Author: blogger

Over the centuries, gold has played a unique cultural role in societies across the world. Something about the metal gives it a transcendant symbolic value: from the legendary treasuries of the Aztec and Mayan empires to the Golden Calf of the Book of Exodus, gold is implicated in the most dramatic tales of ancient human history. Even today, gold retains its cultural signficance. For an Olympic athlete, a single gold medal represents the zenith of achievement. The Palme dOr, or Golden Palm, is a symbol of supreme attainment in the film industry. Only a handful of British monarchs have managed to stick it out for half a century and earn their Golden Jubilee. And clearly there is a reason why credit card companies designate their high-end offerings as “Gold Cards”. But what is it about real gold that captures our attention? What gives this yellow metal such value?

Like anything of real value, gold is rare. Only 3 particles per billion in the Earths crust are gold. Although the worlds oceans hold vast amounts of gold, it is so dilute that attempts to recover it from the salt water have never been successful. If all the gold ever refined were formed into a ball, it would be less than 25 metres across. However, some gold does exist naturally in a relatively pure state (as opposed to in an ore), enabling humans to gather it in small quantities without the need for chemical extraction. And once harvested, gold is one of the most versatile metals on earth. It has been crafted and shaped ever since the ‘caltholithic’, or ‘copper’ age, as early as 4000 BC, making it one of the very first metals to be used by humans. The ancient peoples of Egypt and the Middle East used gold for religious rites, as well as for ornamentation. The first recorded use of gold coins was during the reign of King Croesus of Lydia around 600 BC. Gold is also more malleable and ductile than any other metal. A single gram of gold can be beaten into a sheet one metre square. It is one of the heaviest elements; heavier, even, than lead. Ten teaspoons of gold would weigh as much as seventeen teaspoons of lead.

It has been customary throughout history to test the purity of gold by biting on it. Since pure gold is soft enough to show teeth-marks, and cheaper alloying metals are usually harder, this method does give some indication. More reliable tests, however, involve the use of nitric acid. The content of gold in alloys is measured in karats (k). Pure gold is 24 karat, with the number of karats decreasing proportionally as other metal is added.

Although too soft for ordinary use in its pure state, gold can be extremely hard and durable when alloyed with other metals. Alloying also has other advantages besides increasing its hardness. The distinctive yellow colour of gold is recognised throughout the world. However, a fascinating spectrum of other colours can be created by combining small quantities of other metals with the gold. Alloyed with copper, it has a rosy colour, with nickel, silver, or palladium it is white, with iron, blue, and with aluminium, a purple hue. Pure silver gives the alloy a greenish tint, and rhodium or ruthenium produce black. Gold in such forms is most commonly used in jewellery. Colloidal gold is micro-particles of gold suspended in water, producing an intense red colour. Colloidal gold is used in stained glass, and in certain applications for medical and scientific research.

In former years gold played an important role as a medium of exchange, mostly in the form of valuable coins. Currencies were also backed by gold, but this is no longer the case. Reserves of gold are still held by some nations as gold bullion coins, for example the Australian Gold Nugget, or the British Britannia. The value of these coins is measured by their weight, rather than by their face value, which, when it exists, is always significantly less than its true value. The world’s biggest gold coin was minted by the Canadian Royal Mint in Spring 2007. It is half a metre across, 3 cm thick, weighs 100 kg, and is worth nearly 3 million dollars, with a face value of $1,000,000.

These days, most gold is used in jewellery, but it is also widely used by other industries. Dentists use gold alloys in crowns and bridges, and certain types of toners in the photography industry contain gold. Even the food industry uses gold flakes or dust to enhance the appearance of exotic sweets and drinks. Gold can be made into thread for embroidery, and beaten into micro-thin sheets called ‘gold leaf’. More durable than any paint, the real gold never fades or loses its lustre. In fact, there are examples of gilding done by the Romans and Ancient Egyptians which still retain their brilliance today, thousands of years on.

Far from being outdated, real gold remains superior to this day, adding a touch of brilliance to many quality products today.

In Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, The Wife of Bath’s Tale, although it has a more serious and moral tone than her prologue, is in many ways a continuation of her prologue, the story and the way in which it is told being dominated by her personality, attitudes, and beliefs. The most obvious connecting link is the common theme – the sovereignty of women in marriage. In her prologue The Wife describes how she has devoted much of her life to living up to her unshakeable decision:

An housbonde I wol have, I wol nat lette,
Which shal be bothe my dettour and my thral (154-5)

She uses her tale to extend this idea from being a personal preference, and a maxim to be followed by ‘every womman that is wys’ (524) to a universal truth. The knight of her tale is set the task of finding:

What thing is it that wommen moost desiren. (905)

When he gives his answer to a supreme court of women, headed by the queen, there is no disagreement at all:

Wommen desiren to have sovereinetee
As wel over hir housbond as hir love,
And for to been in maistrie him above. (1038-40)

In al the court ne was ther wyf, ne maide,
Ne widwe, that contraried that he saide, (1043-4)

The fact that the knight’s life is in the hands of the queen rather than the king is in itself a sign that the tale is a product of The Wife’s imagination. King Arthur has condemned the knight to death, according to the law of the land, and yet in response to the pleas of the queen and other women,

. . . yaf him to the queene, al at hir wille,
To chese wheither she wolde him save or spille (897-8)

Thus even The King of England is subject to his wife.

The Wife uses her tale as a vehicle for her own views, and often she leaves the tale altogether and resumes the self-centred theme and colloquial style of her prologue. She lists all the alternative answers the knight received to his question, the list including everything which, in her prologue, she has shown that she demands from a marriage as well as ‘sovereinetee’.

Somme seyde wommen loven best richesse,
Somme seyde honour, somme seyde jolinesse
Somme riche array, somme seyden lust abedde,
And oftetime to be widwe and wedde. (925-8)
. . .
And somme seyen that we loven best
For to be free, and do right as us lest, (935-6)

Her inclusion of herself with ‘we’, and the unusual inclusion of ‘oftetime to be widwe and wedde’ make it clear that this is The Wife’s own interpolation, beyond the requirements of the tale.

The Wife digresses from her tale after the first half dozen or so lines to air her views on another subject close to her heart, ‘limitours and othere hooly freres’ (866). Her grievances against the church are many. The church’s solemn repressive attitude towards sex, and most other forms of enjoyment, conflict strongly with her robust hedonism. In the prologue she exclaims

Allas, allas, that evere love was sinne! (614)

The church was also responsible for the dissemination of anti-feminist literature and attitudes, and here The Wife, an arch-feminist, is in direct conflict.

For trusteth wel, it is an impossible
That any clerk wol speke good of wives, (688-9)

If we turn to the character of the Loathly Lady of The Wife’s tale, we find some differences between her and The Wife, and some similarities. The main characteristic they have in common is the wish to dominate their husbands. There is also a marked similarity in their tactics for achieving this goal. Both make their husbands suffer, and both use the persuasive techniques of argument. Both also draw upon authorities in support of their arguments; The Wife from The Bible, Ovid, and many others, and The Loathly Lady from Dante and Seneca.

Just as, in the prologue, The Wife puts up the husband’s assumed complaints against her, putting him in the wrong, and knocking his arguments down one by one, so the Loathly Lady puts up the knight’s objections.

Thou art so loothly, and so oold also,
And therto comen of so lough a kinde (1100-1)

She adds the fault of being poor, not even mentioned by the knight, and by pseudo-logic presents the faults as virtues. Both women succeed in gaining the submission of their partners for the same reason – the husbands are so frustrated and exasperated that they give in to get some peace.

The chief difference in the approach of the two wives is that whereas The Wife argues almost entirely on personal grounds, The Loathly Lady argues on the more objective and moralistic grounds of living up to the claim of ‘Nobility’, the true source of which was a much discussed subject in the middle ages. On one level we can assume that Chaucer has introduced this theme for the edification of his audience, but it is also likely that The Wife has included this serious subject in order to comply with The Host’s original request in The General Prologue for,

Tales of best sentence and moost solaas (800).

In her prologue The Wife demonstrates herself to be an intelligent woman, and good at dissembling. At the funeral of her fourth husband, for example, she acts the part of the grieving widow, so she would undoubtedly be able to act out the serious tone necessary for the Loathly Lady’s ‘Nobility’ argument. Putting herself in the role of The Loathly Lady also serves The Wife’s purpose of championing the cause of women, in that to subjugate a knight and prove him to be ignoble would be a greater achievement than the real life subjugation of her first three elderly, feeble, husbands, and it is achieved by a more acceptable means than her childish deceitful attack on Jankin. In this way, and in the final transformation of The Loathly Lady into a beautiful young woman, the tale can be seen as a wish-fulfilment on the part of The Wife.

