few strands of your hair will also look fantastic. It will also be a safer options as it won’t take longer to do and only a small part of your hair will get in contact with the hair color.
    7. If you wish to have regular brands on your hair, look for ammonia-free hair dyes. Ask your hairstylist to consider that as well. If you can bring your own color, that will be a better option.
    8. Have your hair rinsed thoroughly from your hair and off your skin under until the water runs totally clear.


    Your hair may go frizzy or be out of shape when you are pregnant. You can opt for a better shade to make it look as to how you want it to, or you can opt for healthier alternatives to gain the natural luster that your mane have during pre-pregnancy. As always, your diet and lifestyle will influence how your body (that includes your hair!) will respond to your pregnancy. You can always consult your health provider for better ways to manage your health to keep your hair looking great even while you are pregnant.

  • Reasons Why You Need A Pregnancy Pillow

    Expecting a child is a life-changing experience that every woman anticipates going through. It’s not at all a sugar-coated stretch that a pregnant woman would enjoy every moment, though. We are all aware of the unpleasant thoughts that such an experience can also bring. There are several physical changes that come with pregnancy that can sometimes drive a pregnant woman crazy. The weight of the matter can be quite a challenge. It can even spill through the night if you won’t do anything about it.

    Fortunately, there is a quick and easy way to resolve this problem. Later, you will see why having the best pillow for pregnancy can be one of the best ways that you can deal with this.

    Dealing with pregnancy pains

    The majority of the challenges that a pregnant woman experience is caused by the added weight that comes as the fetus develops inside your womb. Your body expands, your skin stretches, and everything within you responds to your condition. Your muscles and ligaments extend to allow the uterus that is carrying your baby to fit in. This creates tension and pressure on the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and joints. As a result, you experience pain in many parts of your body.

    If these body pains are not addressed right away, you may have a difficult time shutting your eyes so you can have the much-needed rest. You will toss and turn, which may aggravate your condition. In the end, you get up in the morning with a sore body and feeling stressed and worn out. Your body’s response to the wide-range of pain that night made everything else the next day a reason for you to get angry, worry, tensed, or sad. Because of these, you feel drained and totally exhausted.

    Adequate rest and sleep are vital during pregnancy. If you are pregnant and are not enjoying enough hours of good quality sleep, your pregnancy may suffer. Sleep problems are common concerns during pregnancy, however. If this becomes one of your constant concern, it can put your health as well as your baby’s health in danger.

    Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center found out that the quality and quantity of pregnant women’s sleep can lead to complications at birth. However, if you can find the best pillow for pregnancy, you are assured that you can have a long and peaceful sleep at night.

    Why is it important that you should be using a pregnancy pillow during pregnancy?

    The simplest answer to this question is that the changing contours of your body during pregnancy need adequate support. Note that as your pregnancy progresses, your uterus expands to accommodate the growing fetus in your belly. As a result, your center of gravity changes and this affects your normal posture.

    As the weight of your baby pulls your tummy down, your spine adjusts and causes your body to lean forward. The expanding uterus also stretches the ligaments and muscles, as well as creates tension on the joints underneath it. This causes the tension and the pain in several parts of your body.

    As your body contour changes, your body’s alignment also changes. When you lie down to sleep, these also affect how your body gets in contact with your regular pillow and the mattress. As neither your pillow nor your mattress is designed to follow the contours of your body, you find it difficult to lie in the most comfortable position and eventually fall to a deep sleep. As a result, you toss and turn and, probably, may stay up all night, if not wake up several times throughout the night because you may feel tired after holding part of your body in a certain position for a long time.

    A maternity pillow, however, can guarantee that you will be provided support in all places that need support. If you use one of these maternity pillows, you can feel that the pain in your neck, shoulder, hip, and back will be significantly minimized.

    A good quality sleep can make all the difference. Pregnancy pillows are designed primarily to provide the comfort and support that your body needs to fall into a deep sleep and wake up feeling refreshed. There are several types of pregnancy or maternity pillows that you can find in the market today. They come in different sizes and shapes and can be used for one or more purposes. They were introduced to the market to ensure pregnant women like you will receive all the sleep, relaxation, and pampering that you need throughout pregnancy and beyond.

    Each maternity pillow is made to be versatile enough to suit a pregnant mother’s changing needs. With a pregnancy pillow, you won’t feel constrained as you change position to relieve whatever pain that you are experiencing at the moment. A pregnancy pillow is ergonomically designed to intuitively follow the contours of your body as you move into a different sitting and lying positions.

    You can even use a pregnancy pillow long after you have given birth. Use it while nursing your baby. This will increase the bonding moments between you and your baby. You also get to relax and enjoy the moments even more.

    Didn’t I say that it’s versatile? You can have your husband and other members of the family around to enjoy the pillow with you if you have a bigger pregnancy pillow like the full-length pregnancy pillow. What can be more fun than spending time with everyone and enjoying precious moments as you watch your precious bundle of joy wondering at the new world around him or her?

    A high-quality pregnancy pillow is a good investment, so you need to take the time to find the best pillow that can give you the best value for your money. Consider the purpose, the type, the size, the shape, the material used in the filling, and other factors that can make your pregnancy pillow be one of the best pillows around the house.