future is very bright for Nashua manufacturer, The

There's a floor lamp in the lobby at Nashua-based Advanced Renewable Energy Company with three different light bulbs--a 60-watt incandescent bulb, a compact fluorescent light bulb and a bulb that contains six tiny LEDs. While this may sound like a setup to a joke, it isn't. Instead, the lamp demonstrates the efficiency of LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, over other light sources, explains ARC chief executive and co-founder Dr. Kedar Gupta.

ARC's customers--among the biggest companies in the world--mostly hail from Asia, where they are producing LED lighting that will be affordable and standard in American homes in the next three to five years, predicts Gupta--a prediction that will come true, thanks in part to his own company.ARC has grown from just four employees at the outset to the current two dozen, who include engineers, technicians and manufacturing personnel. The company will continue "hiring at a fairly good pace," says Kedar Gupta, perhaps not surprisingly, considering it has a significant backlog on orders and has grown five times larger in the past six months alone.The problem with LEDs is the price tag--the traditional production of sapphire crystals used in LED applications is costly and time-consuming, and commercially available LED light bulbs can cost up to $45, meaning an average household could spend thousands of dollars on bulbs alone."He got bored," says Renu Gupta, who together with her husband launched ARC Energy in September 2007 as a start-up in their basement, thanks in part to a loan from Citizens Bank as well as customers and investors who trusted the Guptas' demonstrated business success."We shouldn't take all the credit. We have a good group of people," she says, who says the most important thing learned working at GT Solar was how to treat their employees.But at ARC's nondescript headquarters just off 101A in Nashua, Gupta and his wife Renu and their staff of 24 employees have revolutionized this process by designing and manufacturing world-class industrial machines that grow sapphire crystals in a unique manner, significantly driving down the cost of its applications--primarily LED lighting.As a co-founder and former chief executive of GT Solar, the highly successful Nashua-based manufacturer of equipment used by manufacturers of solar cells and panels that is now a publicly traded company, Gupta has been ahead of the green-industry curve since 1994, when GT Solar was founded.And with only three years in business, even President Barack Obama has taken notice of the company, stopping there on a February 2010 trip to Nashua where he talked about job creation.There is "only one secret," says her husband: "Treat people right and demand performance."While the Guptas are busy drafting plans for future projects and expansion, they remain tight-lipped, keeping the company Web site in "stealth mode."ARC-Energy also strives to be "very customer-oriented." says Renu Gupta.UNIQUE TECHNOLOGY"We work with [our customers] very closely," says Kedar Gupta. "We always want to be ahead in technology. We don't want to be following somebody. We are not followers.""We have found the most economic way [to produce the crystals], and we are the only one in the world that does it," says Gupta. "Everything is assembled here in Nashua, and most of the parts are local.""Demand is growing like there is no tomorrow," he says.While all the bulbs emit similarly bright light, the energy savings are evident by touch alone. The metal surrounding the incandescent is hot to the touch, the metal around the CFL warm, while the LED feels cool, like the lobby."We are trying to make people consume less for the same comfort level," says Gupta.While the Guptas have had great business success in the last two decades, Renu Gupta says, it's important that they remain humble.LEDs last more than 20 years--compared to one to two years for incandescent bulbs and three to five for CFLs--and use 90 percent less energy than incandescent light."The technology they've created is the only one of its kind in the world," said the president in a speech at Nashua North High School. "They're this little business in a condo out on Amherst Street, and they have the potential to revolutionize an industry. Right here in Nashua."He didn't remain in retirement for long, however.

"We work with [our customers] very closely," says Kedar Gupta. "We always want to be ahead in technology. We don't want to be following somebody. We are not followers."

Business Watch

Wanamaker corridor gets lighting business

Offroad now does more than SUVsOwner Kellie Long said she needed more space for her showroom and warehouse operations.The phone number continues to be (785) 267-1958. The website is now http://tscionline.com.The Capital-JournalHours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Keith C. Whightsil, president and chief executive officer, said the new location provides good connections to US-75 and US-24 highways and to the Oakland Expressway. Those connections provide convenient access to the USDOT-Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration; the Kansas Corporation Commission, transportation division; and the Kansas Department of Revenue, motor carrier services bureau with which the company does business.Terry and Brian Stevens have purchased Expert Offroad Inc. and have changed the name to Expert Offroad and Automotive L.L.C. The business still specializes in offroad jeep, SUV and truck parts, accessories and installation but have added a full service automotive shop that can do everything from oil changes to complete engine replacement.Transportation Safety Consultants Inc. has relocated to 1105 N.W. Lower Silver Lake Road from its Forbes Field location. The new facility offers two acres of concrete parking for semitrailers and a modern training room. With the expansion of the company to include locations in Kansas City and St. Louis, a larger general office was needed and staffing has grown to nine employees.The business remains at 2500 S. Kansas Avenue. Phone is (785) 232- 7000; e-mail is sales@expertoffroad.com.Long Lighting Studio is open for business in its new building at 1109 S.W. Wanamaker Road.Send news of a business opening, closing, relocating or undergoing any kind of major change to news@cjonline.com with "Business Watch" as the subject line.TSCI has more space, more employees

Send news of a business opening, closing, relocating or undergoing any kind of major change to news@cjonline.com with "Business Watch" as the subject line.

YLighting Announces FLOS Lighting Sale October 7 - October 19, 2010, Unveils New FLOS Designs

YLighting ( www.YLighting.com ), the largest retailer of modern lighting, is holding a sale on all FLOS lighting October 7 - October 19, 2010. All FLOS designs are 35% off list price and qualify for free shipping.

About FLOSIn addition to the FLOS sale, YLighting unveils four highly anticipated new FLOS designs now available in the United States: the Nebula Ceiling Light, Kelvin LED Desk Lamp, KTribe F1 Floor Lamp and KTribe W Wall Sconce.About YLightingFounded in 1962, FLOS produces a number of lamps that are classics in Italian industrial design. FLOS lamps, pendants, sconces and suspension lights are created by some of the best known designers in the industry, including Achille and Piergiacomo Castiglioni, Jasper Morrison, Philippe Starck and Marcel Wanders. FLOS's Italian-made creations are characterized by high-quality and provocative design and have won numerous awards and historical critical accolades. Many of their designs are included in design museums around the world.The KTribe F1 Floor Lamp and KTribe W Wall Sconce, both designed by Philippe Starck, feature an inner Opal diffuser, outer diffuser and aluminum body. Starck's designs transform rooms with their penetrating form, translucent playfulness, and satisfying illumination.For more information, please contact: Alexis Petersen YLighting.com | YLiving.com Tel: 800-236-9100 Email: Email ContactThe Kelvin LED Desk Lamp was designed by Antonio Citterio with Toan Nguyen. The task light provides a spread of direct light in a thoughtfully engineered, energy efficient design. The adjustable head and arms provide flexibility in the height and angle of light direction and a touch dimmer allows the user to tailor the amount of light produced.Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1382702The Nebula Ceiling Light was designed by Joris Laarma. Made from 10 blown glass cones arranged in a die-cast aluminum core, the Nebula emits light like a star in the sky.YLighting ( www.YLighting.com ) was founded in 2001 with the idea that modern lighting is functional art but buying it shouldn't be a project in itself. We travel the world to find exciting new designs and give our customers the finest in modern and contemporary lighting, ceiling fans and accessories. We carry over 5,500 designs across more than 110 brands and are one of the largest retailers for brands such as Flos, Artemide, Modern Fan, Foscarini and Louis Poulsen. YLighting serves design-savvy customers, trade professionals and businesses.Other top-selling FLOS designs include the Skygarden pendant designed by Marcel Wanders, Miss K table lamp and Archimoon lamp designed by Philippe Starck, Glo-Ball lamps designed by Jasper Morrison and the Arco floor lamp designed by Achille Castiglioni.Add to Digg Bookmark with del.icio.us Add to Newsvine

For more information, please contact: Alexis Petersen YLighting.com | YLiving.com Tel: 800-236-9100 Email: Email Contact

Decorating with Tiffany Lamps

Tiffany lamps add elegance to any room in your house. There are many types of tiffany style lights ranging from floor, hanging, and table lights. Tiffany lights make wonderful gifts for anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, engagements and even for Christmas!

