Massachusetts, MA

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. Most of its population of 6.4 million live in the Boston metropolitan area.

The eastern half of this relatively small state is mostly urban and suburban.

The west is primarily rural, also with most of its population in urban enclaves. Massachusetts is the most populous of the six New England states and ranks third in overall population density among the 50 states.

Massachusetts has been a significant state in American history. Plymouth, Massachusetts was the second permanent English settlement in North America.

Colonists from England founded many towns and villages in the present-day territory of Massachusetts very early in the nation's history - in the 1620s and 1630s.

The Boston area became known as the "Cradle of Liberty" for the ferment there which led to the American Revolution and the independence of the United States from Great Britain.

Massachusetts was the first U.S. state to abolish slavery, and was a center of the temperance movement and abolitionist activity in the years leading to the American Civil War.

The state has contributed many prominent politicians to national service, including the Kennedy family.

Originally dependent on agriculture and trade with Europe, Massachusetts was transformed into a manufacturing center during the Industrial Revolution.

Migration of factories to the lower-wage southern states caused economic stagnation during the first half of the 20th Century.

The Massachusetts economy was revived after World War II, and today is prominent in higher education, health care, and high technology.

 

 

 

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Massachusetts".

Studio Lighting Equipment - What You Should Know

by Autumn Lockwood

With so many types of lights and the infinite number of setup combinations, studio lighting could be the subject of a book. In fact, there are several books dedicated to just that. However, if you want to invest in studio lighting equipment, there are a few important things that every photographer should know. With a good set of base tools, you should be able to adapt to most shooting situations and subjects. Here's a breakdown on the most common types of studio lighting:

Continuous Lighting

These are the sorts of lights you may associate with movie production. Continuous light refers to light that is constantly on compared to a flash that goes on and off. Though this type of lighting uses a lot more power and creates more heat, it's a great way to have subtle lighting. Since you will be able to see your lights interacting before you shoot, you'll have a much better idea of what the photograph is going to look like.

You can pick up a simple kit for continuous lighting online for a pretty reasonable price.Most photo stores on the web have a section dedicated to studio lighting equipment, so from there it's mostly an issue of what you're willing to spend. Look for a flash kit that has light stands, light fixtures, bulbs and a reflective umbrella. Continuous light can be provided by halogen, fluorescent and tungsten light bulbs. There is no one "better" bulb as your taste and tone will dictate your choice.

Studio Flash

As you may have guessed, this bracket of studio lighting equipment is dedicated to setups that utilize a flash (often seen in fashion shoots). Flash setups are low on power consumption and even lower in terms of heat generation, and are usually the best option when shooting human subjects for extended periods of time. You can get flashes in either moonlights or flash systems. Moonlights require only syncing to the camera while power-pack flash systems will have a central power point to which the flash heads connect.

Similar to continuous lighting, there are plenty of ready-made flash kits available for the choosing. Be sure they have lighting stands, umbrellas, modeling lamps (these allow you to preview your lighting) and the sync cords required to ensure your flashes fire at the right time. The easiest flash to use are flashes with sensors as they fire with your camera but they are more expensive.

It's worth noting that combining these two studio lighting methods is one of your strongest options. This will allow you infinite flexibility in your shooting process and ensure that no matter what subject or style is required, you'll be up to the task. With starter kits starting as low as $50, you should be able to get some decent studio lighting equipment at a low initial investment.

About the Author

Autumn Lockwood is a writer for Your Picture Frames. Shop online and see our selection of lovely distressed picture frames in a wide variety of shapes, colors and sizes. Visit our website and see our selection of wooden distressed picture frames or call us at 1-800-780-0699.