When talking about well-being, many people tend to think directly of women. However, men also need to relax, surround themselves with positive energy, meditate, etc. So, for a birthday, Father’s Day, or simply to show your gratitude, it would be interesting to include wellness gifts on the list of original gift ideas to offer your husband, brother, father, friend, colleague, etc.
Even if the beneficiary is not committed to the cause of well-being, a subtle and useful gift could well bring him or her serenity and positivity. Here is our selection of well-being gift ideas for men.
These jewels are made of stones or minerals and offer some protection against negative energies. Both men and women have everything to gain by taking care of their body and mind.
But some men are not willing to sacrifice a few hours for meditation and relaxation sessions. That’s why jewellery is an ingenious way to help them surround themselves with positive energy effortlessly.
For example, just wear a tiger’s eye bracelet or a necklace with a flower of life pendant to enjoy revitalising and protective effects.
The acupressure anti-snoring ring is another fashionable gem for men. It is worn on the little finger and stimulates two acupressure points that act on the respiratory tract and prevent snoring. That said, seen from a certain angle, it may be more of a gift for the snoring woman than for the husband.
The hot stone massage is well known in the world of wellness for its many benefits on the nerves. The stones relieve nervous tension and leave the individual in an optimal state of relaxation.
Professionals usually have a complete kit at their disposal, but it is possible to treat yourself to your own massage as soon as the need arises thanks to its easy to carry case. The operation of the case is simple: the case is connected by putting the stones in the centre. The stones heat up after a while and are ready to be placed on the skin.
Nowadays, there are many unusual, yet practical and above all effective massage devices that offer a certain well-being to those who use them. For example, you can opt for a head massager.
This is an object that stimulates the scalp and relieves tension in the upper part of the body. It is a gift that a man will appreciate in the evening after a stressful day at work.
There are also other devices that work by tapping and gently massage painful muscle areas. Their shape allows them to reach all parts of the body, even those that are difficult to reach, such as the centre of the back.
The massage objects are quite varied and have a variety of uses. You just have to choose the one that you think will be more useful for the man to whom you intend to offer it. A nomadic mini neck massager, for example, may be suitable for someone who often complains of neck pain.
A massage pillow is a great all-rounder and may be suitable for someone who is on the move a lot.
This gift would be perfect for a man who works a lot and is often under pressure. Give him an anti-stress ball or malleable ball, the texture of which allows him to relax and calm down when handled.
Alternatively, you might consider two Chinese metal stress balls, whose noise, when handled, helps to relieve stress. Some versions have a wooden stand on which you can move the balls to hear the magic noise. It is a wellness gift to be carried everywhere, very effective and timely.
You can give a man a nice box of different massage oils, each one with a specific purpose and soft scent. Most of the sets contain essential oils for the hydration of the skin, for its protection and regeneration.
They are accompanied by relaxing oils to restore serenity. You can also find harmonising oils to help you find inner peace and calm, oils to help you let go, etc.
The different essences are carefully chosen to have a positive impact on the body, organism and mind. It is therefore an original and above all useful gift for health.
Nowadays, oil diffusers make it possible to enjoy the benefits associated with the plants from which the oils are obtained. This gift can be ideal to help a man create a soft and healthy atmosphere in a room where he spends a lot of time.
The oils will help him to relax his muscles and soothe tension.
Like oils, some candles are made with fragrances obtained from plants; they allow you to relax while they burn. Others melt, giving way to a wax which is actually a soft and warm massage essential oil to be applied to the body, leaving a real sensation of well-being.
These candles are therefore assembled in a portable box that makes an original and practical wellness gift.
The benefits of phytotherapy are no longer in doubt. We all know that it is enough to choose the right plants to fight against stress, insomnia, fatigue and many other more complex ailments.
By offering a box containing a rigorous selection of teas and herbal teas, you are giving your man the opportunity to relax naturally. All he has to do is choose the right tea bag and that’s it.
It may seem unusual, but men like to be pampered and enjoy relaxing moments. That’s why a gift set with hundreds of treatments for men is certainly an interesting idea.
When the person you offer it to feels under pressure or tired, he can enjoy back modelling, steam bath, facials, massages, etc.