The different styles range from the classical Victorian to the modern Mission style. You can also get them in fun designs like Flowered and Peacock. These lights are beautiful and add elegance and style to your house.Tiffany style floor lamps come in different types. There are pedestal lamps that would add a romantic flare to your bedroom. These beautifully crafted stained glass panel lamps are wonderful and come in Butterfly and Victorian designs. They are square or round in shape. Torchiere tiffany style lamps are floor lamps that are shaped in torch styles. Floor lamps would light up any dark corner in your house. Whatever your choice, make it for you. These lamps are all beautifully crafted with the highest quality of materials. You will not be sorry when you choose to decorate with one of these wonderful lamps.Tiffany style table lamps could brighten up any room in your house. They have beautifully crafted stained glass shades and come in many different designs. These could go with any d�cor of your liking.

Tiffany style floor lamps come in different types. There are pedestal lamps that would add a romantic flare to your bedroom. These beautifully crafted stained glass panel lamps are wonderful and come in Butterfly and Victorian designs. They are square or round in shape. Torchiere tiffany style lamps are floor lamps that are shaped in torch styles. Floor lamps would light up any dark corner in your house. Whatever your choice, make it for you. These lamps are all beautifully crafted with the highest quality of materials. You will not be sorry when you choose to decorate with one of these wonderful lamps.

Great lighting solutions for the home; ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

THERE'S always something new at Simply Lighting, the local family business which specialises in lighting solutions for all areas of the home.

"We stock a vast range of quality branded replacement light bulbs and tubes including low energy, halogen and fluorescent.CAPTION(S):For more information, or to order on-line, take a look at the website www.simply-lighting.Graham Reading, who heads the family business, said: "As our name suggests, we just specialise in lighting and are always up-to-date with the latest trends.co.uk The website has now been specifically developed for on-line ordering and free home delivery."Our stock is constantly changing and we supply products from over 20 quality lighting manufacturers including the very latest designs.Walk into the showroom and you'll see a superb choice of traditional and contemporary lighting including the latest decking lights, childrens lights and lamps, table and floor lamps, wall lights, lamp shades, ceiling lights and chandeliers, spotlights and downlights.Light up your home with the great choice now available at Huddersfield's Simply Lighting!Simply Lighting also offers a range of illuminated mirrors along with switches, sockets and dimmers.New in at the Simply Lighting showroom is a range of table and floor lamps, including various reading lamps, which are ideal for dark winter evenings.One section of the showroom is totally dedicated to the latest designs in outdoor lighting which can enhance your garden and create the right ambience, ideal for summer al fresco dining out."We can give advice on the alternatives to the standard light bulbs which have been phased out and have many new season ranges now on display, many in stunning crystal.'' Simply Lighting also has a huge range of down lights in various styles and finishes for all rooms in the house, including designs for the bathroom and shower.With both traditional and contemporary designs for both indoors and outdoors, Simply Lighting Ltd was established in 2003 and is based at Wakefield Road, Aspley.The showroom also stocks a large selection of replacement lamps, bulbs and tubes including a vast range of low energy bulbs.Graham said: "We always put our emphasis on personal friendly service and 100% customer satisfaction.'' If required Simply Lighting can offer a complete service including a home consultancy and professional installation if required.The Simply Lighting shop in Wakefield Road (above) which has innovative lighting solutions for all areas of the home, both inside and outside

The Simply Lighting shop in Wakefield Road (above) which has innovative lighting solutions for all areas of the home, both inside and outside

Great lighting solutions for the home

THERE'S always something newat Simply Lighting, the local family business which specialises in lighting solutions for all areas of the home.

With both traditional and contemporary designs for both indoors and outdoors, Simply Lighting Ltd was established in 2003 and is based at Wakefield Road, Aspley."Our stock is constantly changing and we supply products from over 20 quality lighting manufacturers including the very latest designs.For more information, or to order on-line, take a look at the website www.simply-lighting.One section of the showroom is totally dedicated to the latest designs in outdoor lightingwhich can enhance your garden and create the right ambience, ideal for summer al fresco dining out.Simply Lighting also offers a range of illuminated mirrors along with switches, sockets and dimmers."We stock a vast range of quality branded replacement light bulbs and tubes including low energy, halogen and fluorescent.Opening hours at Simply Lighting are Monday to Saturday 9am to 5.30pm and car parking is usually available outside, alongside Wakefield Road.The showroom also stocks a large selection of replacement lamps, bulbs and tubes including a vast range of low energy bulbs."We can give advice on the alternatives to the standard light bulbs which have been phased out and have many new season ranges now on display, many in stunning crystal.'' Simply Lighting also has a huge range of down lights in various styles and finishes for all rooms in the house, including designs for the bathroom and shower.Graham Reading, who heads the family business, said: "As our name suggests, we just specialise in lighting and are always up-to-date with the latest trends.CAPTION(S):New in at the Simply Lighting showroom is a range of table and floor lamps, including various reading lamps, which are ideal for dark winter evenings.co.uk The website has now been specifically developed for on-line ordering and free home delivery.Graham said: "We always put our emphasis on personal friendly service and 100% customer satisfaction.'' If required Simply Lighting can offer a complete service including a home consultancy and professional installation if required.Walk into the showroom and you'll see a superb choice of traditional and contemporary lighting including the latest decking lights, childrens lights and lamps, table and floor lamps, wall lights, lamp shades, ceiling lights and chandeliers, spotlights and downlights.The Simply Lighting shop in Wakefield Road (above) which has innovative lighting solutions for all areas of the home, both inside and outside

The Simply Lighting shop in Wakefield Road (above) which has innovative lighting solutions for all areas of the home, both inside and outside

Wooden it be nice to brighten up my wall

WE'VE just moved into a new cottage, where the living room has one wall which is wood-panelled. Any ideas on lightening up this dark area? - Meg White, by email.

ZENA SAYS: The obvious answer is to paint it. As you're in a cottage, it might be suitable to use a heritage shade. Try Crown's new Vintage range - 30 flat matt emulsion colours covering the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s (www.crownpaint.co.uk). If you don't want to permanently cover the wood, I'd use some wall art to brighten it up, either one large framed image or several smaller ones grouped together. Make sure your furniture is colourful enough not to blend into the background and add a table or floor lamp for more light in a dark corner.

