Me and my best friend, Naomi Sigsworth, came up with five questions to ask each other based on fashion and beauty, as this is something we are both passionate about.
Apologies for the ending to the video but material towards the end wasn’t useable due to the camera losing focus.
Landscape photography is a very common style of photography with it being used in news and across social media platforms such as Instagram.
The most important element to remember in terms of this type of photography is location, when choosing a location its important to see where your different view points are going to be. This therefore allows you to capture a more interesting image.
Another important things to remember is weather, now you would probably expect me to say choose good weather well actually it doesn’t actually matter. If you take an image on a gloomy day it just means that the image with have a different atmosphere as opposed to a bright sunny day.
This applies to all photography but take as many images as possible, as then you can narrow it down to the best one it supplies you with much more options than if you only take a single image.
Now, if you have a plan in terms of the shoot I would advise not to stick to it as it allows you experiment and you might capture something that you would have even considered possible.
Another tip is to experiment as much as you possibly can whether it be different filters, lens, or photoshop you can achieve more interesting images by doing so and it will help you develop you skills even further.
Now when it comes to fashion I believe that the key to any outfit is to match colours for a start, like its a must!
I would describe my everyday style as minimalistic and casual.
Firstly, there’s fashion icon Kim Kardashian who is known for her outstanding looks and her amazing style.
More recently, she has being seen wearing very minimalistic looks that are always show stopping pieces that show off her amazing figure perfectly. If I plan on dressing up a bit more and can’t decide what to pair my skirt with I will look at what tones and style tops she would possibly pair it with.
Cara Delevingne is another fashion icon loved by millions not only for her amazing looks, modelling career but for her variety of talents as well as a bubbly personality. She is always flawless in everything she wears, so I try to see how you matches different prints and colours for when I want to mix up my look.
Rihanna known for her music, but also for her beauty line Fenty doesn’t test on animals. Not only is she inspiring for multiple different reasons such as promoting equality for all etc. She has impeccable taste in fashion although some of her looks are not what I would wear she owns everything she wears. She looks amazing in everything she wears, one of my favourite looks is the red dress she wore to the Grammy Awards.
YouTube star Jess Conte, who I mostly know from her Youtube channel she and her husband Gabriel Conte own, she has a fantastic sense of style. I always love everything she wears, with her ability to make any outfit pop with her simplistic yet stunning accessories. I follow her on Instagram and watch her haul videos, as her sense of style is very similar to mine own.
Another Youtuber I follow is Franny Arrieta, she is well known for makeup tutorials but also for her fashion sense. She is often captured wearing very stylish yet simplistic looks, that are perfect for everyday attire. She is also captured wearing vans which is a very slick and comfortable form of footwear.
These are the people I tend to take inspiration from when considering my own looks.
They are all very successful and empowering women, who are inspiring in their own rights and happen to look incredible whilst doing so.
I hate exams, in fact every time the word is even mentioned I get extremely nervous. But I found some little ways of helping myself not only during the exam period but leading up to it.
Now, first things first I know you have probably heard this advice before, but it is the best one going. Revise months before your exams! This will give your brain enough time to absorb the information and you can still go out and do the things you love. However, I do advise that the closer you get to exams to start revising more frequently but with little breaks, of course.
Now during secondary school and college flashcards were a god send! I would sit for hours practicing making sure I wouldn’t get stumped on a question due to me not knowing the meaning of a word. Make a list of the words you struggle to remember the meaning of and get practicing because you will feel much more confident going into your exam. Not sure? Well give it a try and ask a friend or a family member to test you, this not only tests you to see if you know the information but will add a little bit of pressure which is great practise.
Bright bold and colourful! Makes everything much more interesting getting board of reading the same black and white note add a splash of colour it will grab your attention, making you want to read the information highlighted.
Do as many practise questions as possible and ask a teacher to mark them, now I know you don’t like doing them, but the truth is no one does but it is extremely helpful in terms of exam practise. By doing this you get used to writing in exam style and time which is what makes them such a great preparation tool for all exams.
Be sure to stay hydrated, this is extremely important as it helps you concentrate which achieves better results. This is important for everyone at all times, however during exam season its important that you do this as you feel much better going into the exam hall.