If your man is a wine lover, he will love this idea. He will be able to try out vinotherapy. This is a treatment carried out using residues from wine-making plants.
He will be able to visit the vineyard, taste the wine, harvest the grapes, understand the different fermentation techniques and, finally, be treated with materials that are beneficial to the skin.
Isn’t this the perfect wellness stay?
Visual communication, photo reports, wildlife photography, aerial photography, art photography, contemporary art, fashion photography, digital images or reflex cameras, the field of photography is very broad.
Whether you are a professional or amateur photographer, all genres are open to you in order to express your creativity through pictures that are each more beautiful than the next.
Press photographer, wedding photographer, photo reporter, retouchers, aerial photographer, culinary photographer, portrait photographer, photojournalist, fashion photographer or others…
The professions of photography are now accessible to all thanks to training to become a professional photographer.
But are you a master of what is considered as the 8th art?
Because making photos or learning photography is also knowing the history of art in order to know everything that was done before.
Contemporary photography, photojournalism, humanist photography, digital photography, film photography, landscape photography or culinary photography, there is something for everyone!
Throughout the history of photography, artistic styles have varied greatly. From the creation of photography at the end of the 19th century, to the publications on Instagram in recent years, photographers have come a long way.
Often wrongly called modern photography by amateur photographers, contemporary photography corresponds to a period defined precisely by dates.
Contemporary photography therefore includes all photographs taken from 1980 to the present day.
Enough to enjoy a large collection.
Sandro Miller, Sabine Pigalle, Thomas Ruff, Terry Richardson, Richard Avedon, many artists photographers have enriched the catalogue.
But it is also important to know that contemporary photography is itself subject to several different currents.
There is notably visual photography.
This current defines photographic works that are more graphic than documentary. In fact, this trend is different from the photos used in the press.
The photos of visual photography are notably recognised as works of art by the Fine Arts.
Other currents are part of contemporary photography such as pictorial photography or the subjective photography of Raymond Depardon. The latter allows the author to give his own view through the photo.
Fashion photography is also part of contemporary photography. This type of photography takes an extremely important place today.
In any case, contemporary photography still has a bright future ahead of it.
A few decades before contemporary photography, modern photography included artists such as Henri Cartier-Bresson or Robert Capa.
But it is above all at this time that humanist photography was born.
In the aftermath of the Second World War, France was devastated.
The finances went bad and everything had to be rebuilt. The horrors of the war left their mark on everyone’s mind and shocked even the smallest children.
Among all this, several photographers decided to capture the simple joys of life.
Thus Robert Doisneau photographed a couple kissing in the street. A photo which then became the symbol, throughout the world, of the very French current of humanist photography.
The favourite subjects are men, children and women in everyday life. Schoolchildren, workers, housewives, everyone is photographed.
The trend gradually gained momentum and other artists joined Doisneau’s style: Izis, Willy Ronis, Edouard Boubat, Henri Cartier-Bresson,…
Many photographers decided to photograph the society of the time.
A photographic style close to war photography and press photography.
It was also at this time that the first photo agency was born: Magnum.
Photographers were then independent and had the opportunity to choose their subjects themselves. Most of the photos were then published in the press in magazines such as Life or Paris-Match.
Even today, many photographers continue to perpetuate humanist photography.
This documentary photography is widely used in the news and the magazine press, but also exhibited in art galleries, for example the works of Steve MCurry.
Another kind of photography: landscape photography.
Landscape photography has always been done. Throughout the history of photography, landscapes have fascinated both professional and amateur photographers.
But what are the best tips to make the most beautiful pictures?
There are several elements to be taken into account in order to take the best pictures.
First of all, it is necessary to choose the right equipment. And choosing the right equipment does not mean buying the best quality and therefore expensive equipment. Above all, you need to know what you need as a photographer.
I personally advise you to use a tripod. This allows you to stabilize the photos and to give effects when using long exposure.
It is also necessary to work on the composition. For this, you need to be able to practice several times to choose the right framing and work on the rule of thirds.
As an amateur photographer, the best advice I’ve heard is: get up early or go to bed late.
Indeed, the lights are much more beautiful at sunrise or sunset. These particular lights give originality to the pictures and make them stand out.