Floor Lamps for Kids Rooms

There are some great designs available for kids bedrooms these days, from beds fashioned into fire engines or JCB's and stools resembling zebras, to racing car wardrobes and jungle table and chair sets. If money is no problem then you can have loads of fun decorating your child's room to make it a fun and exciting place to be.

Look online for your children's bedroom light fittings and appliances and you'll find premier suppliers offering a huge selection for kids. Prices are very low online, often up to 75% than those found on the high street. Choose the right illumination for your child's room and transform it into a personal space for them where they can sleep, play and learn.Ceiling lights can generate an ambient glow in your child's room, you can find those with a flush fitting for a low ceiling or one with a theme, novelty or character such as a football, a mobile and light combined, rocket shaped low energy ceiling lights, and various bright designs using halogen spotlights.There are lots of colourful and quirky options available in the high street stores and online. Kids love themes, you can find bedspreads, curtains, and rugs following the same theme then match them with desk and floor lamps all decorated with the same cartoon character, superhero, sports, jungle animals or fairy tale scene.Sports, princesses, cartoons and the latest superhero are some of the most popular themes for younger kids, furnishing their room how they like will encourage them to use it for entertaining their friends and doing their homework. The area needs to be a place that they enjoy being in and offer a personal space they can take their friends and do their own thing, the d�cor and furnishings can help to achieve this. There is even themed wallpaper available, for girls check out the magical fairies or horse and pony mural, whereas the boys get space adventures and dinosaurs.Floor lamps are a simple way to add light and d�cor to your child's room and come in modern and fun designs and shapes, with various sizes available you're sure to find something suitable. They are great for highlighting a particular area of the room, you could even create a reading corner using them, they'll throw extra light onto a working space if your child has homework to complete, or just provide a softer light when it's time to wind down.Lighting is an important element in any room for functional and aesthetic reasons. A child's room will need a bright main light to see clearly by and soft lighting for relaxation. If the child is older then the light will need to be sufficient for them to do their homework and read without straining their eyes, if younger then a nightlight is a good idea for those who don't like to sleep in the dark.Safety is a major element to consider when choosing light fixtures for children's lighting, they need to be bright enough to see clearly, but also they need to be out of reach of inquisitive hands. If you are buying table lamps ensure the bulb is covered so they can't try to touch it.

Look online for your children's bedroom light fittings and appliances and you'll find premier suppliers offering a huge selection for kids. Prices are very low online, often up to 75% than those found on the high street. Choose the right illumination for your child's room and transform it into a personal space for them where they can sleep, play and learn.

HEAD TO THE SUPERMARKET FOR..CHEAP TILLS

Asda

HEADTeal fluted vase pounds 10ocean union jack cushion pounds 7, Scottie dog cushion, pounds 9www.tesco.com, 0845 600 4411Tu frosted floral three-drawer jewellery box pounds 15Fast-changing promotions on homewares - just about anything could turn up at an ultra-low price... www.lidl.co.uk, 0870 444 1234TescoThey have some amazing home products at stupidly low prices. Look out for tactile cushions and stunning glassware... www.asda.com, 0500 100 055Lake soap dish, pounds 4, tumbler pounds 5, soap dispenser pounds 4Bath mat, pounds 6.99Green glass platter pounds 25AldiTu red box frame pounds 6Plum sculpture vase pounds 14Skyline storage tins pounds 5 for 3Retro kitchen textiles pounds 4.99Retro two-slice toaster pounds 17.99www.aldi.co.uk, 0844 406 8800LidlChina and bright photo frames caught our eye, plus trends inspired by global travel and the great outdoors... www.sainsburys.co.uk, 0800 636 262A recent entrant but all of their shops now have home and leisure sections. www.morrisons.co.uk 0845 611 6111Mony spot bread bin pounds 14.67, spotty biscuit jar pounds 6.84Cashmere-feel throw pounds 14.99Halogen Clip Lamp, pounds 3.99Tu pink onion mug pounds 2.50Funky fuchsia bobble desk lamp pounds 15Direct Abbey sofa pounds 399, Lexington coffee table pounds 150, side table pounds 99, fuchsia spindle lamp pounds 80, velvet cushion pounds 10, throw pounds 8 14 00 15 Tesco Their spring-summer collections have accessories in hot colours, textures and metallics. Lighting and furniture will be good bets.Sofa or Sainsbury's Tu sitting Buddha pounds 16Babushka wall clock pounds 12Retro wall clock pounds 3Amber chair in teal pounds 150, Classic floor lamp with shade pounds 35,Morrison's

Retro two-slice toaster pounds 17.99

DR: the AR casts its eye over the latest new lighting fittings and tracks some fascinating and offbeat trends in the application of materials and forms

1_Still at the sketch design stage, this new lighting concept for Zumtobel by Kazuo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA transposes the firm's signature minimalism into a range of exquisite new fittings

6_New York-based design studio Rich Brilliant Willing devised this triple headed modern chandelier with arboreal arms made from bent plywood5_Troag from Foscarini was inspired by the shape of wooden bowls used to crush fruit in Lapland3_Fashion company Diesel teamed up with Foscarini to develop the Tri-p floor lamp with an elastic fabric that can be easily changed, just like a T-shirt4_Designed by Luis Eslava for Spanish firm lzf, Armadillo is a suspended fitting made from 'petals' of thin wood veneer8_Strobilus Major is a modern chandelier by Jonathan Cole for Paviom7_Working with Louis Poulsen, Danish designer Ole Jensen has devised a new range of elegant lamps in white steel

8_Strobilus Major is a modern chandelier by Jonathan Cole for Paviom

FAST FIXES

A new pattern or texture will change the look while a different thickness and volume will alter the amount of natural light, changing the feel of the room. Curtains pounds 60.26 a pair (www.ikea.co.uk, 0845 355 1141)

A new light will change the mood and a bright shade adds colour to a neutral scheme. Turquoise stick floor lamp pounds 79 for 2 (www.marksandspencer.com, 0845 302 1234)Brighten up a white wall with stickers - these pottery design ones look fab above a retro sideboard. Stickers pounds 19 (www.johnlewis.com, 08456 049 049)

Brighten up a white wall with stickers - these pottery design ones look fab above a retro sideboard. Stickers pounds 19 (www.johnlewis.com, 08456 049 049)

Strike action saved patients in long run

I am writing in response to the article 'More than 6,000 strike for ratios' (Lamp, December 2010). I am working as a Registered Nurse on a medical surgical floor. I have eight to nine patients and the workload is very stressful. Having a safe patient-nurse ratio is a critical issue for patients, nurses, and hospitals. I am very proud of those nurses who gathered together at Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre and fought for their patients by being real advocates. A lot of nurses would not support striking because it would harm the patients in the sense that nurses would be absent from work, but in the long run, it would save a lot of lives.

