What Digital Camera Terms Should I Know?

At Manadon Bookstore, we have books on many varied and interesting subjects.  The following article is an example of the sort of valuable information you can find within the covers of our books.

It helps when learning to use your new digital camera to also know what some of the more common terms mean. Below you will find many of these common terms defined.

Automatic Mode — A setting that sets the focus, exposure and white-balance automatically.

Burst Mode or Continuous Capture Mode — a series of pictures taken one after another at quickly timed intervals with one press of the shutter button.

Compression — The process of compacting digital data, images and text by deleting selected information.

Digital Zoom — Cropping and magnifying the centre part of an image.

JPEG — The predominant format used for image compression in digital cameras

Lag Time — The pause between the time the shutter button is pressed and when the camera actually captures the image

LCD — (Liquid-Crystal Display) is a small screen on a digital camera for viewing images.

Lens — A circular and transparent glass or plastic piece that has the function of collecting light and focusing it on the sensor to capture the image.

Megabyte — (MB) Measures 1024 Kilobytes, and refers to the amount of information in a file, or how much information can be contained on a Memory Card, Hard Drive or Disk.

Pixels — Tiny units of colour that make up digital pictures. Pixels also measure digital resolution. One million pixels
is equal to one mega-pixel.

RGB — Refers to Red, Green, Blue colours used on computers to create all other colours.

Resolution — Camera resolution describes the number of pixels used to create the image, which determines the amount of detail a camera can capture. The more pixels a camera has, the more detail it can register and the larger the picture can be printed.

Storage Card — The removable storage device which holds images taken with the camera, comparable to film, but much smaller. Also called a digital camera memory card.

Viewfinder — The optical "window" you look through to compose the scene.

White Balance — White balancing adjusts the camera to compensate for the type of light (daylight, fluorescent, incandescent, etc.,) or lighting conditions in the scene so it will look normal to the human eye.

More books are added to our inventory every day.  Please go to http://manadon-bookstore.ebid.net/ 

Books on How to Draw

At Manadon Bookstore, we have books on many varied and interesting subjects.  The following article is an example of the sort of valuable information you can find within the covers of our books.

Drawing is a wonderful art form in itself, but drawing is also an excellent exercise for other forms of art, like painting for instance. Learning how to draw will truly open your mind to your surroundings enabling you to really see what is before you.

Choosing your drawing supplies

There are a variety of different drawing tools available for today's artists and what you choose to work with is based on your own preference. It comes to down to experimentation. You have to work with a number of different things before you find the tools that fit your style of drawing.

Don't go out and spend lots of money on your drawing supplies in the beginning. You can really get started with a beginner pencil set and some newsprint paper. When you become more experienced, you can then venture out and spend money on better supplies.

Graphite pencils - Graphite pencils range in hardness and are labelled from 9H to 9B. The H pencils are the hardest. The higher the number in front of the H, the lighter the mark. The B pencils are softest. The higher the number in front of the B, the darker the mark. The H pencils are generally used for detailed lines where the B pencils will produce rich dark lines great for bold expressive drawings.

Charcoal Pencils - Charcoal pencils also come in a range of hardness and are labelled either from H to B like graphite, or simply as "soft", "medium" or "hard". They have a noticeably different feel to them and produce a rich dark line. Charcoal pencils tend to wear pretty fast because of their softness.

Blending Tortillions - Tightly wound stumps of paper with a point used to blend in your drawings.

Erasers - You may want to have a few different types of erasers on hand to fit every occasion.

Kneaded Eraser - A soft pliable eraser that can be kneaded into any shape to pick up and remove pencil and charcoal. May not be the best for erasing smaller details. The SANFORD Kneaded Rubber Erasers are very popular.

Eraser Pencil - These are wonderful for getting into small areas of your drawings. They can also be sharpened like ordinary pencils.

Fixatives - Fixatives protect your drawings from being smudged or ruined. There are two types of fixatives: permanent and workable. Permanent fixatives are used on a finished drawing to protect, where a workable fixative is used during the drawing process as you are working. Use great care while working with fixatives by only using in a well-ventilated area. When spraying the fixative, make sure you do not spray any one section for too long and only spray a light mist standing about 3 feet away from the drawing. You should probably experiment on a few practice drawings first to determine if a fixative is right for you. There appears to be a difference of opinion amongst artists when it comes to fixatives. Some artists love to work with them and swear by them, while others feel they may actually alter the quality of a drawing. Again, you have to experiment yourself to see if fixatives are a good choice for you.

Paper - In the beginning, for the purpose of practice, you may want to consider purchasing some inexpensive newsprint paper. You should be able to get this at any local art store or online. When you are ready to purchase a more expensive grade paper, choose something that will work best with the medium you use. Paper comes in a variety of different textures from smooth to rough, often referred to as its "tooth". A really smooth paper may not work well for some mediums as the surface lacks texture, and will not grab certain drawing mediums very well. If the paper is too rough, the medium may simply slide across the surface. You have to experiment with different papers to find the one you are most comfortable with. Strathmore Brand makes excellent paper that is very popular amongst artists.

Horse Hair Drafting Brush - You should be able to purchase a horsehair drafting brush at any local art supply store or online store. This is a really helpful tool for brushing away unwanted eraser scraps from your drawing.


More books are added to our inventory every day.  Please go to http://manadon-bookstore.ebid.net/

Rambling Tips To Help Make Your Outdoor Adventure Lots Of Fun

At Manadon Bookstore, we have books on many varied and interesting subjects.  The following article is an example of the sort of valuable information you can find within the covers of our books.
When you want to relax and unwind, one of the best things you can do is go on a ramble.  It is great exercise, you can enjoy the outdoors, and you can see beautiful scenery.  However, there are some dangers to rambling and you should be prepared for any eventuality in order to remain safe and ensure you have a good time. Planning is essential so that you are not caught in a situation for which you are not prepared.