Just like the weather.
In recent years, smartphones have declared war on reflexes and other compact cameras.
They incorporate more and more high-performance cameras and we often wonder whether there are still advantages to shooting with a “real” camera rather than with a mobile phone.
But have smartphones really replaced digital cameras? Do they offer the same quality and accuracy of results?
Most real professionals agree that reflexes still have many years ahead of them.
“But what’s the advantage of investing in a quality camera and learning to take pictures if my smartphone already allows me to take pictures quickly and easily to my satisfaction”, you will tell us.
Quite simply to go further and widen the range of possibilities open to you in terms of photography! Taking a photo course will allow you to discover techniques, vocabulary, satisfaction, legitimacy and inexhaustible possibilities.
Ready to get started? Here’s why learning photography is still essential to master this art.
Photography, like many activities, has a very specific vocabulary. It’s difficult to improvise without knowing the exact terms.
Here are a few terms you should know, which are the basis for learning how to take photos.
This is the element in your camera which will determine the aperture of your field as well as the quantity of light which will be transmitted to the sensor.
The aperture corresponds to the diameter of the lens set with the iris diaphragm. It is used to control the volume of light that will reach the sensor, as well as the depth of field of your photo.
It is a question of defining the element(s) of your plate on which you wish to obtain a more or less precise sharpness. Focusing will allow you, for example, to bring your main subject to the forefront by making it sharp and the background blurred.
This is the length of time your sensor will be exposed to light. Its duration will depend in particular on the brightness and movement of your subject. For example, if you are photographing an element that is in rapid movement, you will need to use a short exposure time so that it is in focus.
This is the sensitivity of your device’s sensor to light. The higher it is, the less light you will need to make your picture. But be careful, even with a high sensitivity, in case of low light you multiply the risks of grain on your photo.
It designates the parasitic elements that disturb the sharpness of the details of a photograph.
This is about the brightness of the shot you are about to take. The desired exposure is obtained by combining the aperture, pause time and sensitivity settings.
It will depend on the brightness of the scene. But you can also play around with the exposure depending on the effect you are looking for.
If you wish to go further in photographic notions to master the basics of this language before starting your courses (lyon photo course), the website ParlonsPhoto.com offers you a complete lexicon of photography.
If today you are thinking of taking a photo when the occasion arises or you find yourself facing an event that deserves to be immortalised, try reversing your point of view!
What if you were to start looking for interesting things to photograph yourself?
It’s not necessarily the occasion that makes the thief, you can provoke the photographic events yourself.
For example, go for a walk with the sole aim of making progress in photography. You will then see the city, the landscapes, the scenes or the people differently. You will be more attentive to what is happening around you and multiply the potential subjects.
What if you decided to go beyond posting your photos on Flickr, 500Px, Facebook, Instagram, Google Plus, etc., and take some time to create your own photographer’s website?
Contrary to what you might think, it is now very simple to create your own photographer’s website without tearing your hair out and without it costing you too much.
Before going any further, in this article we will talk about blogs, portfolios and websites interchangeably. Nowadays, it is useless to consider creating a website without a blog section where you can share your news, the latest shoots, your favourites, etc. And conversely, a blog and a portfolio are technically websites since they are websites presented in a particular form.
Today, you surely have a Flickr account, a Facebook page and an Instagram account on which you share your most beautiful photos with your subscribers.
Why create a website since people already know you on these social networks and it is on these same networks that they come to see your photos?
There are many reasons why it is interesting to create your website NOW, it could be the occasion for another article.
To make a long story short, by creating your website you take control. You take control of your content. You take control of your identity and style (instead of being just another page among many, with the same sanitized style). You are no longer dependent on a social network like Facebook where it is increasingly difficult to stand out from the crowd. With your website, you are professionalizing yourself and showing a facet of yourself as an active photographer.
By creating your website, you will also improve various skills: writing, storytelling, photo layout, and many other important skills in our ever-changing world.
Instead of investing time (and a little money) on a social network profile that you don’t own, you will be able to capitalise on your website and your audience. Yes, the people who visit your website are your audience, not [insert name of the social network you use].