The study found 6,700 patient deaths and four million days of hospital care could be avoided each year by increasing numbers of Registered Nurses (Health Affairs, Volume 25, Issue 1,204-211, 2006). Going on a strike was a major step and took a lot of courage for nurses to walk off the job and fight for safer patient care. If we sit there and take it, nothing is going to change. We as nurses must come together and make a more powerful stand.Mayya Bababyeva, RN

Mayya Bababyeva, RN

STYLIST'S GUIDE TO.. SPRING NEUTRALS

Meadow fresh From subtle sage to a flash of rainforest brights, leafy shades will add some verdant freshness to a neutral beige and brown colour scheme MAIN SHOT: Stacking boxes (bottom left) from pounds 3, Store Twenty One; Gold mug pounds 11.50, Pedlars. Green rug from pounds 80, Oslo chair from pounds 275 and footstool from pounds 149, spring meadow cushion (on chair) pounds 12, lanterns from pounds 40, Mariella floor lamp pounds 65, all Next. SOFA: Versuvious cushion pounds 11.99, Dunelm Mill, Panel detail cushion pounds 12, Colonial flower cushion pounds 14, Jemima sofa from pounds 599, shawl from a selection at Next; trilby from a selection at Pedlars.

STOCKISTS: Next (www.next.co.uk, 0844 844 8000), Store Twenty One (www.storetwentyone.co.uk, 0844 884 4808), Pedlars (www.pedlars.co.uk 01330 850 4000), Dunelm Mill (www.dunelm- mill.com, 08451 656565), Rockett St George (www.rockettstgeorge.co.uk, 0208 350 5450).DINING ROOM: Facet mirror pounds 110, Buddha head pounds 30, Santiago dining chairs pounds 235 (per pair), Delamere table pounds 335, Green lacquered ball curtain pole from pounds 50, Green taffeta stripe curtains from pounds 60, all Next. DINING TABLE: Bowl pounds 29.95, hydrangea flowers pounds 14.99 each, both Rockett St George; wood candlesticks (set of 3) pounds 25, Botanic 12-piece dinner set pounds 30, wine glasses pounds 18 (set of 4), all Next.MANTELPIECE: Green Blossom canvas pounds 99, (set of 3) Next.SIDE TABLE: Delamere Cube table nest pounds 175 (set of 2), Amaryllis flowers tied bundle pounds 35, from Next; Coasters pounds 4.99 from Rockett St George.COFFEE TABLE: Monaco coffee table pounds 275, white hydrangea vase pounds 45, both Next. Bowl pounds 5.99, Dunelm Mill. Candles from a selection at L'Occitane. DINING ROOM: Teal retro canvas pounds 70 (set of 2), Teal sculptured bottles pounds 36 (set of 2), Teal lacquered ball curtain pole from pounds 50, retro floral curtains from pounds 40, Ombra dining chairs pounds 125 (per pair), Opus table pounds 235, vase pounds 12, reversible placemats pounds 8 (set of 4), Amble 12-piece dinner set pounds 32, teal conical wine glasses pounds 16 (set of 4), polka dot cutlery pounds 12 (16 pieces), all Next. Peonies pounds 14.99 each, Rockett St George.Sea breeze Take your colour cue from the splashes and sprays of the ocean waves by mixing soft teal with cobalt and a sprinkle of sparkling silver tables pounds 99, all Next. Melamine bowl pounds 9.75, melamine cup pounds 4.95, both Pedlars. Rug from pounds 49.99, Dunelm Mill. Cushions on sofa: velvet cushion MAIN SHOT: pouffe pounds 100, star cushion pounds 35, both Rockett St George. Chatres chair from pounds 199, St Ives table lamp pounds 60, Toulouse sofa from pounds 399, nest of pounds 7.99, Dunelm Mill, folds cushion pounds 12, dandelion cushion pounds 14, both Next. MANTELPIECE: Stella mosaic mirror pounds 125, vase pounds 5.99, Dunelm Mill, peonies pounds 14.99 each, Rockett St George, LOVE letters pounds 12, sculpture balls pounds 16 (set of 3), frame pounds 7.50, vase pounds 10, all Next.STYLIST TIP: Grey-toned fabrics against slick white furniture create a coastal feel with a modern twist STYLIST TIP: Team greens with chunky wood furniture and wicker style chairs then add metal or glass for contrast STYLIST TIP: Designing a scheme can be imaginative and fun. It's easy to inject colour into a neutral room without even having to pick up a paintbrush. Simply add new curtains, bright scatter cushions and maybe a striking armchair, or add wall art for a bold focus

STYLIST TIP: Grey-toned fabrics against slick white furniture create a coastal feel with a modern twist STYLIST TIP: Team greens with chunky wood furniture and wicker style chairs then add metal or glass for contrast STYLIST TIP: Designing a scheme can be imaginative and fun. It's easy to inject colour into a neutral room without even having to pick up a paintbrush. Simply add new curtains, bright scatter cushions and maybe a striking armchair, or add wall art for a bold focus

MINI MAKEOVERS

Spruce up your shelves

Spring break DIY 3 page specialFit a glass splashbackPreparation is the key, so sand boards before applying varnish. Perfect finish diamond hard floor varnish in clear, pounds 47.98 for 2.5l (www.ronseal.co.uk or DIY stores)Give tatty old shelves a new look in minutes with sticky back plastic. Granite-effect Fablon stick-on sheets from pounds 5.99 per roll (www.hainteriors.com, 01670 718300, www.amazon.co.uk or DIY stores)Wallpapering a whole room in a day is a tough call for even the most experienced DIYer. So for a simpler, do-it-in-a-day task, stick to one to create a bright, eye-catching feature wall. It's a quick and easy update that gives a big "Wow!" factor. Kids @ Home wallpaper 35799, pounds 16.94 per roll (www.wallpaperdirect.co.uk)Give your old chairs a new lookTransform a room with a bright new feature wallStain or varnish a wooden floorSort out your shoesThese fun blackboard stickers make it quick and simple to create an organiser for the whole family. Convincing your little darlings to stick to it might be another matter... Stickers pounds 24 each (www.spincollective.co.uk, 01242 255244)Three days should be plenty of time to repaint your whole kitchen. You could add a fresh lick of colour to everything from the floor to the tiles, units and even your storage jars! Kitchen painted in furniture and cupboard paint in Lovely Olive and Warm Mink, both from pounds 17.99 for 750ml (www.international- paints.co.uk, 08444 817 817)Under one day..Perk up your paintwork..Turn over for fab 4-day ideasTake a closer look at this green floor lamp and shelf... that's right, they've been painted on. Get clever with some leftover emulsion and you can revamp a room with new "furniture" in next to no time. Forest Falls 1 flat matt emulsion pounds 24.99 for 2.5l (www.dulux.co.uk, 08444 817 817)Turn your room features into focal points with a quick lick of bright paint. Shutters in Albany Geranium Eggshell and shelves in Albany Celeste Eggshell. All paints pounds 22.92 for 2.5l (www.brewers.co.uk)Add drama to your living room by painting the chimney breast a different colour to alcoves either side, then use a stylish stencil to highlight its shape. Walls paint: Smoulder Solo Matt Emulsion pounds 15.99 for 2.5l, chimney breast paint: Rebel Feature Wall pounds 9.98 for 1.25L, metallic paint for stencil: Striking Fashion pounds 15.99 for 2.5l (www.crownpaint.co.uk, 01254 704951). Motif 6 stencil pounds 19.99 (www.stencil-library.com)Fitting a funky glass splashback is a DIY job - you just need to make sure your wall is properly prepared. Spend a day making sure it is painted and smooth, pick your design then fit. Enki Muted Sage glass splashback from pounds 95 (60x70cm). Matching up-stands and different sizes available in 27 colours (www.cpgroupuk.com, 0845 519 7039)You don't have to tile the whole room... just areas that take a lot of water. Try starting with an easy project, such as the splashback behind the sink - a perfect beginners' job!Transform your hallway The hallway is one of the trickiest areas to decorate due to its shape and all those doors, but as it's used so much, it's worth the effort. Sophie Conran Magnolia wallpaper in green, pounds 19.98 per roll, Baroque-style mirror, pounds 30.68, Tarn 3-light leaf pendant with glass drops, pounds 64.98, Angelina small table lamps, pounds 17.48 each, all from B&Q (www.diy.com, 0845 850 0175)Tile key areas of the bathroomTransform an old set of chairs with new fabric covers. Carefully remove the existing cloth then use it as a template for the new covering. Chair material: Babushka pounds 28 per m. Curtain material: Lilia pounds 34 per m (www.harlequin.uk.com, 0845 1236805)Lay new laminate flooringUp to 2 days..It's easy to lay a new floor with the Uniclic system - each panel simply slots into the next. There are many edgings and skirtings available to help you get a professional-looking finish. Lagune Dark Varnished Pallisander panels in Shipdeck, pounds 33.99 per sq m (www.quick-step.com)Turin wall tiles in beige, brown, grey, charcoal and white from pounds 15.49 for 44 tiles (www.focusdiy.co.uk, 0800 436 436)Turn a chimney breast into a hot new featureMake a family notice boardSpray old boxes in pretty pastels then stick a photo of each pair of shoes to the front. Plastikote super spray in pale lilac, blue lilac and sumptuous purple, all pounds 6.95 per 400ml can (www.plasti-kote.com, 01223 836400 or DIY stores)Create wall artUp to 3 days..