Thus The Wife’s tale is more than appropriate to the prologue; it is essential that we know the character of The Wife through her prologue before we can fully make sense of the tale.

Bibliography

Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale. Ed. James Winny. Cambridge University Press. 1965.

Chaucer, Geoffrey. The General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales. Ed. James Winny. Cambridge University Press. 1965.

If you are interested in getting your babies clicked then choosing a professional photographer is always a good option. They are not only proficient in capturing the best images but have patience which is very necessary. Another advantage with professional photographers is that they have been working on such projects from a long time and are familiar with the extraordinary effects that can be given. So for marvelous new born baby photography, you can go for Stacie and Frank who are in to this business from a long time and know how to proceed with the work. Higher the experience better will be the quality of work.
Most of the parents like the pictures of babies in calendars or over the internet. They expect something like that so if you hire Stacie and Walter, you can be sure that the images will be fabulous and far better that you have come across over the internet. By taking their help you can surely demand for outstanding pictures that are cute, innocent and lovely. Different and exclusive poses make the new born baby photography better as well as highlighted. You will be surprised as the work quality is extremely great and fascinating too.
Rather than choosing the old locations, this couple looks forward for fresh ideas on new born baby photography. Every collection is different and just incomparable. A few light effects can form a beautiful addition. Apart from this, you can also choose some prominent poses for the babies. Cradles or baskets can be a good thought. Focusing on their small legs and hands can add charm to the collection. As they do not make much movement therefore still photographs or a black and white addition can be fantastic. So some of these ideas can be enriching and also be liked by their parents.
As babies do not like too much of lights hence the couple ensures that the photography sessions are fast. This will not create a problem for the baby and the work will be complete quickly. Not much time is wasted in planning as pre- preparations are done before hand so that the entire shoot is completed in one slot only. The new born baby photography is always refreshing because every baby ahs some unique features which make it special so even the photographers love to be a part of this work. So contact Stacie and Frank for enhanced pictures which are full of love and emotion.

What Is Boudoir Photography?

Historically, the term Boudoir was used to describe a ladys dressing room. In the early 1980s Boudoir photography was first used to refer to a type of intimate photography. Nowadays, its quite popular for women to have Boudoir photographs done, usually to surprise that special someone in their life. Boudoir photography sessions can be as varied as each individual. Each person has their unique opinion of what is sensual and beautiful and each photography session and resulting photos reflect that beauty.

What if I dont feel comfortable making Nude Photos?

A Boudoir Photography session should be fun! If youre uncomfortable posing for Nude photographs then dont do them. Every woman is beautiful and sexy. You dont have to take your clothes off to take gorgeous sensual photographs. Working in collaboration with an experienced photographer you can create amazing images clothed, partially clothed or implied nude (when the photographer sets the scene so that you appear to be nude but nothing is showing). Communication is key make sure that you have talked in detail with the photographer about your comfort levels and what your vision is of the finished product and trust that he or she will keep everything hidden that you want hidden. Thanks to modern digital technology it is not difficult to add in extra shadows or use blurring effects to make sure that the finished product is exactly what you want. Keep in mind also that some photographers may not shoot nude photographs, so if you are looking for nude photos ask!

But Im too old! Im too overweight! Im not pretty enough!

Every woman is beautiful and sexy! Ignore the overly skinny supermodels that you see everyday in advertisements! Real women are all around you and they are all beautiful. Be confident in yourself and your sensual nature. And be confident that your photographer is experienced and can arrange lighting and posing in order to capture your best side.

What do I wear?

Wear what you feel sexy in! A Boudoir Photography session has ample time for several wardrobe changes so bring any outfits you think you might want to wear and any accessories that go with it. Examples include a mans white dress shirt; a baseball jersey and ball cap; lacy nightie; a French maids costume (great use of old Halloween costumes) and feather duster; plaid mini skirt and white button down shirt and anything else you can imagine! Bring along a suitcase full of outfits. Dont forget high heeled shoes, necklaces, bracelets and other accessories hats, feather boas, etc. This is a good time to play dress up! Plan out your outfits ahead of time and try them on with different jewelry to see how they look. The photographer may also bring some additional accessories but you should ask about props ahead of time.

