Ello - why you should support this private social network

Ello.co is the ad-free social network said to be the ‘anti-Facebook’ website gathering all who want to post – critic-free. This invite-only site was started by a small group of designers and artists on the quest seeking creative freedom.

The creators of Ello.co wanted a place unburdened by the usual advertisements stricken displays smeared across the sides of each landing page. The site is an advocate for keeping personal information private and the collection of data non-existent. A site where people can actually feel safe? Hopefully! But an anti-Facebook page? Not so much.

Ello.co is a mixture of Tumblr and Facebook. The only discrimination against Facebook is that Zuckerberg has a new competitor. Who isn’t sick of all the rules and regulations online communities enforce from the implementing process stimulated by power struggling moderators. Social distortion screams confinement concerned with what content is permitted and what is not.

The media has desensitized our youth to the point where Nicki Minaj reaches the ears of middle schoolers, so why should our social media platforms not separate posted content into appropriate censored-genres?

Ello.co allows the posting of adult-level content acting as a site for adults, created by adults. Being provocative can empower women and relinquish artistic vision upon people to influence and motivate others. Reddit promotes confrontational works in a section known as ‘NSFW’, but that doesn’t mean vulgarity is flashed for all to witness. NSFW settings are coming soon to Ello.

The beta version of Ello.co took on so much attention that the creators were not expecting that the site now updates its users throughout the building process. Blocking and muting along with @mention pre-population on user profiles and improved error handling were completed in the last beta test. Soon to come highlights will feature fluid grid noise post, enhanced user discovery, in-line emoji integration and image compression.

Black and white themed pages and simplistic-styled text make navigation through Ello relaxed for now but there will be add-ons available to enhance each user’s page starting at only $1. Users will also be able to access multiple accounts at once. First on the agenda is keeping up with the 34,000-per-hour requests to join this new social media mega takeover.

Find Ways to Cozy Up As Temperatures Drop

As the tree leaves start to change with the approaching seasons so should your home décor. It is always pleasant to walk into a comfortable home infused with warm, welcoming colors and style. Find ways to cozy up as temperatures start to drop.

Aroma Appeal

Candles are great to add smell and to be used for another heat source to any room. Yankee Candle usually has a fall sale where you can stock up all the seasonal scents at once. Cinnamon and Pumpkin are festive holiday smells to have floating in the air. Wrap a bow of ribbon around the top edge of the candle for flair.

Collective Color

Spice up any room with popping accents. Replace the couch pillows with friendly colors like burnt orange or deep-forest green. If you prefer a pattern rather than a solid color you can never go wrong with plaid or a leaves theme for fall! Earthy themes and tones have a simple, nurturing appeal.

Accentuate

Liven up any room with accents. This is easy to do on a nickel and dime! Set a chic bowl on your dining or living room table and fill with ornamental leaves and vegetables that match fall color schemes. Put some throws across the couch making it easy to bundle up during relaxation time. Rugs are also great to sink your toes into; lay rugs on the bathroom floor in front of the sink or in high-traffic hallways.

Restoration Recycling

Reinvent an item’s purpose. Recycle items by thinking of new ways to use them. Sheets can be turned into curtains since keeping the heat out is not an issue during cooler weathers. Use wooden crates to hold books, toys, or kitchen supplies, giving off a rustic feel. Chairs with sturdy frames are commonly refurbished. Spruce up a current chair color with peacock blue creating a visual contemporary meets classic charm piece.

Door Design

Don’t forget the most visually welcoming presence in your entire house: the front door! Paint or stain your front door a deep red with a matte finish and add a countryside looking wreath. Hanging a large empty photo frame is an alternative to the conventional wreath option. Update lighting fixtures and sweep the front porch too.

Staying warm is key to getting through the colder seasons, but mental warmth is always the most important and self-satisfying factor.

How To Shoot Video Like A Pro

A photo is worth a thousand words but a video is worth a million. Maybe this is why the media is streaming web content in video format over the traditional image content. Videos are the new thing in marketing generating an increase in conversions, clicks, and impressions.

Videography requires attention to particular aspects and a bit of know-how goes a long ways. Follow these tips to easily improve your video skills and look like a pro at home.

Know your equipment

A good videographer knows what angles create which concept being desired. Having an expensive video camera helps, but the real talent comes from knowing how to position your content or model to get the perfect shot. Read your manual to know about the tools on your video camera. One should always study before the big test just like a videographer should know where the ‘on’ button is.

Be ready for anything if you shoot on location

Always have your gear ready to go! Here is what you should pack for a shoot:

• A fully charged backup battery
• Extra memory cards
• A cleaning pen or cloth for your lens as dust or raindrops stick to your glass like glue. This will also help minimalize your post-production work
• A tripod, make this your new best friend
• Battery charger or power pack
• Accessories: different lenses, laundry clips (technical term is c-47), duct tape, microphones, stool or chair, bounce board
• An extension cord for your power packs

Tripods are a god’s gift to videographers

Do you want to hold that heavy camcorder for the entire shoot? Do you want a clean shot without shaking seconds you can’t remove in after effects? Use a tripod! If your video is shaky it will look cheap and as though you shot it at home. Image-stabilization won’t correct everything. Using a tripod also helps scanning and moving in and out of a certain shot.

Lighting is where it’s at

Lighting is everything. Lighting sets the mood of your shot from edgy to lifestyle or any other concept you hope to achieve. Know how this works! Practice at home. Put a teddy bear on the couch and see how you can make it look. If you are shooting outdoors, shoot on a cloudy day. This will remove the automatic sheen and shine that the sun overproduces. Let your lights cast straight towards your subject or below the chin line. If you raise the lights this will create unwanted shadows that make your subject look old and tired. Clean natural light is always the best option for optimal exposure.

Shoot B-roll

B-roll is the secondary footage you capture and use as fillers in-between main content. This could be raindrops, people laughing, or cars moving in traffic. Close-up shots work great as well. Whatever content you choose, as literally anything falls under the B-roll category, mix in with your final footage.