Spring break DIY 3 page special

How to Creatively Decorate Using Floor Lamps

When it comes to setting the mood or atmosphere in a room, not only does proper illumination add to the allure of your personal space, but also the sources of light. While table lamps and ceiling lights serve a functional purpose, floor lamps are expansive in the many different ways one may decorate their space and showcase their creativity. Whether you choose an antique selection to brighten your den or side with a traditional Victorian fringe design for the bedroom, the never-ending possibilities of a floor lamp shine through in the mind-boggling variety in choices.

Create a MoodFloor lamps are also known to serve as a work of art, as some artists fashion one-of-a-kind pieces that sometimes depict odd, creative, or unusual displays. Some of the unique possibilities of artsy floor lamps include planetary designs, sculpted wooden figures, wild animals, and abstract images. Artistic floor lamps may also use unusual objects to construct the base of the lamp, such as animal antlers, petrified wood, branches, or heat-treated metal. They may rise in the air like an ivory torch or bring the look and feel of fantasy with fairies decorating their base.One-of-a-Kind PiecesAntique LampsFloor lamps are sometimes used to represent or pay homage to regional pride, as seen in Southwestern selections showcasing characteristic elements added to a lamp, such as images of cacti and rattlesnakes. A New York City-themed floor lamp may showcase a silhouette of the Empire State Building. Cozy wilderness scenes of Colorado and other rustic locations may utilize the image of wild critters, such as the grizzly bear or bald eagle.Mix and Match Color Bulbs to Match LampshadesIn conclusion, the many uses and d�cor ideas regarding floor lamps are quite vast, as homeowners may choose from a host of inviting and exciting selections on the market. Today, an assortment of contemporary, traditional, hip, artisan, and antique lamps expand the possibilities of floor lamp interior design.There is a certain elegance and intrigue associated with displaying an antique floor lamp. In home design, the mystery and unknown past of such an item is enough to spark the imagination, as well as provide a delightful conversation topic when family and friends visit. Today, there are manufacturers that strive to recreate this very look by emulating flowery, ornamental approaches towards antique furniture, which allows homeowners to match their lighting sources with other elements of their d�cor.Floor lamps allow individuals to create a mood within their home or office that becomes the focus of the space when one enters the room. A gateway to the past may come alive with a Victorian-style street lamp displaying the soft, burnt orange glow of a custom crafted glass lampshade. Perhaps, the theme of your living room is Oriental � a solid hardwood floor lamp with a Chinese raw lacquer finish with mother of pearl and metal chrome accents will fit into the d�cor. Color also helps create a mood, such as the vibrant shades of red in Asian-style floor lamps.A few common features of antique lamps include the stained-glass lampshade, brass finishes, and intricate designs. When one is interested in truly decorating their home with antique floor lamps, genuine specimens may cost quite a bit, such as French antique lamps carrying a price tag of more than thousands of dollars. Usually, an antique or antique-styled floor lamp is selected because of its look and fit within a setting, rather than bringing light into the room.Regional FlairThe unique part of purchasing a floor lamp is that you may change lampshades to the base of your favorite lamp, just as you can match different colored light bulbs to create varying effects within a room. Depending on the time of day and other outside factors, various lampshade colors transform light into an array of shades, but red, blue, green, and even yellow lights can establish the atmosphere into a controlled setting, such as a romantic environment to a room set aside for contemplation, withdrawal, or reflection.

In conclusion, the many uses and d�cor ideas regarding floor lamps are quite vast, as homeowners may choose from a host of inviting and exciting selections on the market. Today, an assortment of contemporary, traditional, hip, artisan, and antique lamps expand the possibilities of floor lamp interior design.

Throw light on a lamp problem

I HAVE 9 a floor lamp in my conservatory with a 4ft paper shade on it. I have searched everywhere for a replacement shade without luck. Can you help? - Mavis, by email ZENA SAYS: 2 That's a very unusual size. Try the place where you bought it - otherwise it will be cheaper to buy a whole new floor lamp!

Ikea (www.ikea.co.uk) have a good range from as little as pounds 8.16. Also look at Argos and B&Q. My last suggestion is to re-cover what you have with wallpaper covered in a fire-resistant spray - available from craft shops. Here are two examples: Aesops Fables covered lamp, pounds 44 per roll, or Albany 96981, pounds 19.99 per roll - both from www.wallpaperdirect.co.uk

Modern Designer Cool Unique Contemporary Floor Lamps

Select from the cool designer and unique collection of contemporary floor lamps at Spacify to impart a unique style to your home d�cor. You can put these floor lights in your living room or bedroom to add an artistic modern touch to the area. You will find our collection of modern floor lamps simple yet exhibiting an unmatched beauty that will make even a neglected corner in your home sparkle with true class and sophistication. From black modern to unique wood, Spacify offers cool modern and best floor lamps and lighting.

