Sion Air Show 2011

The most important air show in Switzerland, the Sion Air Show, has presented this year a truthly dreammy program which has comprised, among other more modern aircraft, flights from vintage models like the icconic Lockheed Super Constellation or the former Swiss Air Force fast jets Hawker Hunter, Dassault Mirage III and De Havilland DH-100 Vampire.
During three days the airshow received more than 62.000 visitors, making this event an incredible success. A four-page photographic report has been published in the November issue of the Portuguese aviation magazine Sirius.

Pedro Monteiro

The Portuguese Panhard AML-60 fleet

The October issue of Motor Clássico presents the operational life of the light wheeled armoured vehicle Panhard AML-60 in Portuguese service. Received in eraly 1960s, these French-built armoured vehicles were extensively used during the colonial war in Guinea, Angola and Mozambique.

This two-page article features some rare archive photage of the Portuguese fleet in real operations in Angola as well as in military exercises and ceremonies in Portugal.

This is the third work from a series of articles to be published by Motor Clássico each two months that will present to Portuguese readers some of the most icconic military vehicles operated in Portugal over the last decades.

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Tankograd Missions & Manouevres 7022 - Vehicles of the Modern Portuguese Army

The Portuguese Patton fleet

The August issue of Motor Clássico presents the operational life of the M47 Patton main battle tank in Portuguese service. Received by 1952, the Patton was at the time the most modern tank in service with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Portugal was its first European operator.

This two-page article features some rare archive photage of the Portuguese fleet during military exercises including the tanks of Practical School of Cavalry, at the time located in Santarém, with their impressive unusual three-tone camouflage scheme.

This is the second work from a series of articles to be published by Motor Clássico each two months that will present to Portuguese readers some of the most icconic military vehicles operated in Portugal over the last decades.

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The Portuguese-built UMM Cournil and Alter light military vehicles

The June issue of Motor Clássico presents the unknown story behind the development, production and operation of the Portuguese-built UMM Cournil and Alter light 4x4 military vehicles.

Operated by the Portuguese army since the late 1970s, the UMM would become widely recognized by the 1990s international deployments with the UN-led peacekeeping missions in Angola and Mozambique as well as the NATO-led mission of Bosnia.

This is also the first article from a series of articles to be published by Motor Clássico each two months that will present to Portuguese readers some of the most icconic military vehicles operated in Portugal over the last decades such as the Portuguese-built Berliet Tramagal truck family, the Panhard AML light armoured vehicle or the M47 Patton main battle tank, just to mention a few.

Pedro Monteiro

Underwater Photography: The Wonders Under the Sea

The world of photography is an amazing one. It's been with us for quite a while now but it is constantly changing. Cameras are changing and improving. Methods of developing are changing and improving as well. We have digital cameras that allow people to take a view of their pictures immediately without traditional developing. Another change in the world of photography is underwater photography.

What do you think brings us those great shots of saltwater fish and movies that film in the ocean and under the sea? What about shots taken in swimming pools? You see those in the movies a lot but may not have thought about how they take those pictures and videos.

You probably never thought about it because for a long time underwater photography was not really an option for everyday people. But now it is not just an option, it's really easy to achieve.

- What is Underwater Photography?

Underwater photography is as the name implies photos that are taken under water. This is pretty interesting since early cameras could not function if wet. But as people started discovering the wonders under the sea, they wanted to be able to share that with others or even just to prove what they actually saw. So we began creating cameras that could work under water.

It is no surprise that underwater photography is a favorite pastime for scuba divers. The idea could have come from those few people that were able to experience the joys and beauty of underwater life and a desire to share that beauty with others.

There are many different occasions where people use underwater photography. As we mentioned earlier, underwater photography is used in Hollywood for movies. You have probably also seen it used on documentaries and national geographic type programs about underwater life.

But it is still most commonly used by divers. There are many websites dedicated to all the ins and outs of underwater photography; which cameras and lenses are best, which film to use, and much more can be found on these sites.

- How to Take Underwater Photography

Equipment is an important factor in taking great underwater photography. Of course you will need an underwater camera but there is more than just that.

You can take some amazing pictures using underwater photography. There are now even disposable use underwater cameras and you can take them on vacation with you and get that great underwater look. Even an amateur can do it. Disposable underwater cameras can typically be developed at your local Wal-Mart or other film developing center. You can also purchase underwater cameras for more of a price but they last whenever you need one. Some people find this more economical than disposables, especially if they want to take these pictures often.

Just like other venues of photography, you will probably start off with a cheaper and less advanced camera and work your way up if you continue underwater photography for a long time. There are two basics kinds of cameras; the underwater or waterproof camera and the encased camera which is inside a housing that protects it.

When taking pictures, you are going to need to be familiar with:

- Your camera

- Your lens

- Your film

- Your flash

There are different things in your environment that will affect the quality of your underwater photography. Such as:

- Depth of water and transparency of water

- Light

- The angle of the sunlight on the top of the water

- The backscatter

- Water has a magnifying effect

These are some things to help you get started in the world of underwater photography. If you are lucky enough to be swimming in the sea, you should get some proof to share with others.

