Don’t Steal

When people think of candid photos, often the idea is that you have to steal your shots; that you have to somehow catch your subject off-guard in order for the photo to be truly candid. In essence you’re taking a photo without permission, whether your subjects like it or not.

This is not how a well-meaning and disciplined photographer behaves.

Stealing is the act of thieves. And we’re not thieves, are we? Instead, let your intentions be known.

Don’t hide your camera. Don’t shoot from a hidden position. When you allow your subjects the opportunity to acknowledge your presence and become comfortable around you, they’ll unconsciously let you into their world more openly which is the whole point of candid photos.

You want your subjects to show you who they are and what they are about. Those truly open and honest moments are what you’re really after. When you steal a shot, people will often feel violated and trying to steal another one will prove much more difficult the second time around.

Be Patient

When it comes to candid shots, waiting for the right moment is better than just shooting with reckless abandon hoping to get a decent candid photo. The aim is to let your subjects be comfortable enough around your camera that they forget (or stop minding) it’s even there. This won’t happen in an instant.

Instead, wait for your surroundings to settle into a rhythm before you even start pressing away at your shutter release. Let people talk and act casually. Let them go about their business.

In other words, just wait for things to happen naturally. It may take some time before things get into a rhythm but it will get there. That’s when you bring your viewfinder to your eye.

Observe

Slow down and watch your subjects. Candid photos of people are meant to convey a certain emotion or feeling or a story. You won’t be able to capture those truly candid moments when you don’t know or understand what those moments are really about.

Observe and examine your subjects the same way an anthropologist would. What is it specifically that you want to capture about them? What opportunities do you see for capturing a candid moment?

What movements are you looking for? What lighting conditions do you want to capture? What behaviors are unique and worthy of a photo?

These are all questions you answer through observation and understanding your subjects. Being observant also clues you into how you’re supposed to expose and compose your shot.

Blend In

While I did mention that you shouldn’t hide your intentions while taking photographs of people, I will also say that it helps when you make an effort to blend in with your surroundings. In other words, you have to stop acting like a photographer.

This means not having 3 cameras strapped to your shoulders.

This means not wearing a National Geographic vest full of your gear. This means walking around and watching and observing your subjects instead of directing and corralling them into your frame. Let your camera hang to your side and only bring it up to your eye when you see something worthy of a photo.

You’re not exactly hiding your intentions, you’re just not broadcasting to the world that you’re there to take candid photos of everyone.

Just Shoot

Candid photography aims to capture moments of people’s honesty and lack of pretense. There are no poses, no forced smiles, and no elaborate lighting set ups. The point is to capture unscripted and unexpected moments with your camera.

And the only way to really do that is to just shoot. Follow your instincts and let them guide you. Don’t over-think it.

If you see something, just shoot. If you don’t, that’s OK too.

Travel destinations in Mexico pack a punch when it comes to discovery; the Yucatan Peninsula’s miles of coast and Mayan ruins, Baja’s marine reserves, Oaxaca’s culture, the rainforests of Chiapas, and the stunning scenery of Copper Canyon gives travelers plenty of options for their time away from home.

Yucatan Peninsula
The sweeping beaches, welcoming clear waters, exotic islands, colonial cities, and Mayan ruins of the Yucatan Peninsula welcome those seeking relaxed adventures from all over the world every year.

Mérida
Built on top of a Mayan city after the Spanish conquest, Merida is the capital of the Yucatan region of Mexico where the different people and cultures of the region come together. Colonial churches, plazas, and bustling markets dot the city, while restaurants serve a sampling of Mayan fusion dishes that make spending an afternoon or evening here a pleasure.

Chichén Itzá and Coba
Chichen Itza is an ancient Mayan city and was once a thriving center of activity for the Yucatan region. The complex’s centerpiece is the Temple of Kukulkan, a pyramid with 365 steps on four sides that is a brilliant example of the Mayan people’s calendar and their ability to predict events like eclipses. The site is still an active archeological dig and new discoveries are made each year that give new insights into the age-old culture.