But when you create your website, you should not stop communicating on social networks to put everything on your website and wait for people to come and see your pictures. No, creating your website should be a way for you to create a photographic ‘hub’ where your readers can discover your work in depth and learn more about you, your story, your photos, your passion for photography and your achievements (if you are a professional photographer).
A website or blog is also a good way to get your photos out of your hard drives and “expose” them, a bit like a virtual exhibition. Here, no prints, no frames hanging on the walls, but you show your photos to the world, it’s even better! This makes it a good alternative to photo printing, although we do recommend that you print your photos.
Finally, by creating your website or blog you will inevitably meet new people, online, but also in real life, because there is still a beautiful community of bloggers and photographers who appreciate helping each other. By the way, if you publish an article that could be of interest to Phototrend readers, send us a message.
Today there are many solutions for creating a website. Some are free, others require payment, others work on the basis of a monthly subscription. To create your blog or portfolio, we recommend using the WordPress blog engine.
WordPress is probably the most popular blog engine in the world. In November 2015, a study by W3Techs indicated that 25% of the world’s websites are powered by WordPress. Open source and free, WordPress benefits from numerous themes and plug-ins that allow you to create a blog in your own image without touching a line of code.
WordPress is installed on a server, but also works directly by creating an account on WordPress.com. Unfortunately, the services offered by WordPress.com are for the moment quite reduced compared to what WordPress offers when it is installed on a server, and you are moreover dependent on WordPress.com.
Now that you have understood the benefits of creating your website, here are the 6 steps you need to follow to get you up and running.
Enough statistics and observations for today. Let’s instead talk about what brands can do to maximize the benefits of their marketing strategy on Instagram.
Facebook’s reach and sharing capabilities make it an ever-useful network for marketers, so don’t give up on this channel entirely. Facebook is a great place to post great content and brand news. And paid advertising is more effective there than on Instagram. But if you’re looking to build your brand reputation and build relationships with your clients, Instagram is better.
Put in more visual content. If visuals perform much better than text alone on either network, on Instagram they are absolutely necessary. Facebook is more lenient with text-based publications (blog posts, very long statuses, etc.); on Instagram, your publications must look good if you want to get good results.
Again, publishing or sharing third-party content is perfectly acceptable on Facebook. But on Instagram, everyone assumes that you are the creator of the content you publish. Instagram is not really about sharing the work of others, so invest in creating quality content.
Use hashtags. You can’t target a particular user group on Instagram, but hashtags still allow you to get as close to them as possible. List all the hashtags that are relevant to maximise the visibility of your publications. You can put up to 30 hashtags in the description of each publication, and you can add more hashtags as comments.
Contests are a great way to engage your audience. So don’t hesitate to start a photo contest on Instagram. Having users promote your brand in their photos is simply free advertising. Don’t forget to associate a hashtag to your campaign. You can also participate in other major trends, such as the #lemondancechallenge below.
Targeting a specific and specialized audience is one of the major trends on Instagram (another reason why hashtags are so important). Choose a theme and stick to it. If you are in the tourism industry, publish travel photos only. If you’re in the restaurant business, post photos of dishes. The more you specialise, the better (as long as there is an audience, of course).
Optimize your biography and description. These are the only places where you can talk about yourself, so your bio and description are vital. In addition to your website address, add your slogan and a short sales pitch and of course hashtags. Don’t be afraid to use your logo as a profile picture either.
What better way to celebrate the New Year than with a photo calendar? It will be an opportunity to make a gift to your loved ones or to yourself.
But for best results, make sure you choose the right photos for your photo calendar.
Before you choose your photos, you should first decide who you want to use the calendar for. Who do you want it for? A friend, your parents or yourself.
Because depending on who you want to send it to, the photos you choose will not be the same. So you’ll need to personalise your photo calendar for that person.
Heaps of photos of their grandchildren for grandparents; photos of memorable parties for your best friend; photos of your family’s big and small events, if this photo calendar is for you. In short, you will adapt the photos you choose to the recipient.
The calendar is of course the opportunity to showcase the most beautiful portrait photos of your loved ones. To illustrate the month of their birthday, choose the photo of the members of your family to be honoured.
To liven up each of the 12 months of the year, remember to alternate individual, family and children’s portraits. Don’t forget to include a few offbeat portraits of your pets.