I would also advise that after your exams you do not look back at your notes, as if you have missed some information then you cause unnecessary stress as there is no longer anything you can do to change the end result.
During college and to this day I still look at other photographers work to see the different techniques and interpretations a single image can have.
Here is just a few of my favourite:
Firstly, there is Dan Mountford who uses double exposure to create some of the most amazing images you have probably ever seen. His images can be replicated post production, with the use of Photoshop you can simply over lap two images. However, he originally had to use film meaning a lot of trial and error. With digital technology now at our disposal it means we can cut out some of the time spent on perfecting these effects on our images.
Andreas Lie is another photographer who creates similar images, he is mostly known for the use of nature within his images. He uses the natural form of an animal and manipulates the image to make their natural geographical location appear as part of that animal showing that all nature has a home.
Dreya Qasem is an artist known for her portraits and figurative art, as a college student I found the way she was able to show emotion through her work fascinating.
In one of her drawings she used a females facial structure and overlapped it with a building and fluttering birds, an image now many mat see everyday yet not think anything else of, she used tones to create contrast and build emphasis upon the subjects facial features. Displaying the divide between man made and nature.
I was inspired by these artists to go out of my comfort zone and create images of my own using their techniques. Allowing me to create images with depth and add a spin of my own, whilst using the tools available to me.
When it comes to natural photography I always refer to the formal elements which are:
Ansel Adams uses some of these techniques within his work, for example if he’s taking a picture of a river he will use the natural outline of the river to guide the human eye to an object. He also be known to use a bed of water to reflect the surrounding landscape creating a balance effect making the image more appealing to the human eye.
Carolyn Meltzer specialises in nature imagery and many pieces of her art have been displayed in venues such as the Rose Squared Gallery.
She has one image that I have always found interesting and innocent. Its a very simple yet effective image, of a leaf surrounded by negative space by doing this she has made the leaf the focal point of the image emphasising it’s finest detail.
I have tried many times to try and perfect her technique yet have never found the perfect balance in tone, the image shown below is the closest I have achieved.
As I develop my skills further as a photographer I hope to discover more artists who inspire me as those listed above have, by making me see things from a different point of view and using different techniques to create an intriguing image.
I had seen The blushed nudes palette advertised on TV and questioned buying it, but only because finding one I actually liked and suited was a bit of a challenge.
Although from what I had heard, online and from friends, this palette was perfect for those who love the more natural tones which got me really excited to buy it, as I like the more subtle make up looks.
This was the first eye shadow palette I had bought and I was really impressed with the pigmentation, the application was very easy and produced little to no fall out.
It’s also perfect for those who love a little sparkle as many of the eye shadows have flecks of glitter, perfect way to transition into a night time look using the darker, more shimmery colours.
On the back of the palette they do give you their recommendations for what colours to pair together, therefore perfect for your first eye shadow palette as you can us their guide.
When I bought the palette it was £12 and has lasted a long time as I use as part of my everyday make up routine. I would highly recommend this palette as it is pigmented and can be used in both day and night time looks
This Palette is available from well known stores such as Superdrug and Boots.
Christmas time is right around the corner, so it’s important to make sure you have a clear idea of what you need.
Now many including myself find the task of finding gifts for loved ones challenging especially if your on a student budget.
To me Christmas gifts should be personal and from the heart, however this isn’t the easiest thing to achieve. Now there are sites such as not on the high street however price wise it can be affordable if you are only getting a few gifts but it can be expensive for those on an extremely tight budget.
Now when it comes to family no one knows them better than you, so I would look for something you know they would benefit from. For example say you know your mam stresses a lot you could opt for a luxury spa set filled with bath crystals etc.
Here is a few suggestions for family members:
For the women of the house I would recommend buying a bath set, as it will help them relax after a busy Christmas day, or something decorative for the house. You could even opt for Christmas themed gifts such as a candy cane candle or eye shadow palettes.
The men of the family don’t have to be difficult to buy for, as there is many different options such as grooming sets, aftershave or even the video game they have been looking at, the options are endless!