Lamps are often an overlooked element of the overall design of the room. A traditionally shaded floor lamp provides a subtle touch of beauty and is a wonderful accent to the upholstery of bedroom and living room furniture. Tall floor lamps are a great addition behind a couch or chair as they help extend the room up and visually connect lower furniture to higher decor features such as ceiling moldings, trimmings and wall art. Fine Art Lamps offers a wide selection of world renowned floor lamp designs.Bring home lighting that not only fits in with but enhances your home decor. The Scala Arc Lamp will add a modern touch to any space with its slender curves, smooth finish and interesting shade.This floor lamps features a fully-adjustable, articulated arm body structure in extruded, brilliant, natural anodized aluminum. Joints, tension control knobs and mountings are polished die-cast aluminum, and cables are stainless steel. The diffuser is available in a choice of sizes in parchment paper or in a palge grey stain and polycarbonate fiber blend.In addition to a regular bulb these lamps come with soft halogen lighting which illuminates the bubbling water within the base. There are colored gel filters available that can be placed within the base that change the color of the bubbling water to suit your mood and to match your interior decor and furniture. These items are very nice to stare at and after awhile the flow of bubbles is mesmerizing and can facilitate daydreaming, contemplation and relaxation.Spacify.com has the latest designs for Modern Floor Lighting (http://www.spacify.com/floor_lighting-487-11.html) and Designer Lighting at affordable prices. It will surely beautify your home and will give you the right ambience you have always wanted.

Spacify.com has the latest designs for Modern Floor Lighting (http://www.spacify.com/floor_lighting-487-11.html) and Designer Lighting at affordable prices. It will surely beautify your home and will give you the right ambience you have always wanted.

What Can Modern Floor Lamps Do For Your Home?

Modern floor lamps can help to add extra style to a room as well as making the most out of open and empty space. There are various different designs to choose from so it should be easy to find one which you like.

* How much do you have to spend on the lampTo make the most out of your room, making the right decision is imperative. If you bought any old floor lamp, you risk making the room look unbalanced or slightly off. So by taking the time to find the right lamp makes it all worth while. Try considering a few of these pointers when choosing a modern floor lamp:-Decorating a house can be hard work, but after it is finished it is certainly worth it. You could have repainted all of the walls, ripped out old appliances etc but it can sometimes look bare after all of this. Adding extra features to the room after it has been decorated helps to make the room look complete. With all of the added extras you can use like furniture, something that can add extra class to the room is modern floor lamps.It is amazing how much difference using a floor lamp can make when adding it to a room. A room could have been feeling empty or it could have too much space and it helps to make use of this space in a good way. They can also add extra light into the room when it is dark and they also help to improve the mood of the room.What should you consider when buying a modern Floor Lamp?There are many different types of modern floor lamps out there which cater for everyone’s differing tastes and needs. You may want a tall lava lamp for one of your rooms and for another room you may want a tall floor lamp to add extra sophistication. They can come in so many different styles and colours which makes it easier to find one that you like. Some people may like wooden ones whilst others may go for aluminium or metal ones. It is entirely up to your own personal taste.* How much space do you have for the lamp?* How often will you use it? Is it there for decoration to the room or do you need it?* How tall do you want the floor lamp to be and will it fit in the room properly?How Can You Benefit From Using Modern Floor Lamps?The benefits of a floor lamp are clear to see and that is why getting the right one can make the world of difference.* Will the style of the floor lamp suit the d�cor of the room?

The benefits of a floor lamp are clear to see and that is why getting the right one can make the world of difference.

Liberty lifts lamp to N.J. fans, executives

Team hoping its stay in Newark attracts local sponsors

"More people will come to our arena during what is historically a slow time for arenas," Vanderbeek said of the summer, with the Liberty's regular season lasting until early September.While the WNBA has a devoted fan base, its economic scale is minimal when compared to its male counterpart. Team salaries are capped at roughly $800,000, with player salaries ranging from $36,570 to $103,500, which also means ticket prices are cheaper - Liberty individual game tickets range from $10 to $250.WHAT WAS BUILT as a home for a professional ice hockey team has rapidly become a basketball empire.E-mail to: akitchenman@njbiz.com"About a third of our fan base was in New Jersey before we made the move to the Prudential Center," said Kristin Bernert, team vice president of marketing. "We felt that given the size of the northern New Jersey market, we thought there was an opportunity to expand even more."The Liberty are owned by Madison Square Garden Inc., whose MSG Sports division also includes the Knicks and Rangers. The company was spun off from Cablevision and also owns the Garden.Prudential Center Chairman Jeff Vanderbeek said the new relationship would bring several benefits to the arena.Vanderbeek said the arena has had success when it has drawn new fans, such as the women's basketball fan demographic.Scott O'Neill, MSG Sports president, said the company has a good understanding of the New Jersey market, which he called "Knicks country." The strengths of the market include a "first-class building" in the Prudential Center, residents with high discretionary spending and large participation in youth basketball, O'Neill said.The Liberty went 22-12 in 2010, and while the team hasn't yet won a championship, it was runner-up in four of the league's first six seasons.The Liberty have been among the attendance leaders in the WNBA since the league was launched in 1997, and averaged a league-leading 1 1,069 fans per game last year, according to WomensBasketball Online.com.Bernert said the WNBA has been successful both with women business leaders and "dads with daughters."Prudential Center officials expect the arena to be third in the country this year in the number of high-level basketball games it hosts. And Newark Mayor Cory Booker and others have expressed optimism that the arena will attract a permanent NBA team after the Nets decamp for Brooklyn."They say, Oh, my God, we haven't seen anything like it/ and they come back for something else," he said."The more basketball we play, the more successful" the arena is seen as a basketball venue, Vanderbeek said. "You have to believe it's a step in the right direction."The Liberty, which will play the first of 1 7 regular- season home games June 11, have been forced to make the temporary move due to ongoing renovations of its home of Madison Square Garden. As renovations have been limited to the summer, they will not affect the seasons of the arena's other tenants, the New York Rangers and Knicks.O'Neill said winning fans over to the sport is similar to the marketing work done by any business.The strategy depends heavily on fans using mass transit, though the arena said more than half of New Jersey Devils hockey fans ride the train or bus to get to Newark.Meanwhile, while the Liberty's front office works to build a New Jersey following, Prudential Center executives are catering to the Manhattan fan base, emphasizing the arena's short distance from the Garden - a 15-minute train ride from Penn Station, which is beneath Madison Square Garden."They now have the option to not only take their daughters to men's sports," she said, adding that the Liberty play "incredible basketball.""We continue to be among the league leaders in the metrics that we measure," he said, noting while the Liberty are entering their 15th season, the Rangers are 85 years old and the Knicks are 65. "It's still a very young business. When people come see the game, they always come back. It's a wonderful sport to watch. That's what you see on a day-to-day basis."It started with the New Jersey Nets, which shared the Prudential Center's floor with the S et on Hall Pirates while the NBA franchise's new home in Brooklyn, N. Y., awaits completion. Then it was the NCAA Tournament, which hosted the successful East Regional s in the Brick City. And last week, the New York Liberty held its first exhibition game to open a three-year homestand at the arena.