Coba is located between two lakes and was once the seat of power in the region before the rival people of Chichen Itza defeated it. Today it is overgrown with forests between pyramids and mounds that have been untouched since the city was abandoned in 1550 with the arrival of the Spanish.

Tulum Maya Ruins
A walled city and fortress high on a cliff above the Caribbean Sea, Tulum was a Mayan seaport for ships returning from other parts of the continent. Inside the walls are remains of temples and pyramids as well as mounds that have yet to reveal their secrets about the people and culture from this region.

Sian Ka’an
With a staggering variety of flora and fauna within tropical rainforests, mangroves, and marine areas, Mexico’s 1.3 million acres protected reserve is a natural paradise. Touring the waterways brings discoveries of the many creatures that call this area home, including spider monkeys and over three hundred species of birds.

Chiapas
The Chiapas region of Mexico envelops coastal lowlands, mountain highlands, and fertile rainforests that hide ancient Maya ruins.

Lacandona Rainforest
The Lacandona Rainforest is an area with over 100 million acres of forest; it is one of the last remaining protected rainforests in the country. Those who venture here have the chance to stop at far off waterfalls and hike under the jungle canopy in search of eagles, red macaws, and monkeys while learning about the indigenous people that call the area home.

Montebello Lakes
The Montebello Lakes in the south of Mexico on the border of Guatemala is a chain of 50 bodies of water surrounded by pine forests that draw hikers from colder climates in search of natural adventures.

Yaxchilan Mayan Ruins
The Yaxchilan ruins on the shores of the Usumacinta River in the Chiapas region were once a bustling Mayan city with a central temple complex, ball courts, and palaces. The site features relief carvings depicting life in the city throughout the grounds that have given scholars a new perspective about life during Mayan times.

Baja
The Baja peninsula is the second-longest peninsula in the world and home to pristine national parks, uninhabited islands, and sun-swept beaches where surfing, snorkeling, and relaxing are a welcome relief during the chill of winter.

Isla Espiritu Santo
Ilsa Espiritu Santo is a UNESCO world heritage site that is often said to be the most beautiful in the Sea of Cortez. Uninhabited, there are many bays and beaches where snorkeling, swimming, and diving are favored activities, as is hiking on trails that explore the inland of the island.

Isla San Francisco
Another uninhabited island where active endeavors in nature take center stage- Isla San Francisco brings people to the Sea of Cortez for kayaking, snorkeling, and hiking.

Cabo Pulmo National Park
Amid mountains, a desert, and the sea, Cabo Pulmo National Park is a 17,571-acre marine park where whale sharks, dolphins, humpback whales, and tortoises are just a few of the creatures that are often seen in the clear waters.

Oaxaca
Oaxaca’s mountains, culture, art, and food stands out for those who travel here. Tours give insight into the people and culture of the present while exploring ancient religious and political ruins reveals the depth of history of the region.

Oaxaca City
Built by the Spanish in 1529, Oaxaca City is a one-of-a-kind city with colonial buildings, grand plazas, a thriving culture, and some of the best food in the country.

Monte Alban and Mitla
Mitla and Monte Alban in the Oaxaca Valley are two important Zapotec sites- Mitla being a major religious center and Monte Alban being a political seat. Located on the valley floor, Malta’s elaborate stonework differs from the other sites from the same period in the region, while the grandeur of the site is modest when compared to the Monte Alban.

Sitting high up on a cliff overlooking Oaxaca City, the valley below and mountains in the distance, Monte Alban has been inhabited for over a thousand years by a succession of people. Today, temples, terraces, a ball court, an observatory, and palaces remain as reminders of the glory of the former capital.

Oaxacan Artisan Villages
The culture of Oaxaca and its artisans go hand in hand, each small village produces a specialty; from pottery, to brightly colored wooden animals, to textiles with intricate designs. Traditional methods are still employed using techniques that go back before the Mayan people.

Copper Canyon
Copper Canyon in the north-central Sierra Tarahumara Mountains is a series of gorges, which when combined, are larger than the Grand Canyon. Hiking treks, ziplining adventures, and train rides through the region reveal the beauty of the area: ripe with scenic vistas, small villages, and waterfalls that are picturesq.