Now when it comes to gifts for friends, I would suggest paying close attention to their interests. For example, say they are a huge fan of a particular tv show or film, or poster or mug displaying it would be a dream. HMV would be the ideal place to look for these themed gifts. Bath sets, necklaces, bracelets even some indulgent chocolate could light up their faces this Christmas.
Once you have bought the gifts you believe the people in your life will enjoy don’t forget to add your own personal touch, after all Christmas is the time for joy and cheer.
It is important to have the Christmas essentials such as the pyjamas, jumpers, hot chocolate and of course the endless array of Christmas movies. Which can mostly be found in your local Primark for a bargain!
However, if you aren’t going home for Christmas this year or simply can’t resist buying Christmas decorations here is a list of thing you will need:
Now many of these can be bought for pound land, or Primark, but I would recommend shopping around before you rush in and buy things as it could end up saving you a fair amount of money. Which as a student I live by.
Now get started and begin ticking things of your list as there isn’t much longer to wait!
According to Countryfile, the best places in the UK for landscape photography are as follows:
Based on places I have visited personally and really enjoyed taking photos of, this is a few places I suggest those interested in photography visit.
In August of this year, me and my family travelled to Wales for a family holiday. Whilst we were there we visited many popular attractions such as Portmeirion which is where the Prisoner series was filmed.
Portmeirion features timeless Italian styled buildings with bright bold colours, displaying natural beauty alongside. The perfect balance of human architecture and natural beauty. The views were absolutely stunning, as well as the architecture they had taken every aspect into account. I recommend that you pay a visit at some point in your life time. It was like visiting a royal estate, the attention to detail was remarkable.
By visiting here it gave me the chance to take practice my photographic knowledge and take in my surroundings from a different perspective.
The images shown in above where taken at Portmeirion, I tried to capture the bright and bold architecture as well as the natural beauty surrounding it. I used the lines of the buildings to frame the image, making it more pleasant to the human eye.
The image of the hotel by the water, I also used the curvature of the bay to highlight the beauty of the hidden building. I also captured the lighthouse which is a nice little feature in the image.
We also visited a Caernarfon castle, allowing me to learn about the history behind it by walking throughout. The castle was in fairly good condition considering how long its been there, it was built during the reign King Edward I.
If you do plan on visiting either of these tourist attractions, I do suggest that you wear comfortable clothing as they are quite large places and it requires a lot of walking.
Want to take the perfect seaside images, then I suggest paying a visit to Saltburn. A small seaside town that is popular all year round and can provide photographers with a number of different outtakes.
It’s a beautiful seaside town, perfect for anyone who wants to escape to a peaceful place to relax, or want to go to the beach for a family holiday. There are amusements on the pier if it gets too cold, supplying entertainment for all ages. It’s also a photographers dream in terms of nature and perspectives.
Although, I haven’t found many places I would recommend to my fellow photographers. These are the ones I suggest to take into consideration, as there is something for everyone no matter your preferences.
According to Countryfile, the best places in the UK for landscape photography are as follows:
Autumn and winter and the most warm and cosy times of the year. Whether your sat by the fire, watching tv or busy doing work its always important to stay warm and to of course look fabulous whilst doing it.
According to whowhatwear, red is expected to appear as the dominant colour for this season with many items on the catwalk displaying many different shades of the colour. Slogan t-shirts have been seen every where across the high street clothing stores such as New Look and Topshop.
Have you found that over the years hand bags have shrunk in size and you are running out of space, well this is great news for you large over sized bags are making a come back. In many different styles from metallic to leather no matter your taste there is going to be something for everyone.
Many shoes we see in historical style films are making an appearance in everyday fashion with the over sized jewels being the star of the show on the front of the shoes. These are expected to become the demand to everyone’s wardrobe, to give them that wow factor piece.
I however, have a different sense of style. I will be wearing many different shades of red during this autumn season, and be taking advantage of the spacious bags I do tend to go for a more subtle style of shoe. Styling most of outfits around my converse and plain black and khaki coloured boots.
A personal all-time, year-round favourite of mine are my black skinny jeans which can be paired with anything and keep your legs warm as the temperatures begin to fall.
