Photographers and Models work together as a team

Great fashion photographers have the ability to see beauty, or interest or excitement and capture it on film. They also possess a knowledge of human nature and have the communication skills to lead the model toward their most becoming and engaging posture. A good photographer puts the models at ease using words, tones and facial expressions to help the model's feel relaxed and able to be natural. Photographers are like orchestra conductors, coordinating the back ground music, temperature, lighting, venues and atmosphere to set the perfect scene. The skilled artist behind the camera, although invisible to us,is vital to a model's success.

Although, often not given enough credit for their art and talents, models are much more than just another pretty face. They must walk a tight rope. Firstly, they must fulfill the demands of the photographer and the client. They must be able to listen, understand and then reproduce. Secondly, models need to stay true to themselves, for it is only when they let their real personality shine through that they are believable and likable. They have the hard job of winning us over, of making us want to be like them, all, without words. On top of all of this, models must also present the fashions in their best light. We know that clothes can make the woman or the man but it is also true that models help to make the clothes. A good model does not distract us from the creations they are wearing but instead, inspires us to be similarly attractive.
Good photographers need to enjoy what they do because it is their excitement and enthusiasm that are the prime motivators for the models. Models need to enjoy what they do because their attitude shows in the very steps they take. Those with an eye for composition, a communicative spirit and an a flair for style and form may want to learn about fashion photography. Documenting the trends and styles of the day and influencing society through art can be rewarding both financially and personally. People with outgoing personalities and friendly, interesting faces might find a wonderful experience waiting for them in front of a camera. Taking care to be at your best, both physically and mentally and the ability to understand how to share the fun are qualities that will pay off in the world of modeling.

What is beauty?

What makes a woman beautiful? We have always heard that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We know that pretty is as pretty does. We know that when a man's in love, the girl looks sweeter. Yet, people believe that some women are more lovely than others. Who is it that finds these beauties and promotes them? Who is it that sets our standards?

Artists not only have the ability to see beauty but the talent and skills to transfer it to paper or canvas or film. They can see, perhaps better than we, the qualities that make someone worth repeating. Throughout the years they have exploited our desires, tempting us to want to see their reproductions and to need to possess their pictures. They have done this by simply by copying the beauty they see before them. If we examine the examples that they have chosen for their models, we can see similarities. What is it that these artists, with their gifted eyes, can spot? What is it that makes these women beautiful to us?

Perhaps it is the inner spark they capture escaping through her twinkling eyes or the secret held that we can glimpse, along the lines of her slight smile. Maybe it is the emotions we think are hidden behind a lowered glance or the hunger of a translucent plump cheek, pinched pink in color. Could it be the shape of her face, soft and leading, oval and almost symmetrical or her hair, pulled back so sternly it reflects the window's light or instead, billowing in curls, circling round her neck like soft caresses?

Whatever the qualities are that we admire, it seems that they are universal and they are timeless. The faces of women, through the ages, have entranced artists and their patrons alike. Their faces blend together to charm us. Is it our Mother's face we see, our wife, or ourself? They could be anyone.

Maybe beautiful women are all around us. It could be that some are just a bit more fair, a tad more pleasing, but, with our rose-colored glasses of reality, aren't we all beautiful, here, beneath the sun?

How Can We Influence Our Children's Choice Of Mates?