E-mail to: akitchenman@njbiz.com

Analysis of The Night Cafe - Vincent van Gogh

Vincent's Two Cafes

Van Gogh's two ultra-famous caf� scenes comprise a study in opposites. Though both paintings employ Vincent's famous bold and furious brushstrokes and striking colors, the two pictures feel entirely different. One, "Caf� Terrace at Night," is lovely and full of a frothy light, a night scene with stars outside the caf� on the Place de Forum. The other, "Night Caf�," is, in the artist's own words, "�one of the ugliest I have ever done," a collection of clashing colors in the dreariest atmosphere.So Koberling and fellow architect Arthur M. Atkinson crafted a dynamic first floor showcasing fans, sweepers, electric waffle irons, lamps and many other electrical appliances, all of which PSO then sold. Many of these newfangled gadgets could prove their effectiveness in a five-room model home inside the first floor, with marble floors, walnut-paneled walls and a full complement of furniture. Sidewalk shoppers also got a taste through gothic arched display windows highlighting washing machines, refrigerators and ranges.Perspective and warm complementary colors draw the viewer into the painting and beyond. The graphic texture of the street's cobblestones invite the eye toward the little caf� itself, with its tiny white tables on the street, repeating the spheres of Vincent's stars hung in the Prussian blue sky. The awning and walls of the caf�, warm yellow, cut into the sky to enhance both colors and form the main composition.Van Gogh loved the night. He writes, "I have a terrible need of--dare I say--religion�then I go outside at night and paint the stars." He painted this night scene on the spot, at night, using no blacks. His father was a preacher and Vincent went into the ministry for a while. It was later that this artist, now a star himself posthumously, decided his ministry would be to find a way to give hope and consolation to humanity through his art."It's really nice, other than the floor layouts are somewhat dated," said Atkinson. "You would probably lay it out differently than they did, but it has some great bones to it."The blaze started in a spare bedroom, where a desk lamp on the floor next to a bed had been left on.There is no doubt he succeeded. Upon first glance, the viewer almost tends to glance away, as if burned. Fully two-thirds of the painting is the floor of the caf�, executed in sulphuric yellow with exaggerated lines of perspective that yank the eye into the painting. Next, a green billiard table, outlined in heavy black, stops us cold. Beside the table stands a figure in a light-colored coat, staring out at us without expression.But with its business busting - PSO's electrical light and power connections leapt 1,090 percent in just over a decade to 31,121 by 1928 - the power company wanted its Tulsa headquarters to demonstrate the value of electricity to modern life."If we could get fully leased, we'd do that," Atkinson said. "We've had a bid to do that and it is very expensive. Unless the building performs better, we're really not in the plans to do that."

Van Gogh loved the night. He writes, "I have a terrible need of--dare I say--religion�then I go outside at night and paint the stars." He painted this night scene on the spot, at night, using no blacks. His father was a preacher and Vincent went into the ministry for a while. It was later that this artist, now a star himself posthumously, decided his ministry would be to find a way to give hope and consolation to humanity through his art.

Author: Elizabeth Harding

These Walls: Transok Building in Tulsa

When renowned Tulsa architect Joseph R. Koberling Jr. returned from a year in Europe, he bore such disgust for its "soulless" contemporary constructs that he determined to elevate the joy of life in a new art deco design for Public Service Co. of Oklahoma.

While the architects incorporated art deco even into those fixtures, from chevrons in the torch holders to stepped-back geometric motifs across the spandrels, the nighttime glow from that 210,000-watt system instantly emerged as the structure's standout feature.Like many tenants past and present, McDaniel would love to see the beacons lit anew. He's offered to create an LED system allowing computer control, but at just 40-percent occupancy, Atkinson said the building does not generate enough cash flow to justify a fix some sources estimated could cost $60,000 or more.Both paintings were made in Arles after van Gogh had lived and studied in Paris, and met various French impressionists. His own style became much lighter, less moralistic and more rife with color.Lee Anne Ziegler, executive director of the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture, noted the architects incorporated a number of art- deco standards throughout a reinforced concrete and steel structure designed to support eight stories, but limited at first to five. Vertical piers rose from ground to rooftop, flowing past recessed upper windows framed in steel. Painted spandrels atop the structure extended these vertical lines into the sky.The Transok Building retains a puzzling office layout imposed at some time through a history of internal renovations. It also boasts a charming art deco lobby, high ceilings and beautiful brass work."I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day." Vincent van Gogh"I have tried to express the terrible passions of humanity by means of red and green," van Gogh wrote. Yellow walls give on to blood-red walls that lead to an obtrusive green ceiling, and lining the walls are the locals at the bar tables, hunched over in late-night stupor. Lamps hang from the ceiling, surrounded by Vincent's wheels of curving yellow strokes.Transok represents the only Kanbar property with its retail space fully leased. It also boasts updated electrical and fire alarm systems.The other van Gogh caf� painting, "Caf� Terrace at Night," shows the exterior of a caf� which still stands in Arles, though it was renamed The van Gogh Caf� and remodeled to closely resemble the painting which immortalized it. He painted this work in a flurry, using many of the same techniques he employed in his drawings. This is one of his most beautiful paintings, full of the light and peace he sought, but never found."It's got one of the best views out of these windows," said Stuart McDaniel of GuRuStu Group, a tenant since 2008. "You are working in a piece of art instead of a box with four sides. Especially for us, being a creative firm, it provides inspiration and fun, each being able to see that on your way to work."The PSO kept the 600 S. Main St. tower its home for decades, adding two recessed floors in 1961 to house offices and mechanical systems. When the utility renovated downtown's Central High School in 1978 for its new Tulsa base, subsidiary Transok Pipeline took over the 1929 structure - and the name stuck even after the pipeline departed. Kanbar acquired the 66,000-square-foot tower in 2005."Everybody loves that building," said Atkinson. "You take people to all our properties and that will be the one they say, 'I really like that.'"An estimated 7,000 people streamed through the building on opening night, the Tulsa Tribune reported on April 17, 1929. As Tom Herick's Orchestra serenaded guests, PSO handed out brochures calling the building "The Monument in Light."The bedroom was damaged in the blaze and the first floor was smoke logged.

"If we could get fully leased, we'd do that," Atkinson said. "We've had a bid to do that and it is very expensive. Unless the building performs better, we're really not in the plans to do that."

Author: Kirby Lee Davis

Lamp starts fire in home

A DALTON couple escaped a fire at their home.

Andy Flynn, watch manager at Huddersfield fire station, said: "They were very lucky as the only smoke alarm was in the attic."But the topper came with Oklahoma's first architectural use of light, as recorded in the National Register of Historic Places. The engineer in Atkinson built 48 second-floor flood lamps into the gray Bedford limestone skin, the 500-watt bulbs sending vertical colored shafts up the limestone to the roof, where another 78 lights hidden in ornamental cornices created a golden crown."Night Caf�" depicts the interior of a pool in Arles' Place Lamartine. A more striking van Gogh canvas would be difficult to find, but no one could call this particular picture beautiful. It was the artist's intention to show the lowest edge of humanity, without adornment, with as much impact and sincerity as possible.The woman had been working late and returned home to find smoke coming from upstairs.A stark black and white clock depends in the background, impossible to miss. It is almost a quarter past midnight in this desolate scene. "Night Caf�" is one of Vincent's most powerful communications through art of the human condition and human emotions.

Andy Flynn, watch manager at Huddersfield fire station, said: "They were very lucky as the only smoke alarm was in the attic."

How to Photograph Jewelry

Photographing jewellery can be tricky, but with a few concepts and budget below US$500 it is possible to achieve near-professional look of the photographs. This guide is intended for absolute beginners. Terminology is simplified, and camera adjustments are discussed with only jewellery in mind.