The new Viana do Castelo class

The April edition of Fuerzas Militares del Mundo publishes a 4-page detailed report regarding the new Viana do Castelo class a Portuguese project for a new Offshore Patrol Vessel.
The first ship of the class has been delivered to the Navy the late December in a ceremonny helded in the shipyards of Viana do Castelo in the North of the country.

Following months of trials and training, the ship will make its public debut and be open to visits during the Navy Day ceremony which will take place in the city of Setubal.

Before such event, Fuerzas Militares del Mundo presents an overview of the program and the capabilities of this modern ship.

MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTED IN: Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Chile, Peru and USA.

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D. Francisco de Almeida frigate: 3,000 tons of strength and grace

The February edition of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Marinha presents a report focusing the newly-received D. Francisco de Almeida frigate from the Bartolomeu Dias class. This two-ship class comprises two former 3,000-ton Dutch Karel Doorman frigates. It has replaced the João Belo class, whose the last two ships are now serving with the Uruguayan Navy.

The reports is based on a visit made on May during the Navy Day in the city of Portimão and is followed by a short report focusing the delivery of the first ship of the Viana do Castelo class, a Portuguese project for an oceanic Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV).

Pedro Monteiro

10 MORE Ways to Make Money with Your Digital Cameras

1. Pet photos - advertise a Pet Photography business where you photograph pets with their owners. Most owners won't struggle to take a photograph with their pet all by themselves. You can be the one who makes it easy on them. Not only can you charge for the service and your time, but you can offer the photograph in it's digital form or as a print that you can mail to them later - either created by your own photo printer or by a photo processing service.

2. Fishing contests - be around at the end of a fishing contest to take photographs of the contestants that didn't even think about bringing a camera. Most fishermen are more concerned about fishing than carrying cameras, and most fisherman also want a picture of their stringer full of fish or the big one that they're going to have mounted.

3. Parades - be in position to get great shots of folks and floats in the parade and sell the prints back to the individuals or to their family members. The folks who take part in the parades are often way to busy to take pictures before or after, so someone who captures them in action might really be doing them a favor - and a profitable service.

4. Landmark and tourist photographer - if there's a famous landmark in your area, offer your photography services to tourists who want their photo taken in front of it. Even if the tourists are carrying a camera and get someone else to take their photo, often the camera won't be digital with a display so it means the tourists won't know how the picture turns out until they're long gone. With your digital camera, you should be able to show them it's a good picture.

5. Graduations - preschool, high school, or college graduations offer dozens, if not hundreds of opportunities to capture a significant moment in someone's life. If the family members of the graduate aren't located in as good a location or don't have as good a camera as yourself - you'll have even greater opportunity at getting the shots they couldn't.

6. Holiday Family Postcards - offer your services to families that want their picture taken and put on a postcard that they can send to their extended family and friends. By using your digital camera you can not only get photo-postcards through online photo-processors, but you can make the prints available in your online gallery and have the customers refer their extended friends and family there to purchase a larger print if they desire it.

7. Photo Novelty Items - take photographs of people that want the pictures of themselves of their loved ones imprinted on coffee mugs, mouse pads, keychains, tee-shirts, and other items. Usually you can find suppliers of such photo-transfer merchandise and equipment in business opportunity publications, such as "Mind Your Business 101: How to Select & Start Your Own Business"

8. Used Car Photos - work out an arrangement to take snapshots of cars for used car dealers who don't have photographs of their current inventory. If any of the car dealers don't have websites that need photographs you could, provide an additional service by learning how to make and maintain a website of their inventory.

9. Promotional slideshow production - taking digital photos of a convention, church, business, college campus, or other promotable location - you can create a digital slideshow on Video CD or DVD for your customers to promote their business, organization, or event.

10. Newborn photo service - parents of newborns are some of the busiest people in the world. Advertise your services on an on-call basis so that you can take informal snapshots for the growing family either before they leave the hospital, or after they get home. This way both parents and the child(ren) can be in more of the pictures all together, and the parents have one less thing to try and figure out.

Portuguese C-295M: Over the land and the sea

The January edition of Fuerzas Militares del Mundo brings a report focusing the operation of the modern Airbus Military C-295M tactical transport aircraft fleet by the Portuguese Air Force. Flying with Portuguese markings since 2008, the C-295M has already reached a total of 4,000 flying hours.

 

The report comprises detailed information regarding the tactical transport and maritime surveillance versions and the missions of the 502 Squadron which operates currently keeps two detachment in the Madeira and Azores archipelagos and the bulk of the fleet in Montijo air base.

MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTED IN: Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Chile, Peru and USA.

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Photographic award

The Jornal do Exército, the official publication of the Portuguese Army, has selected the photo tittled The Heat of the Battle as one of the winners of its yearly photographic contest.
The photo shows one of the soldiers from the Centro de Tropas de Operações Especiais (CTOE, Center of Special Operations Troops) hidden by smoke during the military exercise Pristina 091 in the region of Mirandela.

Pedro Monteiro