Kentucky, KY
The
Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in
the East Central United States of America.
Kentucky is normally included in the group of
Southern states (in particular the Upland
South), but it is sometimes included,
geographically and culturally, in the Midwest.
Kentucky is one of four U.S. states to be
officially known as a commonwealth. Originally a
part of Virginia, in 1792 it became the 15th
state to join the Union. Kentucky is the 37th
largest state in terms of land area, and ranks
26th in population.
Kentucky is known as the "Bluegrass State," a
nickname based on the fact that bluegrass is
present in many of the lawns and pastures
throughout the state.
It
is a land with diverse environments and abundant
resources, including the world's longest cave
system, the most miles of navigable waterways
and streams in the Lower 48 states, and the two
largest man-made lakes east of the Mississippi
River.
It
is also home to the highest per capita number of
deer and turkey in the United States, and the
nation's most productive coalfield.
Kentucky is also known for thoroughbred horses,
horse racing, bourbon distilleries, bluegrass
music, automobile manufacturing (including the
best selling car, truck, and SUV in the U.S.
market), tobacco, and college basketball.
Origin of name
The
origin of Kentucky's name (variously spelled
Cane-tuck-ee, Cantucky, Kain-tuck-ee, and
Kentuckee before its modern spelling was
accepted) has never been definitively
identified, though some theories have been
debunked.
For
example, Kentucky's name does not come from the
combination of "cane" and "turkey"; and though
it is the most popular belief, it is unlikely to
mean "dark and bloody ground" because it isn't
found in any known Indian language.
The
most likely etymology is that it comes from an
Iroquoian word for "meadow" or "prairie" (c.f.
Mohawk kenhtà:ke, Seneca këhta’keh).
Other possibilities also exist: the suggestion
of early Kentucky pioneer George Rogers Clark
that the name means "the river of blood", a
Wyandot name meaning "land of tomorrow", a
Shawnee term possibly referring to the head of a
river, or an Algonquian word for a river bottom.
This article is licensed under
the
GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the
Wikipedia
article "Kentucky".
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Secret Revealed-How to Get Professional Quality
Photos With a Basic Camera
by
Don Penven (Brandywine)
You
don't need to spend $Thousands to get excellent
quality photos.
Over
the past 10 years I have spent a small fortune on
pricey digital cameras. And it has been money well
spent. You see I maintain a full-service
photographic studio, so mainly for appearances, I
carry a couple of pro-quality cameras and lenses.
But
how about you? Are you going to be photographing
weddings, shooting bridal or family portraits? If
not, then a couple a $Hundred dollars will get you a
lot of quality and with a very low investment.
Several manufacturers offer good quality cameras
that provide exceptional results for those candid
shots that people go crazy over. And since these
basic cameras actually have many of the bells and
whistles that the "big boys" have, you can get
incredible results.
Personally I am a fan of Canon cameras. I started
off with two top-of-the-line 35mm models along with
three different EOS lenses. With the advent of
digital photography, I ended up getting pocket
change for the cameras that had made me many
thousands of dollars.
Today I have three Canons, and incredible as it may
seem, I am still using those old EOS lenses. But for
everyday, on-the-spot shots-stuff that will not be
blown up to anything larger that 8" x 10"-I use a
little Canon PowerShot. It's small, compact, light
weight and sports 8 megapixels of resolution. I
bought it used for just $200.
The
secret is...there is no secret! It is more a matter
of mind set.
So
if you have a little point-and-shooter, you can get
those breath-taking shots you thought were limited
to the pros. Begin by reading the Owner's Manual (if
you haven't lost it). You need a full understanding
of what every button, switch and knob actually does.
My
"big boys" let me see the histogram of each shot and
lots of other complicated stuff. Now how often would
you need that information. You want sharp (not
fuzzy), properly exposed (lighted), well thought out
photos. Before you push down on the shutter release
button, think about how you want the photo to look.
Be watchful of what may be in the background. You
wouldn't pose your subject next to a trash can-would
you?
Get
the most out of your point-and-shooter. It will
serve you well when you fully understand what it is
trying to do for you.
Many
books and texts have been written about how to get
fantastic photos. If your goal is to really impress
family and friends, then take a giant step and spend
a few moments with my friend, Amy Renfrey. like so
many folks, went to one pro photographer after
another begging to learn how to get better pictures.
Most of them told her about a few of the basics, but
she doggedly persisted in her quest for quality.
Today Amy publishes her own photography magazine and
has written a fully illustrated, step-by-step guide
to get the most from your basic digital camera.
Check it out
Get More Information HERE! (Clickbank link)
About the Author
Expert author Don Penven is a freelance writer and
professional photographer based in Raleigh and
Morehead City, NC |
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