Author: plusroi

Last month, Paradise Photography (located in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos) offered resort guests staying at The Sands at Grace Bay some great tips for taking spectacular photos during their Turks & Caicos vacation. This is part 2 of their helpful “photography tips for vacationers” series (checkout more photo-taking tips here: http://thesandstc.flywheelstaging.com/blog/tips-taking-spectacular-photos-turks-caicos-vacation/):

1.   Tell a Story: Photography is about storytelling.  So, tell your story and make it a memorable one.  The stronger the story, the longer it will last in your viewer’s mind.  Here we have a story of a little girl in flight.  Will she make it or will she not?  Dad is confident.  Mom and brother are left wondering.  How do you think the story ends?

2. Be Creative with your Surroundings:  One of a photographer’s greatest challenges is to consistently create images that are fresh and unique.   Some people think that creativity cannot be taught.  However, some of us disagree.  One method to stimulate your artistic juices is to use your surroundings and objects in your surroundings to create the composition.  For example, the following image demonstrates how a leopard skin lampshade, a matching pillow, a window for lighting, and a motivated bride with bouquet can all come together to create a one-of-a-kind portrait.

3. Embrace the Wind:   Wind can be your enemy or you best friend if you know how to harness it.  Studio photographers go to great lengths to create artificial wind.  Here in the tropics we have all the natural wind we need to create unique images.  Learn how to use the wind by turning your subject in the optimal direction to capture images that are dynamic and full of life.  For instance, cathedral veils and poofy dresses are great props to use when there is a stiff breeze.  So let them flow, and use them to create leading lines and powerful compositions.

4. Create Amazing Panoramics by Stitching:  Creating panoramic images from multiple overlapping images has become fairly simple with the advent of high tech camera equipment and advanced stitching software.  The important things to remember in using this technique are:

1. Keep your camera level as you rotated from image to image.
2. Hold your camera steady or use a tripod.
3. Overlap each image.
4. Capture each image with the same camera settings.
5. Don’t make the final panoramic too long.  A length to width ratio of 4:1 or less is ideal.

Paradise Photography is a full service boutique photography company located in Providenciales that offers a variety of different photography, videography and portrait package options for those visiting the Turks & Caicos Islands. The Master and Certified Professional Photographers offer a variety of custom photography services including weddings, creative family or couple portrait sessions, events, and more. For more information, visit www.MyParadisePhoto.com or call 202-494-0639.

The Sands at Grace Bay has partnered with several exceptional local vendors to offer a Babymoon get-away package featuring special inclusions to help expecting couples relax and cherish quality time together in Turks & Caicos. To make your “pre-baby” trip memorable, The Sands at Grace Bay’s Babymoon package boasts a professional one-hour couples photoshoot, an in-room pre-natal pilates & yoga class “for two”, a babymoon spa package for the “mom-to-be”, and a $25 restaurant gift certificate. In addition to a ten percent room rate discount, expectant couples will enjoy a “Babymoon Essentials” gift basket and pre-stocked “baby cravings snacks” in their room upon arrival.

The 2014 Babymoon vacation package rates start from $1,690 for a three-night minimum stay at The Sands at Grace Bay, based on double occupancy, and the rate includes all of the following:

• A 10 percent discount off a 3-night minimum resort stay, including resort taxes & fees (not combinable with other offers).
• A professional couples portrait session offered by Paradise Photography that includes a one-hour photoshoot (shot on-site at the resort) and a $50 credit when ordering photos.
• One in-room Pre-natal Pilates & Yoga class offered by Studio 90 Degrees, consisting of a private 60-minute exercise session for “two” to help stretch, strengthen and tone the muscles used to carry a growing baby as well as reduce pregnancy back and hip pain.
• A “Pickles & Ice cream” Babymoon spa package offered by Spa Tropique includes one Fabulous Facial, Spa Manicure and Full Scalp Massage for the “mom-to-be.”
• A $25 gift certificate to the island’s beachfront Hemingway’s Restaurant & Bar, is ideal for celebratory cocktails for the dad and non-alcoholic mocktails for the mom “to-be.”
• A “Babymoon Essentials” Gift Basket includes a celebratory cigar for dad, a bottle of sparkling cider, and a baby’s first rattle gift.
• The following four “Baby-Cravings” snacks will be pre-stocked in the couples kitchen prior to their arrival: Ice cream, cranberry juice, pretzels and pickles.