Dress appropriately for the weather and take a spare set of clothing. If it is cold, wear layers and make sure to wear a hat for maximum warmth. Wear two pairs of socks and good hiking boots so you do not slip. Wear sunglasses and use sunscreen. Even if it is cold, the sun can give you a very uncomfortable burn. Also use insect repellent to protect you from pests and bites.

Use a backpack to store your items that you will take with you on a ramble.  Put heavier items toward the bottom to help balance your centre of gravity. If rambling with a group, distribute items equally amongst the members in case of an accident. If a backpack is lost and it was the only one that held the water or food, you might have a problem.

Take emergency supplies in case of an accident. This should include a first aid kit, a utility knife, whistle, matches and a torch.  Always have plenty of food and water. You need to keep hydrated and nourished during a long ramble in the countryside.  Chocolate and nut mix are excellent energy boosting foods and will help get you through the day. Water is essential but you could also pack high-energy drinks that contain electrolytes.

Do not overdo it.  Take frequent breaks and rest when you feel tired. Pushing yourself to exhaustion is unsafe. Use a walking stick to help keep you from getting tired and help you when climbing and maintaining your balance. If you feel weak or light headed, sit down, take your backpack off, and eat and drink a little until you feel rested and ready to go on.

Be aware of your surroundings by taking time out to enjoy the picturesque scenery, maybe by taking photographs or sketching.  But don’t ever get too distracted.  Always keep an eye open for, and steer well clear of wild animals and snakes, especially when venturing off footpaths into brush or rocks that may be home to potentially dangerous creatures.

Research the area where you will be rambling and plan what you will need to take accordingly. Don’t be caught out by a sudden change on the weather. Take pictures and sightsee.  Enjoy the outdoors and have a lot of fun, but be safe and prepared for anything. With a little planning, you should be able to make the most of your rambling experience.


More books are added to our inventory every day.  Please go to Manadon Bookstore.

Books About London

At Manadon Bookstore, we have books on many varied and interesting subjects. The following article is an example of the sort of valuable information you can find within the covers of our books.

London’s history as a permanent settlement stretches back nearly two thousand years. The city's story is an amazing one, its fortunes inextricably linked to those of the rest of the British Isles.

London was originally founded by the Romans at a convenient crossing of the Thames, though it had also previously been used by local inhabitants too. Tacitus describes a flourishing trading city existing in AD 67. The area was marshy but there was a low hill, roughly where the Bank of England now stands and it was here that the Romans chose to build a typical Roman city, primarily for military reasons.

A mixture of tribes and small kingdoms inhabited England at that time, and the Romans had little difficulty overcoming them - despite some noble efforts at defence. The locals assimilated Roman culture, and after a couple of hundred years were more Roman than the Romans. When the Romans pulled out, pressured by frontier wars, the Saxons took over. They hated living in the old walled Roman city and established their own city of long huts, roughly where Covent Garden is today.

By the time the Normans took over from the Saxons, the basis of the mercantile capital was already laid through a charter of citizen’s rights and a confederation of tradesmen, providing a counterweight to the aristocracy. London was a leading trading port of Western Europe, where merchants from Italy, the Netherlands, France and Germany lived beside the river. London still had only one crossing - the Old London Bridge, until 1769.

By the late 16th century, the seeds of England’s future as a world trading power were sown with the formation of Trading Companies like the East India Company, the Muscovy Company, the Levant Company, and the Turkey Company, which along with Britain’s naval prowess, saw management techniques, still venerated by global corporations, conquer the world. The Plague in 1665 and the fire in 1666 shook London out of its contentment but also lead to a wave of property development that saw the forerunners of Sir Richard Rogers dominating the city skylines.

The redevelopment went on into the 18th Century, seeing buildings like The Bank of England and most of the Bridges across the Thames springing up. The Victorians supervised the transformation of London into a modern city, sewers and underground railways tunnelled beneath the clay of the world’s capital, while over ground railways and omnibuses opened up across the city, and the port of London enjoyed a final flowering. Despite the presence of the Royal Palaces, Westminster Abbey (a place of pilgrimage) and the country’s first printing presses, Westminster really only came into its own in the 19th century, and was granted the title of a City, with its own mayor in 1900.
The two World Wars saw huge destruction, to both the populace and the city and some terrible rebuilding followed, with little real conservation work. London's architectural revival started with the completion of the Lloyd's building by Sir Richard Rogers in 1979. London is now beginning to rival Paris in its Grand Projects.

More quality books are added to our inventory every day. Please go to Manadon Bookstore.

Books, books, books!

Welcome to our new blog.  We are an on-line bookstore, supplying quality rare and specialist books to customers worldwide from our base here in Plymouth, UK, situated mid-way between the Dartmoor National Park and our stunning South Devon coast.


We will be using this blog for all sorts of reasons, like letting you know when a really special title comes in, or if we have a promotion coming up, or maybe just to let everyone out there know what's going on in this beautiful part of the Devonshire countryside.


With all this fantastic scenery around here, it probably won't surprise you to learn that one of my hobbies is photography.  I love landscapes, but I've been fascinated by a book that has just come in called "Photo Guide To Fishes of the Maldives" by Rudie H. Kuiter.  The underwater photography is superb and the information about the different types of fish I should think would be invaluable to anyone going on a diving trip to the Maldives.


There are other great books being listed to our website at Manadon-Bookstore every day, so please take a look.