What about my Make-up?

Many ladies can do their own make-up but there are other options. Salons and department store make-up counters can be good resources or you can ask your photographer if they have someone they recommend. In most cases the photography studio can contract a make up artist for an additional fee. Dont feel compelled to wear a lot of make-up if it simply isnt your style.

Where should I have Boudoir Photographs taken?

These are not the kind of images that are on a check list at a mall portrait studio, they need to be personal and intimate. Many women choose a photographer who will come to their home and take photographs in their bedroom. Other women choose to go to the photographers studio and have their Boudoir session there. These days, though, Boudoir isnt limited to a bedroom setting and lingerie. A number of my own customers have come to me because they were intrigued by my Retro Pinup work. This is yet another option in Boudoir photography.

Nervous? What about a Group Photo Session?

You and three or four of your best girlfriends can get together and do your sessions at the same time. These can be done at the studio, your home or on location and should be approached with a party atmosphere. Each of you will be photographed individually as you are dressed (or undressed) based on each persons comfort level.
Some photographers (but not all) offer couples sessions. These sessions are romantic, sensual, playful, fun and always tasteful. If you are interested in this type of session make it part of a weekend away at a local hotel. This leaves you free from distractions and you will have some extra memories of the event.

Retouching

Many photographers include retouching with their portrait prints and albums but be sure to ask how much is included with your session. Most photographers will include minor retouching and color correction as part of their service after all they want their work to be well represented.

Protecting your privacy

Privacy should be a major concern during your boudoir sessions. All boudoir images are kept in strict confidence and no images will be shown without permission from the client in writing. Make sure your photographer has a privacy policy as well as any professional printers they may use.

Preparing for a Boudoir Photo Session

Wear loose fitting clothing. Avoid tight fitting undergarments as they are the most likely to leave elastic pressure lines on your skin. If you are not doing the session at your home bring as many accessories, outfits and ideas as you can. If you decide to not use everything then it is just a little extra to carry around but its far better then to wish you had brought something.

When you begin your search for a wedding photographer, youre going to run into a lot of terminology discussing styles that you may not have heard before. Many people make the mistake of thinking that they simply hire a photographer and thats the end of it. Unfortunately, if you dont know what type / style of photographer youre hiring, you may not get the look in your wedding photos that you had been hoping for. By doing just a small amount of research youll be able to hire the photographer that shares your vision of the perfect wedding album. Here are the different types of wedding photography that will be available to you.

Artistic

This type of photography can be given to interpretation. Photographs may be saturated with color, given special effects or may even be hard to decipher as wedding photographs. You may want to find a photographer that utilises this style if you plan on hanging one or several of your wedding photos on the wall.

Candid

While professional photographers do utilise candid photography, its most often the type of picture-taking that you see from amateurs (unless the photographer has bought along a ‘second’ to take care of these particular shots). A bit of a point and shoot approach that doesnt have subjects primping and posing. This type of photography is most often used for more casual weddings.

Contemporary

This type of photography may be a combination of all the other types or a type that utilizes whatever style of photography is currently in vogue. Look through some popular photography magazines or even bridal magazines to see what’s popular.

Documentary

Photographers using this style attempt to convey a true feeling of the wedding and reception through their photographs. Looking through the wedding album will allow you to relive the day as it happened without the use of words or captions. This type of photography is also called photojournalism.

Formal

Sometimes called traditional, these are posed shots where everyone is looking at the camera. Group shots of the wedding party, the couple with their families and the couple on their own are popular.

Its very important that you convey your wishes to any photographer that you are planning on hiring prior to your wedding day. You aren’t gong to get a chance to have them retaken another day (hopefully!). Ask your potential photographer for references and look at their sample albums – many have galleries online to peruse. If they don’t seem to be understanding exactly what you want, move on to the next. Many professionals have a range of styles in their arsenal and should be able to give you several different types of photographs in one album. If the person you are interviewing can’t give you the look that you desire, chances are the next can. Get the right wedding photography for your wedding and you will have photos to cherish forever