Recycle

Recycling is the third component of the ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ campaign and is a key component of the waste reduction plan. It involves the melting down of products into their raw materials and in turn the formation of new products.  Materials such as glass, metal, plastic and paper are all easily and widely recycled but the process is not without its disadvantages..

Whether or not recycling materials saves energy and money is a matter of great controversy. The argument is very difficult to resolve due to many complex factors. For example the amount of energy used in the recycling process depends hugely on the material to be recycled. Aluminum, when recycled, uses just 5% of the energy it uses to reproduce the same product from raw materials whereas paper is thought to only break even. Combine this with many other factors such as transporting materials and labor costs the argument becomes more and more complex.

Overall i feel that if the government are taking steps towards a 100% recyclable future then the benefits must outweigh the disadvantages. If we follow the ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ hierarchy we are sure to make a significant difference  which will change the way our planet operates for the greater good. 

Reuse

Where waste is created, the destination for that product does not have to be a landfill site or even a recycling plant. In fact much of what we discard can be reused within the household in many different ways. for example margarine tubs can be washed and reused to store other food sources in place of plastic Tupperware cases, reducing there need to be manufactured on such a vast scale. Equally plastic drinks bottles can be refilled and reused time and again drastically reducing there need to be reproduced.
  

The advantages of making these changes in our day to day lives are significant. By reusing a product continuously, we eliminate the need to replace that product if we were to dispose of it. In the short term this can lead to a small saving for every individual, which will accumulate to a larger saving over a longer period of time. In an unstable financial climate like the present these savings will be greatly appreciated and provide peace of mind to many individuals across the country. 

In conclusion, reusing products is not only good for the environment but beneficial to every individual who participates through its direct link to money saving ideas. 

Reduce

Everyday our society is becoming increasingly aware of the harm we are constantly causing to our fragile and precious environment through the burning of fossil fuels and our petty attempts at waste management. By pausing and thinking about our actions before tossing reusable materials into a bin set for landfill, we can aim to slow down the rate of global warming and enjoy the benefits of a happier healthier habitat.
Perhaps the most efficient way to improve our currant situation is to reduce the amount of waste we produce. This is achievable, equally on a domestic and industrial scale through simple actions such as buying in moderation rather than excess. For example, across the UK a vast amount of the food stuffs we buy rots in our fridges and cupboards and is eventually discarded along with its packaging. If we simply buy what we need rather than what we want, waste production will dramatically decrease and the everyone will feel the benefits.
Each household and company play a small yet significant role in the worlds overall waste production therefore everyone must play there part to aid this worthwhile cause of protecting and prolonging the life of our precious planet. 

   

Star Trails

throughout my project this is the one technique i failed to master despite several long attempts on a number of cold winter nights. I followed the instructions of many websites and teachers to obtain the shots but time and again unforeseen, irritating problems (such as condensation building up and the lens freezing over) prevented me from achieving my goal of long sharp star trails.

If these problems hadn’t occurred, here’s the basic information which would have allowed me to produce the star trails...

Where to Shoot –

·          choose a spot as far away from any cities as possible to avoid light pollution caused by street and car lights etc (i travelled to Glendoll, a valley 40 miles from Dundee).

·          Try not to shoot during a full moon as this is far brighter than the stars and will appear very overpowering in the final image.

·         long exposure star trails can last for house so try to hook your camera up to a power supply to avoid it cutting out half way through.

·         And of course try to choose a clear night where you can actually see the stars in the sky through the mass of cloud which frequently obstructs out view of them.

http://www.schursastrophotography.com/software/photoshop/startrails.html

Setting up your equipment –

·         set your DSLR to bulb mode which will allow you to take a very long shot. Use the lowest ISO setting (ISO 100) to reduce the amount of noise in your final photograph. A tripod is absolutely essential (particularly when its windy).

·         Use a wide aperture to ensure you capture plenty of light which will give brighter trails.

                ·         And i know it sounds silly but wrap socks around your camera lens to prevent it fogging over – particularly on cold nights.

http://webspace.webring.com/people/re/excathedra/HighRes.htm

Water droplets

Capturing water droplets requires a great deal of patients but the results are well worth the effort it takes to produce them, so if you’re interested in photography give it a try!

Here’s how...

·     Place a wine glass on a baking tray and fill to the brim with water. Using a plastic pipette continuously drip small volumes of water into the glass to create a splashing action.

·         The backdrop can vary – try using coloured card to begin with.

·         An off camera flash is required to light the falling droplets from the side. Sinc this to your camera using a cable.

·         Use manual focus to pre focus on the area you expect the droplet to fall. Place an object in this area so the camera has a point to focus on.

·         Capturing water droplets requires split second timing so set your camera to its continuous shooting mode which will allow you to fire out several shots in straight succession.

Throughout the shoot ensure you keep your camera lens as far away from the splashing water as possible, as water on the lens will ruin any final images. Bare in mind that capturing a perfect splash is rare so keep trying and persevere. Once you have mastered the technique you may wish to try experimenting with alternative liquids and backdrops to create more visually attractive images.

During my last year at high School, I studied higher photography and developed a great range of knowledge and technical ability regarding the subject. However over the past few months i have had less and less free time to expand and reflect on this knowledge and sadly have forgotten a fair bit of what i have learned. Over the next few entries i will look back at the work I completed during the course and hopefully re-jog my memory and develop a liking for photography once again.

Throughout the course, i used my photographs to uncover everyday wonders that were time and again overlooked and unacknowledged by the human eye. Abstract smoke trails were one thing i frequently enjoyed creating and capturing.

Here’s how...
• Place a lit insense stick in a holder in front of a non reflective black cloth to create a pure background tone.  
• Manually set the DSLR camera to an aperture of f8. This will ensure there is enough depth of field to capture the smoke in focus, but not enough to make the background appear sharp.
• Position an off-camera flash to the side of the smoke trail which can be triggered by the camera using a cable. This will ensure the smoke is fully illuminated in the shot.
• With regards to focusing, it is near impossible to auto focus on moving smoke. Switch the camera to manual focus and attempt to pre focus on an object held in the path of the smoke trail before you start the shoot.
Once these rules have been followed you are ready to shoot, although, as i remember, the process is a bit hit and miss so patience is essential. For every 20 shots you take there may only be 1 or 2 which have worked properly but in the end after endless attempts you’ll be left with quite a pleasing collection.

As Hong Kong continues to develop as one of the leading modernist cities of the world, its battle with air pollution and smog is slowly being lost casting huge gray clouds over many of its triumphant skyscrapers.

On the 22nd of March 2010, levels of pollution reached record highs in the city due to changes in wind patterns. Instead of pollution naturally diffusing throughout the skies of Southern China, it was left to build up over Hong Kong and accumulate in its atmosphere. This lead to Environmental Health Officers warning people across the city to stay indoors as much as possible to avoid the inflammation of illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis. Since March, viruses and premature deaths caused by pollution have sadly risen as people continue to ignore the health warnings they are receiving.   

There are two main contributors to air pollution in Hong Kong – factories and motor vehicles.  Along the Hong Kong borders are 70,000 factories which pump out a number of harmful gases everyday. These gases are then carried by the wind across the skies of the city. They then linger in the air above Hong Kong because high rise buildings and skyscrapers trap them, preventing the wind from carrying them any further.
So it seems, the more Hong Kong does to improve its Western lifestyle, the more it is destroying its natural beauty and air quality. Ironically the city is named after the fragrant harbor it once possessed but that is now long gone and replaced by a scent that is some what less appealing