As a parent we are often tortured by the continual parade of young prospective suitors or girlfriends that are brought before us; long haired, pierced, tattooed, Gothic, smokers, drinkers, or drop-outs. Even more confusing are the Eddie Hascles, all smiles on the outside and deceiving deviants behind your back, or the smiling girls that are so pretty yet secretly self- centered or the popular, tall, sport stars that are strong and good looking but don't have an ounce of common sense or maybe......... oh my, it can be scary.
If only we could chose for our children, wouldn't it be easier?
So if we could direct our children toward the perfect match, just what qualities would we chose?
Similarities in values are helpful, trust comes to mind, love of course and support - we want them to have the creature comforts and we know money doesn't always grow on parents. We know that there are many challenges ahead for them.
The demands of our modern society are great and we struggle to keep our heads up under all of the constant stress. Our work week takes us away from home for much of each day and for most days of each year. Every new, time saving device, costs us much money and then the continual monthly payments for the connection services tax us even heavier. We know that we need to eat healthy food but it is expensive and time consuming to prepare. We want to live in clean and comfortable, sometimes even beautiful homes and they demand expensive upkeep and renewal. Our much deserved and greatly needed entertainment takes huge chunks of our hard earned money yet it seems that the fun is over almost before it begins. We leave, we work, we return, we work, we rest and then we begin again. With each new child that comes into the family new accommodations are needed and college funds begun. With each year we age, we see our beauty and our strength first accumulate until we reach our prime and then we slowly level off and then deteriorate. We have less and less time and more and more responsibilities.
We know all of these things are going to challenge our children just as they have challenged us. To make it happily through this life our children would have it much easier with a helper, a confidant, and a true love. They will need a partner to see them through the hardships and bring a smile to their face at the end of the day. They need a mate that has the ability to give without a wish to be rewarded. They need someone who will go beyond what is asked of them, one who will do what needs to be done, even when it is late or they are tired or they feel they have already done their share.We want to help our child find the right partner. What qualities would this right partner possess?
People that have the ability to put another's well being before their own have empathy and understanding. They have love which spills freely from their happy, giving heart.These are the one's we would pick.
But, of course, we cannot hope for our child to be paired successfully with one who is giving, if they are not also, a giving soul. Even the best among us can be downtrodden and worn out by abuse. We want our child to have self respect and reasonable limits to their giving. Our goal is not to raise Buddhist monks who have only the robe on their back and an alms bowl. We want to help our children become self-sufficient while still being caring individuals. For our children to mature into such individuals we must instill these qualities into them as they grow, so that they too, will be a perfect match.
But how do we do this, how do we help nurture a giving spirit in our children? Of course, we teach them with our words. We take them to school and Synagogue or Church. We try to chose the right people to surround them and we place them in supportive, enjoyable groups. We tell them stories with a lesson and we reward them with smiles and words of praise. We give them hugs when they are good and we frown when they are disappointing. It is the occupational hazard of being a parent - to lecture, to nag, to continually teach. It is not surprising that they begin to shrug us off and leave the room or just nod in agreement and then go on about their merry way.
Sometimes, when I find myself doing the dishes late after dinner and my child is aimlessly watching television or when I am mowing the grass as my child lazes by the pool, I wonder where I went wrong? How can they let me slave away, as they sit there, doing nothing to help? Perhaps, I ask too much for one their age, or perhaps they do not see. But, as a parent, I can't give up. I simply try harder to lead them in the right direction.
Of all we say and preach and plead, I think nothing holds a candle to the most powerful lessons that we teach our children; the lessons that we really teach, through our actions. My heart always swells when my spouse comes in the kitchen, perhaps more tired than I, and pitches in. I am touched when they come out into the yard with cold lemonade and take the mower as I pass, smilingly pushing me down in the hammock, taking over, so that I can rest. I hope my children see these gifts of love. But, even if they do not see all of the examples, I am sure that they can see the results.
Raising a giving child takes giving parents. I try to remember that it is only a gift when you get nothing in return and that the real joys in life come from receiving smiles. Perhaps it is only by raising children who are full of love and have a giving spirits that we can truly influence their choice of loving, giving partners.

Can an argument be won and should you even start the argument?

Each Day we face many challenges and at times we choose to argue our case.This weekend in Vayera reading Abraham faces three challenges. In the first one God wants to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham does his best to argue passionatley to save people hi does not even know. Does he win this argument?
Next, his wife Sarah demands that Hagar and her son ( also the son of Abrahm) be sent away. Abraham chooses not to argue with Sara and does what his wife demands.  (Abraham does not argue).
Later, God instruct Abaraham to make the ultimate sacrifice and give up the son of Sarah, Isaac, at a certain location. Now again, Abarahm does not argue.
Dale Carnegie writes in his book: " How to win friends and influence people" an entire chapter in the section: "How to win people to your way of thinking " called- You can't win an argument.( page 109)

Did Abraham learn this earlier on in his first attempt to argue the case of the people of Sodom? Are there things worth standing up for? How do we stay committed to what we believe is right, at the same time not causing the other party to  turn away from us ? Can our business or personal life afford to have the results faced by Lot's wife's and become a pillar of salt just because we chose to make the wrong move and argue?