For an even more professional result, you can also choose a theme for all your photos: all in red or sportswear. In short, it’s up to you to be creative!
Turn a room in your home sweet home into a photo studio. You can ask a friend to come and shoot the whole family in the decor and theme you have chosen.
Creating a calendar is also an opportunity to recycle your holiday photos. At the height of winter and in the dreariness of winter, it will be a real pleasure to immerse yourself in the landscapes and holiday atmosphere.
So mix up your travel photos: some monuments, some superb landscapes, some street scenes… Don’t hesitate to also use the photos taken during the few short, long weekends that you’ve allowed yourself.
When choosing your photos, remember to match them to the month they illustrate.
Play with the seasons when choosing your photos. For the winter months, choose photos taken under the snow, and for the summer months, photos of the seaside. In short, match your photos to the month they illustrate.
Looking for new adventures? The Road Trip will seduce lovers of travel and discovery. The regulars of this activity practice it on foot, by bike or by car. From time to time, they take long breaks to fully appreciate the beauty of the landscape. During this break, you take your camera out of your backpack. It is then time to immortalize this moment forever before getting there, it is first of all necessary to prepare in advance. To leave with peace of mind, you get the right equipment and accessories.
In terms of traveling, taking pictures is very important to make a small souvenir during the big moment. To perfect the trip, you need the right equipment. As far as photography is concerned, tools and equipment must be adapted to the events or things you would like to take. So as not to weigh you down during the discovery, here are the lists of the indispensable photo elements you need to have. Namely: the photo bag that allows you to carry the equipment comfortably. Then, the batteries, the cases as a spare in case the other one doesn’t work anymore. Don’t forget to bring the different lenses. You can find more tips on My Social Book.
In general, it turns out that amateur photographers neglect certain elements when it comes to travel photography. However, there are several accessories that are not to be unlearned, or even indispensable, such as external flashes, tripods, filters, memory cards, etc. In order to find the right travel accessories for photographic equipment, certain parameters must be taken into account. Look for bags with multiple compartments for easy access to your camera. Indeed, the choice is an investment that will have a direct impact on your comfort and even the handling of the camera. A good photographer knows how to adapt to the location, no matter how difficult it is.
Doing a Road Trip seduces the majority of people who like to discover nature. A destination several kilometres away, the choice of equipment to be carried must meet the required standards. A total freedom, it is preferable to carry all the necessary elements during the trip. Therefore, the choice of the bag is extremely important. You should go for bags that are clearly comfortable, modular, with several compartments to easily store your belongings and also bags with a rain cover or resistant. A multitude of alternatives will therefore be available on the market. Moreover, the choice of the bag must be coherent according to your means of transport to avoid any kind of clutter or discomfort.
As tourists are tired of visiting European and American countries, they want to see unique places with extraordinary places and cultures. Apart from African countries that have exceptional flora and fauna, Arab countries are also among the favorite places for foreign tourists. If you are looking for a place for your next vacation, you can choose the Arab countries. Specifically, you can choose one of the countries that attracts tourists, which is Jordan. By visiting this beautiful place, you will surely have an incredible time discovering the hospitality of the local population and its historical heritage.
Once you are in the capital of Jordan in Amman, you will marvel at the ancient theatre of Amman, a magnificent world-renowned historical site. It is one of the most famous historical heritages in the city of Amman. This theater was built between the years 138 and 161 by a famous emperor, Antoninus the Pious. If you want to enrich the information about this beautiful place, it is best that you visit it yourself. One of the reasons why you will want to visit the ancient theatre of Amman is that it has a splendid view of the opposite hill where the citadel is located.
During your trip to Jordan, if you are looking for a castle, you will be satisfied, this Middle Eastern country has several magnificent castles that you will not find anywhere else. Quseir Amra is one of the most famous castles in Jordan. It was once a resting place for the Caliph. But nowadays, the castle has become one of Jordan’s famous historical sites. In the literal sense, Quseir Amra is not a castle, but a big house in the middle of nowhere, with a splendid decoration. However, while traveling to Jordan, you will encounter unique and original historical sites like Quseir Amra and many others. Here goes your journey to create a unique social media photo album.