1. EquipmentAlso known as ISO number. This used to be film property, and expressed in numbers like ISO200, ISO400, ISO800 etc. The higher the number, more sensitive the film, less light it needs, and thus more expensive. In Digital SLR's this is merely just a setting, but the higher the number, more noise camera will capture. The more light you have, you can go lower with this number. For our limited lighting, ISO800 or ISO1600 will be fine, but try not to use ISO3200 -- it adds visible noise.1.3 TripodAdd to Digg Bookmark with del.icio.us Add to Newsvine1.1 Digital SLR4.3 Shutter SpeedLearn the following 5 camera adjustments: Aperature (f-number), Sensitivity (ISO number), Shutter Speed (Exposure), White Balance, and Focus. These 5 are your bread and butter.With different colours present in every light source, our eyes naturally adjust to what white is. Cameras try to do the same and for general photography are quite good at it. However, for jewellery, you'll want to try all manual pre-sets yourself and chose best result. If everything fails, manually adjust white balance, until it's good. You won't need to keep changing this setting from one jewellery piece to another.Photo tent will help a lot, but is not mandatory. You get find them for as little as US$20. Terminology varies, so "Photo Tent" will also be called "Light Cube", or "Soft Light Box". Do your searching and find one approx 20" (50cm) in size.Whatever you do, avoid mixing light types. Use only non-fluorescent lights, and isolate your photo 'lab' away from natural light.Avoid using any flashes. Don't use camera's built in flash. Don't buy stand-alone flashes. In fact, don't buy any lighting equipment. Desk lamps 60W-100W will do just fine.Through July, customers will save 20% on the Omikron Design collection. All designs are in stock and include free shipping and no sales tax.Digital SLR will allow you to manually adjust every aspect of the camera. Automatic modes are not appropriate for jewellery.5. Post-ProcessingFor more information or high resolution images, please contact: Alexis Endicott YLighting.com | YLiving.com Tel: 800-236-9100 Email: Email Contact4.2 SensitivityAlso known as exposure, it is a measure of time camera will be taking the light. When photographing moving objects, you would want this fairly short: 1/200 or or 1/400. However, we're taking static objects, and with the tripod camera is static as well. This gives us flexibility in going as low as 1/30 or 1/10, or even 1/2. Value 1/2 means that camera takes light from the object for half a second. If anything moves during that half a second, photograph will be blurred.Biggest spend for near-professional look of jewellery photography is for the digital SLR. This is an absolute must. Second-hand camera will be as good. Camera without many features and without high Mega-Pixel rate will work just as fine. 3 Mega Pixel is more than enough.Jewellery neck stands look effective only on some pieces, but for most laying on the white surface is the best.If your background is black, you'll want it under-exposed. This will keep the black background black, remove some imperfections, but leave the jewellery just fine.Position the lights as described above. Two desk lamps with soft light (irrelevant if you are using photo tent -- the tent is there to soften the light), and reflector light at the front. I keep the cube open at the front, for easier adjustments and photographs, unless jewellery is highly reflective of the image of me taking photograph.3. Jewelry ArrangementAbout Omikron Design Omikron Design's (OmikronDesign.com) main objective is to produce objects that enhance and illuminate spaces through light and outstanding design. The company's designs, which are made in Milan, Italy, combine the performance of lighting technology to an exclusive industrial design. The Omikron Design collection is dedicated to those who need imagination and beauty to live.About YLighting YLighting ( www. YLighting.com ) was founded in 2001 with the idea that modern lighting is functional art but buying it shouldn't be a project in itself. We travel the world to find exciting new designs and give our customers the finest in modern and contemporary lighting, ceiling fans and accessories. We carry over 5,000 designs across more than 110 brands and are one of the largest retailers for brands such as Artemide, Flos, Modern Fan, Foscarini and Louis Poulsen. YLighting serves design-savvy customers, trade professionals and businesses. Our website is a comprehensive lighting resource with the largest collection of product-specific lighting data available.2. SetupNote that what makes the difference is the quality of the optical system, not the number of actual pixels.Crop to the area you want to keep, save in internet-friendly format (eg 400x300) and you've got a near-professional photograph. Reuse the same photograph for 'zoom-in' crops. You won't be making images larger, instead you'll be cropping from your original, adjusting and saving.4.5 FocusAdjust shutter speed freely until you get desirable effect. In fact, when taking photographs of jewellery against white background, you will want photos over-exposed. Over-exposure should affect only the white background, where small imperfections of white surface will vanish into pure white. If your camera has light meter, it will display a warning that you have too much light, number 2 or 2.5 could be flashing in your viewfinder. This is good :-).4.6 Taking photographsYou will need 3 lights. Two matted lights -- soft lights, and one reflector light. Place one matted light left of the area for jewellery, and one to the right. Place reflector light near where the camera is.Jewellery is static. It's easy to use manual focus, but auto-focus seems to work just as fine. If camera keeps focusing on the incorrect part, just switch to manual, and away you go. For most applications, auto-focus will be fine though.To have freedom with many settings that will be a must, we will have to use longer exposures. For longer exposures to achieve maximum sharpness, we'll need a tripod. Our hand shakes too much, when camera runs at exposition 1/2s or 1/5s. Buy a 'tripod' for US$10-$20. You don't need a heavy duty tripod. If your setup will be on a desk, you can chose mini tripod - approx 10" (25cm), and stand tripod on the desk as well, or longer tripod, approx 50" (125cm) and stand it on the floor.The two-story, six-unit, woodframe apartment building had a manual fire alarm system, but there were no smoke detectors in the unit of origin, and the building was unsprinklered. The men's second-floor apartment was originally a two-bedroom unit, but a third bedroom had been added by installing foam board insulation that divided the living room. A power strip under the bed provided electricity to several appliances and high-intensity grow lamps in the new room; an extension cord was used for some of the connections.Also known as f-number. This setting widens or narrows the lens, limiting the amount of light that comes into the camera. This directly affects shutter speed, and film sensitivity (since we're using digital camera, film sensitivity is adjustable like anything else).This setting is responsible for the 'focal lenght'. With high f-number eg f/22 or f/11, when taking jewellery photographs, parts that are close to camera will be focused as well as parts that are further away. With low f-number, eg f/2, only the focused part will be in-focus, and parts of jewellery that are further apart or closer to the camera will become fuzzy. Use this setting as it suits you. You may want to create certain effect, but if you don't, keep this setting to f/11. Overdoing this setting will limit the light coming into the camera, and you'll have to make sacrifices elsewhere to compensate.The occupant of the third bedroom told investigators that he got up to use ihe bathroom and iound a fire at or near the end of his bed when he returned. He tried to alert the other two occupants before he ieft the apartment. A second occupant's clothing caught fire as he escaped, causing severe burns from which he died eight days later. The third occupant was briefly seen near a window, but firefighters later found him in his bedroom, where he had apparently tried unsuccessfully to break out a window using an end table. He had died of smoke inhalation.Omikron Design joins styles of classic European designers such as Vico Magistretti, Piero Castiglioni, and Carlo Forcolini with innovations of young designers such as Gabi Peretto, Jonathan Maltz and Nanni Holén. Their approach is to produce objects that enhance and illuminate spaces through light and outstanding design. As such, their designs are functional, stable, elegant and not susceptible to momentary trends.Digital camera with 6 mega pixels or more will preserve enough of the detail for zoom-in's. If not happy, re-take photos of the detail.View Omikron Designs at YLighting: http://www.ylighting.com/omikron-design-lighting.html .

Copyright (c) 2006 Sasha Petrovich

Author: Sasha Petrovich