Going to the unknown- Ancient Ties to modern life

Many times Abram (A.k.A later in life as Abraham) took very large steps and made decisions that were monumental. The Midrash (Stories to help us in interpretation of the Biblical text) inform us of the time Abram decided to break every idol but one, that were in the possession of his father. At the time Abram did not know what would be the reaction of his father
When Abram was older he left his home, the surroundings that were familiar to him, and went again to the unknown. Many times in our lives we have to go and face the unknown.
Later in life Abram became Abraham, the father of many nations. Greatness and respect came his way because of the risks he took. These risks are based on trust.
Each day we face many unknowns. The thing we need to make sure is that we have someone who will be there to help guide us with our "leap of faith". Only when we are ready to believe in what we are doing, are we able to feel secure in our journey.

Why join as a new user?

This is a demo site created and envisioned by myself, Ariel Dagan, Director of Operations and Michael Foilb, Director of Marketing. Our joint philanthropic mission is to help connect in essence every nonprofit Jewish organization through social media. In essence Tech Success will host the largest interconnected network of The Jewish Community in the United States (and other countries).
Read more about it in About Us.

in reference to:

"This is a demo site created and envisioned by Ariel Dagan, Director of Operations and Michael Foilb, Director of Marketing. Their joint philanthropic mission is to help connect in essence every nonprofit Jewish organization through social media.(A key target market for Tech Success will be the 2,200 nationwide congregations of various affiliations in the US). In essence Tech Success will host the largest interconnected network of The Jewish Community in the United States (and other countries)."
- The JCommunity Site - About Us (view on Google Sidewiki)

A Lesson from the Bee “life and death are in the hands of the tongue”

Image by autan via Flickr

Have you ever stopped to appreciate all the work bees do to ensure a continuous cycle? Have you had a chance to observe the way it meticulously collects the pollen or how it hovers over in a field carefully searching for those perfect flowers to bring back their payload to its nest? Although the bee might seem to be a loner it knows well its task and place in the workings of its hive. As a member of its group it can be relied on since it is an integral part of the communal effort to produce its product. The fruits of its labor take much time and effort to produce. A bee keeper tries to maintain a delicate relationship with the bees. In order to keep the secure balance of a healthy community the keeper must ensure that there is healthy equilibrium of all the players and producers in the colony.

As in many of G-d creations bees too have their defense tactics that some of us have found to be unpleasant (not so pleasant). One might find the sting of a honey bee a slight nuisance but may consider the sting of a wasp a more serious sting (offense). The feminine form in Hebrew for bee is Devorah and in the masculine form is Dabur (Hornet). The Hebrew root is Daled Bet Reysh meaning speak.  Our sources are filled with examples helping us to learn the power of speech. Devorah the Prophetess was a true leader who was wise with her words.

Words are like bees. At times a slight sting may be irritating or just be an annoyance. At other times certain words can serve as a massive strike. Certain bees in the hive protect their community. The Israeli Navy has chosen to name their patrol class boats respectively DABUR and DEVORA.

Words can sting or be sweet. We should emulate the bee who can hover over beautiful and delicate flowers taking only what is needed from each of G-d creation and pollinating in a positive way the nearby flowers. We should reflect and be gentle with words we choose. We are in essence the beekeepers. As we reflect on our actions during the Holidays of Tishrei we should be mindful of the quote from Mishlei (proverbs) 18:21  (Mavet v’chayim beyad Halashon) – “life and death are in the hands of the tongue”.

May each of your days be overflowing with sweetness of honey