I love to wear reds and purples mostly during autumn and winter as they match my skin tone, however I do love oranges and yellows on many different people. I wish I could pull of yellows and its such a bright and happy colour.
Another item in which I honestly couldn’t live without are my converse, they are black and white meaning I can wear practically anything with them. In my opinion they are the comfiest everyday shoes I have ever found.
Oversized jumper’s such as my All Time Low one which I bought from the Grindstore, an online shop that sells a range of band merch etc, I simply pair this with some black jeans (of course) and some khaki heeled boots and my khaki coat. Not only is it super warm and cosy, they look good. The best part is that oversized jumpers can be paired with practically anything, there is always one that matches your style.
In the UK winter and autumn time means it gets very cold, very quickly. However, there is always a few days that are warmer than expected. During these few days I will wear a skirt with some tights and a plum purple long sleeved top paired with a leather jacket and some black heeled boots.
I also love long legged boots with leg warmers as this helps keep your legs warm, whilst giving you a modern style to your boots. Thick coats and scarfs are an essential, if you are anything like me and my friends. That why I would recommend always having one winter coat ready to go at all times, they can easily be picked up from shops such as Primark and New Look and at a much more student friendly price.
I also love wearing warm colours of eye shadow such as pinks and browns, from my ‘The blushed nudes’ pallet by Maybelline, with a darker coloured lip stick, such as my BarryM matte lipstick in the shade heartbreaker, as I believe its a perfect representation of the season.
For all the students either planning to go to university or currently in the first year of their studies. University will be the best few years of your life but it also will come with stress.
But fear not I have some advice that I have used to minimise the stress during my first year.
The most important thing I found is budgeting yourself, which is extremely important in order to keep up with rent and being able to afford food.
I would recommend taking a note of the money going out and coming in, by doing this you can then work out a budget.
It also doesn’t hurt to save a little as it will help support yourself in the years to come.
I would also get a part- time job, as it will help provide a little extra income and provide you with skills that you can apply to any job.
I would also recommend that you buy a weekly planner which can be found in a range of different stores such as B&M. They can be extremely useful in terms of organisation, whether its keeping track of you shopping or general tasks.
Make use of your calendar on your phone and add in any important events that must not be forgotten, by doing so you don’t have to spend money on a calendar and this one can go with you where ever you go.
Stationary is extremely important for note taking and revision so I recommend investing in some notebooks and notepads, it’s also important to make sure to have plenty of pens and pencils.
Now I know that the last tip many seem fairly obvious but many students actually forgot this step!
For the courses that have exams upon exams, I would create a revision timetable this way you can break up your revision into reasonable sized chunks to make it seem less daunting.
Now being a student does have its perks as your entitled to student discount!
I found although there are many different free apps available that give discounts at selected stores such as Unidays, having the NUS card is still useful as it provides discounts on a range of things and can be used for up to 3 years without renewal.
However, the NUS card is not free and can only be used in selected stores.Student events are held not only at the university’s student union but often in bars and nightclubs in the surrounding area.
By paying close attention to the reviews of the venue on their Facebook page you will soon find out if it’s a waste of money going or if it will be a good night out!
I would also recommend having a Halloween costume and Christmas jumper ready to go as many events are held around these times of the year.
I spoke to Naomi Sigsworth and Reema Rabheru, two student at Newcastle University about any tips they picked up from first year having moved away from home.
Naomi said ‘budgeting is very important make sure to set aside the money you need for rent before arranging how much you spend on everything else, because rent is the most important.
‘I would also make sure to remember not to worry if you don’t get on with your flat mates as you’re bound to make friends on your course or otherwise. I would also suggest that you don’t go home every weekend, if you do you will get used to it and feel homesick more often.
I didn’t go home for 3 weeks after starting uni without going home so I could get used to it. But if you feel like you need to go home then do, especially if you are ill even for a few days as there is nothing worse than not being home and being ill’
Reema added ‘when you get to your accommodation I would hang pictures up and make it feel really cosy and homely. Also most people you meet in fresher’s you won’t stay friends with so don’t feel like your stuck with certain people until you leave uni.’
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