The fashion industry is rife with a ton of misconceptions which a lot of people tend to believe. Here are some quite well-known misconceptions:

Misconception 1. The direct relationship between price and quality Huge numbers of us adore acquiring brands since they look cool and are said to be of incredible quality. All things considered, yes and no. Brands positively have a particular spot for themselves since they have notoriety and altruism to keep up. Be that as it may, this does not mean they are constantly 100 percent top quality. Additionally, numerous individuals accept that the pricier the brand the better the quality we get, which is absolutely not the case.

Misconception 2. It’s just women in the fashion industry- Whenever the words ‘fashion model’ is uttered, one tends to imagine models on a ramp, and almost always imagines that model to be a woman. The facts confirm that many accept that the fashion industry is dominated by women models and creators. While the fact that there are progressively female planners and models in the business than male architects and models, yet this does not make the business unacceptable for the last mentioned.

Misconception 3. Every male designer is either gay or transgendered This is probably the worst misconception one can ever harbor about the fashion industry. Just because a person is fashion-savvy, people automatically assume that they are either gay or transgendered. They are all talented individuals working hard to improve the fashion situation of the world and assuming their sexual orientation just on the basis of their career is just plain rude.

Misconception 4. “Bizarre sense of fashion? Surely belongs to a fashion show!” Designers regularly think of mysterious structures, however, those plans consistently have a reason to serve. Truly, here and there planners do go over the edge with their imagination, however, that does not occur with no specific situation.

Misconception 5. Considering fashion as a poor career choice In numerous nations where regular vocation alternatives, for example, building or drug are well known, style structuring is frequently looked downward on which is a shame, since the fashion industry is one of the most prominent and prospective of all industries.

Whether a family vacation, honeymoon or a solo adventure, visiting the Maldives is on most people’s bucket list.

Picture-perfect waters, sandy beaches and exotic villas all come to mind while imagining the Maldives. The scenic beauty of the Maldives can be experienced to its fullest extent only in person.

Scuba diving and snorkeling are some of the most recommended activities to explore the island nation’s deep waters. The Maldives is also a great place for honeymooners who seek seclusion and privacy – it was ranked the third-best honeymoon destination in the world, according to U.S. News.

Here’s your fact sheet about Maldives.

Where are the Maldives?

Officially known as the Republic of Maldives or Maldive Islands, the independent nation of islands is located in the north-central Indian Ocean, southwest of Sri Lanka and India. Maldives is an archipelagic state, meaning it is a country with one or more archipelagos or collection of islands.

According to Britannica, the Maldives consist of approximately 1,200 small coral islands and sandbanks, grouped in clusters or atolls. Out of them, only 200 islands are currently inhabited and a select few are utilized for agriculture, industry and as resorts. Malé, one of the central islands, is the capital of Maldives and is one of the most populated city in the country.

Maldive Islands are low-lying islands, just six feet above the sea level. Built on top of the crowns of a submerged, ancient volcano, the islands are made of coral atolls or reefs which are ring-shaped around a body of water. These reefs act as barriers for the islands during monsoons.

What is the currency in the Maldives?

The Maldivian Rufiyaa is the currency in the Maldives. One MVR is further divided into 100 Laari.

The currency exchange rate shows that one U.S. dollar equals to 15.36 MVR as of November 2022.

However, there’s no need to exchange your money if you’re planning to visit the Maldives. U.S. dollars are an accepted form of currency in the country along with Euros.

Is it safe to travel to the Maldives?

According to the U.S. Department of State, the Maldives has a moderate crime rate. But crime at resort islands, where most tourists and foreigners usually visit, is said to be rare.

Petty crime such as stealing valuables is more common. The State Department also reports that drug use is on the rise among young Maldivians and the penalty for drug use is severe.

It is important to note that the Maldives is a Muslim country, according to Visit Maldives, and therefore, important to pay attention to their norms and religious laws. For example, some local islands might not permit bikinis and bathing suits unless labeled as a “Bikini Beach” or otherwise. Local islands might also prohibit pork and alcohol consumption which might be otherwise allowed on resort islands.