Apart from the beauty of the city or country to be visited, the essential element that will attract tourists to visit a place or location focuses on the character of the people. Even if the place is beautiful, but the local population is not sociable, tourists will not visit these places at all. For the country, Jordan, as it has several famous historical sites that set it apart from other Arab countries, you will be well informed about these historical sites because the local population is generous and sociable.
A beautiful picture of white cube houses, a beautiful blue sea and winding cobblestone streets so much seen and seen on TV and you know you have to see it in person. The beautiful beaches are certainly the success of the Greek islands summer holidays. Among the 227 inhabited islands of Greece, which one do you choose? The 3 best Greek islands listed below will help you know where to go in Greece.
If you want, travel to the Greek islands, Santorini is a wonderful portal for her. It is probably the most spectacular island of the Greek. It is a volcanic island. Today the volcano is completely inactive, however there are still some volcanic craters on the island. This makes the visit even more interesting. A spectacle that attracts millions of tourists is the cliffs that protrude into the sea. The island is also known for its picturesque villages decorated with small colourful houses. Don’t leave without making a detour to the ancient ruins of Santorini. The beaches are mainly the idyllic tourist attraction of Santorini. You can then create your own social media photo album that will impress everybody. It really is an ideal holiday destination.
Corfu is located in the northwest of Greece. The city is known as Corfu (or peaks) because of its twin hills dominated by a massive fortress. In addition to having beautiful beaches backed by a sandy slope of dunes, Corfu is also a good place to practice wind water sports. Unlike other beaches in Greece, the Greek summer offers a relaxed and lively scene. Ideal for water sports enthusiasts. Beautiful bathing suits, colourful sarongs, tanned bodies and smiling faces. Greece’s beaches always exude a positive atmosphere and contagious vitality, thanks to the young people from all over the world. In addition, Corfu is full of majestic architecture that is a must-see.
Crete is the largest urban centre of the Greek islands. It has superb archaeological sites such as the Minoan palaces as well as natural wonders such as the Samaria gorge, the Balos lagoon and Elafonisi. The island has beautiful beaches, which is a delight for all beach lovers. Cretan beaches can have that little something that distinguishes them from the others. Crete is a great day trip destination, whether you decide to explore a nearby island or the picturesque interior dotted with postcard-worthy villages and natural areas. The CretAquarium is simply a fun and entertaining activity not to be missed by the whole family. The food in Greece is generally good, and Crete is a destination of choice for food lovers. On this island you will discover that Cretan food is as varied and delicious as candy, salty dishes and drinks.
Photography is an art. However, in order to take successful pictures, it is essential to have a quality camera. Indeed, it remains the basis of all successful photography. You may wonder which brand to choose, given the many models on the market. Discover in this article the brands that certainly meet your needs.
If there are brands that have long held the top spot in terms of cameras it is Canon and Nikon. Moreover, these are very popular with professional photographers. If you are looking for reliable and quality cameras, you will have no regrets to rely on Canon and Nikon. Moreover, they offer a wide range of products. This will allow you to have in your possession different lenses, the appropriate bags or even the adapted tripods to optimize the quality of your images. In short, it will be possible for you to acquire all the accessories you need for your photos by turning to these best camera brands that are Canon and Nikon. Not to mention that they are experienced, ensuring you products that are constantly evolving.
Ever heard of the Sony brand? Based in Tokyo, it is a multinational company specialising in various fields such as telephony and IT. One of its specialties is also photography. Sony has a number of references on the market for high-quality cameras. This is one of the reasons why it currently sees itself as a leading camera manufacturer. In concrete terms, Sony is developing different camera ranges to enable everyone to find the model that suits them best. You can opt for the RX, a compact and bridge camera. The Alpha reflex camera is also an excellent choice. To make sure you don’t make a mistake when buying your camera, don’t hesitate to ask for advice from a connoisseur.
The Japanese brand Fujifilm specializes entirely in the manufacture of photographic equipment. This specialization allows it to develop quality products, thanks in part to its dedication to this field. Moreover, choosing Fujifilm cameras means having a wide choice. From instant cameras to FinePix cameras to hybrid models, there’s a wide range to choose from. In short, this is the most competitive offering from this renowned brand.