Guests can book the resort’s 2014 Babymoon Package by calling toll-free from the U.S. (877) 777-2637; from Canada (800) 567-5327; or contacting a travel agent for reservations.

For more Babymoon Package details, visit: http://thesandstc.flywheelstaging.com/rates-and-reservations/packages/

Paradise Photography here in Providenciales, Turks & Caicos has offered resort guests staying at The Sands at Grace Bay the following tips for taking terrific and memorable photos during your Turks & Caicos vacation:

Tip 1: Subject Placement:

Placing your subject directly in the center of the image often produces a weak composition.  An image with strong composition will take the viewer on a journey throughout the image.  By placing your subject off center, the rest of the composition is available to highlight the secondary elements that help support the main subject. Capture more of the beautiful lush gardens, beaches, sunsets, and tropical scenery that Turks & Caicos offers by posing people “off-center.”

Tip 2: Twilight, the Other Sweet Light:

Sunset is the usual favored time of day to take photographs in the tropics.  However, it is also a very challenging time to balance your lighting and get great shots because of the high contrast conditions.  Alternatively, twilight, which is the 20-minute period after the sun has set and before the sky turns completely dark, is a more forgiving and potentially more dramatic time to take photos. It is also easier to record the ambient light from artificially lit objects like buildings and foliage that also create a “pop” of contrast and color in your image background. The Sands’ lit poolside area offers a romantic setting for couples to take amazing twilight shots.

Tip 3:  Leading Lines:

Leading lines are elements in a scene that can help to create a powerful  composition because they force the viewer to move throughout the image.  By placing your subject directly in the center of the frame without leading lines, your viewer will tend to start and stop directly in the center of the image, and the rest of the composition will essentially be wasted space. Try capturing the footsteps in the sand that lead to the subjects in your photo, for this “leading line” effect during your Turks & Caicos trip.

Tip 4:  Child Portraiture:

Taking photos of children on the beach can be challenging for a number of reasons.  Most notable is the fact that the child is often free to run and play.  This type of shooting condition makes it difficult for the photographer to control his or her subject.  By having the child play with a heavy or semi-fixed object like a toy, build a sand castle, or, in the case of the image below, a large piece of sheer fabric, the child is forced to stay in a small isolated shooting area. The pristine white-sand of Grace Bay Beach and the turquoise waters beyond, offers a stunning backdrop to any child portrait.

Paradise Photography is a full service boutique photography company located in Providenciales that offers a variety of different photography, videography and portrait package options for those visiting the Turks & Caicos Islands. The Master and Certified Professional Photographers offer a variety of custom photography services including weddings, creative family or couple portrait sessions, events, and more. For more information, visit www.MyParadisePhoto.com or call 202-494-0639.

Hemingway’s Restaurant & Bar Named “Best In Show” For Serving Up The Tastiest Conch Dishes at The 10th Annual Turks & Caicos Conch Festival!

On November 30^th, the 10^th Annual Conch Festival and Food Competition took place in Blue Hills, Providenciales. For this annual cooking “conch-etition” – the island’s best chefs from over 25 restaurants served up their tastiest conch dishes to compete in the following categories: Best Conch Salad, Best Conch Chowder, Best Specialty Conch and Best in Show. The creative conch dishes were then judged by a panel of experts as well as Festival attendees.

Our very own Hemingway’s Restaurant & Bar took home the biggest award of the competition – and was named “Best in Show” and the Festival’s Grand Champion for cooking up its delicious and popular Conch Empanadas.  

Hemingway’s also took the 1^st place title for the festival’s Annual Mojito Competition sponsored by Bacardi, where the island’s best bartenders competed by displaying their creative twists on this classic Cuban cocktail.

And finally, Hemingway’s was the 2^nd place winner of the Festival’s “Best Conch Chowder” category.

For more information on the island’s legendary Hemingway’s Restaurant & Bar, including a downloadable menu with the restaurant’s award-winning conch dishes, visit the following site: http://thesandstc.flywheelstaging.com/the-resort/dining/